Unemployment: Live Cheap. Stay Busy.
Nov 18, 2008
Author: Maria | Filed under: Knick Knacks | Tags: books, coffee, food, magazine, unemployment
Yesterday I was laid off of my full-time job of about one and a half years. This means: free time, no money. I figured I’d write a post to mark the occasion.
I will accept the following at maria@stickersanddonuts.com: job tips, presents, money, condolences.

- Good Magazine. This graphically designed wonder is focused on issues important to moving our world forward. And, you can get it for as little as ONE DOLLAR. No matter how much you spend, all proceeds go to charity. You don’t even need to prove you’re unemployed!
- French Press ($13, Ikea). If you can no longer drink office coffee or afford the Starbucks-splurge, then a French Press might be the cheapest and easiest way to get your drug-fix — especially because you can use it to make milk FOAM (latte, perhaps?). (REALLY, just pour the milk in and pump it up and down. If you’re using skim milk, it should be cold or it doesn’t foam as well.)
- The Office (or any TV series). A good television series or two can keep you occupied for weeks! The Office is a good choice because you don’t HAVE to go to an office everyday. Ways you can watch The Office for cheap? New episodes are free online, Netflix them, buy ‘em cheap at half.com, or check the library.
- Get some good, inexpensive wine, and drink yourself into oblivion. I mean. Don’t do that! You’re not UNEMPLOYED; you’re FREE. Drink yourself silly with happiness?
- Get Crafty. Use ReadyMade’s free Project Archive to get organized or make things. Since you have lots of time, but hardly any money, you can make your family some fun holiday gifts, like weirdly shaped soaps. You don’t have a job. They’ll forgive you.
- Go to the library. As noted in #3, you can find good stuff at the library. You can catch up on the one million books you’ve been meaning to read. To get closer to your own laid-off / fired / unemployed pain, try Then We Came to the End, about an advertising agency going through a business downturn. Really funny!
Other Posts You Might Like:- French Paper (& possibly a free t-shirt)
- got a cow made of a milk carton?
- Chinese Food in Flushing
- Friday?
- Clarity!
13 Responses for "Unemployment: Live Cheap. Stay Busy."
I’m really excited about the “your family and friends will understand why you’re not giving them a nice gift because you have no money” part. I was starting to worry that I hadn’t thought at all about christmas gifts yet.
Aside from Oprah’s list of $15 and under wines, I suggest Trader Joes (Union Sq if you’re from NYC) for $4 bottles of wine. I’m a fan of the shiraz.
Congrats on unemployment, Maria.
Trader Joe’s $4 Riesling is great! Maria you forgot the chocolate!
Oh, no! Well, on the up-side, now you’ve got more time to do anything you may have been wishing you had time to do. Best Wishes!
Also, this is my favorite ready made project: http://readymade.com/project/travel_light
I’ve been thinking about making one for so long! First I have to find a drill! And take pictures worthy of a lamp!
sorry to hear it! is the upside more stickers and donuts? :)
aw maria. sending you super good vibes regardless.
but lols, i love your post.
Aww! I’m sorry. Good luck with finding a new job when the time is right. I take it from your post that you’re not in immediate financial peril– how old are you, anyway? Not that you need to answer that, I just assumed you were around my age. (I’m nineteen, and if you’re way older please take this as a compliment rather than ignorant slander. XD)
Thanks everyone for the comments & good vibes : )! It means a lot. Perhaps Stickers & Donuts will get the benefit of my unemployment as Emily suggested? Although I spent all day today trying to file various insurance claims!
Rachel, I’m twenty-four (the dentist I went to the other day thought I was nineteen, actually!) and, though I pay my own everything, I am not in immediate financial peril. It will be tight, but with a steady diet of ramen noodles I think I can stay afloat.
At least this will be an opportunity to focus on your grad school applications! And if you invite us over for dinner, Matthew and I will stock your fridge with leftovers!
Oh, Maria … not you too!! I got the same axe on Friday.
Hang in there. E-mail me and tell me your new-job needs (type/location) and let me put my thinking cap on.
oh my gosh! Much luck to you! Great tips in the meantime!
xo, Jessie–
Thanks for the tips. I got laid off last Friday. I really should stop going to cafes and make my way to Ikea to buy that French Press.
Enjoy this time of unemployement, cuz it won’t last forever.
Hugzzz, Mel
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