Top strategies in surviving a bad economy
o matter how rich a person or a country is, there will always be tough times. In these tough times when the economy is in bad shape surviving a bad economy is a must for everybody. This will not only help themselves to adjust to the current situation but this is also one way of contributing to the overall survival. The following strategies no matter how simple they might be can somehow help a person to survive the downscaling economy.
On transportation:
- It is best to carpool more often. Make it a habit between you and a coworker to take turns in carpooling to the office. This is a good way of minimizing both your expenses in gasoline. If there are more than two of you living in your neighborhood much better, the more the merrier.
- Instead of buying new cars, old used ones. In these tough times, new cars are not a necessity. But still, you need a means of transportation. What best way to save up but to buy old cars and save up some money? When you buy used cars, it would costs you a lot cheaper.
- Put together different errands in one trip. Try to get all of the things you need to do in one trip or on your trip home. This lessens the number of trip you need to make and you can avoid from driving back and forth.
- Take up a hobby and ride a bike. If you live close to stores malls or places you usually go to, ride a bike instead of driving you car. It's god exercise and it's good for your health.
- Wash your car yourself. This one is a no-brainer, why spend on something you can do yourself. That's right, you can do this yourself. Imagine the cost savings that you'll be making. It's not much on its own but it's a lot altogether.
On eating:
- Eat like you're on a diet. Try and eat off your kids plate sometimes, this will make you eat in smaller portions and you would even notice. This one works if you don't go for seconds.
- Bottled water alternative. Tap water is the ultimate cheap fix. Try comparing an ounce of bottled water and an ounce of tap I'm sure you'll see the difference.
- Less meat more savings. Imagine not having meat during the working week and having it on weekends instead. It will definitely cost you less than your usual tab.
On personal shopping:
- Generic is good. Brand loyalty is a thing of the past especially if it cost you a lot. More than anything else the generic substitutes allows you to have options.
- Be a bargain hunter. Despite the downscale, people would still always buy personal items for themselves. Getting good items while surviving a bad economy can be done by buying bargain stuff. Don't just be contented with the low price the stores have, try and look around if there's anything better.
Save Money On Entertainment
Even if you are saving money, you do not have to deprive yourself of some entertainment opportunities. There are several possibilities for having fun, whether on your own or with friends, without having to ruin your financial budget. In fact, you can even enjoy the latest entertainment craze. It is essential that you allow for a percentage of your earnings to go for entertainment, or else there's no point in saving. Here are simple tips you can take note of for fun that is not necessarily expensive.
Take Advantage of Anything Free
Once in a while, free concerts are held, take advantage of them. If you can, bring your friends along so you can enjoy the lively atmosphere offered at concert events. Since most concert tickets today are quite expensive, you should grab this opportunity to see a concert for free.
If you are still going to school or know someone who is, many schools offer free entertainment through exhibition of plays, sports events, dance recitals, art exhibits, or film festivals. While most of them are free, there are those that charge affordable ticket prices.
Change Your Viewing Habits
Spending money on a movie ticket is just not practical. Instead, you can watch a movie at home with friends or family. You can prepare popcorn for a snack while watching your favorite movies. To get those DVD movies, you can look for a rental store within your neighborhood or nearby area. Subscribing to a video store is not a practical decision because you end up spending more on late charges or you are unable to maximize your subscription fee.
Or better yet, you can borrow DVD copies of your favorite movies from friends. If you want, you can invite them to your house so you can watch those movies together. This is a thrifty way to entertain yourselves and bond with friends.
Indoor Games
Go back to the past with indoor games that you enjoyed as a kid. You can do puzzles and board games with family members. This might sound boring for some, but once you get started playing, you will find yourself hooked. This is a perfect opportunity to waste time on a particularly weary day.
Join Clubs
Whatever your interests are, you are bound to find an organized group that caters to your interest. For instance, if you love reading books, then you can join a book club within your community. This is a fun way to meet new people, while others exchange their favorite books. If you enjoy biking, then there's probably a biking group to join.
Membership fee for most of these groups are quite affordable, while others require no registration fee. These are organized by people who just want to share their passion for certain things with other people. This is not just a cheap way to entertain yourself but is quite fulfilling too.
Watch Out For Discounts
If you want to watch theater productions, go to a museum, or partake in any form of merriment, you can invite your friends to join you. While there are a few of them that offer tickets at a cheap price, look out for those that offer discounts for buying tickets in bulk. These discount offers are done to encourage people to watch these productions and you need to grab them while the opportunity lasts.
Aside from that, you should take advantage of other forms of discounts. For instance, if you are a student, you can get discounts by merely presenting your ID.
Head Outdoors
Most people's idea of entertainment are confined to malls and movie theaters. These forms of entertainment are often quite expensive. Therefore, you can go outside and experience fun outdoors. Not only is it a cheaper way to have fun but there are limitless activities to explore.
You can go hiking, picnicking, fishing, camping, kayaking, bird watching, visit a park, or walk on the beach with friends. This is a perfect way to get re-acquainted with the outdoors and be treated to the beauty of nature. This type of activities are quite calming and relaxing. Aside from that, most of these parks or reserved areas are open to visitors for free.
|
