Post Pandemic Recovery Tips

Here are some ideas to make surviving a tough economy as painless as possible.

Tip #1: Cut back on the extras

Every family has those little extras that add up quickly. I decided to go through my bills and see what we could cut. Here is what I came up with:

• It’s nice to have access to movies and special programs on cable, but is it worth $100+ a month? We cut the cord a few years ago, here’s how we did it.
• I used to love heading out to the bookstore, but these days, I download free Kindle books on Amazon or look for sales. I also subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, which offers free books and magazines every month.
• Take-out food can take a big bite out of the budget. Aim to cook most nights of the week. Freezer cooking is also a time and money saver.
• Watch out for hidden debits. Here are some of the most common debits . If you are no longer using the service, cancel it!

- Hulu

- Netflix

- Amazon Prime

- beauty box subscriptions

- TIVO

• To save on gasoline, I combine errands and really try not to run the air conditioner, because it eats up so much gasoline. Also, we have a membership at Costco and their gasoline is always cheaper than other places.

Tip #2: Become a big time bargain shopper

• Why pay full price when you can get something for 75% off or more? Bargain shopping can take some effort, but it’s well worth it!
• Everyone who knows me, knows I am a Target addict. Why? Because they have the best stuff on clearance. Especially when I’m looking to make a big purchase, I scout out the local Targets and see who has the item on clearance. And then I wait for the price to drop to 75% off. I also buy grocery items at Target. They tend to be cheaper than the local grocery stores. I also use the Cartwheel app everytime I shop.
• After holidays, I shop stores clearance for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Back to School and Halloween. I’m amazed at the great stuff I get for 75% off or more. The only bummer is having to wait for a year to use the items!
• For coupons, I have an easy…