This section is about finding ways to cut costs and access free products and services. I wrote this with survival during unemployment on my mind, but most of the ideas discussed are useful at any point of life. For information on filing for unemployment, check out my Unemployed in Massachusetts post, and for information on getting and staying employed, check out my Employment post.
Note that this content is fluid, as I research to add new, improve existing, and remove outdated information. Because of this, if you reference my blog, please be sure to include the update date in your source. If your document is important, it's recommended to print out the blog as it is at the moment you access it, and keep in handy in case it is needed for your sources.
Unemployment has tremendous impact on lifestyle. Adjusting can be difficult and many fall into the trap of using a credit card to maintain their current lifestyle. A few months of debt can take years to pay off even after one regains income. When unemployed, the solutions need to start with free, move to cheap, then go into debt only for living essentials. This article acts as a guide to meet the majority of needs through free resources.
There are three vital resources to anyone unemployed or underemployed: the library, giveaway websites, and community farms or a personal garden.
First Resource: Libraries
Many think of libraries as the place they had to go flip through card catalogs to find musty old books for reports in high school. Many great opportunities are missed due to this stereotype. A local library now can fill many needs, including job seeking, internet access, and classes. Instead of spending money on a book about resumes or job hunting, ask the reference librarian. He or she not only will show you the best books on the subject, but also may be able to guide you to additional community or internet resources. Most libraries now have free internet for patrons, so one can save a lot of money on paying for internet by utilizing this resource. Cancelling internet and cable saves a huge chunk of funds, and libraries carry DVDs for free, so you don’t even have to give up entertainment!
Second Resource: Giveaway Websites
Free websites, such as Freecycle and the free section of Craigslist, often are severely underutilized by people who would most benefit from their use. This often is because when one tries to minimize expenses, the internet is one of the first things to go; as mentioned above, using the free internet at the library will save you that money while still allowing access to such a vital resource. Many people post items they wish to give away on Freecycle. The majority of the items are in great condition, posted either because someone is looking to clear up space, or because they inherited unwanted items, or other reasons that have no effect on quality. Checking Freecycle once per day for needed items and posting a “wanted” message for needs before buying them will conserve a large amount of money. One of the first things to look for is something to help cook your own food cheaper. For example, one could ask if anyone has a rice cooker or slow cooker they no longer need. (Note: one must resist the temptation to ask for every interesting item. Excessive clutter can impede efforts to accomplish money saving tasks, such as cooking meals from scratch.)
Third Resource: Community Farm or Personal Garden.
To reduce expenses while unemployed, one may grow one’s own food or get a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share. Many farms offer the choice of paying for an entire summer of food up front or working for a share. The work often is minimal, only a few hours per week, and the return is vast. I was fortunate enough to benefit from this program at Hanson's Farm while I was unemployed. Alternately, if the living situation is appropriate, home gardening while using free compost is a fantastic way to get free, fresh food. Many garden clubs meet at libraries and are happy to offer a few extra plants as they thin them out. Freecycle, again, is a great resource which one may use to request specific plants from anyone who has extra to give. To grow a garden, one must either have a plot of land in which to plant or must use garden boxes, but utilizing freecycle helps porch-gardening significantly, as one can get compost, plants, and containers that others view as trash but can be repurposed as gardening boxes, a compost bin, or hanging planters.
Following these three simple tips will dramatically ease the financial burden while unemployed, as well as providing great resources to continue to use for improved standard of living after employment is achieved.
Last updated: 21 Feb. 2012.
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