When you are unemployed, you go into survival mode. Whether you're drawing unemployment pay or just flying without a net on whatever you managed to save up at your last job, you're in a tricky position of making rent and bills and buying groceries without running out of money.
Every little bit helps when you're in this position. You can't afford to be careless, and you're going to need to keep tabs on your spending and know exactly how much you have in the bank at any given moment. With that in mind, here are a few tips to make what money you do have go a little farther.
Instant payday loans aren't restricted solely to paycheques. Any money you have coming in, be it from inheritance, unemployment or any other source, there's a good chance that it will qualify you for a payday loan. With loans between £200 and £750 and some very reasonable fees, a cash advance may be what gets you from one job to the next without incident.
Deciding Whether to Move Back Home
This isn't an option for everybody, but if it is, it's worth considering. As a functioning adult, you don't exactly want to go back to your old bedroom in mum and dad's house, but in the end, staying for a couple of months with the family can make the difference between getting a fresh start once you find work, and playing catch up on overdue bills and rent for several months after getting employed again. We're not going to tell you "Go back home," just to weigh the pros and cons for yourself and make an informed, mature decision.
Cut the Fat
At the grocery store, start thinking in terms of what you need to get by. You may have to give up your fresh, premium coffee beans for some pre-ground budget brand of coffee. You may need to give up deli sliced meat for the pre-packaged stuff. You're going to have to sacrifice a lot of your favorite luxury food items, but this can turn a week's grocery budget into two weeks of groceries. This applies to every other aspect of your life too, though. You probably need your phone if you're going to find work, but cable television is a luxury.
Quit Bad Habits
This is perhaps the most stressful time to try and quite smoking or drinking, but that also makes it the best time: If you can quit smoking while looking for a job, you can stay quit. In any event, you can save hundreds a month by quitting, so you have the perfect excuse to take the challenge and save some money.
Most importantly, stay positive. That can be difficult in these trying economic times, but sooner or later, some opportunity or other always opens up.