Being a union member offers many benefits, but it also comes with the possibility of going on strike when necessary. Current, ongoing strikes (or near strikes) in several high-profile industries have put striking in the spotlight. If you belong to a union now or there’s a chance you might in the future, you’re probably thinking about how you’d handle your finances if you went on strike. Here are some helpful tips.

Focus On Emergency Savings

By now, you’ve heard it a million times: everyone should have enough money saved to cover 3-6 months of expenses. While this is good general financial advice for everyone, it’s even more important for unionized workers to heed this advice so they can cover all their basic living expenses if their union goes on strike.

Of course, you’ll want to start building emergency savings before you begin hearing about the possibility of going on strike. It’s safe to assume if you’re part of a union you will go on strike at some point, so save accordingly.

Clarify the Terms

Find out what the terms of the strike will be and plan accordingly. You won’t be receiving your regular paycheck, but some unions have strike funds that pay members a stipend during the strike. There also may be nonprofit assistance available from other organizations.

And although you won’t lose benefits like health insurance during a strike, they may be frozen. If there’s a strong possibility your union is going to strike, talk to your health care providers about any urgent needs and see if you can get extended supplies of your prescription medications before the strike starts, so you won’t have to pay the full out-of-pocket cost to have them refilled during the strike.

Rework Your Budget

Once you’re officially on strike, you’ll want your funds — whether from emergency savings or other sources — to stretch as far as possible. Now is the time to be a ruthless budgeter and cut out all unnecessary spending. Pause subscription services, streaming services and memberships to free up cash to cover essential expenses. Go through all your budget categories and look for places to cut everyday expenses. Here’s more on putting together a bare bones budget.

Negotiate Current Bills

While your union reps are negotiating with management for a better contract, you can be negotiating too. Contact your service providers and creditors to see about the possibility of lower monthly fees or lower credit card interest rates. Even paying just $5-$10 less per month across several bills adds up to savings and helps your dollars go further. Learn more about negotiating monthly bills and credit card hardship programs.

Find Alternative Sources of Income

You’ll have plenty of time on your hands, and you’ll want to use it wisely by finding ways to earn money. Be sure to ask about the types of work you’re allowed to do while on strike based on the terms of the contract. But there should be plenty of opportunities for you to take on a part-time job, do gig work like driving rideshare, or registering as a temp and working various assignments.

You can also clean out closets, attics and storage rooms and hold a yard sale or sell items you no longer need or use on eBay, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. The important thing is to keep some money coming in, even if it’s less than you usually make.

Steer Clear of Predatory Lending

If the strike drags on for months, you may start feeling desperate and looking into things like payday loans or auto title loans to get some quick cash. But you’ll want to avoid these predatory lenders at all costs, since these loans can the start of a debt cycle that’s almost impossible to get out of. Seek out these alternatives to predatory lending instead.