8:17am: I walk over to the Airbnb where my Dad is staying. He attended a conference in Paolo Alto the previous week and decided to extend the trip to explore San Francisco with me. This is his first time visiting the Bay in my four years here.

8:38am: We start driving in the rental car heading to Golden Gate Park. I packed breakfast for us, so we drink and much on the ride over. Any budgeting pro knows to pack snacks to avoid spending 10+ dollars at a coffee shop.

8:59am: We find the perfect parking spot! Usually GGP is packed and it’s impossible to find parking. I hoped that on a Monday morning, parking would be easier to find.

9:02am: We arrive to the Japanese Tea Garden just as it is opening. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday there is a free hour from 9am-10am. I thought this would be a perfect free activity for the fam.

9:04am: My dad first requests getting from tea from the cafe. We’re the second group to sit and order. We have a prime view looking out at the garden. I ordered matcha and mochi. The matcha definitely tasted like grass, but it was good. Way more authentic than the sugary green lattes I typically drink.

9:53am: After lots of chatting and casually sipping our tea, we finally get up and explore the tea garden. The cafe is now packed and with lengthy line. Patrons pounce to grab our prime seats.

10:39am: We leave the tea garden and explore other parts of GGP. We walk around the De Young Museum, California Academy of the Sciences, the Music Concourse, and the Shakespeare Garden. So many stunning photo ops!

11:04am: We hop back into the rental car and drive to Sutro Baths. Not only is it beautiful, but the gift shop there is really nice. They have adorable gifts, but the store also acts as a mini museum. My dad is a history buff and requested museums. As the budget baddie I am, this was the next best option since a lot of spots are closed on Mondays or requires paid entry.

11:46am: We drive to Chinatown for lunch. Whenever family visits, I make reservations to restaurants I’ve been meaning to try or my are favorite spots. Saturday night, we went to Burma Love. Ugh, it might be my favorite restaurant in the city.

12:17pm: We arrive to Z&Y Peking Duck for our 12:15pm reservation. Let’s gooooooooooo. I’ve heard incredible things about this place but I’ve never been. As a budget baddie, I know my Dad will pick up the tab. Let’s gooooooooooooooo.

1:39pm: We leave the Z&Y incredibly satisfied. Woah. One of the best Chinese food spots I’ve been to in the city. The peking duck was so succulent. Green beans and cauliflower were also standouts! Also definitely order tea. There is a special tea man who whips around a pot of hot water. He is magical and I’m still in awe. 10/10 would recommend.

2:34pm: We head back to the car, after exploring Chinatown. One of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. The lanterns get me every time. We also walked past a jazz club we went to the night before. Keys Jazz Club in North Beach/Chinatown was AMAZING. 10/10 recommend.

2:47pm: We drive down Lombard street and ogle at the zoo of tourists. Lombard is a crooked street that is a famous tourist sight. I’ve been there at least 5 times now. I always take my visitors to see it.

3:04pm: We park at Ghirardelli Square. Another SF classic. It’s the sight of the original Ghirardelli factory. You can buy chocolate treats over a gorgeous view of the SF bay. We walked around and popped into some of the shops.

3:41pm: We park at Palace of the Fine Arts. Another gorgeous photo op. A must see in the city. A lot of people think it’s a museum, but it’s just a really stunning park. We walked around, took lots of photos, and read the placards scattered around the park to learn about its history.

4:32pm: We arrive to the Presidio Visitor Center. Such an underrated spot. It’s practically a museum. They have instillations and exhibits in addition to souvenir shopping. They employees are national parks experts that who are so so friendly.

4:59pm: We are kicked out of the Visitor Center since it closes at 5pm. We round the corner to the Presidio Tunnel Tops. The park has the most beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. This park only opened a few years ago. We casually walked and took in the sun. The park has plentiful green space, seating, and informational plaques detailing SF history. My dad read every single one…

7:04pm: We return back to my apartment. I heat up our leftovers from Burma Love and Z&Y. Another budget baddie tip, eat your leftovers…

7:23pm: With an early flight in my morning back to the east coast, my dad returns to his Airbnb. We hug and I wish him safe travels. What a fun weekend!

7:38pm: I walk to my local Whole Foods and grab some groceries. I find grocery shopping so soothing. I love slowly perusing each aisle.

8:29pm: I record some TikToks (@TheLauraHolland) and edit a podcast episode to be released tomorrow (@SistersWhoWatch).

9:42pm: I wind down my night by catching up on my shows. Love Island UK is about to come to an end. This season was so juicy. Rooting for Angie and Simba but also Julia and Lorenzo.

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEAWAY: You can still have fun on a budget! We literally didn’t spend money on anything except lunch. So many people ask how I continue to live my life without a full-time job. This day is prime example. Be creative and research free things happening in your city. Please steal this itinerary from me! Also, without a full time job, I was able to be a hands-on tour guide. During my funemployed era, I am trying to take advantage of the flexibility. I was able to be fully present for my family while they were in town.

8:27am: I leave my apartment to meet my driving instructor, Reagan (50s, chatty). I got the rec from a fellow SF friend who got her license in her 20s. My permit is about to expire TOMORROW. I got it last summer as motivation to finally get my license but the procrastination has gotten the best of me. Yes, I am a full-grown adult who still does not have her license. I’ve lived in cities my whole life and have never needed a car. I know it’s important to have so I told myself while unemployed, let’s get this done.

8:33am: I begin driving to Daly City for my road test. I chose Daly City instead of San Francisco because I learned upon research that Daly City is a much easier exam location that the narrow SF roads riddled with bike lanes. Reagan and I drive through the potential routes around the Daly City DMV. Reagan is very reassuring and tells me that as a long as I don’t make an automatic fail (miss a stop sign), I should pass the test. I can pass with 15 errors or less.

10:22am: Reagan and I finish our practice and I park the car in the road test queue. Reagan recommends I go for a walk to clear my head before of the test. He recommends the fast food spots within walking distance of the DMV. It’s a little too early for a cheeseburger so I refrain from In-N-Out and opt for a donut from Krispy Creme. I listen to one of my favorite podcasts to calm my nerves before the exam. I then walk to the McDonald’s to curb my fry craving. Donuts and fries sounds like perfect brain food to me.

11:31am: I return to the car after my excursion. Reagan, my instructor, tells about about alien encounters at his house. He says he catches an alien spaceship on his front door camera nearly every night. Apparently he’s been able to communicate with the aliens after the aliens helped him open his third eye. The aliens brought him to their spaceship, allegedly. I truly could not believe what he was telling me. I felt like this whole interaction was a dream. He showed me pictures swearing he could see aliens and a spaceship. Apparently his wife now believes his alien interactions are real. I had just seen Disclosure Day just a week ago. The alien propaganda is current rampant I guess. Although his stories were incredibly bizarre, they were the perfect distraction from harping on the road test. Part of me wonders whether I hallucinated this conversation in the anxious frenzy my brain was experiencing in anticipation of the road test. Did my ears deceive me? Very possible.

11:44am: I start my road test. I say a little prayer before I put the car in drive. My chest feels tight but I breathe to ease my anxiety the best I possibly can. Felix is my instructor. He is serious and wears a mask, so I can barely see his face. As I drive, he scribbles notes on a paper in his lap. The car is so quiet. He barely speaks. I drift slightly while changing lanes. Don’t panic. I just continue to breathe and try my best to stay calm. No. Automatic. Fails.

12:18pm: I park the car in the DMV parking lot and finish my road test. Felix is stone cold. He immediately gives me feedback: no rolling stops, do not turn off your signal too soon, and stick to the speed limit. My heart begins to sink. Felix tells me that I got 9 errors and that I passed my road test. I let out the biggest sigh of relief. All the anxiety I had, leaves my body. Thank God!!! It’s finally over!

12:23pm: Reagan congratulates me and gives me a hug. I profusely thank him for all his help and guidance. His constant reassurance, gave me a lot of confidence.

12:37pm: I wait inside the DMV to certify for successful road test results. I see stressed patrons taking and failing the written permit test around me. That used to be me. Wow. The trenches…

1:32pm: I arrive back to my apartment. I hop out of the drivers’ seat. I drove back to SF from Daly City on Highway 1 and everything. I’ll work my way up to highway driving. Still not my strong suit. I hug Reagan and thank him for all his help. I promised to leave him a glowing Google review.

1:45pm: I scream and dance in my apartment bedroom. Neither of my roommates are home so I am free to scream. This journey to get my license has been so long. It’s finally over. I never have to take that godforsaken test ever again.

2:08pm: I begin calling everyone in my family. My parents, siblings, and grandfather are so happy. About time! They’re all super surprised. Had no idea that this was something I was even working on. While on the phone, I write a Reagan a 5 star Google review.

3:17pm: I shower off all the anxiety and sweat from the morning so I can relax and take a nap. I’m high key exhausted and drained from such an emotional day.

5:44pm: I make a quick dinner before heading out.

6:12pm: I catch a bus to the Marina for a dating event. I agreed to go because free champagne and caviar were promised. That’s intriguing enough for me. I heard about this event because I somehow managed to get on the listserv for another SF dating startup. This app in particular uses a matchmaking AI agent to find dates for users. If you’ve lived in the Bay long enough, you’ve heard about too many founders trying to revolutionize dating apps. There are simply too many of these startups and none of them have solved dating…

7:04pm: I enter this bar for a singles mixer. The bar is dimly lit. I can barely see the people in front of me. I check in upon arrival with the event organizers. I am quickly offered a welcome drink of champagne. I mingle with other singles. I immediately connect with the women in the room. Classic.

7:27pm: One of the organizers interrupts my conversation and has something to tell me. Immediately I’m concerned. They accidentally invited “the wrong Nick” to tonight’s event. So my match is not actually my match. “The right Nick” they had in mind, my match, is likely at his apartment watching the World Cup. I guess there are too many Nicks in San Francisco…Am I annoyed? Yes. I commuted about 40 minutes to be here. But, was expecting to meet my husband? Lol no. But, I was already hesitant coming, and the shred of hope I had disappeared into thin air in that moment. I am someone who can talk to a wall, so I’m sure I’ll still have a good conversation with “the wrong Nick.” The organizers apologize profusely and offer me another cocktail to make up for their mistake. Cheers to “the wrong Nick”!

7:44pm: Us singles are handed envelopes with the table number to meet our match. I meet “the wrong Nick” and he’s very nice. He reminds me of a typical SF tech bro. Works at start up. Competes in marathons, Iron Mans, and long-distance cycling competitions across the country.

8:15pm: A waitress offers every table caviar bumps. I’ve had caviar a couple of times, but never a caviar bump: where you ear caviar off your hand. “The wrong Nick” seemed so confused by the hand caviar. We cheers our hands and partake in the salty snack.

8:34pm: One of the event organizers interrupts our conversation. She apologizes again for the mix-up and gives both of us $100 gift cards to a local wine bar. Woah. That was super nice. The gift card made any awkwardness worth it with “the wrong Nick.” Free champagne, free caviar, and a $100 dollar gift card? This is a win.

9:02pm: “The wrong Nick” says he has to go home. About a third of the other dates have ended at this point. He and I smiled, hugged, and went our separate ways without exchanging any contact info. I finish my complimentary cocktail while I checked bus times. Your girl is still funemployed and on a budget. No Ubers or Lyfts for me unless circumstances are dire. Public transit it is!

9:18pm: I walk up a way too steep San Francisco hill to catch the bus back home. I feel pretty good, high off my champagne and caviar so I don’t feel my calves burning as intensely as usual.

9:34pm: I hop on an empty bus and get my favorite seat. I queue a podcast to enjoy on my ride home.

10:04pm: I’m finally back in my apartment. What a day. I wind down by watch Love Island USA before bed. I swear Peacock has me in a chokehold. What a mess of a season. Rooting for Bryce and Trinity! The only couple worth rooting for at this point in the season…

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEAWAY: Don’t give up. Stop procrastinating. Be patient. I failed my driver’s test three times before passing. Twice in New York when I was in high school. Once in LA a couple years ago. For a long time I thought that maybe I’ll just never drive. I just failed so many times that I got really discouraged. I knew during my funemployed era, I should dedicate this free time to getting my license. With my license expiring on June 26, my procrastination was about to catch up with me. Harsh deadlines forced me to stay accountable. This day was a good reminder to stop procrastinating! Your goals are possible if you just commit to it. This is very transferrable to my dating and professional life. Dating requires a lot of patience. Even though this dating event may have been another flop, I don’t want that to quell my hope. At least I got a couple new friends and a gift card out of the evening! In my current job search, I have heard a lot of nos. I just keep reminding myself that every rejection is a protection, and the right doors will open if I stay consistent. In time, the right people and the right opportunities will find me.

a long-suffering license-less city girl FINALLY can drive

(below, taken by Reagan)

8:43am: Me and Max, the french bulldog, begin our morning walk. He’s a bit of a diva. I need treats to coerce him to keep walking down the SF sidewalks.

9:13pm: I cook Max two scrambled eggs, per his owner’s request. I’ve done a lot of specific, quirky things for dogs, but never scrambled eggs for a doggo’s breakfast.

9:18am: I use the dog owner’s Keurig to make an iced coffee. I love having my little coffee drinks while housesitting. I don’t buy coffee anymore to save money, so a latte is such a treat.

9:29am: I hop on a video call with interns for my podcast, . Since 2023, I have managed high school and college aged interns. It’s really cool working with teenagers, but they make me feel SO OLD.

12:04pm: For lunch, I heat up a frozen Trader Joe’s BBQ Chicken pizza. 7/10. The Trader Joe’s prosciutto flatbread is WAY better. TJ’s is a bit of a lifestyle here in San Francisco, a single, young person’s playground. Dare I say, DisneyLand for GenZennials. I have now bought into the TJ’s propaganda.

2:34pm: I end the call with my high school interns. They are helping us with social media and graphic design. The interns are wizards with Canva Pro and TikTok. Thank God.

3:07pm: I grab frenchie Max for a long walk. Every few minutes, a new stranger comments on Max’s cuteness. He has a silly face and bouncy gait.

4:15pm: I watch Your Friends & Neighbors in the background while tapping away on my laptop. I do not have Apple TV+ on my own, so whenever I dog sit, it is my excuse to binge Severance, Shrinking, and now Your Friends and Neighbors.

8:32pm: My sister and I hop on a video call to record an episode for my podcast @SistersWhoWatch, reviewing I Love Boosters. Always so fun catching up with her.

10:22pm: I scramble and tidy up the apartment before I depart. I make the bed, run the dishwasher, and fluff pillows. I try my best to look like I never lived in this couple’s apartment.

10:45pm: I take Max out for a final walk before leaving Max for the foreseeable future. He’s a diva, but I’ll miss his silly smile.

11:04pm: I leave Max with a treat, run down the apartment stairs, and lug my bags to the bus stop. I can’t afford to miss this bus since the next one isn’t coming for another 20 minutes.

11:34pm: I arrive back to my apartment after a weekend living with Max. I’ll miss living in a bougie apartment by myself but it’s nice to sleep in my own bed again. Yay!

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEAWAY: It’s really cool to give back to my high school and work with interns. It’s super cool and I’m grateful to outsource some of the work for the podcast. I love talking to the youths about their goals and answer questions about life. Even though I’m in a season of uncertainty/funemployment, my podcast is really fulfilling. Same with dog sitting. Dog parents love seeing the daily pictures and videos I send. It’s all about perspective and mindset. I often feel like I’m helping more people now compared to my corporate days. I can still do fulfilling and impactful work without a traditionally impressive full-time job.

Max enjoying his morning eggs (below)

10:26am: I call a connection I made while at the Cannes Film Festival. It was a really amazing conversation about faith, obedience, and following your creative calling.

11:18am: I throw a load into the washer. My hamper of dirty clothes is an overflowing mountain that I can no longer ignore…

1:04pm: I heat up frozen dan dan noodles for lunch. When you’re a girlie on a budget, you eat what’s in your freezer.

2:41pm: I walk to Alamo Drafthouse in the Mission. My absolute favorite movie theatre in San Francisco. I love seeing movies on Tuesdays because tickets are only $9. Again, perfect for a girlie on a budget.

2:57pm: I sit down for a showing of RuPaul’s Stop! That! Train! and order some fries. I’m a huge RuPaul’s Drag Race fan so thought I should support the franchise.

4:37pm: I head to the bathroom before leaving the theatre. The movie was camp, silly, and super enjoyable. Me and the audience were giggling throughout the film.

5:04pm: I arrive to Dolores Park to catch up with a friend. She greets me with a bouquet of flowers for my birthday. We catch up about our travels while people-watching and petting strangers’ dogs. We fantasize about what our future dogs will look like.

6:32pm: I walk to the Castro to catch the bus to meet a dogsitting client.

7:04pm: The dog owner gives me the keys to the apartment. I’ll be moving in to watch a french bulldog for the next few days.

7:09pm: I rush back to catch the bus back to my neighborhood.

7:44pm: My friend and I watch the Survivor 50 finale together. We are FINALLY watching it hella late after traveling prevented us from watching together. I was rooting for Cirie, so I checked out in the finale episode. But the finale was still satisfying! I have applied to be on Survivor and am waiting patiently for the producers to call me…

10:23pm: I arrive back home after an incredibly long Survivor finale. I throw my clothes into the dryer and return to my room to post some TikTok videos (@SistersWhoWatch, @TheLauraHolland)

11:18pm: I post on SubStack and then complete my skincare routine before heading to bed.

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEAWAY: Connection is underrated. I had so many lovely conversations today. My Cannes phone call felt so healing and reaffirming to keep creating and putting my content out into the world. Watching a silly campy movie in a theatre with other giggling audience members felt so retro. People-watching at a park with a friend is one of the best activities. Rage-watching a reality show with a buddy is also one of my favorite activities. People can be annoying, but finding the joy and randomness in interaction makes life way more fun. What little moments of human connection can you revel in today?

I’m in a funky season of my life. I’ve been through two layoffs at the age of 24. I’ve now been without full time work for over a year, since April 2025. I have been hustling, side gigging, and part time jobbing my way to paying my rent in San Francisco. Despite the chaos, I feel really grateful for everything that I’ve been through in my career.

On my birthday, I’m reminded that everyone thinks I’m much older than I actually am. I try to take it as a compliment and not a dig that my skincare routine may not be helping as much as I think. I think by experiencing so much career chaos, so early, has matured me. Trauma matures you.

Since my last birthday, many incredible things have happened. I’ve got to travel to France, South Africa, and the UK. I started content creating and landed multiple brand deals. I’m prioritizing my writing and creativity, including starting my Substack.

I spent my birthday weekend celebrating with friends and family. I threw a disco themed party which was such a fun time. I saw Disclosure Day and I Love Boosters with my sister. We went to a trivia night and met some lovely new people. Also, the Knicks won their first NBA Championship in 53 years. As a long-suffering Knicks fan and native New Yorker, it’s an absolute birthday miracle.

My actual birthday was so lovely. I went to SoulCycle, where you get a free class on your birthday. I then caught up with a friend over free tech lunch. Following lunch, I got a massage using my leftover ClassPass credits. I then did a solo dinner date at Nari. I’ve been wanting to go and I needed to use my Amex Resy credit! The food was delicious and they were so accommodating to me, giving me half-portions for every dish I had. I’ve grown to really enjoy dining alone. It’s an important skill everyone should master. Such a relaxing birthday and heartwarming weekend.

FUNEMPLOYED BIRTHDAY TAKEAWAY: Joy is a choice. A lot of people feel anxious around their birthdays, and I felt a little of that the days approaching the weekend. This birthday has reminded me that I have so much in my life bringing me joy. A prestigious job title or a full-time opportunity at a fancy company is not worth much to me, if I’m miserable. I found myself quite unhappy in my previous roles. I could be stressed about my lack of full-time work. Or, I can embrace this season of flexibility. I have so much more joy today and am really excited about the upcoming year. So, despite career uncertainty, this next year I’m here to embrace hope!

9:44am: I give Milkyway the cat her routine of meds. Milkyway is 18-years-old and loves cuddles. She does not respect personal space.

10:26am: I call my mom. Today is her birthday. We spend an hour catching up about her weekend and how she loved the flowers my siblings and I got her as a gift.

11:32am: I watch Church from home. I didn’t wake up early enough and ended up talking to my mom on the phone longer than I thought. Virtual service it is!

12:32pm: I sprint down Van Ness street but miss the bus by 30 seconds which crushes my soul. I take a long deep breath and begrudgingly sit at the bus stop in shame. Running for a bus and missing it is so incredibly humbling.

1:04pm: I arrive to Dolores Park to play tennis with my friend. It’s nearly impossible to reserve a court in advance so we wait for the walk-up courts. We’re surrounded by tech bros who take tennis way too seriously.

2:27pm: I hop into a Waymo towards Fisherman’s Wharf. I’m slowly preferring Waymos over Ubers and Lyfts. So San Francisco of me. I just love blasting my own music and ignoring small talk with the driver.

2:44pm: I arrive to Pier 33 and wait for my friends to arrive for our Alcatraz ferry. We bought tickets for the 3:20pm ferry. I’m proud of myself that I actually arrived early since I’m chronically late. I give my college friend a call. She does not pickup and I start to become concerned…

3:10pm: Friend #1 arrives. I’m slightly relieved but concerned that Friend #2 is no where to be found. She is stuck in traffic with an overly chatty Uber driver. Friend #2 and I have been friends since Freshman year of college and is in town for work. She has been begging me to join her for an Alcatraz trip but that might not happen now…

3:22pm: Friend #2 arrives. I try and beg a lady to let us on the ferry but she refuses and directs us to the standby line for the 3:50pm ferry. The one time I’m actually early…

3:53pm: We are allowed onto the next ferry. We let out a huge sigh of relief and sprint onto the boat. We walk immediately to the concessions stand where my hungry friends buy plain pretzels (the boat ran out of salted pretzels). The pretzels were giving end of day and stale. Tough.

4:17pm: We walk to the stop of the island and begin the audio tour of the prison. We learn about Al Capone and other famous prisoners.

5:44pm: After exploring the gardens, the three of us check out the indigenous exhibit on the island.

6:20pm: My friends and I take the last ferry leaving Alcatraz. We maximized our time and explores the island to the fullest. Lots of photoshoots with all the foreign tourists. Pleasantly surprised about how beautiful the island is.

7:30pm: My friends convince me to attend a startup rooftop party overlooking the Marina neighborhood. There was lots of free food and drinks, but also lots of networking with tech bros. Too much AI talk for me…

9:24pm: I walk back to Milkyway’s apartment. I dance and sing along with my airpods up the San Francisco hills.

10:25pm: I use the cat owner’s Peloton bike. I regularly frequent SoulCycle using my scarce number of ClassPass credits. I’ve been using the Peloton basically everyday and have become a little obsessed with Ally Love.

11:47pm: After a shower, I wind down and head to sleep. Milkyway cuddles on top of me in bed.

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEWAY: It’s really important to prioritize longtime friendships. It’s also really important to be a tourist in your own city. So many of us are too cool or too busy to explore the really cool experiences in our own backyard. You cannot allow your employment status or budget stop you from living your life. Spend quality time with friends and do fun things around your city.

8:09am: I finally roll out of bed. I move through my 5 step skin care routine while listening to music.

8:37am: I catch the Muni train to the SF Main Library in Civic Center.

9:00am: Library doors open. I open the TodayTix app to grab rush tickets for the 1pm matinee show of MJ: The Musical. The show is touring in SF this week.

9:04am: I begin my tutoring session. A month ago I started teaching these two sisters, ages 10 and 12. Tutoring is one of my several side hustles of my funemployed era.

11:05am: I wrap up my tutoring with the girls and return them back to their mom. I catch a bus to Nob Hill for one of my dog walking gigs.

11:26am: I take Australian Labradoodle puppy Luna to Lafayette Park. She is the cutest lil white fluffy dog. I’m obsessed with her and she always attacks me with kisses. It’s a misty day in SF, so Luna is a bit reluctant on our walk.

12:09pm: I head to my next dogwalking gig in Hayes Valley. Chocolate Labrador Mocha and I are both drenched by the end of our walk. The mist is now a downpour.

12:44pm: I rush back to Civic Center for my 1pm matinee for MJ: The Musical. One of my favorite things to do in SF is to see the touring broadway musicals. The prices are so much cheaper than New York and it’s really easy to get discounted rush tickets.

12:57pm: I grab my $40 rush ticket from will call and hurry to my seat. I’m a bit of a mess, fumbling with my dripping umbrella. To my surprise, I’m in the middle section of the orchestra about 10 rows from the front. I’m VERY happy with this seat, wow. The show begins about 5 minutes after I sit.

2:13pm: Intermission. Everyone around me looks like they’re retired LOL. All the ladies are chatting about how much they’re loving the show. Unbelievable choreo and catching Michael Jackson beats. I nibble on snacks I smuggled from home while I catch up on texts.

3:42pm: I exit the Orpheum Theatre that is swamped with other theatre goers. I reflect upon MJ: The Musical and snap pictures outside. What a fun, yet nuanced portrayal of Michael Jackson and his family. The dance numbers were outstanding and the music was very catchy and nostalgic.

4:07pm: On my way home, I pop into a chocolate shop in Hayes Valley. I pick up a Too Good To Go surprise bag. I snagged a regularly priced $24 box chocolates for $7.99. I’ll gift the chocolate to a friend this weekend. I swear TGTG is my favorite app.

4:58pm: I hop off the Muni and arrive back to my apartment. I do laundry and catch up on emails. YouTube videos play in the background while I type away on my laptop.

6:53pm: I walk to my friend’s apartment for dinner. Every Wednesday, I meet with my community group of other young people who go to my church. With Easter only a few days away, the group decided to hold a Seder dinner.

9:42pm: I walk back home in the rain after consuming wine, chicken, matzo, and chocolate cake. The rain is coming down very hard and my umbrella is on the struggle bus. When I arrive home, my jacket is quite soaked.

9:59pm: I pack snacks for my road trip tomorrow with my friend. I’m determined to be the best passenger princess possible.

10:14pm: I open my Substack and reflect upon my day while listening to my favorite playlist.

10:51pm: I post a few videos on TikTok about my funemployed adventures of the day (@thelauraholland). Posting TikToks right before bed has become a ritual of mine.

11:37pm: I finish my nightly skincare routine and head to bed.

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEAWAY: I can still have fun while on a budget and hustling. I grabbed a last minute Rush ticket to MJ: The Musical and had such a blast. I love theatre so much and it’s such an underrated activity here in the Bay. Dinner at a friend’s house is another lovely way to enjoy my time post layoff that is healthy, productive, and low cost. I need to continue to prioritize community and doing the things that bring me joy.

7:18am: I finally roll out of bed after a lil scrolling on Instagram. I take my multivitamins and begin my skincare routine.

7:53pm: I run to my Waymo and enter with less than a minute to spare before the call cancelled on me.

8:12am: I arrive at an apartment in San Francisco’s Panhandle neighborhood. I’m dogsitting a puppy Dachshund for the day. Wally is 4 pounds, loves cuddles, and is still teething. I’m obsessed with him. Since he’s only a couple months old, he can’t go outside. My main job is just to sit with him and make sure he pees on his pee pad.

11:13am: I eat a bowl of cottage cheese and granola. Adulting begins when you start enjoying cottage cheese LOL. Wally and I continue to cuddle on the couch while I apply to jobs, check emails, and watch The Voice in the background.

1:34pm: In Wally’s parents’ kitchen, I cook up a grilled cheese. Childhood continues if you have a grilled cheese for lunch.

3pm: I join a team meeting for the American Pavillion. Last year, I did a seasonal job at the Cannes Film Festival working with the American Pavillion. I told myself if I didn’t have a full-time job, I would return. So, here I am! A free month in France is not a bad backup plan…

4:42pm: I leave puppy Wally and walk to catch the Muni train for a tutoring session. My client is a 10-year-old girl.

5:32pm: I arrive to the family’s home for our tutoring session. The family has a golden doodle puppy that I’m also obsessed with.

7:09pm: I finish tutoring and walk to the train stop. Now that the sun is setting, the weather is quite brisk. Your girl is shivering while waiting for the train home.

8:12pm: After a long commute, I arrive back to my apartment and I can finally chill.

8:27pm: I pre-heat my airfryer to cook up my chicken tikka samosas. This is my FAVORITE Trader Joe’s frozen item. It always hits. Yum.

9:34pm: I begin editing the newest episode of my podcast Sisters Who Watch, reviewing Zendaya’s new movie The Drama. We had a lot to unpack, so the episode was long and took awhile to edit.

11:16pm: I finally publish the newest episode. I schedule the podcast to post for early Tuesday morning.

11:34pm: I upload a couple videos to my TikTok (@TheLauraHolland) despite my eyes feeling heavy. Even though I have a small, but mighty audience, I keep posting. All the girlies on TikTok say to post everyday. Here I am, showing up!

11:55pm: I finally head to sleep. Another day, another side huslte-earned dollar.

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEAWAY: Hustling is not easy, but it will be worth it. I just need to keep showing up. Side hustling is great and it funds my life here in San Francisco. I’m very blessed that I can afford to live here without a full-time job. It requires fierce budgeting and hustling through different gigs. This can be exhausting. Rest is so important. At the same time, pursuing your passion requires burning the candle at both ends for some time. Stay consistent and try your best to find balance.

Wally cuddles (below)

8:34am: I shower then go through my 5-step skin care routine. If I want to acheive my goal of avoiding botox, this is what has to be done.

9:17am: I haphazardly shove clothes into an overnight bag. Last minute packing is one of my specialties.

9:43am: I rush to catch the Muni train to meet my friend at Enterprise in Fisherman’s Wharf.

10:22am: Upon arrival to Embarcadero, I miss my connecting F train to Fisherman’s Wharf. The next train isn’t for another 15 minutes. Classic. Instead, I decide to walk 30 minutes along the waterfront. The sun’s out, why not? However, I am carrying a heavy backpack and overnight bag. But, at least I’m getting my steps in! My shoes slowly come untied as I walk…

10:46am: Sweaty and out of breath, I stumble into Enterprise. I tell the man at the front desk I’m waiting for a friend. I plop into one of the waiting room chairs.

10:57am: My friend arrives. She checks in at the front desk and signs the appropriate paperwork for the rental car. I greet her with a hug.

11:09am: We hop into a Nissan and aimlessly press buttons trying to set up Apple CarPlay.

11:19am: While driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, I finally connect my friend’s phone to CarPlay. A sigh of relief exits my mouth. My main duty as passenger princess has been completed.

1:16pm: We arrive to our friend’s apartment in Mendocino and drop off our bags. Our friend is spending a few weeks in Mendocino for a work rotation. Time for a lil girls trip!

1:33pm: We drive to a lunch recommendation at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, a monastery & Buddhist community open to the public. In addition to temples, schools, library and gardens, the community has a popular lunch restaurant called Jyun Kang.

1:42pm: Upon entry to the restaurant Jyun Kang, we disocver they are a cash only business. Oof. As two girlies in their twenties, we both rarely have cash on us. I barely even use my physical cards anymore. We check the menu to determine if we want to come back and secure paper bills. In Gen Z/Millennial shame, we return to the rental car and drive to the nearest Chase bank.

1:57pm: I rush to the ATM and login to my account. The lunch restaurant closes at 3pm so we need to move with haste. Right before I’m about to get my cash, Chase shows this warning on the screen because they think I’m sus. Chase sends a two-step verification from my phone to confirm the transaction. A security alert makes sense. I’m in a random lil town 2 hours north and I NEVER retrieve cash from my account. Good on you, Chase.

2:15pm: We scurry back into Jyun Kang and order a bunch of food. Neither of us had eaten a real meal all day.

3:11pm: We are the last table to leave the restaurant. Very full, we wander the grounds of the monastery. There are peacocks and deer roaming the grounds. The peacock gets a lil to close for comfort and squacks at us a couple time. I immediately plan my exit plan and back away from the bird.

4:23pm: We drive to the closest Enterprise to drop off the rental car. We’re more than a few minutes late for our 4pm drop-off. Howeverm the Buddhist monastery was quite expansive and was calling us to explore it.

5:17pm: An Uber driver drops us off at our friend’s apartment. We relax until she gets back from her workday.

6:04pm: All three of us finally connect after a long day of travel and work. We hug and chat before our evening adventure.

6:32pm: We drive to Lake Mendocino to catch sunset. Surreal. So peaceful. Upon arrival, I walk a bit of the perimeter of the lake. We snap selfies and videos to capture the gorgeous scenery (pictured below).

7:39pm: We leave the Lake before it gets too dark. California loves to have windy unlit roads.

7:56pm: We arrive at Walmart to grab groceries for the next couple days. I cannot remember the last time I’ve been in a Walmart. I think it was when I was visiting family in Mississippi. In the South, Walmart is king. Not so much in San Francisco.

8:17pm: The girlies are hungry and want a snack. We see a Jack and the Box across the street. None of us have ever eaten there. Time to try! The drive through is VERY long, suspiciously long for a Thursday night. We park and order inside instead. Upon ordering, my friend asks to sample fries to determine whether to order Curly or Classic. The cashier, to our surprise, fishes two fries out of the basket for her to sample. I was laughing very hard when this happened.

8:36pm: Jack in the Box is secured. Curly fries are banger. I also got the tiny tacos which I’ve heard are good. I was impressed. Very tasty.

8:49pm: We return to my friend’s apartment and nibble on our fast food as well as the road trip snacks I packed the day from San Francisco.

12:57am: I finally head to bed after hours of chatting, laughing, and playing Nintendo Switch. Girl talk is the best kind of talk. Hopefully we didn’t disturb the neighbors with our rants and cackles.

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEAWAY: Visit your friends. Take the ideas out the group chat and execute the plan. One of my favorite post layoff activities is visiting friends around the country and world. Every friend I’ve visited loved hosting me. They appreciate it a lot more than you think. You get to experience a new location, have a personal tour guide, often avoid housing costs, and catch up with a friend. Who is someone you’d like to visit? Take advantage of your free time and funemployed flexibility. Don’t just think about it, but make it happen.

Lake Mendocino

9:47pm: I eat my overnight oats that I made the evening before. In my Too Good To Go surprise bag, one of my favorite apps to save money, I got a huge container of raw oats that I now need to use. Overnight oats for the foreseeable future!

10:30am: I take the muni train to my dog walking gig in Hayes Valley. Mocha, a chocolate lab, is the sweetest girl who loves to play fetch at Alamo Square Park.

12:30pm: I walk to Safeway to redeem my coupon for a free box of Barilla pasta. I use websites called PinchMe.com to get free samples of random items. Another budget hack I use…a girlie is hustling!

1:17pm: I arrive back to my apartment and heat up some leftover stir fry in my fridge. I enjoy my lunch while watching YouTube videos.

2:53pm: I edit and publish the newest episode of my podcast Sisters Who Watch. We most recently reviewed the “Hannah Montana 25th Anniversary Special.” Currently obsessed with Miley Cyrus’ new Hannah haircut which I was convinced was a wig. Shook. I’ve been listening to bangers like “Rockstar” and “He Could Be The One” on repeat.

3:36pm: I arrive to my tutoring session with a third grader. Another side hustle I’ve acquired amidst my two layoffs in two years. My student just turned nine-years-old. She and I work on multiplication tables and reading comprehension.

5:13pm: I walk to Union Square for happy hour with a new friend from networking, a fellow creative and filmmaker. We have a wonderful conversation about content creation, AI, and “suspiciously Christian” filmmaking. She gifts me a book that is a toolkit for working women. Perfect for me, a young woman who’s been a bit burned by the corporate world.

7:53pm: I pop into the Union Square Trader Joe’s to waste a few minutes while I wait for my train home. Neither Powell Street station nor my train car is terribly crowded.

8:17pm: I arrive home to an empty apartment. Roommates are not home. I have the kitchen to myself! I prepare a lil snack before retreating to my happy place: my bedroom.

9:04pm: I catch up on emails and respond to texts while watching one of my favorite reality shows right now: House of Villains. I LOVE Tiffany Pollard. What an icon.

9:57pm: I reactivate my Substack account. I created it months ago but never posted. I was inspired by my happy hour catch-up and other signs I’ve been getting recently. For almost a year, I’ve been content creating on TikTok about my funemployed adventures (@thelauraholland), but now, I want to diversify my platforms.

10:44pm: I post a couple new videos on my TikTok giving career advice, job hunting tips, and funemployed hacks. I have a small but mighty audience.

11:29pm: I return to my Substack. I publish my first ever Substack post. Let’s see where this journey takes us :)

FUNEMPLOYED DAY TAKEAWAY: Prioritize my creativity. Take advantage of the flexibility that comes with being laid off. As a recovering corporate overachiever, let’s use this time to heal and don’t be afraid to embrace a less traditional career path.

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