A Week Of Being Unemployed In Los Angeles, CA

The background

I am a 26-year-old UX designer currently living in Los Angeles. I recently made the move from Chicago, and while I love the change of scenery, the job hunt has been a marathon. I am currently unemployed, which means my relationship with money is a mix of hyper-vigilance and occasional "treat yourself" moments to keep the existential dread at bay. My savings account recently dipped into the single-digit thousands, a milestone that definitely made my heart skip a beat. I am lucky enough to live with relatives rent-free while I get on my feet, but I still carry the weight of $296 monthly student loan payments and nearly $300 for private health insurance. Without a car in LA, my biggest variable expense is, unsurprisingly, rideshares.

A week of networking and navigating

Monday started with a reality check. My monthly credit card payments cleared, and I spent the morning calculating exactly how many months I have until I hit net-zero. I spent $37.40 on Ubers just to get to a networking lunch and tour a co-working space. It feels counterintuitive to spend money to find work, but being visible is part of the hustle. A friend was kind enough to cover my lamb biryani, which I appreciated more than they probably realized.

Tuesday was a lesson in LA logistics. I spent $23.59 on an UberX to Echo Park for what I hoped would be a life-changing croissant, only to find they were sold out. I settled for an egg salad sandwich ($10.95) and a walk by the lake. By the time I paid for a matcha latte and the ride home, I had dropped nearly $60. It is expensive to be a person in this city, especially one without a driver's license.

The dating distraction

Mid-week, the focus shifted from wireframes to my personal life. I am still processing a breakup with my ex, B., and dating feels like a necessary, if slightly exhausting, distraction. On Wednesday, I spent $23.80 on an Uber to Silver Lake for a first date with F. He paid for the drinks, which is a rarity for me as I usually prefer to split, but I let it slide. I ended up taking a $17.73 Uber home at 3:00 a.m. after a hookup.

By Thursday, I was feeling the emotional hangover. I pre-ordered Andre Aciman’s new book for $16.62. I usually stick to non-fiction, but I needed to lose myself in a story. I spent the rest of the day eating my aunt's food (thank god for a stocked fridge) and avoiding my bank app.

What surprised me

The weekend was a whirlwind of trying to be "productive." I spent $25 on a networking event in Chinatown just to force myself to go. Between the peak-hour Ubers and a yoga mat rental for a ClassPass session, Saturday was my second-most expensive day at $94.22.

Sunday was the real kicker. I managed a recruiter call while doing my makeup, then spent the afternoon at a shopping complex. I bought a solid lotion from Lush ($14.18) and some spicy wontons ($13.70). The day ended with another date that left me feeling more lonely than when I started. I opted for a $13.19 UberX home instead of a Pool because I just couldn't deal with making small talk with a stranger.

This week taught me that being unemployed is a full-time job that costs a lot of money. I spent $396.87, mostly on rideshares and small comforts. It is a delicate balance between saving for the future and spending enough to stay sane in the present.