How to Deal with Money Between Jobs- PersonalProfitability.com

How to Deal with Money Between Jobs

Searching for a new job can be stressful, especially if you've got bills to pay and a family to look after. While you are on the hunt for your next job, be sure to keep to a strict budget to make sure your emergency fund lasts until your next job starts. Here are some of the best ways you can survive without income and manage your money between jobs.

bicycle in front of work sign, How to deal with money between jobs
bike

Cut Your Transportation Costs to Save Money Between Jobs

The cheapest (and healthiest) ways to get around are cycling and by foot. If you don't already have a bike the expense might sound like a lot, but with gas and maintenance, you might make your money back in less than a month. Take a look at Craigslist for a cheap commuter bike for sale. You can often find one for less than $100. If you can go completely without, you might be able to save as much as $100 per month on insurance (or more depending on your policy) and $50-$100 per month on gas. That $150, or even just a couple of months of fill-ups, can cover the cost of the bike. Or just walk if you live in an urban area for free.

Stick to a Budget and Manage Your Money Between Jobs

Until you find work, your finances are likely to be pretty limited, so don't just spend as you go without thinking about the future. You'll need to set a budget and stick to it while in between jobs. Budgeting used to be a lot of work, but with free online tools like Empower or Mint, you can track your budget for free online without doing much work. PowerWallet is free and offers great advice to get you started budgeting if you are new to tracking your finances. The first budget you create doesn't have to be super detailed or complicated.

Your budget can simply list out high-level categories like rent, bills, food, transportation, entertainment, and everything else. Your budget should assign all costs to one of those buckets and you can track it against a goal. Make sure enough money is set aside to cover your essential monthly costs before you spend anything on things you don't really need. Every penny counts when you are living without an income.

Remember that a budget while you are working, is different from managing your money between jobs. After you find your next gig, you can adjust your budget to fit your new income.

Save Money Where You Can

Coupons can save you a lot of money on spending you have to do, like groceries and personal care items. You can find coupons in the newspaper or on popular coupon websites. My favorite coupon tool is the free Chrome plugin Honey, which searches for coupons on purchases you are about to make online.

The easiest way to save, though, is by cutting your spending. Really think about each purchase before you spend the money. Only buy what you need and hold off on wants until you have income again. You'll be surprised how much you can cut if you put your mind to it.

Earn More!

The best way to get by is to earn more. Even if you have a full-time job right now, you can always earn more on the side. I make money on weekends and evenings in my web design, freelance writing, and social media management business. I also had a business that ran flash mobs. Combined I made more than $1,000 each month on the side.

Even if you make $5,000 or $20,000 each month, earning more on the side is always an option and something that can help you out if you ever get the dreaded pink slip.

How to Bridge a Financial Gap Between Jobs- PersonalProfitability.com How To Deal WIth Money Between Jobs

This post was originally published on December 27, 2010 and updated on June 29, 2022.

3 thoughts on “How to Deal with Money Between Jobs”

  1. The best would be to find that next position before you leave the first. A candidate is much more attractive to a future employer if he/she still has a job. Do something during that period to distinguish yourself from other candidates, like volunteering or an internship. Even if it is unpaid time, it looks better. The networking possibilities are better if you amongst colleagues.
    My recent post What is your New Year’s Resolution

  2. Eric, I couldn’t agree with you more. While it’s best to have something lined up before you job comes to an end, sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. I’m not, however, so sure that it’s a good idea just to have something on your resume that says you were doing something. While internships and volunteering are probably better than sitting around the house, you really should be honing your skills in the area you want to pursue. One option is on demand consulting – sharing the wealth of information you gained at your job with investors or companies looking to expand in the area of your expertise.

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