First, this is obviously not an out-of-pocket cost, but it is wages and money you can not get back. The general rule of thumb for finding and starting a new job is this - it will take 1 month for every $10K in salary (5 months for $50K job, 10 months for $100K job, etc). Here is what a prolonged job search could cost in lost wages. $50K pay = $19K lost ($960 per week over 5 months). $75K pay = $43K lost ($1,440 per week over 7 to 8 months). $100K pay = $77K lost ($1,920 per week over 10 months).

Again, these numbers represent lost wages. But, even as wages and paychecks stop coming in, the expenses of life do not. People still have monthly expenses to keep up with. Two closing thoughts: 1) If you find yourself unemployed, quickly invest the time, effort, and job search tools needed to shorten the job search and control lost wages (you can't get it back). 2) If you aren't prepared for unexpected job loss, you should promise yourself to make that investment in your future. Job Search Readiness + Opportunity = Job Search Success.