TikTok creators are sharing their recession hacks

Many millennials have already lived through one recession, so as more economic turmoil looms, they're jumping online to share their "recession hacks."

The last recession in the U.S. lasted from December 2007 to June 2009, right about when many millennials were leaving college and entering the job market. That economic downturn hit at a pivotal life stage and left a lasting impact. It shaped culture, shifted expectations, and created some tough realities: lower wealth accumulation, higher student debt, thinner resumes, and delays in buying homes and getting married.

But because of those challenges, millennials have picked up some smart, practical strategies — and now they’re sharing them on TikTok for anyone facing financial uncertainty without a safety net.

Here are some of our favorite recession hacks from creators who’ve lived it:

Review your spending habits

Buy canned tuna

Find a meal hack that works for you

Learn how to sew

Go trash-picking

Regrow your green onions

Get smarter with your credit cards

Stop using your dryer

Turns out, living through a recession teaches you a thing or two. Luckily, millennials are more than happy to pass the cheat codes along.