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According to the United States Department of Labor, twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia all reported an increase in their unemployment rate.  There was a reported decrease in thirteen states, and eight states reported no change in their unemployment rate (UR).  There was only a 0.4 percent increase in unemployment rate from September 2009 to October 2009 bringing the UR to 10.2 percent.  (www.bls.gov)

 

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Compensation Unemployment is a place where the unemployed community can come together.  Here you will find helpful tips on saving money and information on the national unemployment rate.   In the near future we will be adding an interactive blog feature so you can post your own helpful tips, share job openings you know of in your area, and vent about being unemployed!

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Welcome to Compensation Unemployment

When facing unemployment the first thing that hits your mind is how are you going to pay the bills. There are two words that run through your mind, Compensation and Unemployment. You're concerned with how and where can you find compensation to help with your most immediate needs. You also want to get back to work as soon as possible so you're looking for resources to help you streamline that process as much as possible.

Tips for Saving Money While Unemployed

In these tough economic times it seems that there are more and more people losing their jobs. For many families, adjusting to living on a lower income can be challenging, especially when bills begin to take premise over other essentials, such as food. Below are some tips and suggestions on ways to help make ends meet though these difficult economic times.

Find Money in Your Stuff

One way many people are making a little money is selling things online. Membership to sites such as Craigslist.com, ebay.com and amazon.com are free and easy to sign up for. Some suggestions of things to sell are old books or CD’s; unused tools, kitchenware, clothing, toys, décor and furniture. Of course you could always hold a garage sale during the warmer months to sell some of your unused things. The luxury of using an online service is it can be done from the comfort of your own home. There’s no setting up involved. And, instead of having to spend a weekend tending to a garage sale, you can just monitor your merchandise daily and you will be notified if someone is interested in or purchased any of your items.

Trade and Save

Another clever way to save money is to barter for services. For example, if you are an out of work handyman, mechanic, or any other general laborer, you can offer your services for things such as free haircuts, free dry cleaning, lawn services, or even snow removal. Be creative. It never hurts to ask. Another way to save is to cut and use coupons. Yes, people still clip coupons, surprised? Newspapers often carry ads and coupons in them. Saving a few dollars here and there may not seem like much, but if you save, say ten dollars a week on groceries because you buy things on sale and/or use coupons, you could be saving upwards of $40 a month.

Find Money in the Freezer

Altering your lifestyle is another great way to cut costs so your budget isn’t so stretched. Think of how often you order in, take out or go out to eat. Cooking at is a great, inexpensive way to save money. Many cooking shows and some cookbooks are now focusing on meals that are wallet friendly. Be creative, go to farmer’s markets when they are in season, buy meat in bulk and freeze it in smaller portions, and try not to buy excess or unneeded items like expensive coffee, energy or sports drinks.

Lower to Gain

Lowering your thermostat can help you save on your heating bill. To keep the chill out, consider buying draft stoppers for doors, plastic film for windows or even a space heater to warm living spaces and bedrooms. Consider cancelling or downgrading your television, internet or phone services. Many people are spending over $200 a month on just one or two of these services alone not including cell phone service. Look into switching providers to get a deal or talking to your current service providers to see if there are other ways you can save.

Saving money, whether you’re collecting unemployment or not, is not impossible. Consider the above suggestions the next time you are at the grocery store or need a haircut. Remember, you’re not alone in these tough times, and what better way to overcome all of this than to help each other out.