hold out for higher pay, better hours, more vacation – anything

Not immediately. Take the job now and get the finances under control. But don’t stop interviewing and applying, and move from a position of strength into a better job when it comes around. And if you’re back at the old job that ditched you, then ditching them isn’t so hard this time.

Always take care of the basic needs - money for food, money for clothing, money for shelter - before moving up the Maslow pyramid.