Budgeting During Crisis

A minimal-stress budgeting guide for periods of instability or transition.

Budgeting During Crisis

Priority Expenses

When money is limited or unpredictable, it can be useful to sort expenses by priority and timing.

• List fixed essentials
  • Housing costs (rent, mortgage, lot fees, storage unit)
  • Utilities needed for basic living (electricity, water, basic heat, basic phone)
  • Basic food and hygiene items
  • Necessary medications or medical supplies
  • Child-related essentials (diapers, school meals, basic clothing)
• Identify flexible essentials
  • Internet or mobile data needed for work, school, or communication
  • Transportation to work, school, court, or medical appointments
  • Minimum payments on key debts that could affect housing, work, or transportation
• Mark what is time-sensitive
  • Due dates for rent, utilities, and debt minimums
  • Any shutoff, eviction, or repossession timelines listed in notices
  • Deadlines connected to court dates, visas, or benefits
• Separate lower-priority expenses
  • Subscriptions and memberships
  • Non-essential shopping and entertainment
  • Optional services (streaming, apps, deliveries, etc.)
• Check for temporary relief options
  • Ask about hardship or payment plans for utilities or phone
  • Check if rent assistance, food programs, or transportation support are available locally
  • Review whether any late fees can be waived

Reducing Traceable Purchases

Some people prefer to limit how much of their spending appears in shared bank statements, email accounts, or phone apps.

• Review what is currently visible
  • Check which bank accounts, cards, and apps another person can see or access
  • Look at how transactions appear on online statements (store name, location, time)
  • Note which receipts are emailed or texted automatically
• Adjust payment methods where possible
  • Use cash for purchases you prefer not to appear on shared statements
  • Consider using a separate card or account for certain expenses, if safe and lawful where you live
  • Turn off saved payment methods in shared browsers or devices
• Limit digital transaction trails
  • Disable automatic email receipts where that option exists
  • Review app settings that show purchase history or notifications on lock screens
  • Be cautious about digital wallets that sync across multiple devices
• Consider how statements are delivered
  • Check whether statements arrive by mail, email, or app
  • Review who can log in to shared financial accounts
  • Where safe and appropriate, consider paperless or alternative mailing addresses
• Plan for explanations if needed
  • Think ahead about how you might describe a missing amount of cash or a withdrawal
  • Keep spending patterns as consistent as is safely possible to avoid drawing attention

Low-Visibility Spending

Low-visibility spending focuses on methods that are less likely to create obvious records in shared spaces, while still staying within local laws and account rules.

• Cash-based options
  • Withdraw consistent, small amounts rather than one large amount where possible
  • Combine necessary errands (groceries, fuel, transit passes) with quiet cash withdrawals
  • Store cash in places that are unlikely to be searched, and that you can remember
• Prepaid and gift cards
  • Use prepaid or gift cards for specific needs (transport, groceries, phone credit)
  • Choose cards that do not require ongoing online accounts if visibility is a concern
  • Keep card numbers and balances written down in a safe place
• Shared-ownership considerations
  • Know which accounts are legally joint and which are individual
  • Be aware that some “individual” accounts may still be viewable by another person with shared logins
  • Check whether someone else receives alerts for transactions on your account
• In-kind resources
  • Use community resources for food, clothing, or supplies where available
  • Consider swapping or borrowing items with trusted people instead of purchasing
  • Track the value of these supports in your private budget notes
• Documenting your plan
  • Keep a simple list of low-visibility funds (cash, cards, supplies) and locations
  • Note approximate values and expiration dates for any cards or vouchers
  • Store these notes in a format that is least likely to be checked (for example, in a disguised file name or with a trusted person)

Adjusting Transportation

Transportation can be one of the more visible parts of a budget. Small adjustments may reduce both costs and traceability.

• Map essential travel
  • List places you need to reach regularly (work, school, childcare, court, medical)
  • Estimate costs for each (gas, tickets, parking, tolls, ride-hail)
  • Note which routes or methods are usually known to another person
• Lower-cost options
  • Public transit passes or multi-ride tickets, where they are safe to use
  • Walking or cycling for short distances, if conditions allow
  • Carpooling with trusted people, being mindful of any new visibility this creates
• Less-traceable choices
  • Pay for transit with cash rather than cards where that is allowed
  • Use parking options that do not require license plate registration in shared apps
  • Limit use of ride-hail accounts that another person can view
• Vehicle-related costs
  • Track fuel, insurance, maintenance, and registration in your budget
  • Schedule maintenance only as needed to keep the vehicle functional and safe
  • Keep important vehicle documents stored safely but accessible to you
• Backup transport plans
  • Identify at least one alternative way to reach key locations if your usual method becomes unavailable
  • List phone numbers or locations for local taxi, shuttle, or community transport services
  • Estimate cash needed for one unplanned trip to an important location and consider setting that amount aside if possible

Recommended Articles

• Financial Safety Planning
• Hidden Copies of Important Documents
• Using Technology More Safely
• Storing Important Items Discreetly
• Safety Planning Checklist