About $20k, in a mutual fund. Didn't plan to spend it all but I did, quickly. I was working at a grocery store though, so little "risk". :) As others have said

About $20k, in a mutual fund. Didn't plan to spend it all but I did, quickly. I was working at a grocery store though, so little "risk". :) As others have said - you need to learn to live cheaply. Savings dwindles amazingly fast when you have no income. Personally, I dropped my cell phone & cable TV, and got rid of my car. It took about 3 years to get back to "normal" - would never have made it without slashing expenses.