Recent months have put financial strain on many people for a variety of reasons. Some have watched their savings roller coaster up and down along with the stock market. Others have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And some have unexpected new costs they must cover — like paying for childcare while schools are remote and daycares close down.

Luckily, it's not the end of the world. Here at

car insurance

comparison and broker app

Jerry

, we have you covered on how to stay prepared among difficult financial times.

Here are some key steps you can take to protect yourself financially.

Find ways to save on essentials

There are certain things that you absolutely need—like groceries and electricity. But there may be ways to cut down on these costs. Switch to generic brands that might cost less, and take a look at your regular bills to find opportunities to save.

Take insurance, for example. If you use a

smart app

that acts as your personal insurance shopper, you could save $900 a year without losing coverage or protection.

MORE:

11 Car Insurance Hacks to Save You Money

Stay connected

Job loss is a major source of depression, and social isolation is one of depression’s most insidious side-effects. Even when the job loss isn’t related to performance, the pain it causes can cause tremendous

psychological trauma

Reaching out is hard when you don’t feel valued, but that’s when you most need to. Staying connected requires more than checking in on

(which is a good first step), but don’t rule out volunteering. You never know how acts of kindness can improve your self-esteem (

generosity is good for the brain

) and enlarge your circle. Most cities and counties need help right now. Get involved. It could pay off in many ways, large and small.

Look for alternative forms of income

Working for peanuts is all very fine, because during a recession peanuts can become hard to come by. That’s why you need to start moonlighting now, and our

gig economy

offers countless chances to pick up extra work.

Navigating the side hustle has never been easier, thanks to sites like

Flexjobs

SolidGigs

. It might seem daunting to get started on these platforms, but if you spend time curating your profile, you’ll give yourself a decent shot. Many of them involve working from home, which could be just what you’re looking for.

MORE:

6 ways to save money when you buy a car

Hold off on big purchases when times are uncertain

When you’re on rocky ground financially, it might not be the right time to splurge on a new, well, anything. Major but unnecessary purchases will have to wait until things stabilize. It might not be the right time to buy a new 60-inch Apple TV, but buying a house might be the right move for some, because it can be a buyer’s market.

This is also not the time to take on additional debt if you can avoid it. Stay on top of credit card and bill payments. The bottom line: no one is certain of anything when it comes to the current economy.

Build up an emergency fund

This is the time to replenish (or begin) an emergency money fund, to build up a nest egg and also

think about the long-term

. Diversifying your 401(k) seems to be in order as well — you don’t want to be staring at an empty account in your old age. There’s nothing like a recession to refocus the mind on what matters and what doesn’t.

Think through job options

Low unemployment can lull you into a false sense of security, thinking that your skill set is fine. Whereas the reality is that workers have to continue to re-invent themselves. This could be a good time to finish your education or pursue a certification.

Being a superstar at work might save your job (for now), but what about in two years? The recession hasn’t changed the fact that workers needed to be

nimble

to stay employed.

Be on the lookout for new opportunities

Even during great turmoil in the job market, new opportunities emerge from the least likely places. Amazon recently

announced

it was hiring 100,000 new workers. So have other companies. Stay attuned to these kinds of developments. If the Great Depression was any indication, federal and state governments will hire possibly millions of workers. And certain lines of work, like health care, might stay more stable than others.

FAQs

Where can I go for cheap car insurance?

Even in the most trying of times, it's still possible to get a fantastic deal on car insurance. The best way to do so is by using

Jerry

Jerry is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance policy that is customized for you.

After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They even help cancel your old policy! So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?

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