Save Money During Coronavirus

As I mentioned in a previous post, my husband and I have been fortunate enough to keep working during COVID-19. But, many other people have been forced to stay home and have faced difficulties with their finances as a result.

Regardless, we’ve still been watching for ways to save money during Coronavirus. You may also be wondering how to save money during this pandemic too.

Buy as Few Groceries as Possible

Obviously, you and your family must eat to live. But you can buy as few groceries as possible to save money during coronavirus and lower your food budget. Here are a few ways to do this:

Shop Your Pantry or Freezer

Check out what you already have on hand before going to the store or shopping online. You may already have part, or all, of the items needed to make complete meals or sides.

I’ve been using this tactic to save money during coronavirus because I can use food before items go bad or expire.

Make Creative Meals

Once you know what you already have, search for recipes online that include some of those items. You may be able to combine what you have to make new recipes and only buy a couple of ingredients.

I love doing this because I get to explore new recipes, which I find kind of fun. Of course, I make my husband be the guinea pig and try them out.

As you’d expect, some of the feedback I get is, “meh”, and some is, “This recipe is a keeper!” Either way, we’re trying new things and saving money at the same time.

Use an App to Make a List

My husband and I currently use an app called, “Our Groceries,” that lets us share a grocery list. We downloaded the app to our phones so we both have access to it when either of us is shopping.

The app lets you create multiple grocery lists you can title any way you want. You can even create custom categories and arrange items any way you want.

We love using the app for convenience as well as organization so we save money by not buying multiples.

Pay Less for Entertainment

Some people won’t agree, but you can pay less for entertainment to save money during coronavirus. I say it’s an easy trade. When the going gets really tough, you must prioritize your bills. Anyway, here are some ways to cut entertainment costs:

• Shut off cable and go without or stream content through a cheaper provider
• Go to the library to check out and read books and magazines for free
• Download free e-books to your phone, Kindle, or other e-book reader
• Watch free DVD’s from your local library or watch what you already own
• Swap DVD’s with friends so you both get to see something new
• Play games you already own, create new ones, or look up games online
• Don’t discount the value of a deck of cards – there are countless games you can play and who doesn’t already own a couple of decks?
• Scroll through Facebook or other another social media platform you’re on
• Play games on your phone, tablet, or home gaming system

Avoid Temptation

When you’re trying to save money, it’s best to avoid temptation. Don’t enter or window shop your favorite stores. For one thing, most people should be staying home anyway. For another, you’ll avoid spending money you should be using elsewhere.

The same applies to online shopping. If you’re bored from staying home, try other things to keep yourself occupied. If you just can’t help yourself because of ads displaying cool stuff, turn off the alerts for your shopping sites. You can always turn the alerts and emails on again later – or not to save yourself money regularly, which is even better.

Summing it Up

There are nearly unlimited ways to save money during coronavirus if you stay on the lookout for them.  While some save you more money than others, they could all add up to hundreds of dollars saved each month.

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Have you made changes to your lifestyle and budget during the pandemic? If so, how do you save money during Coronavirus?