Surviving and thriving on unemployment - Sterling Career Concepts

Surviving and thriving on unemployment Surviving and thriving on unemployment Our guest author today is Nadia Crum,a young military wife,mother of two, and author of theblog, A-B-C Frugality, where she sharesher tips on how to survive and thrive on a shoestring budget.Gone are the days when the white collar was a safety net of employment; when employment was an assumed privilege of a college education. In today’s economy, unemployment is striking down people at all socioeconomic levels. The emotions associated with unemployment in today’s market can be crushing: frustration, embarrassment, unworthiness, defeat. But in this situation,such feelings are not helpful or productive. Its important to remember you cansurvive and even thrive on unemployment. Remain realistically optimistic. You will find employment again. It may take some time, but the economy will recover and you will find career success again. Maintain a sense of routine. Get up each day, shower, and get dressed as if you were still going to work. Schedule time each day for job hunting, interviewing, and even networking. Volunteering or internships are another great way to round out your resume while you are temporarily out of your career field. Take time away from your family. If husband and wife are both home with the kids orif the parent who was working is now home with the kids, there can be a great amount of tension and stress as the family gets used to a new dynamic. Make sure to take a break for yourself. Go to the park or library, and have some quite time. Secure family health insurance. COBRA is now very affordable, and health care is something your family should never be without, if at all possible. If COBRA is not an option, look into government or state-run health assistance programs for your children. Take control of your finances. Evaluate your bills and determine priorities. Paying down debt can often wait until after you are employed again. Call your creditors and let them know the situation. Many are willing to work with you if they are aware of your situation. Track your spending. By keeping a log of your expenses for one week, you can see extra spending that can be eliminated or scaled back. You cantchange spending habitswithout awareness. Make the most of your unemployment benefits. Yes, that means being frugal. But today’s frugality is hip, classy, simple and effective, and can save you thousands! Frugality is about simple steps; cutting back unnecessary spending like Starbucks and McDonalds, learning to save 30% on your grocery bill without ever cutting a coupon, and putting value in the things that matter like family and community, rather than material things like the expensive suit you cannot buy. There is a wealth of information available online, including my blog,that will teach you hints and tips to save money. By using techniques like knowing the sales and buying in season, I have learned to feed my family of 4 for $25 or less per week. This is just one example of what a little preplanning can gain you. Take advantage of discounts and coupons. If you are willing to invest the time, your local Sunday paper has so much more than the classified employment ads…pull out those grocery ads and use them to make your shopping list, and then clip those coupons and take them along, too. Between coupons and shopping techniques, I save thousands of dollars each year on the things my family needs. Research local free entertainment. Libraries and community groups often have story time for young children, low cost fairs and festivals on the weekends, and cultural groups frequently have celebrations where you can hear music, dance, and try foodfrom other cultures. Unemployment is a rough season in any family’s life. But by maintaining the right attitude yourself and helping facilitate the right atmosphere in your home, you can make it much more tolerable. If you are willing to make certain concessions, cut back on extra spending, and research resources in your area, you will not only stretch your unemployment dollar and survive, but you will live a richer and fuller life and thrive. For more information onfrugality, and additional tips on how to survive and thrive on a smaller budget including a21-day eCourse on frugality planned for later this fall, please visit Nadiasblog, A-B-C Frugality.