In 2021 I had been living as comfortably as I ever had, making $25/hr working from home as a single guy with sub-$1k rent. For the first time in my life, I was not living paycheck-to-paycheck; I actually had money left over for hobbies/savings/etc.
When my role was suddenly outsourced, I applied and was approved for state benefits for rent, food, health insurance, as well as unemployment payouts. This allowed me to continue my job search without dipping into my meager savings.
I had dozens of interviews over several months without any offers for more than $22/hr. Unsure of how long I would keep getting approved for govt assistance and not wanting to appear as a 'freeloader' to friends and family, I decided to take a $20/hr job that happened to otherwise have great vibes.
The low pay – along with a 40min commute by car – means I am back to living paycheck-to-paycheck or worse. Some bills are going unpaid and piling up, I basically feel like I have to start my life over at 37.
Moral of the story? Don't feel bad for making good use of government assistance for as long as necessary, and don't take low-ball job offers under any circumstances.