How do you make money in a recession? Moreover, how do you make money in a recession when you live at or near a paycheck to paycheck existence?

For many Americans, myself included, paying the utilities, the insurance, the mortgage or rent becomes nearly an impossible act of juggling from one week to the next, and one pay check to the next. But you do it, you continue to pay your bills in good faith.

The only way to make money in a recession, is to not spend it in the first place. My dear Uncle John taught me it’s not what you earn that makes you rich, it’s what you don’t spend.

That’s not to say you don’t invest, invest in a Roth IRA, forget a standard old IRA, invest in building an emergency fund if you don’t already have one. Most recommend 6-8 months, I suggest 12-15 months if you can swing it.

Back to the whole “how when there’s nothing left of the paycheck”? You can look at it one of two ways, pay yourself first, YOU are a bill that’s due each month, week whatever. OR, each time you make an impulse purchase try your darnedest to say, you know I don’t need that bag of chips, I’ll wait till they’re on sale. Whatever you can do to pinch a penny here and there. Change is also a great starter tool, the average couple can save and extra $100 a month or more just by gathering up their coin change each night.

A $20 spot here and there slipped into savings develops in to an almost incurable habit of setting money aside. Start small, dream big.

When the economy slows down, build your future nest egg through structured savings. Though savings accounts typically aren’t the best ways to save money, when an economy tightens, it is the safest place.

If you don’t already have a rainy day fund to match about 8 months of your planned and un-planned expenses, open a savings account right away. Even if you only add $20 a week, or even $20 a month, you will be well on your way to having the fund when you need it down the road.