Like we needed this: Along with all the other unhappy headlines of late comes news from the Department of Labor that the U.S. economy shed 159,000 jobs last month. That’s the biggest drop in five years and brings total U.S. unemployment (the men and women who get measured, at least) to 9.5 million. In the past 12 months, the ranks of the unemployed have grown by 2.2 million people. The official unemployment rate now stands at 6.1 percent.

If you’re concerned about the security of your job, here are some ideas from the Consumer Reports Money Adviser newsletter on what to do if you lose it and how to evaluate a buyout package (and possibly negotiate for more).

Another article offers some advice on preparing for and surviving a financial emergency.

And if you’re looking to control your expenses, either due to a layoff or just as a precautionary measure, this page lists some of the relevant money-saving articles on this site.