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Last month, we had one of our largest rise in unemployment claims since 1982. No doubt we are in a recession, and money is tight. Now is the time to get pro-active and start saving as much money as you can. This way, you can create an emergency fund to cushion you and your family during difficult times. Here are 7 simple ways to save money in a recession.

The first thing you should consider doing. Do all of your errands on one day. If possible, save your errands (shopping, paying bills, visiting the post office, etc) in one day. This will help you save gas by getting everything accomplished while you’re out rather than making several trips a week to the same area for different things. The more efficient the better off you’ll be.

Stay in and watch videos. Rather than going to the movies, order a Pay-Per-View movie through your cable or satellite company. You’ll be at home, so you’ll have your own snacks already, you’ll avoid paying $5 for a small drink and you’ll save gas by staying home.

Consider private label products. Purchase of brand items at the grocery store. Most of the time, the products are exactly the same and when you buy the more expensive brand, you’re paying for the name only. You can literally save hundreds of dollars each year by purchasing off brand products.

Time to get thrifty. Search for clothing at local thrift stores and garage sales. This is an especially great idea if you have young children. They grow so quickly that there’s not much sense in purchasing expensive clothing that they will only be able to wear for a few months. You can often find brand new or gently used and brand name clothing at thrift stores and garage sales.

Minimize the postage. Pay your bills online to save stamps and money on envelopes. While this doesn’t seem like a lot of money saved, it definitely adds up. Another advantage of paying your bills online is that it’s eco-friendly. It’s also secure, so you don’t have to worry about your personal information getting out.

If you’re expecting a new baby (or already have a small child), try to get items for your baby through friends and family members. Most people know someone who has a child quickly outgrowing clothing, shoes, baby bathtubs, toys, etc. If you can’t get the items free, offer to pay a fair amount - you can still save a lot of money by doing it this way rather than buying the items brand new.

Get your scissors out and use them. Use coupons. A lot of people think that clipping coupons is really irritating and time consuming, but you can save thousands of dollars each year by using coupons. Another tip is to save your coupons for double or triple coupon day at your local grocery store. You can really save a lot of money with this trick.

Taking these steps can make a huge difference in your wallet, and your happiness. Take the time to plan your savings. You’ll find that you don’t have to suffer in order to enjoy some of the benefits of thrift.

To learn more about the best ways to save money, visit yourmoneysavingsecrets.com. Find out more on ways to save money at home today.

[tags]save money, money saving tips, recession, money saving,save money now, thrift[/tags]