Success Tips During a Recession
When the economy is in a recession, it's easy to feel like you're on the verge of financial ruin. But there's no need to panic. Here are some tips that will help you get through a recession with your finances intact: more than one job is not a bad idea. You might be thinking, “Sure, this is great advice for people living in a boom town where everyone is swimming in cash and you can pick up a second job at the local coffee shop or McDonalds. But I live in a small town with no opportunities!”
Not so fast! A little creativity goes a long way. Maybe you don't want to work another 9-5 job; it's not really your thing. But what about babysitting? Can you watch some kid's kids while they go out for dinner? Or maybe there are elderly folks who could use some help around the house—sweeping their floors, cooking their meals etc.—and would happily pay someone like yourself if it meant having more time on their hands (or less stress). You never know what might come up—a seasonal job can lead to permanent work and more money than anticipated!
Sell stuff you don't need or want.
Sell stuff you don't need or want on eBay, Craigslist, or a second-hand store.
Donate it to charity.
Sell to a friend who wants the item and will pay you for it.
Sell to a junk dealer (they'll recycle your item for less than what you might get at an auction).
If there's no resale value left in your item after all of this, sell it for scrap metal—you can even sell it directly to metal recycling centers like [http://www.metalscrapyard.com/](http://www.metalscrapyard.com/)!
Make your gas dollars go further.
Don't go on a joy ride in your car. And if you have to drive, use that gas card with the best rewards program (or at least one that gives you cash back). Sure, it's fun to fill up and get those points toward whatever prize is on your mind at the moment—a new fridge or couch or TV—but what you really want is an extra $15 in your pocket each time you fill up.
There are plenty of companies out there that offer discount gift cards or other incentives just for using their card at the pump. Some will even offer cash back on top of all that. In fact, many credit unions have started offering gas perks as well: check with yours to see how much money they'll save you each month!
The bottom line -it's all about saving money during a recession.
The recession is a great time to get your finances in order, start a business, learn how to save money, and get a second job. But it's also an opportunity to be more aware of the ways in which you can adapt your life so that if there's ever another recession you won't have to worry about it so much.
If you’re like most people, you don’t want to read this article. You want to scroll past it and get on with your day. But we beg you not to. (We know how tempting it is.) We promise that if you take one thing away from all these tips, it shouldn’t be the fact that we have a great sense of humor or the ability to write catchy headlines—it should be the realization that there are ways for everyone to save during a recession. The hardest part is making up your mind and taking action; after all, nobody wants their lifestyle choices dictated by external factors beyond their control. And yet none of us can afford not to prepare for whatever comes next (even if that means just getting out there right now).
