Still unknown: Smaller unemployment checks
Everyone collecting federal extended unemployment benefits will see their checks cut by 9.4 percent retroactive to March 1. Just when they would start seeing smaller checks depends on how quickly their state unemployment office makes the change, which will vary from state to state. But chances are good many collecting benefits would see smaller checks sometime in March.

By Dec. 31: Fewer jobs created

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the economy would produce 750,000 fewer full-time jobs as a result of the forced spending cuts if they remain in effect for the whole calendar year.

-- CNNMoney's Tami Luhby and CNN's Mike M. Ahlers contributed to this report.