We all know that the world is getting more expensive by the day — the news might be reporting that inflation is going down, but the word hasn’t spread to the grocery store yet, or to utility payments, the cost of transportation, the cost of housing and just about everything else. It costs a lot to live! 

If you’re between jobs, or working in a part-time or temporary job situation while you figure out your next move, you might be more focused on paying the bills than trying to get ahead financially. That’s understandable! But it doesn’t need to be an either-or situation. Being financially smart and trying to save even just a little bit of money can help provide a lot of peace of mind and help ease the strain in uncertain times. 

Here are four tips to consider. 

1. 1. Be brutally honest with yourself about your situation. If you’re working part-time because you have family responsibilities, you’re still in school or you’re looking for full-time work but just haven’t found anything yet, your money situation will be rather tight. That’s ok! But by being honest with yourself about your income — taking the time to sit down, tally everything and get a real dollars-and-cents accounting of what you’re bringing in compared to what you’re paying out — will help you make smarter choices with your money. Living alone, going out all the time, buying those new shoes or that vacation might not be in the cards right now (especially not in the credit cards as those will come back to haunt you later!). 
   2. Create a budget. This goes hand-in-hand with being honest about your money. Write down every single expense you have – rent, food, gas, transit, utilities, credit card bills, etc., – and see what you’re really dealing with. Note your income too so you can get a real accounting of what’s coming in and what’s going out. Once you have this information in front of you, on paper or on a spreadsheet, whatever works best for you, look for ways to reduce spending that isn’t 100% life-and-death necessary. Find ways to lower your spending — go to a different grocery store to buy less expensive products, or consider swapping your daily drive for a bus commute (or walk if you can do so safely); call your utility company to see if you qualify for a budget billing system in which you pay the same amount all year long and therefore can have a predictable bill instead of seasonal fluctuations. As you’re writing this budget and figuring out how to make it all work, create a bucket for savings. It could be $5 a week, or $50 a month, but take that money and put it aside right away. If you can’t touch it, if it’s not in your usual bank account, you won’t feel it going away. If the thought of doing this yourself is too daunting, there are plenty of FREE! budgeting apps that can help take the guesswork out of this scary task and make it easy and predictable.
   3. Set goals. If you want to save money, make that clear. Make it a priority. Determine what you’re saving for — whether that’s a certain amount you’d like to have set aside for emergencies, or to get a newer car, or for a vacation, whatever it is — and try to figure out when you’d like to make that purchase. Estimate the amount you need to save, divide it by the number of months in your timeline, and that’s your savings goal per month. You can break it down by week if you’d like! It’s important to know you’re going to get through this financially tough time by having something to work toward, whether that’s eliminating a credit card bill, paying off a car, enjoying a special evening out or getting out of town to celebrate your progress. Goals are powerful motivators and will help keep you focused on the days when things feel a little overwhelming. 
   4. Consider your schedule. If you’re working a part-time job but have room in your life to work more, try to pick up another part-time job. Some industrial jobs offer a premium rate for working less desirable hours — overnights, for example — and if that’s a possibility in your current job, and you’d be willing to take on that opportunity, talk with your boss and see if you can make the change. If you work in the hospitality industry, try to get a shift that might offer a slightly higher rate of tips. There are other options too: If you’re crafty, maybe there’s a product you can make and sell online, or a small business you could start from your home, or you could start offering your services as a dog walker or rideshare driver. Get creative and see what you can do! 

How Can We Help?

Everyone goes through stretches where the money just isn’t as abundant as we’d like it to be. We all know that stress. Some people are better at navigating through those times than others, but you can make it! Be patient with yourself as you embark on this learning process and know you’ll be reaping the rewards. 

If you’re still struggling and want to try something new, it’s time to contact Davis Staffing. Working with a recruiter to find a new job is free to job candidates, so there’s nothing to lose! Take a look at the jobs we have available and see if anything fits your interests and abilities, then get in touch with our recruiters to learn more about the position. We’ll help polish your resume and even put in a recommendation if we think it’s a good match — whether it’s a full or part-time job or even a temporary one. Call Davis Staffing today and let’s get going!