Vivian Tu’s 5 Money Saving Hacks for a Recession

Core Insights - Vivian Tu, a former Wall Street trader, adapts her financial advice for her audience during economic downturns, shifting from wealth-building to recession survival strategies [1] Group 1: Emergency Fund Recommendations - Tu advises increasing the emergency fund target from three to six months of expenses to six to nine months during recessions to account for job loss and longer hiring cycles [3][4] - A larger safety net allows individuals to be selective in job offers and reduces panic-driven financial decisions [4] Group 2: Debt Management Strategies - High-interest and variable debt should be prioritized for repayment during recessions to avoid financial strain from rising costs [5][6] - Eliminating high-interest payments enhances cash flow flexibility, which is crucial when income becomes uncertain [7] Group 3: Spending Cuts Approach - Tu recommends making smart, discerning cuts to spending rather than adopting a blanket austerity approach, which can lead to dissatisfaction and failure [8] - The focus should be on eliminating convenience costs that do not add real value, while still budgeting for meaningful discretionary spending [8]