The government has shut down again, this time mostly over healthcare subsidies. We’ve seen shutdowns before, and we’ll see more in the future.
As frustrating as they are, shutdowns remind us that uncertainty is the only constant. Instead of just surviving, I want to show you how to thrive during and after one. Out of the 750,000 federal employees furloughed, surely some of you read Financial Samurai—and believe it or not, this could be one of the best things that’s ever happened to you.
For everyone else—the non-federal workers—the impact is usually minor: no Blue Angels rattling windows and terrifying pets, or limited access to a national park. But Uncle Sam will still collect your taxes while “essential” employees keep the machine running without pay.
Three Groups, Three Approaches To The Shutdown
Shutdowns split people into three groups:
- The furloughed (~750,000) — suddenly free from work, but also free from pay. Ironically, this group has the most flexibility and opportunity.
- The essential (~420,000) — the unsung heroes keeping the system going without a paycheck. They deserve far more recognition.
- Everyone else — private-sector workers, taxpayers, the self-employed. Even if you’re not directly affected, this is a good moment to stress-test your finances.
Each group can either dwell on frustration or get stronger. Given there’s nothing any of us can do to prevent a shutdown, let’s choose stronger.
Never Let a Government Shutdown Go to Waste
I’ve lived through enough setbacks to know everything, good and bad, is temporary. Shutdowns included.
When I walked away from my finance job in 2012 with a severance, I went from a multiple six-figure income to $0. No biweekly paycheck. No health benefits. No year-end bonus. Just silence.
The first three months were tough. I had spent my entire adult life tied to a paycheck, and suddenly the rope was cut. But once the fear wore off, the joy of freedom outweighed the loss of income. The uncertainty, instead of crushing me, became fuel. I built something more secure than my old job ever was.
A government shutdown is the same. One day the paycheck’s there. The next, it isn’t. Panic comes first, especially if you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck. But if you play it right, this temporary disruption can spark something lasting – resilience, new income streams, and maybe even a better life.
And when the government inevitably reopens, you’ll get back pay for all the time you didn’t work. Not bad!
So let’s talk about how to make the most of this moment so you can not only survive, but thrive.
1. Understand the Past: Everything Is Temporary
Not knowing how long a shutdown or downturn will last is what makes us anxious. But uncertainty is also what creates opportunity. The longest shutdown in history dragged on for 34 days in 2018.
If you can handle the idea of a month without pay, you’ll already feel stronger. If you can mentally prepare for two months, you’ll turn fear into confidence and come out ahead no matter what.
2. Finally Explore Different Money-Making Opportunities
Furloughed employees are in a non-pay, non-duty status, which means you can work elsewhere. Some drive for Uber, deliver for DoorDash, tutor, freelance, or do handyman jobs.
Back in 2014 and 2015, I gave over 500 Uber rides to write about the experience. I earned $20–$38 an hour, and if I had really needed the money, I could have cleared close to $4,000 a month. Even at half that today, that’s still almost $2,000, plenty to pay for groceries, utilities, and a portion of rent.
Other options: TaskRabbit, Rover, Craigslist gigs. Assemble furniture, walk dogs, teach guitar or pickleball. Every one of you has a monetizable skill. The shutdown is your permission slip to use it. Frankly, I’m shocked pickleball instructors are now charging up to $140/hour.
3. Discover Your Entrepreneurial Dreams
With a full-time job, it’s hard to pursue anything entrepreneurial. But now you’ve got time and mental bandwidth.
Start that website. Create the online course. Draft the business plan. You’ll eventually get back pay when the government reopens, so you can take a swing now with little downside.
Financial Samurai was born in July 2009 during the financial crisis. Fear of layoffs pushed me to stop making excuses and start writing. When I negotiated my severance in 2012, I took some time off and then began to focus. That decision not only gave me purpose, but also created financial stability years later that I never would have imagined.
The lesson? Fear is fuel. Uncertainty can be the push you need. A shutdown is just another nudge.
4. Treat the Shutdown as a Mini-Retirement or Sabbatical
One of my biggest regrets in finance was never taking a sabbatical. I was too worried about falling behind and missing out on a decent year-end bonus. Looking back, a break would’ve extended my career and maybe even changed the timing of starting a family. Oh, to be able to have paid parental leave to raise my children would have been the best benefit.
Instead, my “mini-retirement” began only after I permanently left my job in 2012. It was a shock at first, but it also opened up space to think about what really mattered. I wrote more. I got healthier. I spent more time with my parents and eventually started my family in 2017.
So think of this shutdown as your sabbatical. Experiment with what early retirement feels like. Maybe you’ll discover you love the freedom. Maybe you’ll crave the stability. Either way, you’ll learn something invaluable about yourself.
5. For Essential Employees: Stay Grounded and Strategic
If you’re still working without pay, thank you. It’s a tough spot, but you’re not powerless.
- If necessary, negotiate deferred payments with landlords, lenders, and utilities. Many are surprisingly flexible if you ask.
- Tap your emergency fund – this is what it’s for.
- Journal or write about your experience. There’s value in your story.
- Protect your health – stress is the real danger.
When this is over, you’ll feel good knowing you kept the system alive when it mattered. That kind of grit has value not only in the workplace, but also in building your own financial fortress. You may even start appreciating your paycheck even more once it resumes.
6. For Everyone Else: Observe and Prepare
Even if you’re not directly affected, use this as a stress test. Ask yourself:
- How long could I go without income?
- Do I have at least six months of expenses saved?
- Am I overly dependent on a single job or contract?
Shutdowns prove that nothing is guaranteed, not even a government paycheck. Build a redundancy of side incomes, cash buffers, strong relationships.
When I first left my job, I thought my passive income streams were enough. They were until our son was born five years later while both of us didn’t have jobs. During this time, some tenants moved out, while some investments underperformed. That reality check forced me to get more serious about saving more and generating extra income. It was uncomfortable, but it made me stronger.
Perspective Is Everything
Shutdowns come and go. What lasts is how you respond.
When the government reopens, and it always does, you can emerge stronger: with a sharper mindset, new skills, and maybe even a fresh income stream.
The 2008–2009 financial crisis felt like a disaster at the time, but it became the spark that changed my life. Losing so much money pushed me to slash expenses, save aggressively, negotiate a severance, and ultimately start Financial Samurai. What looked like failure became the foundation of freedom.
So don’t just survive. Thrive. Use this moment as proof that true freedom doesn’t come from a paycheck—it comes from having options.
And when the back pay finally lands in your account, you’ll know you did more than wait it out. You turned uncertainty into opportunity – the essence of a Financial Samurai.
Readers, is this latest government shutdown affecting you? If so, how are you planning to turn a suboptimal situation into an opportunity? Or are you enjoying the unexpected time off, knowing back pay is almost guaranteed once the government reopens? If you were furloughed right now, would you feel relieved or anxious?
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