Mammoth AwardsHere are some tips to help you in case COVID-19 leads to an isolation period where you’re stuck at home.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Avoid close contact with others and large groups. Stay at home if you’re sick.
What do all of those tips have in common? They’re suggestions for what to do as COVID-19 spreads across the globe.
While recent news about the coronavirus may lead to worry, it’s something we’ll all have to face. What’s one unfortunate move we may all have to make? Staying at home under quarantine to keep the virus under control.
This possibility has led many to start stocking up on supplies. You should do the same to ensure your family has everything it needs should they have to stay home, while also following these money-saving tips.
Since your budget may get smaller due to COVID-19’s economic impact, saving every penny you can will be a must.
1. Cut back on spending.
You may not be eating out as often or hitting the movies, but there are other forms of unnecessary spending that you’ll want to avoid as well.
For instance, the urge to buy every case of toilet paper you see (if you can even find any) may spike. The same holds for hand sanitizer.
As long as you have a sufficient supply, don’t go overboard spending money that should be saved for other necessities like healthcare.
Since we don’t know how long COVID-19 will last, it’s best to be as conservative as possible with your spending, even if it’s on necessities like TP and sanitizer.
2. Buy food that lasts.
Don’t buy fresh food in bulk that can spoil soon. Instead, stock up on canned goods that are affordable and have a long shelf life.
Food that can be frozen is a safe bet, but canned is the way to go just in case something causes your electricity to cut off.
Since COVID-19 is a virus, try to buy items that would make you feel better if you get ill, like canned soups.
3. Go generic.
Whether it’s canned goods or cough drops and cold medicine, there’s no need to opt for the name brand version if you’re trying to save as much money as possible.
Most large grocery stores have their own generic versions of products that contain the same essential ingredients.
Buy them to enjoy their discounts while also getting the same effect, especially when it comes to drugs like Tylenol or Advil that can charge a premium just for the recognizable name on the label.
4. Make shopping convenient and as non-contact as possible.
Some stores like Target, Walmart, and Publix offer curbside pickup. This allows you to shop for what you need online and pick it up without having to walk all over a store where disease could spread.
While you could opt for a food delivery service, curbside pickup is the cheaper option since some (Target and Walmart) are offering it for free. And beyond saving money, it’s also an obvious time-saver, which is huge with so many things on your to-do list.
Do this with your prescriptions too. You can get them delivered to your door, and some pharmacies, such as CVS, are now waiving delivery charges while we still learn more about the coronavirus.
5. Take advantage of more affordable telemedicine.
If you start to feel flu-like symptoms or require some other form of medical attention, you could talk to a doctor via phone or video chat to fix the issue. Thanks to telemedicine (telehealth), this is now an option that’s cheaper, safer, and more convenient than an in-person visit.
Since many insurers are waiving testing costs for coronavirus, getting diagnosed via telemedicine from the comfort of your home may be your best bet.
