The COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of people trying to figure out how to pay their bills without a steady income. While unemployment benefits may help you stay on your feet for a little while, this is not a long-term plan.
It can be difficult to accept that you may have to drastically change your lifestyle for quite some time to make it through this economic downturn. You may even find yourself mourning the life you once had and the affluence you enjoyed.
All of these complicated emotions are perfectly normal. Right now, we have no choice but to do our best to embrace our current circumstances and come out the other side stronger than before.
Consider how you can address certain lifestyle changes.
No More Pricey Pastimes
If you’ve had to tighten your budget, you’ve probably had to forget about going out to eat, grabbing drinks with friends, or casually shopping for things you don’t really need. These pricey pastimes may not have a place in your life right now. But there are ways to recreate the emotions you once experienced.
Can you have a picnic with friends instead? Could you learn to cook your favorite restaurant meals at home? You don’t have to give up on small joys – you just have to cut down on your spending.
Staying Put
Perhaps you used to put some of your disposable income towards traveling. Maybe you loved saving up for plane tickets and going on adventures. Right now, that’s simply not possible for a variety of reasons. But it’s not easy to stay put when you’re used to exploring!
The best remedy? Exploring in your own backyard. You may want to consider planning a camping trip to a nearby state park with friends. If you do not live in a current hot spot, you could take a road trip to another safe area.