Ten Recession-Proof Tips
Recco and Rene Richardson**
Commune with God
Set aside regular time to pray and ask God for direction. Matthew 7:9 says “Ask, and it shall be given
you.” Do more asking!!! Ask for help. Ask for direction. Ask God where you should go to get direction.
See if you notice more help coming your way when you start asking for more.
Forgive others
There has been much written on the power of forgiveness. Be quick to forgive others so that you can
move on with your life. Chances are you are older now and have more control over such offenses
happening again. It’s okay to move on.
Help others
Although resources seem tight now, there is always someone worse off than you. Remain empathetic to
those around you. Help when and where you can. People remember when someone helped during a
critical time in their life and are often filled with gratitude. You will feel great because you helped
someone else and will begin to look for creative ways to do more.
Act with integrity
Be honest. Do what you say you will do. If you promise that you will attend your child’s baseball game,
make sure you get there. Even if you are late, arrive in time to see your child participating in the game.
In your child’s eye, you will be seen as reliable and supportive. This will take you a long way in
communicating and building a positive relationship with your child.
Build relationships
Take time to thank those who support you and your family. Whether it’s your mother, the baby sitter,
your clients, or the FedEx delivery person, be kind to people. Say please and thank you. Be apologetic if
you are late picking up your children. Add extra value to your loyal clients. For example, deliver a
project early or knock 5% off your fees, on occasion, to thank them for their business. This way no one
feels taken for granted.
Cook at home more and dine out less
It’s been proven time and time again that cooking at home saves money and is often healthier than
dining out. For those with busy schedules, perhaps trying meals with raw fruits and vegetables that call
for little cooking time would be a welcome change for your health and your pocketbook.
Take in a border
Perhaps you have a relative that fell on hard times and can no longer afford their place. They may still
be employed but not at the level they once where. If you can stand the drama, maybe a room at your
house could be set aside for their use and they could pay rent to cover the costs. For your relative, it
would relieve the burden of the high overhead they used to have. For you, a portion monthly expenses
may get paid by someone else. Agree up front on the particulars of the arrangement. This could be a
win-win situation for both parties.
Sell unwanted stuff
Most of us have too much stuff anyway. Old books can sell on eBay or Amazon. Search the ISBN
numbers of your old books and see if any of them show up online. If so, this lets you know that there is
demand for your old books and you can proceed to post your books online for sale. This goes for old
clothes, appliances, computers, printers, chairs, furniture, etc. Maybe its time you had a garage sale.
Eliminating the clutter from your life will make room for new focus and improved organization.
Follow Your Passion: Develop a side gig
All of us could use more cash. If household painting relaxes you, advertise yourself as a painter and
accept jobs in your spare time. If you love children, babysit at competitive rates on the weekends. If
you like to clean and organize things, offer your services for hire. Perhaps a short classified ad will get
the amount of business you need and allow you to pursue your passion.
Pay off bills and save money
This recession has taught us all that living on credit cards and inflated home values works for no one.
The banking and auto industries are example of this. In addition, the foreclosed signs all around our
neighborhoods reinforce the fact that financial accountability is critical. With that said, pay your bills.
Be sure to communicate with your creditors along the way if things change. At this point most are
willing to work out arrangements so that payments are affordable for you and so that they get regular
payments. There are new programs on making home ownership affordable so be proactive in
understanding if the new programs apply to you. Once you get your bills stabilized, save money. It may
only be a little at a time. Yet, it’s better than nothing. Start with your six month emergency fund, then
retirement savings. This way the difficult experiences that exist today be used as stepping stones to a
more peaceful future.
**Recco S. Richardson holds an earned doctorate in Professional Psychology and is a Licensed, Board
Certified Professional Counselor. Currently he has over 15 years of counseling experience and 10
years of clinical supervision experience. He has a keen eye towards helping individuals remove
emotional and social barriers. Recco may be reached at recco@richardsonsconsulting.com
Rene Richardson holds an earned Masters in Business Administration and has more than 12 years of
corporate marketing and management experience. Rene encourages others to pursue their passion
with integrity and diligence. Rene may be reached at reccorenerich@sbcglobal.net.