5 ways to immediately cut costs and how to get free cell phone service

Today’s post is sponsored by TextNow. All opinions are my own and this post was written by me.

You may be facing a job loss or your hours have suddenly cut or maybe you’re just bracing for potential economic uncertainty as we all navigate these weird months ahead. Whatever the reason, today I wanted to share with you a few ways to cut costs immediately.

Plan based on what you have.

I grabbed my planner and went through my pantry, freezer and fridge and planned as many meals as I could with what was on hand. Even if your pantry seems slim you might be surprised with what you can do with what you have already in your home.

Limit your streaming services

How many shows and movies do you really watch on all those streaming services? It might not seem like you’re spending a lot of money if you’re paying $6.99 and $9.99 and $12.99 but all that adds up quickly. Pick one or two that you use the most frequently and let the rest of them go.

Cancel all your subscriptions

Do you need to pay for upgraded versions of free music streaming services? Or those cute little makeup bags that come once a month? If you’re like me you have enough and could skip a few months of subscription boxes.

Switch to a free cell phone provider

I know some of you are doing a double-take right now reading that. But it’s true. I had the opportunity to try out a new service called TextNow that allows you to make free calls nationwide and send free texts (even without a WiFi connection.)

TextNow runs of the Sprint network and is ad-supported, meaning ads do show up on your phone (they’re definitely noticeable but not disruptive).

TextNow offers unlimited calling and texting anywhere in the U.S. All you need is a compatible Android or iOS phone and SIM card (find out if your phone and sim are compatible here ). Then just download the TextNow app and create an account. The app is available on Android  and iOS.

Then select Free Coverage as your option to activate your phone and you’re ready to go.

If you have a compatible phone but no sim card you can purchase an activation kif for a one-time fee of just $9.99. If you don’t have a compatible cellphone TextNow has a range of affordable phone options for every budget.

This is a great option if you’re looking to drop your expensive cellphone coverage, or you need a phone for potential job interviews.

Don’t use online shopping as a coping mechanism

I get that everything feels really unsettled right now. And you might be seeking something you can control. And let’s be honest, there is a little dopamine hit that comes when you hit purchase on Amazon and you know a package is on its way. But shopping online out of boredom or as a way to deal with negative feelings right now, isn’t going to help you.

And don’t let guilt because your child’s spring break plans or field trip or birthday party has been canceled or put on hold. I know how hard mom guilt can hit, trust me, and buying them something new and exciting sounds like the answer. But it’s not. Unlink your debit card number from Amazon right now. Unsubscribe from all sales emails. Don’t shop to cope with negative feelings instead pick a better, free way to manage. If you can get out and go for a walk safely do it, journal, pick up an abandoned hobby, text inappropriate memes to a friend. But limit your online shopping to just what you need.