If you’re like me, you’ve anxiously anticipated the impending doom of the next recession. High-interest rates, inflation, and economic uncertainty weigh heavy on the shoulders of the working class while wages remain stagnant. All the ingredients for the next recession seem to be present. Still, financial experts can’t agree on the next economic projection. As someone who openly objects to capitalism and prefers to avoid thinking about money when possible, I find myself stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to navigate planning for a recession.

Scrolling through the suggested articles on my newsfeed, I’m disappointed to see much of the discourse around the recession centered around hustle culture. So many money gurus claim to have all the answers to survive the next fallout from a broken system. But the “tips and tricks” are offered from a pro-capitalism perspective and often from a place of economic privilege.

Selling your used clothing on De-Pop or taking online surveys will not make a dent in a 40% rent increase, and skipping your morning cold brew and avocado toast will not pay off your student loans.

So how do we survive and thrive without selling our souls to hustle culture or marrying rich? Here are my 3tips to prep for the next recession without sacrificing your well-being or dignity.

1. Be Honest About Your Monthly Costs and Income

You don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars to speak with a financial planner or set up a complicated excel sheet. A pen and paper or a whiteboard will work just fine.

Start by writing down every monthly expense you have that is non-negotiable. This should include rent, bills, car payments, gas, and groceries. For costs varying from month to month, round up. This is also a good time to include any yearly expenses like oil changes and car registration which you can divide by 12 to fit into your monthly budget.

Next, check your bank statement and write down all other monthly charges, including subscriptions and gym memberships. Here’s where you want to use discretion and decide if every service you’re paying for is bringing you joy. For example, do you watch something on HBO Max every month? Are you regularly using that app on your phone? If not either cancel or pause the subscription. The ultimate goal here is to reduce unnecessary spending without depriving yourself of things you enjoy.

Now that you’ve compiled your total costs for the month subtract that amount from your monthly income. If you work a job where your income varies, you’ll want to base your budget on the minimal amount you make in a month. It’s better to have extra than be short.

Now you know exactly how much you’re working with; what you do with the remaining money is up to you based on your goals and needs. If you have high-interest debt, it’s a good idea to allocate as much money as possible to that debt every month.

Next, you want to assess how much money you can save realistically. Even 50 dollars a month is a great starting point. Set up an automatic savings deposit so that when your check hits, the money immediately moves to your savings. From personal experience, the money will spend itself if it’s not separated from your checking account.

A crucial part of creating a budget you can stick to is allowing yourself to have guilt-free spending money. Even if it’s just 20 bucks a week to buy yourself dinner or grab a drink with a friend, it’s important to still feel human on a tight budget. You’re much more likely to stick with your budget if you’re not depriving yourself of a few simple joys.

2. Be Strategic With Your Food Costs

Aside from rent, my monthly grocery bill is my most expensive cost. It’s only gotten worse with inflation, but I’ve worked out a few ways to lower the cost.

While it’s important to treat yourself every once in a while, making your meals at home is often much cheaper. It may be time-consuming at first if you don’t have much experience, but plenty of low-effort recipes are available online, and it doesn’t have to be anything fancy!

Flexibility is key in lowering food costs. I pay attention to the difference in price between grocery stores on items I buy regularly. For example, canned black beans might be almost a dollar cheaper from one store to another. It’s worth it to make a few weekly trips and buy different items at different stores.

Buy in bulk. Making a monthly trip to buy food in bulk has been a game-changer. I used to purchase items in packages every month like pasta, rice, and spices. But these are available at a much lower bulk price. We’re often tricked into paying extra for pretty packaging, but honestly, the cereal from the bulk bins is just as good.

Flexibility with meal planning is also essential. If my budget for the month is extra tight, I will exclusively shop the sale items and figure out what I can cook from what’s on sale. Stir fry with whatever produce is cheap or in season is foolproof.

Farmer’s markets and fruit stands can be hit or miss, but often, if you go later in the day, they offer discounted items since they usually want to clear their inventory by the end of the day.

Utilize Food Banks. Food banks can be a great resource if you’re having difficulty making ends meet. Unfortunately, there is stigma around food banks, but they’re there for a reason. If you qualify for food pantry assistance, you should utilize it.

Cook with your friends! We’ve all been indoctrinated into the “atomic family” mindset, which encourages us to live separately from our community. Group meals are a great way to spend quality time with people we care about, and it’s much cheaper if everyone pitches in for the ingredients.

3. Be Ambitious, But Don’t Be a Girl Boss

This is usually the point in the financial literacy article where you’re told to “develop your side hustles” or to “generate multiple streams of income.” While I’m not against side hustles, and I actually will advocate for a few, I’m not going to sell you a passive-income pipe dream. The key to making progress has much more to do with consistency and sustainability within your work life than hustling.

Setting healthy boundaries with work might seem like a reach in an article about surviving a recession, but budgeting also applies to your time and energy. You should only do the job you’re paid to do and never go above and beyond without a raise. I call it the clock-in, clock-out mentality. If you’re not paid a highly competitive wage, show up, do your job, and leave. Save your energy for what’s truly important to you.

If you’ve broken down your budget and feel discouraged based on how your money is spreading out, it might be time to reevaluate your job. Are you in a position to ask for a raise? Are there similar employers hiring and offering more money? Changing jobs can be a delicate process and expensive if you end up having a gap in your employment, but your time is valuable, and the risk might be worth it in the long run.

If you don’t hate your current job but feel it’s necessary to generate additional income, it’s best to find a side hustle that is enjoyable and worth the extra labor. Many side hustles claim to offer “flexibility” and “easy money” but often don’t pan out. Gigs like Uber and Postmates come to mind. While these side hustles might work for some, the money is inconsistent because there is no set price or promised daily hours. As a general rule, side hustles with big companies aren’t the best option from my experience.

If you feel that a side hustle is manageable with your current workload, there are a few options that I’ve enjoyed. Jobs like pet sitting, babysitting, and tutoring, are great because they’re somewhat flexible, and you set the price. These gigs can be harder to start initially but often pay much more because there’s no middleman. It’s also pretty common for these jobs to pay in cash. Many towns have Facebook pages where people post services they’re looking for. Apps that help you find temporary work are also available, but be mindful of the service fees.

Whether you’re working one full-time job or a combination of side gigs, the ultimate goal is to maintain a healthy work-life balance without struggling financially. Implementing these steps into my life has helped me manage through hard financial times, and I hope it helps you as well.