It’s no secret that many people have found themselves unemployed in 2020. It’s been a year of economic unrest, with thousands of employees being furloughed, freelancers losing work and businesses going bust. Or perhaps you’ve found yourself out of work after an accident or injury. All of which can leave you in a tricky position, especially if you have mounting bills. If the auto accident or injury sounds familiar, have a conversation with a Texas based injury lawyer to find out what to do next. Whatever the reason for your unemployment, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. During this time, you’ll need to better control your money, so here are some ideas to help out!

Meal plan

Most families spend most of their money on groceries, as I’ve noticed my family has been doing recently (perhaps less eating out?) but I do think that we spend more on groceries and food the less we meal plan. It can be too easy to order takeout or go out for a meal because there isn’t any food in. So, reduce your costs by planning your meals in advance and working out what you want to eat for the week. It takes a little more organization but you’ll be shocked to see how much you can save!

Turn off the taps

Water bills can add up quickly, especially if everyone in the family is taking their time in the bathroom. By saving water you’ll also save money, so try to encourage family members to take quick showers instead of lengthy baths. Turning the tap off when you brush your teeth will help, too. Be sure to keep an eye on toilets as well; we often put bricks or glass containers to help reduce the amount of water. A little bit each flush can add up!

Wear a sweater

Heating and cooling is another bill that adds up quickly, especially in the chilly winter months or hot summer. Thankfully for us in the northern hemisphere we’re entering into fall which means open windows and no a/c for us! However as it gets colder, we can be quite quick to turn on the heating! But, instead of reaching for the thermostat, why not pop on an extra layer? In the winter I love my sweatpants, slippers and hoodie!

Cancel memberships

Most of us have lots of memberships we don’t need. Are you going to the gym enough to warrant paying $40 a month (or more if you Crossfit, ha!)? Would you miss Netflix that much if you cancelled it for a month or two? If not, cancel these memberships for now. You can always come back to them when you’re in a better financial position.  Be sure to check your credit card statement to make sure you’ve remembered all of the membership you have; perhaps you’ve forgotten one or two!

Grow your own veggies

There’s no better way to save money than becoming more sustainable. If you create a vegetable plot in your garden you can start growing your own produce and eating it instead of going to the supermarket. Plus, your veggies will be better for you as it won’t have been enhanced using chemicals. Even a novice gardener can get good at growing veggies, so give it a shot and you’ll see just how rewarding it can be. Mrs. Money and I have enjoyed a garden on and off for several years!

Walk more

People in the US love to drive. We drive everywhere. But do we really need to? It can be tempting to pop in the car when the distance is certainly walkable. But it’s not cheap. Gas adds up quickly and the price of parking can be extortionate. You’ll save a decent amount if you vow to walk more or take public transport. Maybe with COVID you’ve been working from home and therefore saving gas is made even easier!

Summary

Getting laid off or being put out of work for any other reason is never ideal and it can put a real strain on your finances. Keep you head up, keep your options open, get creative, and cut back wherever you can!

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