How to Escape the Current Economic Recession

Learning how to escape the current economic recession entirely may not be possible, but there are several things you can do to lessen the recession's impact on you and your family.

It's not easy, but you can survive a recession.

One of the many complaints people have about the poor economy is that food prices seem to have risen out of control. Even if you're diligent about watching for sales and clipping coupons, you're probably still spending quite a bit more on groceries than you did in prior years. Growing your own food is one way to help cut your costs.

Obviously, you're best equipped to grow your own food if you live someplace with a large backyard. However, even those who live in small apartments can create a container garden to help control rising grocery bills.

Here are a few articles from LoveToKnow Garden with advice for novice gardeners:

• Designing a Container Garden
• Potted Vegetable Garden
• Grow Vegetables to Save Money
• Easiest Organic Vegetables to Grow

When you're low on cash, bartering can be a great way to get the goods or services you need. Before paper money was commonplace, bartering was crucial to a family's survival. People traded milk for eggs, swapped vegetables for meat, or exchanged childcare for help with gardening.

Today, bartering encompasses a wide range of activities. People in many communities are hosting swaps in which parents bring their children's outgrown clothes and toys to a central location and everyone comes to pick up new age-appropriate items. Sites such as PaperBack Swap let you trade unwanted books for new titles. Craigslist is also becoming a popular resource for people interested in bartering, with listings offering to trade everything from accounting services to cake decorating.

If you're interested in bartering as a way to escape the current economic recession, see the Real Simple article How to Barter Anything for tips on how to get started.

Even if you're lucky enough to still be employed, now is a great time to think about self employment as a way to improve your sense of financial security. Adding another source of income to your household, even if it's just a part time venture that brings in a couple hundred dollars each month, is a great way to provide a bit of a cushion in the event of a job loss, illness, or other emergency.

Obviously, the best businesses to start during a recession are those which require little or no start-up funds. Here are a few ideas:

• Offer childcare for neighborhood children.
• Mow lawns or shovel snow.
• Run errands for elderly people.
• Mend clothes.
• Perform basic home repairs.
• Look into direct sales opportunities with companies like Avon, Gold Canyon Candles or Pampered Chef.
• Sell crafts on Etsy.
• Write articles on a revenue-sharing site such as eHow.
• If you have professional skills that are in demand, register on Guru or Get a Freelancer to bid for freelance projects in fields such as computer programming, finance, sales, marketing, or business consulting.

Visit LoveToKnow Business for advice on choosing the best home based business for your needs and tips on how to successfully make the transition into self employment.

Here are a few slideshows from LoveToKnow Save with additional tips on how to escape the current economic recession:

Frugal Menus	Ideas to Save Money with a Baby	Extreme Frugal Ideas
Save Money on Beauty Products	Cheapest Gas Prices in Town	Cheap Living

You may also find some money saving inspiration in the tale of Steve and Annette Economides, nicknamed America's Cheapest Family for their commitment to living a frugal lifestyle that minimizes the impact of an economic recession.

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