Making Ends Meet While Unemployed: Moving to a More Affordable Home
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Making Ends Meet While Unemployed: Moving to a More Affordable Home
Rent and mortgage payments account for the bulk of our monthly bills. Therefore, by finding a place to live that costs less, you are putting less strain on the savings that you have, which will help this finite amount of cash last a little bit longer. In a time when you may not know when you will find work or when you will start bringing in a paycheck again, this is one step that you simply cannot afford not to take. Still, moving to a new home is going to cost you in and of itself; so make sure that you heed the following cost-saving advice so that you can get the most from each and every dollar that you have saved for an emergency such as losing your job.
Cutting Costs – Moving and Otherwise
One thing that you will have to do when you are looking at moving to a home that is more affordable so that your savings can outlast your unemployment involves cutting costs as low as you can possibly cut them. When you are moving, you can easily cut costs by hundreds of dollars just by hiring good moving companies to move your things rather than getting stuck as a victim of a moving scam. This will take some research, so plan ahead and plan to spend a good chunk of time looking at the reputations and consumer reports on various movers. You can save hundreds of dollars more by opting to use recycled moving boxes as well. Not only will this save you money, it will help the environment as well. Finally, make sure that you are not making any new bills along the way. When you are unemployed, you should not make any purchases unless they directly pertain to your move or finding a new job. This will help you cut costs enough to ensure your survival through these tough economic times.
Accept Help – It’s Out There
Some people are not very quick to accept help. For reasons of pride, people might not want to ask for help. Other people think that there are others who are worse off, so taking some form of help might reduce what the less fortunate have. Whatever the reason for your hesitation, don’t avoid asking, or accepting offers for help. There are various forms of help out there. The government offers financial support to people who are not currently working. They also offer housing help for those who qualify. It is a good idea to apply for this help; if you are not qualified you will not get it, but if you do, then you could have a much easier time in dealing with the devastation that comes from losing your only source of income. When moving, don’t turn away the help of friends and family members. Moving everything that you own to a new home can be difficult and complex; get help when you can so that you can make the process just a little bit easier.
Cheap or Free – Supplies, Entertainment, Necessities
While you might be used to going out and shopping for the things that you need and want, losing your job puts things in a whole new perspective. Now, instead of purchasing everything new, you need to search for things and methods of doing what you used to for free or reasonably cheap. This goes for moving as much as it does for everything else in your life. Instead of buying those movies that you want to watch, or renting them when they first are released, consider opting for a streaming Netflix account or simply borrowing movies from the local library. When you are moving to a new home with help from moving companies, consider packing things with your own linens instead of purchasing packing paper or other moving supplies. Finally, check out your local goodwill and seek out second hand merchandise instead of looking to make all of your purchases brand new.
Moving Out, Moving Up – Control of your Financial Life
While moving to a new home comes with costs of its own, you never have to worry about meeting the outrageous cost of your monthly mortgage payment if you find a cheaper option. Taking this first step, which might be difficult if you are leaving a home you have lived in for a long time, will help get your financial life on track for success even when you currently don’t have a job. Instead of paying out a huge chunk of money and leaving little for the other aspects of your life, you can save your money and stretch it out over time so that you can survive this financial crisis without totally derailing your finances. Hopefully you find work soon, but if it takes a while, at least you know that you and your family will be well cared for in the interim.
