Getting laid off is a devastating life event for anyone to have to bear. It is troubling for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that you still have to figure out how you are going to survive monetarily.
A large number of people live paycheck to paycheck. It is not a great way to live, but it is the reality of the lives of plenty of people. Given this, there are a few things worth taking a look at in terms of dealing with this situation.
Consider Alternative Transportation
Many parts of the USA have a car obsessed culture. It is easy to just grab your keys, start the engine, and head off to wherever you need to go. However, if you are now without a job and looking to save money, one of the best things you can do is to look at other methods of transportation.
These methods might include things such as taking the bus or asking your friends or family for a ride to where you need to go. This may be awkward to do at first, but you have to realize how expense it is to operate your own vehicle. If you currently own a vehicle you may want to let it sit idle until you are back on the job somewhere. Alternatively, you might consider selling your vehicle to get some much needed cash to get you through.
Get Rid Of Some Unhealthy Habits
Are you guilty of engaging in some activities that you should probably just give up? You know how it goes, it is all to easy to pick up a quick six pack of beer or a pack of cigarettes and enjoy it. Most of us like to enjoy these pleasures from time to time, but when you are laid off from your job it is not time to do just this.
If you can possibly give up some of those bad habits that you have it will save you a lot of money. Even though it doesn’t seem like a lot of money at the time, it adds up very quickly. These are behaviors that you do not need to be engaging in to begin with. If you would just shed some of them you would be in a lot better shape financially.
Prepare Meals At Home
One of the best ways to save money on food is to look to make as many meals at home as you can. It can be a burden to have to cook your own food all the time, but at least you will be able to save some money.
There are some many restaurants and fast food places as well. This is yet another place where it is easy to justify it in your mind. You think that you are just spending a few dollars at the moment, but in reality it is possible to spend a huge amount on your budget just on avoiding eating at home.
These are just a few suggestions that may help you to preserve the money that you do have until you are able to get back on your feet again.
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Photo: Kathryn Decker / CC 2.0