In the years to come, the word “recession” will likely be the default description for the economic climate of the the first decade of the 21st century. A very small percentage of people are immune to the woes of downsizing, tightening budgets and saving, while others have simply chosen not to participate in the deterioration of the banking system. Then there are those in between: the smart ones! Those who possess even the slightest amount of wisdom will take heed to the fiscal trauma we’ve recently encountered and find creative ways to stay ahead of their pockets versus behind them. For those with extravagant taste, you may have to slash the weekly hair styling budget to bi-weekly. If you’re one of those people who orders take out most nights of the week, get to know your kitchen. Take a look at these seven ways to save during a recession.

1. Plan to Budget - every time you receive a check it is best to have an outline of what needs to be paid and when. This is the best way to take an ariel view of your spending habits and prioritize. Carefully evaluate your budget and look for ways to save. There are always a few expenses one can do without, so decide which ones are worth keeping and scrap the others. The hardest task is adherence. We all have the urge to spend and have the inward conversation “Well, I get paid next week.” Fight the feeling and plan to budget your earnings.

2. Revisit Your Tax Withholding Status - if you file a W-4 each year and collect a hefty refund every tax season, it’s safe to assume you may have too much money withheld from your checks. This can be tricky, so it’s best to talk it through with your accountant or a financial advisor. If you’re tax savvy then change your withholding status and increase the number of exemptions. There is a delicate balance, however, if you overly adjust your exemptions you could end up owing taxes when you file your return the following year. Talk to your payroll supervisor or human resource department about submitting a new W-4.

3. Set Up Auto-Savings - saving money is riveting fun! Watching your money grow can be a very exciting achievement to fulfill. Many people avoid saving because parting with hard earned cash with no immediate satisfaction is no fun. But now is the time to take advantage of the ailing banks savings programs. In many cases, financial institutions have lowered or dropped the minimum amount required to open a savings account. Set it up to where a certain percentage of every deposit is automatically transferred to your savings. Or it can be as simple as the “keep the change” program some banks offer. Remember to be patient, saving it a waiting game and every cent counts!

4. Plan Daycations - okay, this is tough. We all know that once a year you and your friends or family put a massive amount of money together for a beach vacation, cruise, ski trip or something along those lines. Bottom line, all those beaches, hotels and airports will still be there once this recession turns around! Take an economically friendly day trip to the mountains or a lake nearby. Load up the car with the essentials and stay for the day. When it’s over you still shared time with the people you love, had fun AND saved your money.

5. Break-Up With Restaurants - if you eat out several times a week you’re wasting money, quite frankly. Let’s do some quick math. If every meal costs $10, then you’re spending $300 a month or $3,600 a year, and that’s low-balling! You could easily save half, if not more, of that money buying groceries and cooking for yourself. Take some time out of your morning to pack yourself a lunch instead of spending every day. Not only will you save money, it’s a healthier way to live.

6. Use Coupons - be not ashamed of coupons! This almost seems like an ancient practice, but if you remember Grandma clipping away at coupons from the Sunday paper, then you also remember her saving money at the grocery counter. Okay, so who gets the Sunday paper anymore, right? Fortunately, there are coupons on the internet that can be printed out from Coupons.com, or the grocer may have a direct website where you can browse through their specials a savings.

7. Get a Second Job - if you’re finding yourself in constant need of money, then a second job may be necessary. While you may only need a couple hundred bucks each month to tie you over, you’re obviously financially strapped. Jobs aren’t easy to come by these days either, but if you have a skill or trade that you can fall back on in these hard times, try and capitalize on it without delay! Furthermore, the extra cash flow you acquire can be saved and you’ll build yourself a comfortable nest egg in no time! Be it bartending to barbering, it would be wise to set aside a few days of the week to supplement your cash flow. Be careful not spend more since you’re earning more.

While most of these tips may seem obvious, they’re great habits to adopt to keep your wallet padded … not just during a recession but also post-recession!