I’m 56 and was just laid off. I’d be in a pickle if it weren’t for the fact that I’m an adjunct on the side. But it pays much less than what I need to make. This concerns me. However, there have also been articles that some companies prefer older employees because they are less self-centered than younger employees. We’ll see.
Well, you at least have a second source of income, even though it's not what you need to make. Perhaps it's time to think about building a small home business to fill in the rest of your lost income.
As far as jobs are concerned, we 50-somethings are definitely at a disadvantage in the market. You've almost got to have some unique or highly sought after skill (or personal quality) to be seriously considered by a prospective employer. Sales is an area where our age is actually a plus.