Losing your job can be very upsetting and stressful, especially when it occurs out of the blue. For most people, their regular job is the primary source of income, so it can be really financially challenging for them. All of a sudden, you will be start worrying about your bills, rents and other debts payment which will become like a herculean task. However, no matter why you had to lose your job, one thing is for sure that it will affect you financially.
In a time like this, you need to stay calm and positive. Yes, there is no denying that losing a job can be really upsetting both emotionally and financially, but there are still ways to tackle this situation and keep yourself financially safe. Here are tips that can help you survive financially even after losing your job. Now, let us begin.
Tip#1 Knock the doors of your credit card company
Losing a job all of a sudden is stressing enough and worrying about the payment of the upcoming monthly payments of your credit card debts make the situation even worse. Luckily, there is a way to get rid of that stress as nowadays many credit card agencies have special programs specifically for the customers who have been going through financial hardships such as job loss, fatal injury, sickness or any other crisis. So, if you too are facing any of these events in your life, then you can reach out your credit card company as they can help you with this special program feature.
Tip#2 Budgeting is really essential
No matter what happens, you have to stick to the budget if you really want to get out of this situation. Your normal budget plan is not going to work here as you no longer have a permanent job for now and relying mostly on your savings. Here, you need an emergency budget which you have to create by analysing your current financial situation rather than your past condition. Having a budget will help you get an idea of how much expense you have to deal with and how much money exactly you have in your pocket to spend. If you somehow feel that your savings will be not adequate to handle the situation or all your savings for this temporary issue, then you can apply for loans for unemployed which can be really helpful as urgent funding is the hour of need.
Tip#3 Increase your networking
Isolating yourself in a room might sound tempting in such situation when you are emotionally disturbed, but you have to get out of the shell. Worrying over things will not make it right, so you will have to get over this fact and start doing something about it. The best thing here you can do is socialise with your family, friends and other closed ones as spending time with others will reduce your stress level drastically. Other than that, they might give you an idea or reference for the vacancy about the job that they have in their mind. This will prove to be immensely helpful in getting the new job quickly and you won’t have to run around every corner of the city for the interview.
Tip#4 Time to enhance your skills
There is a silver lining in every dark cloud, and your unemployment is all the same together. If worked smartly, you can use your unemployment for your own gain. Firstly, you can apply for the benefit that the government provides to the unemployed people and meanwhile use the time to enhance the skills that will eventually help you find the job quickly. You could apply for any certification course or volunteer in any program. This will also work as a plus point during the interviews, where you can mention what you have been doing during the time when you had no job. Apart from that, if you are having any difficulty in managing your expenses, then you can seek financial help. There are lenders in the market who offers loans for people on benefits.
Tip#5 Control your spending habits
In a time like this, you cannot certainly spend in the same manner that you used to do during your job days. Now, you have to spend your limited money smartly. Try to spend money only on the basic necessities that are your genuine needs and not indulge yourself on unnecessary spending. It might take some time to find a new job, so it will be better that you keep your spending to the minimum. However, this doesn’t mean that you should sacrifice in your basic necessities because doing so will ultimately affect your health which is something you cannot ignore.
So, these were the useful tips that can help you survive financially after losing the job. All the tips will help only when you follow them carefully without any making loopholes.
Nicole Dickson is the financial blogger who writes a blog on finance in UK
