Related Posts
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Download the Fishbowl app to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Copy and paste embed code on your site

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Assuming I could get my unemployment insurance started up fairly quickly I'd be okay for a while. I had some financial problems during the pandemic that freaked me out so I started saving what I could and built up an emergency fund. Between whatever unemployment pays, and my savings, I could hold on for months, but I don't think I could last for a year. I do get worried when I hear how long it's taking people to find jobs, it is definitely a scary time.
I keep a few months of living expenses in my savings account for this reason. I'd say a minimum of six months. It sucks because I would love to be investing that money, but I need it to be relatively liquid in case of a job loss. My husband just got laid off, and while we can live on my income, we will definitely be dipping into savings a little bit, and it sucks.
Chief
This question honestly scares me too. I think many of us are closer to the edge than we admit. It has pushed me to quietly build buffers where I can, even if they feel small.
FYI: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/economy/us-jobs-data-layoffs-hiring
I could survive 1 month. My last bout of unemployment was 17 months and drained my savings. I’m currently looking for other jobs as my current one doesn’t pay enough to pay my bills. We didn’t get increases last year and we got a 7% medical increase.