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7 Great Things About Unemployment and Living Cheap Print E-mail
(12 votes, average 4.50 out of 5)
Personal Finance - Education
Written by frugal nomad   
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7 Great Things About Unemployment and Living Cheap
Dead End No More
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For some time now, I've been harping on the bogus government unemployment statistics. At the very minimum, 17%, if not 20% of the workforce is either out of work or seriously underemployed. These figures don't begin to tell half the story because the cast of characters who make up the pool of unemployed workers is constantly changing. What I mean by that, is that Joe Smith might be unemployed today but when he gets a job next week, chances are that another American, maybe his wife or his neighbor, will replace him on the unemployment line. This recession could very well inflict periodic unemployment on as many as one out of every three workers. So, given those odds, it's worthwhile to muse on how best to deal with a pink slip. Not to minimize the trauma of dealing with a major loss of income or having to put your career on hold, but there is a silver lining or those who have mastered the art of cheap living. If you've saved your pennies and have a low cost lifestyle, a few months of unemployment can end up being like a welcome sabatical.

Here's 7 ways to kick back and make the best of it.

Physically Fit:

While your former co-workers grind out the late nights trying to hold on to their jobs, you'll be free to spend endless hours on the treadmill, taking yoga classes, or pumping some serious iron. In a few months, you'll be looking buff while they'll be complaining that they haven't seen the inside of the gym since Bush was President. The real payback comes when you head to the beach this coming summer. And being in top physical condition might help you land a great job.

World Travel:

While those unemployment checks keep coming in, you could be spending them in New Zealand or Argentina and taking advantage of super cheap off-season rates. If any of your resumes get pulled they can still contact you via email or leave a voicemail. In this economy, chances are that it will take time to land another job, so why worry? Take in the grandeur of the pyramids or the Taj Mahal before you have to return to the 40 hour work week.

Bond with your Family:

While both your nuclear and extended family took a back seat as pressing deadlines kept you at the office way past 5 o'clock, your new schedule will have you licking ice cream cones with the kids and actually spending quality time with your spouse. In fact, you may see so much of your family that they start handing out your resume on street corners.

Doc Me Up:

Another great health benefit is your ability to see a whole host of doctors that you were too busy for when you punched the clock every day. With your temporary COBRA benefits, you'll be getting as much medical attention as you can handle and making certain that you have no big issues. You never know, your lay-off might just save your life.



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mjs  - great time to brush up on skills |2010-06-21 10:20:27
I spent my time unemployed learning to work with the Adobe suite, building websites and exploring my creative side. I did try to get funding for education, but unfortunately they wouldn't consider me due to the fact I already had my Bachelor's degree (pretty stupid, I think - how many people get their Bachelor's in the thing they end up doing?).
Despite the fact that my skills weren't fully formed, I was able to land a job as a webmaster and got myself out of the temping/admin rut I had been in for years, that was slowly killing my spirit. Since then I've continued to take classes, and I've learned so much since then and I'm solidly a baby web developer now. Although it was terrible for me financially for awhile, I'm grateful for the time I had to focus on learning how to do something I love.
Topher  - I agree, improve your skills |2010-06-21 10:37:36
I spent my time un- and under-employed studying to be a certified Java Programmer (per Sun's tests). Ironically I finally got a job interview on a Thursday, took the certification test that Saturday (and passed), and was offered the job on the following Monday -- without the employer knowing I had the certification! But it was very clear that my new knowledge got me that job; I aced the interview.
Sleuth  - Unemployment! |2010-02-08 13:04:59
Unemployment allows you to look at what you are doing to make a living and how that is affecting your life and the total picture. For some people it is the first time they have had a chance to take a close look at their career under a microscope. More often than not it is not what they thought they would be doing with their lives. It can become a golden opportunity to reassess and move on to a position in time that is more truly reflective of their skills and talent.Hopefully they have stashed away enough to carry them until the day arrives that they find that special job.
 
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