The first 48 hours define your financial trajectory.
The first 48 hours define your financial trajectory. A 2024 NBER working paper found workers who create a structured plan within 2 days reduce savings depletion by 35%. Priority actions: (1) File for unemployment immediately — benefits are backdated to filing date, not job loss date.
(2) Do NOT elect COBRA yet — you have 60 days and it’s retroactive. (3) Review your severance offer but don’t sign — you have 21 days minimum. (4) Cut discretionary spending by 30% immediately.
(5) Calculate your runway: liquid savings divided by monthly expenses. (6) Update LinkedIn and notify your network.
The PivotReset Decision Support Engine shows you the 12-month financial projection for each path.
Analyze Job Loss Decisions →How long does unemployment last? →
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