Things we can learn from the corona virus pandemic

The time that we are in is something that will go down in the history of the United States. Never in a million years did I see this coming. I was not prepared for the changes that would occur because of this virus and it’s ability to spread quickly. As a result, I fell behind in my shopping and getting the necessary supplies needed to sustain my family. Here are a few things I have learned about our society and myself during this pandemic.

1. Just because others are selfish doesn’t mean you have to be.

I found myself worrying about making sure that I had all the necessary things I needed to keep my family afloat because I saw others stocking up. So when I got to the store, I started picking up anything and everything I could find. As I looked at my grocery cart, I started to feel ashamed because I knew this is not what God called me to do. By me taking more than what I needed, I was also making sure that there was a family who wouldn’t be able to get what they needed. That in itself ate at me and I decided to put things back on the shelf. You are held responsible for your actions, so do not allow others to make you act out of character. I know we are better than this as a people so before you stock up just make sure to think of how your actions may affect others.

2.Saving is Key!

I know this is something that is easier said than done. In the event of an emergency having a savings could literally mean you not being able to sustain your family . As a way of helping to build a savings I would suggest you setting up an automatic wire to your savings account to a bank that is not one that you have a checking account at. For example I have my checking account with Chase, however my savings is with a local credit union. When I get paid I don’t even see the money come from my account because it is auto drafted through my payroll. There will always be something that needs to be fixed or replaced but having a savings is not a luxury but a necessity even if that means cutting down on bills such as cable or picking up a side hustle such as AmazonFlex.

3. Virtually any job can be telecommuted.

There are very few jobs that would not work if things were done remotely such as retail, banking, etc. If you are uncomfortable with being around large groups of people during this time such as positions that require you to be in a room with large amounts of people, it may not hurt to if you can work from home. However when bringing this up to your employer make sure to state the reasons as to why they would benefit from you working from home. For example, I would state that by me working from home, that it would be less likely for me to take leave from me being sick which means that operations are more likely to not be affected. If you are more desperate to stay at home , if your company pays for lunch you may be able to make an agreement in which you are no longer paid for lunch due to your decision to telecommute. You would save gas , so I believe it wouldn’t make a big difference in the long run.

4. Halt spending on any additional things that are not essential.

As a woman I love getting my nails done, buying makeup, and online shopping for all the latest clothes in Instagram. However, I have to also be woman enough to know this is not smart to do at this time. That 75 dollars I just spent on my nails would be better spent sitting in my savings/emergency , or buying essentials such as food (not in bulk though). I would hate for my paycheck to be altered during this time and for me to not have somewhat prepared to still be able to pay key bills such food, rent/mortgage, and gas. Eliminating that Starbucks and eating out habit are easy ways to cut back on your spending.

I hope that these things have helped to add value in how you choose to manage your life during this season. Please comment with any additional things you feel would be helpful to know as we navigate through the Corona virus.

XO, The Imperfect Woman