Unemployment Survival Tips

Written by eddiemars on Sep 28 2011

Unemployment survival tips can be a lifesaver for some during times of unemployment. Unemployment is hard on everyone but you can not only survive, but thrive with these unemployment survival tips. Dealing with unemployment can throw your home into a tailspin if you’re not prepared to cope with it until you find another job. Even though your cash flow is interrupted, the financial demands of a family don’t stop. Even if you’re single, you still need food, clothing, and shelter. Not to mention the cost of maintenance on a vehicle and a dwelling. The need for health insurance also has to be considered, especially if you have a family. Here are some unemployment survival tips that you can use to help with those things and make this a time to survive and to thrive.

Food

Shopping for food is a challenge in the best of times and unemployment makes it even more difficult. Food prices seem like they’re always going higher and higher but you can get around that by using coupons, growing a garden and/or buying “store brands.” Some “store brands are made by the same manufacturers that make the name brand foods but the name brand food cost more because it’s the name brand or known by it’s name. There is also the possibility of joining a food co-op, where the cost, labor, and food of a “community” garden are shared. You should also consider buying in bulk. Items sold in “bulk” are usually cheaper than the same item sold individually. These are just a few unemployment survival tips to help offset the cost of food. Can you think of some others?

Classes

Redirecting or enhancing your career path is always worth considering and it might be something to follow up on if you become unemployed. Continuing education is a must at all levels employment. Now might be the time for you follow through if you’re in a position to take a class or classes to enhance or redirect your career. You can take classes at local schools and online. More and more people are taking advantage of the opportunity to further their education by taking classes online. Taking classes while you’re employed could help you keep a job and taking classes while you’re unemployed could help you find a new job.

Clothes

When it comes to getting clothes during times of unemployment, it pays to start by maintaining the clothes you already have. Get a button sewn on the perfectly good shirt you haven’t been wearing because the button was missing. Along with your diet, let the waist out in the pants or skirt that you tucked away in the closet because it was getting a little snug around the waist. Another unemployment survival tip is to borrow a jacket or scarf from a buddy or girl friend respectively to round out an outfit. Some men’s clothing stores offer buy one get one free sales on quality suits, shirts and ties on a regular basis. This is a great value if you can afford it. Another way to save money when you’re unemployed is to have shoes resoled. If you have shoes that still look good but the soles are “worn” you should get them resoled and shined to save money on shoes.

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Housing

Where to live when you’re unemployed might be dictated by your circumstances. If you have enough money in savings to stay in your current place, you could do that or you may need to consider “down-sizing.” Sharing a place with an individual or with a group of people can cut cost considerably. If you choose to share the rent with others, you should be on time when it’s time to pay the rent and expect the same from your cohabitants. Then there’s always the dreaded move back home to mom and dad. If it comes to this, show mom and dad some love by helping out around the house and paying “rent” if possible. These unemployment survival tips could be just what you need to help cut cost and survive and thrive until you get that new job.

5 Comments

Written by KathrynDarden, 237 days ago.

Helpful tips on surviving unemployment.

Written by careercounselor, 236 days ago.

These are really good suggestions and I agree with you in regards to food, there are food banks and using coupons can help with the cost of groceries. Also paying less for living expenses really makes a difference.

Written by Sgolis, 236 days ago.

When my husband lost his high paying job a few years back we started living with less, purchasing only what we needs and learned to say no to foolish spending. Down sizing was the key to surviving unemployment. Helpful article.

Written by freedomw, 236 days ago.

I agree with others. This article does has good suggestions to survive unemployment.

Written by Jasmine, 199 days ago.

I was rarely unemployed in my life - if I wasn't lucky enough to find a job in my profession, I did other temporary jobs; seasonal jobs, waitressing (that's something to survive, too LOL), cleaning, baby-sitting, etc. Of course, it's not the same as having a steady job and a regular paycheck every month, but it still helps a lot. I don't think cutting down on your expenses is a matter of saving while being unemployed, but simply an act of obligation - how are you supposed to spend what you don't have? Credit cards are deceitful, in the end you spend more than you would have if you payed cash or if you sustained yourself from buying something on credit.

I've seen that some people won't eat lunch leftovers for dinner - obviously, they don't need to save when they can afford throwing food away and enjoying other meals (these people are deprived in some sense, if you ask me). I, on the other hand, don't have to save this way, but it's only natural I would eat the food that's left from lunch instead of throwing it away and eating something else. It's a matter of principle.

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