Saving on Expenses in a Post-COVID-19 World
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, countless thousands of employees are experiencing financially devastating layoffs. Whether these layoffs are temporary or permanent, those affected all share the same problem: they now lack a source of income.
A decent income is a household’s lifeblood, and now more than ever. Everyone is tightening their belts, cutting costs as best they can, and trying to ride out the hardship. Prizerebel is a great resource to help you with your household expenses. For example, we offer free Amazon gift cards or Paypal money so you have more money in your pocket.
If you are experiencing layoffs or unemployment during the COVID-19 crisis, you might be wondering what options are out there. Here are a few ways to save on expenses during COVID lockdown.
Small Savings Around the House
You can pinch a few pennies on your utility bills with some simple tips and tricks to lighten the energy load around the house.
Start with the obvious: turn off the lights when you exit a room, take shorter showers instead of baths, don’t run the washer and dryer half-full, and do the dishes by hand rather than using the dishwasher.
A few lesser-known tips include allowing hot foods to cool before putting them in the fridge, using the highest spin speed on your washer to get the moisture out quicker, and making sure your pots and pans match the size of the element you’re using.
Fix any drips or leaks in your toilets, faucets, and appliances. Also, make sure to clean or change the filters on your HVAC system, as clogged filters force your heating and cooling system to work much harder.
Even the smallest changes can make a difference. With these tips and others, you may be able to save up to $500 a year, depending on other factors in your home.
Saving on Bills
Beyond what you have direct control over, you can also access aid at a higher level. Many utility companies are expanding their off-peak/lower rate usage period, or deferring bills entirely. And they’re not the only ones.
There are various organizations nationwide offering bill relief and deferral packages. Business Insider has compiled a comprehensive list of loan and bill deferrals in the US, including auto payments, phone and internet bills, credit card bills, utilities, and more.
Students can breathe a sigh of relief. As of March, US student loan borrowers are having their bill payments deferred without penalty until September.
For homeowners, federally-backed lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have just announced additional relief options for those struggling to pay off their mortgages. They are issuing 12 month periods of forbearance. When you’re able to resume your payments, you can enter a loan deferral program to continue paying off your home, even for years after you’ve sold it.
Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have handy web lookup tools to check whether they own your home loan.
Price Matching for Shopping
When you’re on a fixed budget, you will need to know how to cut expenses. One great way to do this is by price shopping. Shopify has an excellent list of 17 price comparison engines, that allow you to easily compare potential purchases from different vendors side by side. Whether you’re buying a new toaster, or taking out a loan on your home, doing your own research to find the best prices can help to lower your final tally.
Financial Assistance
With substantial financial assistance packages being rolled out worldwide, there is emergency funding available to help those struggling with unemployment. Benefits are available by industry, by state, and from the federal government.
In fact, the US federal government has a page dedicated to bill support services. And as of May, states built on the foundation of the CARES Act with Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for workers that don’t traditionally qualify for unemployment. While these benefits are unfortunately not available nationwide, MONEY.com has compiled a list of state portals that are currently offering PUA.
Earn Extra Cash
While saving money in this difficult time is necessary and good, earning extra money is even better. There are lots of ways to earn money fast on the internet, but one of the simplest is through paid online survey sites. PrizeRebel is one of the easiest free paid survey sitse to use
More About PrizeRebel
So what’s so great about PrizeRebel? The site is trustworthy and the work is simple. PrizeRebel is perfect for someone in need of a little extra pocket money. And while the payout isn’t enough on its own to replace a full salary, you can earn enough money to cover necessities and buy groceries. Every little bit helps!
PrizeRebel is available worldwide, and it’s free to sign up. The PrizeRebel support team is available 24/7 to help you out, and as long as you have an internet-enabled computer or device, you can use PrizeRebel.
It’s simple to sign up with PrizeRebel, so what are you waiting for? There’s no easier or faster way to earn money now.