Hi everyone,
I’m 28, been unemployed since December after a layoff. I got severance through mid-Feb, but since then it’s been rough. I’ve applied to tons of jobs, had a few interviews, even had an offer rescinded last minute — and now I’m just mentally drained.
Financially, I’ve saved up $177K across:
• $40K in a HYSA
• $70K in Treasury bills
• $67K in a taxable brokerage (mostly long-term equity positions)
No debt, no car, no dependents. I live pretty lean — rent and basic expenses total ~$2,100/month. I finally got approved for unemployment and should start receiving $591/week soon (about $2,200/month), but the delay has made these last two months incredibly stressful.
What’s killing me inside is watching the market pull back — and not being able to do anything. I used to DCA into ETFs and individual stocks every month, but now I’m frozen. Every dollar I invest feels like a gamble with my runway. I know this is one of those “buy low” moments that could pay off long-term, but I just don’t have the income to support it.
Instead of feeling excited about opportunities, I feel stuck — watching from the sidelines while inflation quietly eats away at cash and the job market stays cold.
If you’ve been through this — how do you mentally get through it? And how do you deal with the fear of missing out on the upside while your life is just about staying afloat?
Appreciate you listening.