Unemployed is particularly difficult when you're 50. It's terrifying.  You realize that the work force may not need you anymore and it's almost too late to start over.  What can you do? 

1)  DO be positive.  (See my other guide on How to Cope)  You will survive, even if things are difficult for awhile.  I bet you have never seen any of your unemployed friends, or even aquaintances, standing on a street corner with your sign, "Will Market for Food" or "Will Engineer for Food."  Understand that unemployment can help you learn new strategies, new abilities and new strengths that you did not know you had. 

2) DO take a financial inventory.  You may find you have more assets than you realize. As I looked in fear at my dwindling checking account, I realized that this was the time to spend that $1,000 CD I had bought years ago and cash in that mutual fund I had purchased that had gone nowhere.  Really.  If you're like me, you probably have at least one "poor investment" that you haven't been able to deal with because you think "it will go up some day!"  Well, this is the time to cash it in.  If you need help from creditors, go now and talk to them. Call a credit counseling service, if necessary.  They can help negotiate for you.  

3) DO scramble for health care while you still have your health insurance.  It's tempting to cancel it, but don't--if you have any health issues now, a future insurance company may not cover it because it's a "pre-existing condition."  If your employer gives you, say another 30 days of your insurance, call up your doctors IMMEDIATELY and book your appointment. Explain to them the situation.  My doctors were very sympathetic and I got appointments within just a few weeks when they heard I'd be losing my insurance. If you have prescriptions, get as many filled as you can and ask your doctor for the maximum presciption.  Then, you can always get a cheaper insurance policy if you need to. Sometimes, doctors also have suggestions on where you can turn for free health services--for example, in my community, low-income women can get free mammograms.

4) DO look into new sources of income.  I don't have to tell you about eBay, but there are others. For example, most school districts have continuing education classes and they are looking for people to teach non-credit programs.  I called up my district and offered to teach an eBay course--and this was when I had just a feedback of 35!  But it was "eBay for Beginners" and yes, I DID know more than my students and so I ended up teaching it for about three years. Since eBay courses are popular, negotiate a rate based on the number of students in the class. One of my classes had 20 students--and I got $19 a student for the two-session class. That will at least pay a heating bill!  Perhaps you can teach something else career-related too.

5)  DO explain to your children the situation--and don't be afraid to trim their lifestyles too.  A friend of mine insisted that she didn't want her children to suffer while she was unemployed, so she went into debt keeping their voice lessons and sports camps. Then, she became resentful of the girls and was so stressed and volatile around them, that their entire emotional structure deteriorated.  All children want to know is that they are safe and that you are in control.  It won't hurt them to learn this lesson about money and choices--they will face the same thing during their lifetimes. Any child over the age of 11 can earn money--now THAT is a lesson that will benefit them more than any sports camp. And, remember, if your financial situation is suddenly poor, you can probably apply for more college financial aid etc.  Don't feel guilty--you are the parent and your goal as a parent should be to show your children how to act in situations like this.

6) DO write down your blessings in a gratitude journal to help keep you in a job-hunting mood.  It may be difficult to do, but write down 5 things every day that you are grateful for--encounters with people, friends who buy you lunch, a supportive spouse.

7) DO go to  health fairs and other free events in your town. You can collect a lot of freebies--and enter the prize drawings!  I once won a basket of body products and came home with a new toothbrush, several toothpaste samples, a box of cereal etc. Plus, you can network. 

8) DO volunteer!  On my street, I offered to sign for packages, stop at the post office etc. I also took a friend to her chemotherapy sessions and babysat for my cousin's children when they went to a wedding. Not only was I doing Good Deeds, but I figured that I was earning Good Karma. And some of these volunteer activities can lead to temporary, or even permanent, jobs.

I hope this helps. Things will get better.