By now you’ve seen the stock market volatility — including the biggest 1 day loss since the 2008 financial crisis. And you’ve seen companies like Walmart and AT&T announce job cuts. So it’s no surprise 3 out of 4 economists are predicting a recession on the horizon.
Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since the 2008 recession – a year in which the first iPhone was launched. We now have many tools we can use to cut debt, reduce monthly bills, and make a side income — all while investing in our future.
So here are 5 things you can do today — And each one only takes a few minutes.
1. Say Goodbye To Credit Card Debt (And The High Interest Rates Of The Past).
Even in a recession, you still have to pay taxes, rent, and the monthly credit card bill. And of course, you can’t avoid taxes and rent. But you can drastically cut your credit card bill.
The quickest way to do this? Stop credit card companies from ripping you off with the insane rates they charge that are typically upwards of 15-20%.
With the Fed cutting interest rates, now is an ideal time to check out a company called Fiona that will pay off your credit cards, and lower your monthly payment.
Here’s how it works. Fiona will match you with a low-interest loan that you can use to pay off every credit card balance you have. And in the end, you’re left with just one bill to pay every month, with a much lower interest rate.
That way you can pay off your debt much faster – and with an added benefit of no credit card payment this month.
This is exactly what Christine did. She had $15,000 in credit card debt, at her old rate of 17.25%. After she refinanced at 5%, with a seven-year personal loan, she saved $14,000 in interest.
With some experts predicting rents to increase in the next year, that extra cash can come in handy.
Also handy — it’s free to check rates online. No standing in line or listening to hold music from a bank. As Stacey A. from Atlanta told us “it only took 2 minutes to cut my rate in half.”
Not half bad, eh.
2. Cover Your Family’s Expenses For A Lifetime (Up To $1 Million)
Have you thought about how your family would pay the monthly bills without your income after you’re gone?
Well, there’s no time like the present to protect your family’s future by securing a life insurance policy.
You might have put this off in the past thinking of the time and money involved.
Fortunately, in 2020 there’s a company called Bestow that has an application you can fill out in under 5 minutes. And you don’t have to get poked by a doctor or deal with pesky sales calls.
Their policies let you leave up to $1 million for your kids, with some rates starting at $5/month. Plus you can cancel or change your policy anytime.
Best of all, you can feel reassured you are doing everything humanly possible to protect your family.
So, if you’re under the age of 54, you can get a free quote from Bestow.
3. Stop Getting Overcharged (And Stash Away Cash For The Recession)
Remember that time you found a $20 bill in your pocket that you forgot about? Well, what if that happened every week but you never found your lost money?
Well, it turns out that is exactly what is happening to 62% of Americans. You may have subscriptions you do not want and have lost track of them. Even worse, you may have recurring bills that you are overpaying for, like your cell phone or cable bill.
That’s exactly what Michelle D. found out when she downloaded the free app, Truebill. It turns out her cell phone bill had increased by $30/month and her SiriusXM bill had increased by $10/month.
She used the free app to see the full picture of her finances, cancel unwanted subscriptions, and even negotiate her cell phone bill. This led to her saving $120 a month. And the app gave her a clear picture of her finances which helped her create a plan to save for her dream trip to Bali.
All you have to do is download Truebill and setup a free account to see where you’re money is going and how much you should be getting back.
Truebill shares a percentage of the savings they create for you, but only if they actually save you money. You can also just use the app for free to get a full picture of your finances which we should all do.
4. Be Credit Worthy (In Case You Need To Borrow During The Recession)
Did you know there is one single number that can cost you tens of thousands if not managed correctly?
It’s your credit score.
It can also cost you a job as potential employers check your credit score through the interview process.
Your credit score becomes even more important during a recession as banks tighten your ability to borrow money. Making it harder for you to refinance your house, apply for loans, and take on debt during a recession. And at a time when you might need some wiggle room to get through a tough economy.
This is why Credit Sesame was mentioned by experts as a go-to app to ensure there are no errors on your credit report.
Errors on your credit report can cost you, and your family, an opportunity. Over 1 in 5 Americans have an error on their report. When fixed, it can save thousands of dollars and open doors to dream jobs
Fortunately, there’s a free website called Credit Sesame that gives you your credit score for free and helps you detect any errors on your report. If you find any, it will even help you dispute them.
It only takes 90 seconds to sign up for a free account. And you’ll start getting practical tips on how to boost your score over time so you can borrow money anytime you need it.
5. Cut Your Car Insurance Bill By $825 (With The Same Coverage)
When’s the last time you compared your car insurance costs to what others are paying?
Chances are you’re overpaying and can find cheaper options with the same coverage and deductibles.
So, why don’t most of us shop for our coverage more often?
For many of us, like Eugine from Albuquerque, we are skeptical of car insurance companies.
But the proof is in the pudding.
Eugine, who recently switched to Gabi said “I thought it was too good to be true but I saved over $100 a month on my auto insurance thanks to Gabi. I wish I knew about them earlier.”
We talked to someone else who put us on to Gabi, Nikki Y. from Pittsburgh, who said “Gabi gave me a pretyped emailed cancelation request to send to my existing insurance provider! I sent it over Docusign and now I’m saving about $80/month.”
We also like that they find you the best rate for free with the same coverage and deductible. And they make it easy by simply linking your insurance account and entering your drivers license.
And as a bonus, they continue to look for savings so you won’t need to shop to find better rates in the future.