Job loss has become an unfortunate reality for many people today as we encounter the worst recession in years.  It can be tough to survive without a job.  You wonder where money will come from, how your bills will get paid, what you’ll do for food, how to keep your credit score alive and avoid disastrous activity like bankruptcy.  Here are a few areas you’ll want to cover if you’re facing job loss or have just been let go.

• First item of business: don’t panic.  Clear your thoughts and try not to focus on any anger you may have; let it out and then let it go.  It’s time to direct your attention to the months ahead.

• File immediately for unemployment benefits.  This process can take a long time, so the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.  Of course, your pay will not be anywhere near what you were making at your job, but it’s better than zero income at all when you’re simply trying to survive.
• Start looking for a new job right away.  The job market is tight.  Even if you’re a good fit, you may not get a job you’ve applied for because there are so many others in the same position as you.  One factory near my area has 3000 applicants for one open position.  You have to fight harder than ever to get hired right now, so your search may take longer than you might anticipate.
• If you’ve already lost your job, hopefully you have a savings account of some type to fall back on.  Go ahead and use that to determine how long you can survive before things get to a desperate stage—this will affect your job search time, and may help you stay motivated.  If you’re facing job loss and you don’t have a savings, start one right now.  Even a few dollars a week put away can add up and come in handy when you need extra cash.  Money is probably tight for you, but follow the rule “pay yourself first.”  You’ll see that you do have the ability to save up.
• Try to avoid using your credit card unless absolutely necessary.  You could put yourself in a worse position if you start incurring more debt that you cannot immediately pay back.  Your new motto is “Only use the credit card for emergencies.”
• Create a budget and stick to it.  Take a look at your savings and any unemployment (or even severance) benefits you may be getting and compare it to your bills and expenses.  Cut out anything unnecessary.  For example, if you can get by without satellite tv, do so.  You’re going to be spending a lot of time job-hunting anyway; you don’t have time for tv.
• Sell any junk around your home that you don’t need or want.  This will be a temporary fix for some quick cash, but it can help, especially if you have some items that will sell for a decent price either on ebay or at a garage sale.
• Consider picking up a part-time job in the meantime.  Be aware that this option may affect what you can receive in the way of unemployment benefits, but the decision is yours, and it’s particular to your personal situation.  You may even find a part-time job that offers benefits and keeps you going until you find full-time employment.
• Brush up your networking skills.  Keep in touch with your professional contacts if you can.  You may end up hearing about a job opening that isn’t publicized or gain an important and beneficial reference.
• Stay active!  A long job search can become discouraging, especially during a period of unemployment.  Keep in touch with family and friends, exercise on a regular basis, and keep up with your hobbies.  If you’re able, pick up a new book or take a class that can help you hone some existing skills and maybe even learn new ones that can make you more marketable.  Letting yourself become idle is one of the worst things you can do right now.

Your situation is going to be different from someone else’s, but remember that you’re not the only one having to survive without a job.  The recession has hit many businesses and forced them to cut back and lay off employees, even entire departments.  Use every bit of help you can find and every resource at your disposal to ensure you can get by until you find a new job.

Most of us have had to cut back on expenses lately to save money, but that doesn’t mean that we have to stop having fun!  There are cheap ways to keep yourself entertained.  If you need some ideas to spark your creativity, here are a few helpful and cheap ideas:

• Support your local musicians!  Go check out a band.  All it takes is a quick look in the paper or an online search to find the right band to suit your tastes.  Are you open to hearing new music?  Look for original bands.  Do you prefer to sing along to songs you know?  You’ll want a cover band.  You’ll find all of them at bars, clubs, and festivals, and you can dance the night away for a small cover charge or even for free!
• Speaking of venues, attend local festivals during the summer months.  You’ll find a range of possibilities, from church festivals to county and state fairs.  Admission can be cheap or even free, and you’ll get to hear those bands you found, try out new food (perhaps on a stick—chocolate-covered bacon or deep-fried Snickers, anyone?), and maybe experience a taste of other cultures.
• If movies are your thing, consider a matinee instead of an evening show.  It’s the same movie no matter what time you go, and matinees are always cheaper.
• If you’re an active person who prefers to be outdoors, then get outdoors!  Go play in the park—you’re never too old.  Round up a few friends and get a basketball, volleyball, baseball, or Frisbee game going.  You’ll get some great exercise, and you don’t even have to pay for this one.
• Find your local hiking trails or bike paths and hit the pavement.  Go for a walk or a bike ride or rollerblading.  This one is free, too (bonus if your trail has a little café or ice cream shop along the way).
• Take a class!  Go ahead and take the time to learn a new skill or talent that you’ve always thought about learning.  Take a look into your libraries, schools, and community centers.  Many short classes such as cooking, drawing, dancing, music, etc., can be relatively cheap and only last a few weeks.
• If you’re not the outdoorsy type, there are still many options if you’d just like to stay home.  Invite a few friends (or just keep it you and your significant other) and have a game night.  Play cards or board games, even videogames.  Or keep it low-key and rent a couple movies, get some popcorn, a settle in!
• Stay home and get the grill going.  Host a cookout with family and/or friends.  Have everyone bring a side dish and hang out!

This is just the start.  Get creative and be sure to search every available local source.  Some events may be listed only in certain newspapers or on certain websites, but you’ll never find them if you don’t look!  You might be surprised at the number or cheap (or free) fun activities you’ll come across when you just dig a little deeper.

Work can be a stressful place.  If you find yourself excessively tired and easily irritable, it could be due to stress at work.  Perhaps it’s draining you to the point where you can’t even enjoy your time after work because you’re too exhausted to do the things you want to do.  Here are a few tips to help you reduce your stress and live a little easier.

Things To Do At Work

• Arrive on time.  In fact, arrive a little earlier if you can.  If you allow yourself the opportunity to either have a few quiet moments to yourself or even get going on a pending project before others show up to interrupt you, your day can be a little easier.
• Add personality to your workspace.  Bring a few pictures that make you smile, set up a plant or two, or post a few witty sayings by your computer.  Making your space reflect you can make it more comfortable and inviting to work in.
• Avoid negative people.  You probably work with someone who does nothing but complain.  There’s one in every crowd, and you’ve probably played into their whining and even joined in.  Try not to match their emotion.  A positive attitude can go a long way.
• Smile and be happy!  There’s always going to be something to worry or complain about.  If it’s not one thing, it’s another.  But if you smile, crack jokes, and laugh, your mood will be lifted, making it easier to push through the difficult projects.  Even a brief fake smile or laugh can usually trigger a real one, releasing endorphins and happy hormones into your body.  Hang onto them!
• If something has become upsetting, don’t let yourself explode immediately.  Try to stay calm.  Breathe deeply—if you try to breathe through your nose only, it can force you to take slower breaths.  Take a brief break if necessary.  Get up and walk around, head outside, and just get away for a moment.  You’ll give yourself time to clear your thoughts, and you might even return with a plan and feel less overwhelmed.
• Work on your time management skills.  Try to plan your day, and take projects one step at a time.  It’s easier to stay focused if you hone in on only one thing and block out the rest until you get there.
• Say no.  If you’re truly swamped, it’s okay to refuse to help on someone else’s project.  Just do it nicely: “I’d love to help, but I just have too much on my plate right now.”  Practice saying no if you have to, especially if you know you’re always saying yes and then regretting it.

Things To Do At Home

• Get enough sleep.  This one is always tough, especially when you have a busy schedule.  But if you can make some adjustments so that you can get enough sleep, you’ll have the energy you’re supposed to have in the morning.
• Eat right.  You can (and should) even make this a task at work, too.  Greasy and processed foods do not provide the right kind of calories and energy for your body.  In fact, try being strict about eating well for just one week.  You’ll notice quite a difference if you try to eat a sugary snack or greasy burger in the following weeks.  You won’t feel as good as if you had chosen something like a piece of fruit or a homemade sandwich on whole grain bread.  Instead, you’ll feel your food sitting like a rock in your stomach, and you’ll feel sluggish.
• Work out on a regular basis.  Even just twenty minutes of exercise a few times a week can increase your energy levels.  It may sound backwards, since you’re expending energy while working out, but you will notice a boost in your energy as your endurance level increases.  If you can increase the amount of time you can work out, even better.  Find a program that you enjoy and can easily stick to, whether it’s a simple morning walk or an intense cardio dance exercise video.
• Avoid alcohol and nicotine.  It’s common to view these as relaxation tools, but they’re really doing damage to your body and your health, and it’s having an impact on your energy and stress levels at work.  Having a drink as a regular way to unwind after work can lead to dependency and abuse (not to mention, it’s ruining that healthy diet you just adopted).  And while many people look to smoking to calm their nerves, nicotine is actually a stimulant, working to increase your anxiety level.

While all of these steps can help you, don’t create more stress on yourself by feeling like you have to attempt all of them at once.  If you think you can easily work through them all, go for it, but don’t be afraid to take them one step at a time if necessary.  Happy relaxing!