The hold of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to only get stronger around the United States of America. Despite that fact, many states have lifted the lockdown. The impact of COVID-19 has been felt by the whole world, changing our lives in many ways including the way we budget. Economic crisis in the country have increased after most businesses shut down during quarantine. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs and filed for unemployment. Americans with jobs or some sort of income were able to save better during the quarantine. Even people that were living within their means are finding it difficult to manage in their current paycheck. As states open up again, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to manage ands stick to budgets again, especially those who have been surviving on paychecks,unable to save any money.
Author and businessman, Ronnie Lee discusses important principles of money management in his latest book, Know Money No Problem. With this book, he wants to help the average earners manage money smartly and efficiently, who are struggling with expanding their budgets to fit their needs better, even throughout the month. Lee focuses on household finance in his book, presenting readers with tips, strategies, and statistics. Additionally, to save money around the house the way you did during quarantine, here are several tips by David Priest from Cnet:
· Switch credit cards: If you spend a lot of money at Whole Foods or on travel, or othe necessecities, consider specific credit cards that will offer the best rewards for your current spending habits.
· Use a budgeting app: One of the hardest parts of planning a budget is just developing awareness of our spending habits. Using a budgeting app like Mint is a great way to see exactly how your impulse buys really do shape your monthly budget.
· Use coupons: Coupons are basically like cash. If you buy things online, doing a 30-second search for coupons will often save you 10% or more.
· Pay bills online: There are few things I hate more than late fees on bills. Setting up autopay on your electricity and water bills will help avoid those unnecessary fees, and they'll also remove the need for postage on paper bills.
· Start a garden: While you're outside, think about starting a garden. If you have a backyard, you can avoid many of the upfront costs of a raised bed and simply get seeds to plant in the ground. You can get plenty of seeds for less than $20, and that will translate into much more than $20 worth of food over the following months.
· Build a compost bin: OK, this one is a longer-term investment, but building a garden can be hard and expensive if you're starting from scratch. If you start tossing your food waste into a compost bin now, though, you won't have to buy tons of fertilizer or expensive soil for your garden next year. Plus, composting is another good way to help the environment.
· Wash with cold water: Another way to cut costs is by washing with cold water. Unless you have serious stains or odors you're trying to remove, most clothes can wash cold without an issue.
Lower the temp on water heater: While we're talking water temperature, check your water heater. You generally don't need the temperature to be above 120 degrees, and higher temps come with higher fees. These tips can help you save more more for your daily spending.
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