If redundancy is expected, or the end of a fixed term contract is coming up, with little chance of a new position, this can cause a great amount of worry about household finances and a drop in your standard of living. However, it is possible to take a few simple steps to help alleviate some of those concerns.
Shop Around for your UtilitiesIs it some time since you checked if you were getting the best prices for your household bills? Price comparison sites such as U-Switch will help you to ensure that you’re not paying too much for every day essentials.
If you’re paying monthly, you may also like to check that you’re paying enough for your bills. Although you don’t want to overpay, leaving your utility companies with large amounts of your money (it may as well earn interest in your bank account as theirs), you also don’t want to be in a situation where you are short-paying by a small amount each month and then find yourself facing a huge bill or payment rise when you can least afford it.
Stock up on EssentialsIf you have the space, a few extra purchases each time you go to the supermarket could help to build you up an extensive store cupboard.
Household products that you don’t want to run out of, such as washing detergent and toilet tissue can seem expensive when money is tight, but a few extras bought now and stored will save you having to buy them when your income is reduced. The same goes for toiletries and food cupboard items with a long shelf life, such as canned products and rice. Don’t forget to still rotate your stock, however. You don’t want to end up throwing anything away.
Green Cleaning
A change of circumstances is a good time to re-assess the way that you run your household. Do you need all of those proprietary cleaning products, for example? A few simple and natural ingredients will clean your home well, be better for the planet and much cheaper.
Sort Out Your Stuff
Do you still need all of the things that you’ve accumulated over time? Now is a good opportunity to de-clutter your home and make a bit of extra cash as a results.
Find Out What’s Free
Being out of work doesn’t have to mean sitting at home. There are many facilities which are free, or offered at reduced rates to people who are unemployed. Start at your local library, a great place to find out what’s going on in your area. Taking up a new hobby or sport will keep your energy levels high and demonstrate your ability to learn, making you more attractive to a future employer and more fun to be around.
Periods of unemployment can be very difficult to handle. The above suggestions will not alleviate the big problems that come with redundancy. They will, however, take away some of the minor concerns and will also help you to feel, in a small way, more in control of your life.
Lesley Arnold-Hopkins - Lesley Arnold-Hopkins is a freelance writer whose work and hobbies have given her areas of expertise in a number of fields. She has an ...
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