Washington almost forgot the idea of ​​a fourth pandemic stimulus check for Americans, swept away by the federal finance bill and a massive infrastructure plan.

Could a petition with 3 million signatures supporting monthly payments throughout the COVID-19 crisis spur lawmakers to resurrect the idea? That’s the target number of supporters for a Change.org petition that has garnered around 2.9 million signatures so far.

Surveys show stimulus payments have gone to the basic needs of many struggling families who lost income during the pandemic. Whether you need more money to cover the bills or just want spend smart in times of uncertainty, try some ideas for going it alone to free up some cash in case more government stimulus help never comes.

The petition has sparked new interest in recent months

Denver Restaurant Owner Stéphanie Bonin told KUSA TV channel in her hometown where she started the petition months ago, but has noticed renewed interest from late summer.

his petition asks Congress for $ 2,000 a month for American adults “for the duration of the crisis.” The children would receive $ 1,000 per month according to his vision.

The idea became more prominent with the rise of the Delta variant, Bonin told the TV station. Her self-employed husband lost his income during the pandemic and they kept the restaurant in business, but they fear another slowdown as the Delta variant makes people cautious.

With the recent surge in signatures Bonin has noticed, it seems many Americans are okay with his recent petition update calling for targeted checks on people who are still in pain. “Our country is still deeply in difficulty. The recovery has not reached many Americans, ”she wrote on the petition website.

Stimulation options diminish

Not only are there no signs of a fourth stimulus check on the horizon, the government’s COVID relief efforts to boost unemployment benefits expired in September. There are a few advance payments left in 2021 for the child tax credit that the government has extended for one year.

The story continues

Much of the stimulus money that continues to come out comes from state and city programs and funds for workers in certain industries.

Some cities are exploring the idea of ​​providing a regular basic income to certain citizens. The idea of ​​direct and consistent federal payments, as the petition proposes, has not found broad support in Washington, although some Democratic lawmakers have called for recurring cash payments until the economy recovers. .

The petition is full of comments from people struggling despite stimulus efforts.

One commentator said her mother’s employer had fired her because of the pandemic and unemployment ran out, but her mother couldn’t find a job. This poster has two jobs but can barely pay the rent and only eats twice a day. “Despair overwhelms us,” writes the person. “Money is not enough.”

“The pandemic has skyrocketed the cost of everything. The stimulus would help solve this dilemma, ”said another commentator.

Tips for saving money during the pandemic

If the petition doesn’t wake Washington up and there are no more stimulus payments coming up, you still have to pay the bills. Go back to proven methods of cost reduction:

1. Refinance your mortgage

For homeowners, now is the perfect time to refresh your mortgage. Average rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remain below 3%, which means homeowners could save hundreds of dollars every month with a refi.

2. Purge all subscriptions that you do not use regularly

Watch your magazines, streaming services, premium cable, meal deliveries, gym, exercise classes – anything you can think of with a recurring charge. And then make a second round of cuts to get rid of all the services that you use, but that you can live without.

3. Combine your debts into one payment

You can significantly reduce your interest rate if you consolidate your debt and transfer your balances to a credit card with an introductory 0% APR or a low interest debt consolidation loan.

4. Buy better insurance rates – it only takes a few minutes

Some simple comparison shopping with online tools may save hundreds on your home insurance. And there’s a good chance you’re overpaying for car insurance if you haven’t looked at the rates for a while. Fix it quickly auto insurance rate check.

5. Do a little research on the lowest prices

Call your cable, internet, and cellular providers to try to negotiate better rates, and if they don’t agree, shop for a cheaper deal with another company. The same goes for online shopping: if you’re not sure you’re getting the best price by sifting through different websites, a tool you add to your internet browser search for the best deals and coupons online.

6. Bonus idea: save those pennies, even in difficult times

You don’t need a lot of money to start or build your investment portfolio. For example, there is an app that collects your digital pennies and dimes left over from daily purchases to give you a share of the stock market. To try invest your “spare currency”.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.