During the global economic downturn, here are 40 practical tips for ordinary people (those who are not ordinary can ignore):

1. Be cautious when buying property; prioritize clearing excess real estate in second-tier and lower-tier cities to reduce asset liquidity risk.

2. Diversify your funds across the four major banks, with no single account exceeding 500,000 yuan; safety takes precedence over returns.

3. In a family, it’s best to keep a rural household registration as a long-term safety net.

4. Try to avoid borrowing; borrowing is easy, but repayment is the hardest part.

5. Daily diet should be based on freshness; buy whatever is cheap at the market.

6. Prefer to live low-key rather than obsess over being in the spotlight.

7. Jobs are becoming harder to find; don’t resign easily, and avoid blindly changing careers, as it often costs years.

8. Focus on matters directly related to earning money and survival; care less and intervene less in other areas.

9. Cash is king; cut unnecessary online shopping and impulse spending.

10. Don’t expand your business easily; if hope is lost, cut losses decisively.

11. Get checked early if feeling unwell; neglecting small illnesses can lead to bigger problems with higher costs.

12. Have risk awareness; savings should cover at least three years of basic living expenses.

13. Prefer a stable job with a salary of 6,000 yuan over an uncertain private company paying 10,000 yuan.

14. The more modest your conditions, the more you should ensure 15 years of social security contributions; rely on the system for retirement, not children.

15. Avoid buying houses and cars if possible; if you must buy, pay in full to avoid long-term debt.

16. Never transfer money through online or phone transactions; always refuse.

17. Don’t rely on others; no one is obligated to be kind to you except your parents.

18. Spend more leisure time reading and learning to increase your irreplaceability.

19. For children, cultivating independent survival skills is more important than leaving wealth.

20. Sleep early, quit smoking and drinking; one day of illness can delay three days of work, health is invisible savings.

21. Avoid meaningless gatherings; don’t pretend to be generous or host everywhere.

22. Never lend money to anyone, including relatives and friends.

23. Don’t meddle in trivial matters; avoid arguments with incompatible people to prevent unnecessary consumption.

24. Stay away from companies that only make empty promises; what you earn and the real skills you learn are most important.

25. Do only what you can afford; avoid installment payments and credit cards if possible.

26. Learn restraint and frugality; being overly generous can attract people looking to take advantage.

27. Try not to travel abroad alone; prioritize traveling with companions.

28. Always speak and act cautiously; weigh pros and cons before making decisions.

29. Buy consumables wholesale rather than retail; plan ahead to save money.

30. Think carefully before acting; waiting, relying, and hesitating often lead to failure—action yields results.

31. Don’t showcase happiness, success, or wealth; staying low-key provides long-term security.

32. Reduce ineffective social interactions; more people mean more trouble. Find spiritual fulfillment in nature, music, or hobbies, not necessarily in people.

33. Avoid high-risk coastal areas and eating uncertain seafood.

34. If conditions permit, grow some vegetables yourself to ensure basic vegetable needs.

35. Try side jobs or part-time work like driving services, tutoring, or freelance writing; cherish every income source.

36. Learn to control your emotions; avoid mood swings, as losing control often destroys yourself first.

37. Live each day seriously; time will gradually give you answers.

38. Don’t invest in things you don’t understand; you can never earn beyond your knowledge.

39. Don’t blindly believe that “money is earned, not saved”; survival is more important for ordinary people.

40. Making money is like picking water with a needle; spending money is like flushing sand with water. Be meticulous and save steadily, and life will stabilize.

In recent years, for ordinary people, the most important thing isn’t to defy the heavens but to stabilize life, hold the bottom line, and live a little longer.