How I’m Living with No Income and Managing My Money Wisely
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you already know that I’m currently unemployed. My unemployment benefits ended in September, and for the past few weeks, I haven’t had any income coming in. That kind of sudden stop brings a lot of uncertainty — and a healthy dose of “get it together.” It can feel isolating, like the world keeps moving while you’re standing still.
Thankfully, my situation is better than most. I live with my parents rent-free, my car is fully paid off, and I’ve built up over $20,000 in emergency savings. That safety net has made this transition easier, but it’s still teaching me valuable lessons about intentional living. Sure, I’d love to hop on a plane to Japan for a month — but that would wipe out my savings in an instant. This is a season of patience, not indulgence.
So how long could I actually last? My essential bills — car insurance, electricity, and phone — total around $250 a month. Add in groceries, an occasional meal out, a gym membership, and random expenses like the recent car alignment I didn’t plan for, and my total lands around $1,000 a month. If I stripped everything down and lived like a monk, I could probably survive on $500 a month. That would give me roughly 40 months of breathing room. Of course, life never sticks perfectly to the budget, so I’ll keep adjusting along the way and pick up small income where I can, like driving for Uber.
When I first lost my job, I immediately started trimming the fat. I canceled subscriptions and memberships that didn’t add real value. I stopped my $90 chiropractor plan, cut a $200 Pilates membership that I wasn’t benefiting from, and paused other services like Kindle Unlimited and ChatGPT. It’s funny — once I admitted I didn’t use them much, it became easy to let go. Those small cuts started adding up, both financially and mentally. It’s freeing to not feel like you “owe” monthly payments to so many things.
The emotional side of unemployment hit harder than the financial part. The moment I realized the benefits had stopped, I felt this wave of panic — like the world was shrinking around me. Suddenly, I couldn’t just grab dinner with friends or head to the movies without thinking about the cost. Every dollar started to feel heavier. That panic quickly turned into motivation. I doubled down on my job search, applying for a few roles each day, trying to rebuild some structure and progress.
But in the quiet moments between applications, I’ve found unexpected peace. Without the constant pull of spending, I’m rediscovering simpler joys — reading, writing, playing free games, and working more on this blog. I’m realizing that happiness isn’t always tied to money or constant activity. There’s a kind of calm that comes from slowing down, even if it wasn’t by choice.
My next move is simple: get a job, rebuild my savings, and find a sense of financial momentum again. I want to move forward, not just coast. Not having income for this long has shown me that money isn’t everything, but stability sure makes life smoother. I’m hopeful that sharing this chapter of my life will help someone else who’s in the same boat — feeling behind, unsure, or stuck.
If you’re living without income right now, know that it’s okay to slow down and reassess. Take inventory of what you really need, cut out the rest, and use this time to reset your direction. Track what you have, stay patient, and remember — your worth isn’t tied to your paycheck. You can rebuild. I’m doing it one day at a time, and you can too.
