Housing
- Learn to do your own simple repairs.
- Do your own decorating and painting.
- Lower your home’s temperature at night in the winter, and then raise it in the summer.
- Use lights only when you need them.
- Properly insure your home.
- Conserve water.
- Give up all unnecessary services on your telephone.
- Find deals for furniture at garage sales or on the Internet.
- Make your own cleaning supplies.
Food
- Pack a “brown bag lunch” as often as possible.
($6.00 a day saves $30.00 a week; $120.00 a month.) - Don’t eat out as much.
- Consider generic foods or store brands.
- Take advantage of seasonal specials, especially fresh produce.
- Do more cooking from scratch.
- Use crock-pots to cook less tender cuts of meat.
- If storage permits, buy in quantity if you catch a good deal.
- Use coupons whenever possible.
- Grow your own produce.
Transportation
- Use public transportation.
- Consider moving closer to work.
- Drive small cars that cost less to operate and maintain.
- Do your own maintenance.
- Car pool whenever possible.
Health and Medical
- Have regular check-ups.
- Investigate services offered by your local health department.
- Attend local health fairs.
- Develop good health habits, like regular hand-washing, tooth brushing, etc.
- Learn to take your own temperature, pulse, and respiration.
- Learn more about symptoms for common ailments or diseases in order to make better judgments about when to see a doctor.
Clothing
- Sew as much as practical; repair; remodel.
- Carefully coordinate separates.
- Launder only when needed.
- Use clotheslines instead of a dryer.
- Use detergent that works well in cool and warm water.
- Mend clothes promptly.
- Have children change to old clothes for rough play.
- Do not buy clothes that require dry cleaning; buy clothing that is washable.
- Shop at thrift and consignment shops.
Savings
- Determine your savings goals.
- Be willing to compromise.
- Use payroll deductions for savings.
- Save bonus income and raises.
- Keep your loose change.
- Save on a regular basis; pay yourself first.
- Alter your spending habits.
- Use savings for emergencies only.
- Make saving a family affair.
- Put your budget on a diet!