I lost my job at the end of February. Not having to commute a hundred miles a day, nor eat in the company cafeteria twice a day leaves me about breaking even on unemployment, possibly even a slight bit ahead compared to when I was working. When my 26 weeks runs out, there is a 33 week federal emergency extension available, and when that runs out, there is a 13 week state emergency extension. There really are no jobs to speak of around here, and I have paid into unemployment insurance for almost three decades, so I have no problem collecting my checks well into next spring if it is necessary.
I still have not touched my 401k, which survived the market turmoils with a gain, having pulled out of the markets in Feb 2007. So if by next spring I still cannot find work, I could scrape by for several more years on that. My property has no debt, nor do my vehicles. I do have a fair amount of CC debt, but I am able to make the payments, pay my other bills, eat, and still have a little money left over (or at least not cut into my savings). I have no dependents except a dog, so I'm doing OK.
I guess you could call me one of the "funemployed". I do my required work searches, as futile as they may be, but I don't stress about it at all. In fact, my blood pressure has reduced remarkably since I stopped working, just from the reduction in daily stress.
My only problem is I spend too much time screwing off on the innernets, and not enough time doing all those things around the homestead that I wished I had the time to do when I was working my ass off.
I feel for those who have multiple mouths to feed, and a mortgage to pay. I'm glad I'm not in that boat. For me, this Obamapacolypse is more of a mandatory extended sabbatical.
