Frugal Tips during the Pandemic Enhanced Home Quarantine

The outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 has created a huge effect not only on the global health crisis but has had a deep impact in the country’s social and economic aspects. The Enhanced Community Quarantine has been implemented to flatten the curve and help limit the spread of the disease. This measure is the best option as of the moment since there is still no proven cure for this illness. However, community isolation directly affects our everyday lives, causing financial struggles due to less or no income for most families.

To make both ends meet, I am sharing frugal tips that I personally do during this Pandemic Home Quarantine.

Assess your current finances.

During this time of crisis, it is very important to create a tight budget. Set aside a particular amount for your utility bills and other monthly expenses like house rental or mortgage and loans. Create a list so you will know where to best make cuts to extend your current funds.

Buy only what you need.

This is the time to buy only the things you and your family needs and not what you want, malls are closed anyway. Make a list before you go to the supermarket, prioritize on staple food like rice, bread and meat, condiments you will use for cooking, because it will be wise to cook rather than to have food delivery and other basic necessities you will be needing like laundry soap, disinfectants, alcohol and toiletries. Make sure to stick on to your budget as we do not know for how long we will still be in a lockdown.

Use your alcohol and disinfectants economically

Since it is very important to keep your home and your family virus-free. Knowing the proper use of these two will save you money. Aside from the fact that these two essentials are always out of stock in the market.

Dilute household bleach solutions properly to make it more effective in disinfecting. According to CDC, the proper bleach dilution is:

5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water

OR

4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

With regards to using alcohol, instead of pouring it straight from the bottle, use a sprayer. Use old cologne bottles with spray function or an unused dispenser. By doing this, it will make your alcohol stock last for a longer time. By the way, don’t forget buy only alcohol with 70% solution.

Do the laundry once a week.

Since, everyone only stays at home, there is no need to frequently do the laundry. Once a week can do to save water and electricity. I would best recommend an anti-bacterial laundry soap during this crisis so you will no longer have  to use a disinfectant which will only add up to your expenses. There are cheaper anti-bacterial laundry soap brands, all you have to do is to compare prices the next time you go grocery shopping.

Monitor electric consumption.

Unplug appliances like electric fans, microwave oven, and coffee maker when not in use. Keep those lights off during daytime. Now you have the time to clean and declutter your fridge. Take out and throw away leftover foods which were inside your refrigerator for ages. Keeping it tidy and allowing some space inside will keep it running efficiently without consuming much electricity.

Not only during this crisis can we be frugal but we can also continue doing it once the situation gets better and gets back to normal. Stay safe everyone!

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay