Deals.Woot

@thegarageband: I've never been unemployed for any length of time, and have never claimed unemployment benefits, but I just want to offer you my sympathy. I wish I had answers for you, but I do not.

I do know that you'll probably use up a day filing for them. It's a bureaucracy, everyone's understaffed these days, and I'm sure it's like the DMV, or similar. Just take a book, and maybe a snack, and settle yourself in for the day.

Again, my sympathy.

Being unemployed sucks. When I was unemployed, I felt like crap because I was at home ALL THE TIME. I never wanted to go anywhere just in case someone called regarding an application I submitted. Plus, It wasn't very much money and I didn't want to go out and spend anything unnecessarily. I would suggest that if you have credit cards and they are paid off, get rid of them. Or at least put them away and pay cash as often as possible. I am thousands in debt because I put things on credit while I was unemployed (stupid, I know).

All I can say is keep at it and stay determined. Be willing to settle for less if it can help you in the long run. Unemployment benefits will continue if you are making less than they cover. It is likely that you will get a percentage increase if you are working. I ended up taking a part time job because I needed to do something and it helped me to eventually land the best job I ever had.

Twice. Only for a week each time. Funny thing is as soon as I filed each time I got on somewhere within a week.

First time I was let go and couldn't find anything for over a month, almost 2 so I filed and ended up getting a job 3 days later. It helped though because first paycheck was so weak.

Second time I couldn't find anything after 3 months and filed but never heard back so I assumed I got denied. Come end of the year and I get a tax form saying that I received said amount. Not enough to file, but a reminder.
I called asking WTF and the guy said they put it on the old debit card from 3 years before. Told him I trashed it and he mailed me a new one with the amount on it. Used it on my new TV.

Unemployment itself sucks. Out everyday grinding to find something, worrying about paying bills, and the boredom. It will drive you insane if you let it.
Filing for unemployment isn't that bad anymore. You can usually do it all online, I did. Takes about 20-30 mins.

If you are a young person with no family obligations, look at this time while collecting unemployment benefits as an opportunity to change career paths if the one you have seems like a dead end. Go to school to prepare yourself for a rewarding career in an area of interest. If that is impossible for whatever reason, it is s till a time to sit back, take a deep breath and reevaluate your life and what you ultimately wish to accomplish while still doing your job search. I sympathize with you and the feelings you must have. It is not always easy to look on the bright side of things, but very often in the darkest of times you find a pathway to something better.