How to save between $505 and $3,370 every month

The second you find out that you are unemployed, you should be thinking about your budget and how to trim it. Over the years, I have become an expert on frugality, and I owe it all to joblessness. (See, there really is a silver lining in every dark cloud!) All ten of these tips are things that I, personally, do or have done. If you have others, please add them in the comments. (It makes me so happy when people comment!)

Nine ways to stretch your unemployment budget:

1. Cut out cable TV FIRST. For whatever silly reason, I have known people who cut their internet service before they cut their TV. You have lots of time, but you don't have time to watch TV. Plus, the new digital signals being broadcast over the air are crystal-clear, numerous, and free. I get 40 stations, including about 10 in HD, and I don't pay a dime for TV. Call your cable company right after you file your unemployment claim (which is the first call you should make). (Savings: $50-$100 per month.)
2. Eat healthfully. Buy big bags of brown rice and dry beans. Stock up on spices. Pick up whatever fruits, vegetables, and oils are on sale. Cook! It's tastier, healthier, and much cheaper than buying processed foods or eating out. (Savings: $50-$500 per month, depending on how you eat now.)
3. Tune up your bicycle, and ditch the car. You will love your bike far more than you love your car once you get to know it a little better. You will feel free, strong, and clever as you save hundreds of dollars a month, plus gym membership fees. (Savings: $200-$1000 per month by the time you add it all up.)
4. Negotiate your debts down. One of the great benefits of unemployment is that your creditors will be happy to work with you. Paradoxically, your negotiating leverage grows when you lose your job. Lenders don't want you to default or go bankrupt. Debt consolidation also works for some people. (Savings: $100-$1000 per month, depending on your debt load and negotiating skills.)
5. Quit drinking. If you don't have a drinking problem, this won't seem like much of a sacrifice, and if you do have a drinking problem you'll try to rationalize your way into continuing drinking. But you really need to quit. It's expensive to drink. (Savings: $20-$600 per month, depending on how much, what, and where you drink.)
6. Become an energy miser. You can live without air conditioning if you take cold showers. You can turn the heat way down and wear a sweater. You can unplug things when you're not using them, air dry your clothes, and take lots of little steps to save energy. (Savings: $25-$100 per month depending on how conservative you are now.)
7. Don't change your clothes every day. This saves you money in two ways: You do less laundry, and your clothes last longer. While you're at it, mend your clothes instead of buying new ones. (Savings: $25-$100 per month)
8. Use Dr. Bronner's soap. I spend about $5 per month on all my soap needs, including shampoo, conditioner, dish soap and laundry detergent (which I don't need to buy because Dr. Bronner's is superior in all those areas), and I'm clean as a whistle. (Savings: $5-$20 per month, depending on what kind of sucker you are for buying fancy lathering agents.)
9. Get rid of your land line. You don't need it. Cell phones work fine nowadays. (By the way, if you are unemployed, you may be eligible for a free cellphone and wireless service.) (Savings: $30-$50 per month)

Let's add it up:

Not too shabby, right? Imagine the shape you would be in now if you had saved that much every month when you were flush! Good luck with your unemployment budgeting.

Good luck!