Unemployment can be a stressful experience whether you're new to it or not. You have questions like "Where is the money going to come from for rent, cell phone, cable, internet, car insurance, student loans, utilities... and of course, food?" Like many life situations, unemployment can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. You can beat the unemployment blues when they hit with a few adjustments.

Yes, we know you've resolved to eat healthier and work out more. Haven’t we all decided to strap on a pedometer and order the side salad instead of the fries? This should last ... oh about another week. Or maybe, by mixing up your routine and/or finding a place you really like to exercise you could do your part to fight the American obesity epidemic. Forget the skinny jeans and the scale, incorporating a little movement into your life could potentially give your mood a boost. The following is a list of free passes to gyms around LA. No more excuses.

Finding paying work seems to be a full-time job in and of itself (if you want to work for free, we're hiring). Whether you've been looking for a new job for a month or a year, there can come a point where your energy drops and securing solid employment seems like a fantasy. It's rough enough being glued to job boards and looking for the business card of that guy you met last summer at the coffee shop who seemed like he was hiring. So no judgment here if you've spent the last few days watching re-runs in your pjs. But we know it's tough so we've got a few suggestions for helping you get through the job search blues.

Memorial Day has officially come and gone and summer is on the brink of being here. In LA that means you exchange your Uggs for flip flops and expect to sport the swimwear. In most towns, bums would be exempt from the "gotta look good at the pool," but this is a tough town with high expectations. We're not dieters, exercisers, or sports buffs, but we do like to feel good (or close) when we strut our stuff. We aren't shooting for six packs (except of free beer), just a few ways to combine saving money with looking hot.

Many little kids dream about changing the world, then grow up to realize it's a pretty expensive undertaking and get discouraged. The rise of apps like Facebook Causes and success of MoveOn.org are manifestations of the continued optimism of our generation. Without getting too hippy-dippy, people still believe in their own power to effect change. And, as the economy "recesses," more and more visionaries and far sighted organizations want to involve you without bankrupting you. Harnessing the power of the net and big business partnerships, these groups are now providing opportunities for reasonably priced, small effort social action. Saving the world from the couch sounds good to us.

The Missing Persons were largely right: Nobody walks in LA. Which is a real shame because it's such a great idea. LA is much more walkable than you might think. Don't believe me? Check out this website listing LA's most walkable neighborhoods. If you live in a green area, congrats! You have a prime spot in a dense, destination-full locale. Make the most of it! If you live in a red area, our apologies. Moving to a new neighborhood is probably out of the question, but no reason why you still can't make the effort to be more pedestrian. Let's all prove Dale Bozzio wrong. Here's the why and the how.

So it’s another Saturday night and you're still tired from the week before. It sure would be nice to go and relax at the movies, but a $14 ticket and $7 popcorn just don't fit in the budget. Surprise, surprise…we have a couple of lower cost alternatives. All can, of course, be easily implemented from the comfort of your couch.