How To Survive Unemployment

Investigate benefits that may be available to you in addition to unemployment, like food stamps from the United States Department of Agriculture (see www.fns.usda.gov) and home heating assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (see www.liheap.org).

Look for creative ways to slash monthly expenses, like raising the deductibles on your insurance policies. If you’re a two-car family, get rid of one car until you’re back on your feet.

Consider ways to bring in money that won’t jeopardize your unemployment check, like selling whatever you can part with on eBay.

Consider your new job to be finding a job. Put in 9 to 5 days scouting leads and sending out resumes.

Think about what skills you have that might translate to another field. Consider making yourself more employable by updating your expertise through courses or training, or by learning a new skill.

Consider signing up with a temp agency. Many of the positions lead to full-time employment, and in the meantime you’ll be earning about $12 an hour and perhaps learning new skills that could help with your job search.

Watch out for signs of depression, like letting your personal hygiene slip or zoning out in front of the TV all day. When that new job finally arrives – and it will – you’ll need to be ready to jump back into the workforce.