What should he do - 35 and no savings?

Hi OP,

Some notes on the details provided:

1. WIthout jumping to conclusions, first find out why he has less than 1k in his account. You mentioned he is a sole breadwinner with retired parents, so the financial burden on him must be quite heavy through no fault of his own.

2. No mention of debt - This is very good and shows some financial responsibility

3. Likely Underinsured - This could definitely be an issue and needs a review

Priority Actions:

1. Find a new job ASAP - Times are definitely difficult now and jobs may be in short supply but don't give up and keep applying! I had applied to ~50 jobs before landing my current one

2. Review and optimise expenses - Map out his monthly expenses on a spreadsheet, and advise him to cut anything non-essential or switch to cheaper alternatives. eg. making coffee at home instead of buying outside

3. Review insurance coverage - Consolidate all his current insurance policies (if any) and determine any gaps/shortfalls. Term policies can be a good way to get decent coverage at low cost. Lots of helpful information on Seedly to help with your choice!

You need to find the root cause of the issue. If he is motivated and willing to work yet cannot find a job, you need to ask whether the roles he can apply for hire fairly. If not, please report to TAFEP