10 Tips for Helping You Survive the Recession

1. Create a budget. This is the first step to getting through hard economic times. Being aware of how much you are making, how much things cost, and how much you have left over will ensure that you are in control even in circumstances that may seem out of your control. As you track your expenses, you’ll be surprised at how much you spend and where. Decide how much money you should allocate monthly to food, gas, housing, bills, etc and do your best to stick with it!

2. Along with making a budget is abiding by the principle of living on less than you make. If you are doing this, then you will always have enough to go around. Try to avoid incurring additional debt, and work hard to slowly pay off the debt which you may already have. Getting out and staying out of debt is crucial to surviving a recession.

3. Companies will charge you quite a bit on fees for being late on a payment. Avoid the hassle and worry of remembering to pay your bills by setting up automatic payments online.

4. Earn a little extra money by finding odd jobs where you live. Ask around and see if you can watch your neighbor’s kids, freelance blog posts for a company looking to expand their social media plan, clean an elderly couple’s home or grocery shop for them. Put that money away and you’ll find that it will slowly add up to be a good chunk of change!

5. Reduce spending by cutting back on unnecessary spending. Take a look at your budget and decide where you could be spending less – groceries, driving less, eating out, shopping, etc. Saving every little bit definitely helps!

6. Purchase locally when possible. In addition to sustaining your local economy, you’ll find that fresh, in-season produce straight from the fields is often cheaper (and more delicious) than store bought produce. Check your local newspaper for a listing of farmers markets in your area and then check them out!

7. Purchase pantry staples on sale. You’ll save lots of money by stocking up on things that you use on regular basis while they’re on sale. Beware of the urge to use coupons advertising low prices on items you don’t normally buy – their goal is to get you to buy these things! Stick to your regular list and you’ll save money on sale items and avoid spending extra on junk.

8. Stay organized. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and out of control when you aren’t organized. Make a list of things you need to do each day and take the time to cross things off as you complete them. You’ll feel more organized and productive as you do so!

9. As you’re organizing your life, take a day or two to clean out your garage and closets. You may be surprised what you find! Sell the things that you no longer need online and make a few extra dollars!

10. And finally, to survive the recession you need to be happy. Taking time to do the little things you enjoy can make a real difference in your attitude and outlook on difficult circumstances. Whether you like to visit the ocean, read a good book, take a walk through a local park, play the lottery online, call up a friend, bake chocolate chip cookies, or ride your bike, taking time for yourself will help you stay happy and optimistic amidst uncertainty.