In this unstable and harsh economy, being terminated from your job can feel like a death sentence. But, with these tips on how you can make ends meet and keep your household stable, you won’t have to give into defeat and despair.

Cancel All Excessive Expenses

Being out of a job means that you’ve lost your access to a renewable source of income. Because of the finality of such a situation, it is detrimental to your ability to overcome the situation should you continue to maintain unnecessary expenses such as gym memberships, entertainment subscriptions, hobbies that require you to spend money, or any other expense that would take money away from your utilities and your food supply. You must begin to think in survival mode if you find yourself unemployed and that means ending all excessive and useless expenses.

Consider Legal Recourse

It may surprise you to learn that not all employers can fire their employees indiscriminately and without warning. Depending on the employment regulations in your state, you may have options to fight your termination. If you feel that you’ve been wrongfully terminated by your employer, do not hesitate to search for a lawyer who specializes in employment law. Or, if it’s a personal injury case, make sure to speak with a personal injury lawyer. Winning a wrongful termination lawsuit against your former employer will definitely help you to make ends meet and support your family until you find gainful employment again.

Take Odd Jobs While Job Hunting

Searching for a new job is a full-time job itself. It can be draining on your soul and on your time, but if you play your cards right, you can have potential employers finding you instead of you looking for them. Spend some time creating a resumé that can be posted on employment websites where employers can search for you based on your special skills and experience. Meanwhile, try looking around your city for odd jobs at local establishments or around your neighborhood. Even if they pay under the table, any money is better than no money.

Look into Working Online from Home

This option can net you a differing range of profits depending on which path you take. There are many get-rich-quick-from-working-at-home schemes that are simply designed to waste your time and steal your information, so if you decide to try working from home, be sure to research the company thoroughly. This is a comprehensive list of ways to make money from home using only your computer and an internet connection. You won’t get rich, but you’ll be able to keep your family afloat until you find more lucrative employment.

As an additional tip, find out if you can collect unemployment benefits while you search for a new job. If you don’t qualify to collect unemployment benefits, try borrowing from your life insurance policy (if you have one) or taking out a small loan to tide you over.