DISQUS

Twiggers · 8 months ago

Great tips! The recession has not really hit us job-wise; however, we are trying to sell a house and we might have some monetary setbacks if it ever sells. Nonetheless, we have done things...and actually started before the economy took a nosedive. We are aggressively paying down credit cards and have stopped using them altogether (except for business expenses that are paid within 30 days). We have started shopping smarter and saving money on groceries. We think before we spend!!! I deferred looking for a job and instead took a postdoctoral research position that will last until summer 2011. Hoping things look better by then!

Baker · 8 months ago

Wow, very nice article. I think the only thing I regret is that you rarely see articles like this during great economies. A lot of these steps are even more effective if you can get yourself to apply them during the good times, before the storm comes rolling in!

Keep up the good work!

Lynnae · 8 months ago

Great article! I especially love point #2. My husband lost his job (twice) two years ago, when the tide started to turn in the advertising business (he was in newspaper advertising sales). It took a while for him to find a new job, and eventually he ended up doing something that was a hobby for him in college (sports announcing on the radio). He loves it, and he's much happier than he was in sales.

Thanks for mentioning the big list of frugal tips from my readers!

Steve · 8 months ago

The pro-vegetarianism article in tip 7 doesn't seem to apply to a short term recession, as basically the only argument they have that it's cheaper is that it lowers your medical costs. Even if you buy the argument at face value, by the time you would start to see the savings the recession/your joblessness would hopefully be over.

The prices quoted are not very useful because they are per pound instead of per calorie. Also the meat prices aren't the cheapest cuts (perhaps not even accurate); ground beef, whole chickens, etc are not listed. I would like to see someone compare a pound of ground beef bought on sale vs. a pound of beans from the bulk bin on a cents-per-calorie basis. I don't know which way it would come out, but at least it would finally be a fair comparison.

I keep hearing that a vegetarian diet is cheaper, and I am quite interested in the topic, so I am looking for information proving it one way or another. I haven't found it yet!

That's me · 8 months ago

Lentils at $1 per pound retail cost about $0.001 per calorie and $0.009 per gram of protein. Chickpeas/garbonzo beans at about $1 per pound retail cost about $0.0009 per calorie and $0.013 per gram of protein.

Craig · 8 months ago

I am trying to see if I can find some online classes to further my skills in my industry. Have you had any experience with taking online classes?

Mercy Mei · 8 months ago

A few observations:

There's nothing wrong with eliminating meat from your diet for whatver reason but it might be more realistic to either reduce portions or use it as something other than the "main" dish.

For example, serve steak but instead of a ten-ounce, try a 6 or 7 ounce and serve more vegetables, salad and rice or potatoes or whatever.

Or make meatballs, a stew, stuffed cvabbage, dumplings etc. Stir fries are easy and fast, too!

I also look for ways to reduce "fixed costs." I go to the library and borrow books, DVDs and CDs. I can read magazines there, too and save money on subscriptions. I also let my cellphone contract end and switched my number to a prepaid phone. Co-incidentally, I came across this article on the subject.

The point is that you can save money if you rethink everything you do. Savings can be had without dramatically changing your life... for now.

Jason Patrick · 8 months ago

Fantastic list! One very important thing to remember is to try to keep as positive an attitude as possible - no matter how bad it gets. We can't give in to the doom-and-gloom that bombards us in the media on a daily basis.

Keith · 8 months ago

Very good article! I think utilizing a second skill set when having lost your job. I'm discussing that option with my girlfriend right now as she lost her job in January, due to cutbacks of course. Thanks for the ideas!

Jae Jun · 8 months ago

Some great tips. I'm not so sure about number 7 though lol. I love my protein too much :)

Paying off my credit cards and debt certainly has been a high priority.

BobV · 8 months ago

Great post and terrific tips. One other suggestion for good and bad times is to celebrate financial victories, big and small. One thing I encourage people I counsel is that when they pay off a debt or establish an emergency fund, to take a bit of the money you have saved and do something special with it. Doesn't have to be anything elaborate but the psychological effects of celebrating accomplishments is helps one continue to strive for more goals.

Andrea · 8 months ago

Baker is so right. I hear people complaining now that times are "bad" because they overspent so much when times are "good". They were in debt before but now are finding credit card companies and banks are tightening up. What some people call frugality(cooking meals, mending, making things last) has just been common sense to me although I have had a good salary for some time. Carrying a large credit card balance when most of it is made up of clothing and "toys" you don't need, lots of meals out, and stuff (you bought it but what, why and where it is now? when you are still paying it off) is just wrong. This is the case with a lot of my co-workers- who still go to the mall 2-3 times a week across the street and come back with more junk on several credit cards on which they are paying minimum payments- I hear the conversations but don't feel my advice would be wanted(STOP SHOPPING AND STOP COMPLAINING)