It's no doubt that we're in a recession - prices are up, spending is down; people are being laid off left and right. It's a pretty scary situation for everyone and can leave you needing emergency cash when you never thought you would. Now is the time to get pro-active and start saving as much money as you can. This way, you can create an emergency fund to cushion you and your family during difficult times. Here are 7 simple ways to save money in a recession.



1. Do all of your errands on one day - If possible, save your errands (shopping, paying bills, visiting the post office, etc) in one day. This will help you save gas by getting everything accomplished while you're out rather than making several trips a week to the same area for different things!

2. Rather than going to the movies, order a Pay-Per-View movie through your cable or satellite company. You'll be at home, so you'll have your own snacks already, you'll avoid paying $5 for a small drink and you'll save gas by staying home.

3. Purchase of brand items at the grocery store. Most of the time, the products are exactly the same and when you buy the more expensive brand, you're paying for the name only. You can literally save hundreds of dollars each year by purchasing off brand products.

4. Search for clothing at local thrift stores and garage sales. This is an especially great idea if you have young children. They grow so quickly that there's not much sense in purchasing expensive clothing that they will only be able to wear for a few months. You can often find brand new or gently used and brand name clothing at thrift stores and garage sales.

5. Pay your bills online to save stamps and money on envelopes. While this doesn't seem like a lot of money saved, it definitely adds up.Another advantage of paying your bills online is that it's eco-friendly. It's also secure, so you don't have to worry about your personal information getting out.

6. If you're expecting a new baby (or already have a small child), try to get items for your baby through friends and family members. Most people know someone who has a child quickly outgrowing clothing, shoes, baby bathtubs, toys, etc. If you can't get the items free, offer to pay a fair amount - you can still save a lot of money by doing it this way rather than buying the items brand new.

7. Use coupons. A lot of people think that clipping coupons is really irritating and time consuming, but you can save thousands of dollars each year by using coupons. Another tip is to save your coupons for double or triple coupon day at your local grocery store. You can really save a lot of money with this trick.

If you follow these tips, you can really save a lot of money. The pennies, nickels and dimes will really add up over time. With the economy and jobs being the way they are, you never know when you will need your emergency fund!