So if you’re looking for a way out, you’ll love this guide
How to Deal with Monthly Expenses while Unemployed?
Here are 5 ways you can use to deal with your monthly expenses while unemployed:
#1: Cut down on your budget
It’s very
important at this point to cut down on all non-essential purchases.
This is not
the best time to go shopping for new clothes, or to eat out with friends and
spend at the movies.
At this
point in time, you have to be really strategic in yourspendings – keeping in
mind that this would last just for a moment.
Being unemployed is the best time to put aside your wants for some time and focus more on you and your family needs.
#2: Review and prioritize debts
Unemployment
may give room to some unforeseen debts.
You have to
be wise at this point as to spread your money around evenly, paying each bill,
if possible.
And if you
have a habit of paying extra on things like your mortgage and car payments, you
may have to cut back at this point in time.
It’s always good
at this point to reach out to your creditors – or people who you owe money to.
Yes,
creditors may seem a bit intimidating, but you have to understand that they are
always approachable, and it’s at this point that you should communicate with
them to agree on certain terms to help reduce your payment plans or delay
payments until you are back on your feet.
And yes- even the IRS is well knowledgeable of people who currently have been affected by unemployment, and they have plans available to help you out.
#3: Unemployment insurance benefits
This is a
form of insurance or compensation plan that provides stipends to those that are
unemployed and actively seek employment.
You can see
it as a form of compensation plan to eligible you (the unemployed) to work.
The moment
you lose your job, immediately is the best time for you to get in touch with
your state’s unemployment office.
Don’t get
weary of all the paperwork involved, keep in mind that in the long run, you’d
be getting the funds needed to keep you going till you get employed again.
But, note,
you can only benefit in this program only if you are eligible to work – that
is, there’s a good reason why you were laid off from your previous work.
May be your previous company was downsizing and had to lay off some staffs, or may be the company was acquired by another company which had to let go of some staffs – but any ways, there shouldn’t be any negative reason that led to you losing your previous job.
#4: Find a new job
While
unemployed, you should make getting a full-time job a necessity. You have to
focus all your time and energy into finding a new position that will get you
back on your feet in no time.
You may feel
that this relates in no way to managing your money while unemployed, but you
should know that this is worth mentioning nonetheless.
And it’s
important not to get into the habit of going to bed late and waking up late –
try to stay on schedule, as if you were still working.
Now, getting
a full-time job make take longer to get, be a bit stressful, and depending on
the current economy of your state or country, incredibly difficult to get.
In the meantime, you should consider getting a part-time job, or some side-gigs for single mother like babysitting, cleaning, virtual assistance, painting, etc. The little income which you’d get out of this can keep you going with your daily expenses until you get employed full-time.
#5: Ask for Assistance
Don’t hesitate
to ask for help when stuck.
You can get
assistance from family and friends – you can also get assistance from your
credit cards – but be careful not to rely solely on your credit cards to get
by!
Credit cards
are short-term solutions that are designed to help you make ends meet for the
now, but in the latter, could pile up to a hard enough debt to get out of.