Work & money

How Long Can I Afford to Be Unemployed?

Lost Your Job? Get Income, Cut Costs and Make Your Savings Last

Losing your job can be stressful, especially when bills keep arriving and you don't know when your next paycheque will come. Your savings aren't necessarily your only option. You may qualify for financial assistance, be able to reduce your monthly bills, or find temporary income while looking for your next job. Start by checking how long your money might last, then explore practical ways to improve your situation.

6 min readReviewed 25 September 2026General information worldwide

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How long can your money last?

Enter your savings, essential monthly costs and income you can rely on. Enter 0 if you have none.

Where do you live?Available savingsMonthly essentialsContinuing monthly income

What should I include?

Savings: Money available for living costs, including final wages or a confirmed lump sum once received. Leave out restricted retirement funds, credit limits and any reserve you intend to keep.

Monthly essentials: Housing, food, utilities, insurance, transport, required debt payments and essential family costs. Include housing once and average irregular bills across the year.

Continuing income: Dependable take-home income, including benefits already being paid. Leave out pending claims and money already counted as savings.

Enter your savings, monthly essentials and continuing income above, and select your country, to see how long your money could last.

What if you cut your expenses?

Reduce monthly spending by 10%

Use this estimate as a starting point. It assumes your monthly income and essential costs stay the same. Update it when your circumstances change, and allow for unexpected bills. The spending reduction is a scenario to compare, not a promised saving.

Check financial support in your country

Check what support is available before using up your savings.

Select your country above to see relevant programmes and official links.

Enable JavaScript to select a country and calculate an estimate. Official support links:

United States

Unemployment Insurance. Temporary payments for eligible people who have lost work. Eligibility and payments vary by state.
SNAP food assistance. Help with grocery costs for eligible households.
Find local assistance. Find food, housing, utility and other community support.

Australia

United Kingdom

Universal Credit. Financial help for eligible people on a low income or out of work.
New Style Jobseeker's Allowance. Support for eligible people with sufficient National Insurance contributions.
Benefits calculators. Check which benefits you may be entitled to.

New Zealand

Jobseeker Support. Financial help for eligible people looking for work or unable to work.
Accommodation Supplement. Help with eligible housing costs.
Other urgent costs. Check help available for immediate and essential costs.

Canada

Employment Insurance. Temporary income support for eligible unemployed workers.
Benefits Finder. Find federal benefits and other support that may apply to you.

Also check whether your former employer owes you final wages, unused leave, redundancy or severance payments.

Reduce your bills and make your savings last longer

Start with costs you can reduce without putting essential needs at risk. Mark the changes you want to investigate below, then use the spending slider above to compare a realistic reduction.

Keep essential medication, necessary insurance and other critical expenses in your budget.

Changes to investigateGroceries: Plan meals, compare unit prices and try cheaper alternatives.Mobile and internet: Compare plans or ask your provider for a better rate.Electricity and gas: Check available plans, concessions and hardship arrangements.Subscriptions: Pause or cancel services you are not using.Insurance: Compare renewal quotes while keeping necessary cover.Rent or mortgage: Ask about hardship arrangements before missing a payment.Debt repayments: Contact lenders early about temporary assistance.

Find ways to earn money while looking for work

Temporary income can help cover bills while you look for a permanent role. Consider part-time or casual work, short-term contracts, freelancing, tutoring or local services that use skills you already have.

Selling items you no longer need can add to your available savings. Treat this as a one-off amount rather than recurring monthly income.

Avoid opportunities that require substantial upfront payments or promise easy income. Earnings can affect benefits, so check your programme’s reporting rules.

What if your savings are running low?

Prioritise housing, food, utilities, necessary transport and medication. Check which bills fall due next: a delayed payout can leave a gap even when the monthly estimate looks manageable.

If an essential payment is at risk, contact that provider before it is overdue and ask about hardship arrangements. The assistance links above are starting points for finding other support.

Use the time remaining to decide how urgently to act, rather than treating it as a deadline. Your obligations, available support and likely hiring timeline matter more than a fixed number of months.

Plan your return to work

Update your CV, contact former colleagues and professional networks, and focus applications on suitable vacancies.

If you need income soon, prioritise work you can start quickly. If your finances allow more time, explore training or a career change while keeping a buffer for essential costs.

Your situation is personal

Not sure what to do first?

Everyone’s circumstances are different. You might need to find income immediately, reduce household costs, change careers or make several difficult decisions at once. The MeaningfulNext Universal Decision Tool can help you explore options for your situation and organise practical steps for today, the next seven days and the next month.

Explore My Financial Options

Common questions

Questions people often ask

Should I include unemployment benefits in my estimate?

Include payments you're already receiving. If you've applied but haven't been approved, wait for confirmation before relying on that money in your main estimate.

Should I include retirement savings?

Generally keep retirement savings separate unless you know you can legally access them and understand any taxes, penalties or long-term consequences.

What if my monthly income covers all essential expenses?

Your savings may not be needed for regular monthly expenses, although unexpected costs can still arise.

How often should I check my estimate?

Revisit it whenever your income or essential expenses change, and regularly while you're looking for work.

Sources and further reading