Dating Cents: Budget-Friendly Date Ideas

While many are learning to be more fiscally responsible in these times and are cutting back on some daily or weekly pleasures such as coffee runs to Starbucks, eating out, entertainment events, etc. you don't have to let these cut backs affect your love life. You just need to have a little creativity. Here are some budget friendly date ideas.

1. Go to an outdoor concert in your local city. Pack a blanket and some snacks and enjoy a free outdoor concert in your local community. Check out www.metromix.com for listings in your area.
2. Host your own wine tasting. Invite people over and require each guest to bring a bottle of wine and their favorite cheese. This is a great way to introduce your date to all of your friends and cost friendly event. The only cost being your contribution.
   
3. Make a little Fondue. What's not to love about Fondue shared by two. And a way to impress with creativity without having to go to a Fondue restaurant. Make it yourself at home. Start the evening snacking on baguettes dipped in melted cheese and end it by dipping fruit into chocolate.
4. Visit a Flea Market. Yes, guys may not like to shop. But, they may end up thankful in the end. At Flea Markets, there's something for everyone and plenty of things you never knew existed. It allows each person to discover things about the other. Maybe there is a hobby you didn't know about.
5. Relive your youth on roller skates. Yes, go roller skating. A very inexpensive event but oh so much fun. Allowing for much interactivity. Top it off with a stop for dessert or coffee on the way home.
6. Pick some fruit. Spend the day at a local fruit farm picking fruit and then topping it off with making something with it when you get home.
   
7. Theater on a budget. Do you really want to see a musical or play but can't afford it. Check to see if you can buy tickets to a dress rehearsal or productions at local colleges. Its often a fraction of the price.

Idea Source: Yahoo Shine and Marie Claire
Photograph sourced through Google Images

Free Creative Activities for Kids

Looking for ways to continue to allow you and your kids to participate in creative activities or events and on a budget? I learned of some great websites from USA Weekend that are fun, safe, and free. They allow kids to explore and get their creative juices flowing and you can do it with them.

Drawing and Design. www.shidonni.com
Shidonni lets kids draw animals online, give them names and design imaginary worlds.
- Ages 5-12

Devise Games. http://pbskids.org/designsquad/games/fidgit/index.html
What kid would not think its fun to create their own game! Here they can do that and they can challenge their friends to play. Fidget is a multiplayer game on PBS' Design Squad site.
- Ages 8-13

Craft Cartoons. http://www.makebeliefscomix.com
Creativity can really soar here. At Makebeliefscomix kids can write, read and tell stories by creating comic strips online, and then printing or emailing them to friends or relatives.
- For all ages.

Program a Video. http://scratch.mit.edu
Create movies, music, video games at Scratch, developed by MIT Media Lab members.
- Ages 8 and up.

Make Music. http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/crankitup
On Crank It Up, kids can compose and record rhythms using pots, pans, wooden spoons and even the computer keyboard to create a masterpiece.
- For all ages.

Last Minute Saving Tips for Vacation

I don't know about you but the winter blues are setting in and I'm already thinking about vacation time. I hope to be able to take a last minute trip with some friends this year but am still figuring out how to make it happen in my budget. May have to be a last minute thing. I found some great tips from Teri Cettina on Yahoo that I thought were great and worth sharing.

• Start with a plan. Get a specific idea on how much you can spend. Guesstimate how much you think you may spend on everything (hotel, car, gas, souvenirs, meals, etc.). If you are surprised its better to be surprised before you take the vacation instead of after the fact. This way at least you can make adjustments either in your current spending or on what you think you will be doing on the vacation.

• Make sacrifices now so you can enjoy your vacation when it comes. To help you save make some sacrifices now with your spending (health clubs, restaurants, etc.). In the long run you will be glad you did as your vacation will be what you wanted it to be. Great thing Teri states is, "Remember: You're just trading today's fun for the fun you'll have during your vacation. Move what you normally would have spent on these items into your vacation fund."

• Save money with a "Pantry Week". I love this phrase, coined by Mary Hunt, founder and editor of Debtproofliving.com. Take a week to not go to the grocery store and eat what you have in your pantry. It's OK to eat a simple sandwich for dinner one night :-).
  

• Spend less time in restaurants. The National Restaurant Association quotes the average monthly spend for families with kids under 6 at restaurants to be over $200. If you can't stop cold turkey look into ways to trim this down. Look for kids eat free nights at your local restaurants. Check out Restaurant.com for discount coupons. Make a compromise, eat at home and then maybe treat yourself to a desert out. Get creative.

• Take advantage of your tax refund now. If you usually get a tax refund each year then your employer is most likely taking too much out of your check for taxes. Consider adjusting your W4 for a while to give you more money now that you can use for your last minute vacation. You can always adjust it back later.

• Let your credit cards be your friend. Use those cards that provide incentives for most purchases to build the incentives up. You can then use some of the incentives toward plane tickets, hotel costs, etc.

Watch Out For Phony Health Insurance

AARP recently shared some tips, or warning signs, of when health insurance is phony. With the amount of people today that are seeking their own insurance due to job loss I thought this would be great information to share so that money isn't wasted on something that won't fill your needs.

Some warning signs include:

• Coverage that promises full benefits but costs much less than similar policies.
• Easy sign up regardless of preexisting conditions and with no required medical exams or questionnaires.
• Offers to have an agent visit your home rather than mail you information about coverage and costs.
• Any attempt to get your social security number and bank account information during a sales presentation.
• A pitch that mentions "coverage", "benefits" and "health protection" but not insurance.

I hope you find this helpful. Please leave a comment and let us know if there are any companies you have encountered that fit these warning signs.

FREE Vision Services

Great find I read in the Macomb Daily that I thought people should know about in this tough economy.

VISION USA is a public health service that provides access to eye exams for uninsured, low-income families who do not qualify for government aid or private health care assistance. Eligible families are matched with one of the 166 volunteer Michigan Optometric Association optometrists who provide a comprehensive eye exam at no charge. Eye wear may also be provided at no charge or for a small fee, to receive eye care services through VISION USA, applicants must:

• Have a job or live in a house where there is one working member.
• Have no vision insurance
• Have income below an established level based on household size.
• Not have had an eye exam within two years.

To apply for services, visit www.aoa.org and click on VISION USA in the public health box in the left column. Applications are also available by calling or emailing: 1-800-766-4466 or visionusa@aoa.org

Michigan Half Off - Emagine Entertainment (Movie Theaters)

You Will Receive 4 (four) No Restriction General Admission passes for entry into Emagine Theatres for a single movie.

MichiganHalfOff: Michigan Half Off - Emagine Entertainment (Movie Theaters)

MichiganHalfOff: Michigan Half Off - Blake's Apple Orchard

MichiganHalfOff: Michigan Half Off - Blake's Apple Orchard

Shared via AddThis

MichiganHalfOff: Michigan Half Off - Cheli's Chili Bar-Clinton Township

MichiganHalfOff: Michigan Half Off - Cheli's Chili Bar-Clinton Township

Shared via AddThis

Road Trip Tip For Readers

Just learned of a little road trip tip from Budget Travel and had to share. For the readers out there, when traveling on the long road trips stop at a Cracker Barrel restaurant. Most often you see many along your route and that is why this is a great tip. They have audio books you can rent at any location. This means you can finish a book during your journey and stop at another location and pick up a new one. You pay for the first book (from $10), and when you return it, you can check out another book for $3.50.

Gotta Love The Freebies!

I am sure no one reading this minds knowing about ways to not only save a few bucks but to get things for FREE! Yes, we all are in love with the freebies. Just admit it. After all, don't they say that some of the best things in life are free. Penny pinchers, you may want to brace yourselves.

• Free Video Games. For the kids or even for you. For fun for for learning. There out there. For fun times for the adult kids check out: Kongregate.com, OnlineFlashGames.org, Pogo.com (to name a few). For the kiddies check out: PBSkids.org, Discoverykids.com, NickJr.com, Scholastic.com/kids.

• Free Birthday Stuff. Lots of companies give you free stuff on your birthday. Join the birthday club at Toys R Us and your child (younger than 10) will get a free toy or gift card every year. For the adults, if you sign up at your favorite eatery you could eat for free on your birthday.

• Free Shipping. Many retailers offer free shipping for online shopping. Some include: Zappos.com (shoes), Bluenile.com (jewelry), Piperlime.com (shoes). Others offer shipping options where you can ship to a local store and still avoid personally paying shipping. Some include: Walmart.com, REI.com.

• Free Software. Don't forget about all the free software options online. For antivirus protection head to http://free.avg.com. For free basic photo editing, check out http://picasa.google.com, or for more advanced touch-ups, try Gimp.org. For finance go to Mint.com or Wesabe.com. For word processing and spreadsheets to to OpenOffice.org.

• Airline Freebies. What?! Airlines still have freebies? Yes! Southwest lets you check two bags for free. Most others charge. Jet Blue lets you check one bag for free, plus gives you access to free TV, satellite radio and all-you-can-eat snacks. Continental still serves free meals on several routes. And all kids under 2 years of age fly free on your lap on all airlines.

• Free Books, Movies, & Music. Yes, I've mentioned this before. Don't forget about your library. Its your golden key to lots of free books, CDs, and movies. And some offer free seminars and events.

• Kids Eat Free. Yep, free meals for kids at Denny's, Lone Star Steakhouse and Roadhouse Grill every Tuesday night with a paying adult. You can search for eateries in your area at KidsMealDeals.com.

• Free Digital Storage Space. Free online backup storage to protect your files or photos from computer crashes or natural disasters. Spideroak.com and Myotherdrive.com each give you 2 gigabytes of free and secure digital storage space. You can also use Photobucket.com and Flickr.com for your photos and videos. Or there are photo-print ordering sites where you can also store photos such as Snapfish.com and Shutterfly.com.

• Free Technology Recycling. Not only is this free but you can also get some cash here! BuyMyTronics.com, Gazelle.com, MyBoneyard.com and GreenPhone.com recycle and refurbish your old technology and send you a check in return! They take cameras, cell phones, MP3 players, game consoles and more. Check them out!

• Free Music. Dance to your hearts content at Pandora.com. Great way to discover new music. You will have to listen to some ads on occasion but they are short. At Pandora you will receive 40 hours of free listening per month. Another site to try is Slacker.com where there is no limit on your free listening!

• Free Directory Assistance. Save and dial 1-800-GOOG-411 next time you need directory assistance. Google's free phone service will connect you with the business you're looking for, and there are no ads to listen to. But, note they don't offer residential listings yet.

• Free e-Books and Sheet Music. When copyrights expire on books and music they become "public domain." So you can get free and legal copies. At Gutenberg.org you can download more than 30,000 e-books. At http://books.google.com you can search the text of seven million books (even those that are still under copyright)! And at Mutopiaproject.org, you can print sheet music by more than 250 composers.

Thanks to Kiplingers for some great ideas.

Laziness Pays

Do you want to save money but just don't have the discipline to put forth the extra effort to do so? You can be lazy and save money. Here are some ideas.

• Automatic payments. Try scheduling at least your fixed monthly bills to automatic payments so that you don't miss a payment and get charged the extra late fees.

• Eat the food in your house. What?! Yeah, just eat your own groceries. Stats show that Americans regularly throw away nearly 15% of the food they buy from the grocery store. That can really add up to a lot of money depending on your budget.

• Watch the dates. Mark it on your calendar when you rent things like library books, videos, etc. so you can avoid the late fees. Many places now also offer email reminder notices. Be sure to sign up!

• Use your perks. Are you an AAA member? Do you belong to the AARP? What about your local credit union? Check organizations you have memberships with to see if they offer buying privileges or discounts.

• Just Ask. Really?! That's right, just ask. Doesn't hurt, just ask if you can have your interest rate lowered on your loan or credit card. Worst they can say is no. Can't go any higher. Or ask for discounts on services like your cell phone or pet care instead of switching to another vendor to save money.

• Have the awkward conversation. According to Financially Fit by Bank of America, Americans average more than $750 yearly on holiday gifts and that's probably much more than most would like to spend. If your gift-giving is costing you more than you can realistically afford there's a good chance it’s more than your relatives can afford (or would like to spend) as well. Take the plunge and broach the subject. Offer a more reasonable alternative. More than likely your relatives will be grateful SOMEONE finally raised the subject and you’ll save money in the process.

• Forget the pet. I can't agree on this one but do want to share the idea. Sure it sounds heartless but did you realize that welcoming home a little puppy can cost you an average of more than $1,500 a year - or $15,000 over 10 years? Kitties are pricey too - just under $1,000 a year or approximately $9,000 for 10 years of care.

Thanks to Bank of America for sharing some great ideas.

Knock Down Rising Food Prices

Don't let rising food prices discourage you or throw you budget out of wack. Consider these ideas to keep your food budget at bay.

1. Eat at home. You can make the same healthy and nutritious meals you get in restaurants at home. And that includes the great tasting coffee. This excludes meals with lower nutrition as those can be found at bargain prices throughout fast food chains.
2. Shop with a plan. Don't just put everything that catches your eye in your cart. Plan it out. Make a list at home before you go to the store and stick to it. Planning your meals out helps too so that you only buy what you need for those meals. All helps you not to buy extra and spend extra.
3. Put on the blinders. Don't let the impulse purchase items catch your eye. Shopping with a plan and a list will help as you will find you will not have to go down every aisle and be tempted.
4. Eat before you shop. You will be less tempted to buy the extra things not on your list if you are not hungry when you go shopping.
5. Avoid prepared foods. Yes, its convenient in this fast paced world we live it. But, it also comes with a premium price tag. Instead, buy the ingredients and make it yourself and save money.
6. Avoid the bottled water. Easier on the pocket book and the environment. If you don't like tap water consider installing a filter. You can also add lemon to your water which will also add nutrients to your diet.
7. Avoid shopping with kids. They can add minutes to your shopping trip and added time can equal extra purchases that can sneak into the cart that you didn't plan on.
8. Use coupons. And pay attention to use them at stores that offer doubling deals. Many websites also have coupons you can print off. The few minutes you spend looking for coupons can equal great savings.
9. Buy locally. Its often cheaper since there aren't any transportation costs.
10. Look down and around. Stores often place the more expensive items at eye level. Look down to see cheaper alternatives. This also applies to the brand name item. Look around them to find cheaper generic alternatives.
11. Watch the dates. As the "sell by" or "best before" date approaches, you are virtually guaranteed a discount.
12. Substitute recipe items. If you have a higher-priced item that reoccurs in your favorite recipes, it may be time to shake up your taste buds. Often a lower-priced alternative can be found. "For instance, if you consistently bake with olive oil and you see that the price has skyrocketed, a simple switch to applesauce (something that you might even be able to make if you have an apple tree) is a great cheap and low-fat substitution for many recipes."
13. Shop less. Keep the number of shopping trips at bay to reduce chances of unnecessary purchases and money spent on gas.
14. Keep items on hand. Keeping your kitchen well stocked will help you to not run out of staple items and have to run to the store at the last minute. This will also allow you to be able to wait for sales.

Thank to Lisa Smith from Investopedia for some great ideas.

Kids Eat Free

Is the economy preventing your family from enjoying a dinner out? Here is a great link that I wanted to share for those in the Detroit area. It shows restaurants that offer free meals for children. This is a great way to be able to enjoy a dinner out and a smaller price!

http://www.southeastmichigankidseatfree.com/

ENJOY!

Frugal Travel: Pre-planning Tip #2 - Save on Food

Another item we can spend quite a bit on when traveling is food. Also, its one area that may not be as easy to control. Given we are on vacation we don't necessarily have access to a kitchen and we will eat out much more. So how can we save? About.com shared some really great suggestions.

• Before you leave do some research. Check out local restaurants and eateries online to see which have reasonable price ranges for meals.

• Coupons. Some local restaurants may have discount coupons on their websites. You can also check out an Entertainment Book. Take a peak and print some off before you leave.

• Easy to prepare meals. Some hotels will offer in room kitchenettes. Consider lodging at these places and find easy meals you can prepare in your room instead of going out.

• Order to go. Ordering to go avoids ordering drinks and leaving the bigger tips and reduces your cost. Consider getting a meal to go and taking it back to your room.

• Don't forget about the freebies. Take advantage of any free meals your hotel may offer.

• Eat out for lunch. Consider eating out for lunch instead of dinner to avoid pricier entrees.

• Snack it up. Take snacks to keep you satisfied through the day so that the hunger doesn't build to draw to the big expensive meal.

Frugal Travel: Pre-planning Tip #1 - Transportation

Let's face it. Traveling at reasonable costs requires not only good planning but also requires you be persistent. Go after what you want and don't give up. Over the next few posts I am going to share some great pre-planning tips I learned from Erin Huffstetler. Let's start with a big one: transportation.

Transportation is most likely one of the biggest expenses when you travel. There are costs associated with getting you to your departure destination and with the mode of transportation used. And then when you arrive you need transportation not only to get to your lodging destination but also just to get you around town. Besides traveling off peak and using discount providers, here are some other ways to pre-plan to reduce costs.

1. Save on car rentals.

• Book early. The cheapest rental cars go fast. Don't get forced into an upgrade. Book your car as soon as you have solid plans.
  
• Comparison shop. The rates between the website, toll free number, and local dealer are not always the same. Be sure to check all three.
  
• Reserve the smallest car possible. Rent the smallest car you need and hope for an upgrade. Small fleets are often overbooked causing dealers to upgrade their customers.
  
• Compare daily and weekly rates. There is a big range between daily and weekly rates. Check both to ensure you get the best price.
  
• Use a non-airport facility. Check out local renters that are not exactly at the airport. You may find you save the price the airport renters charge for convenience.
  
• Skip the rental insurance. Your car insurance providing often provides coverage for rentals. Be sure to check first. You may be saving big on extra insurance you don't need.
  
• Fill the tank yourself. Some rental companies charge a fee for returning the car without a full tank. Be sure to know what's in the contract to save yourself some money.
  

2. Save on gas.

• Rely on local transportation. Not only does traveling using local transportation (subway, bus, etc.) allow you to see everything as the locals see it but it save you some headache on parking too.
  
• Rent a bike. Where are you going? If going to a beach or other tourist-focused areas why rent a car when you can rent a bike? Its also can be an easier way to get around town.
  
• Seek gas card offers. With the increase in gas prices some hotels have begun to offer free gas cards to offset the cost.
  
• Walk. Pick a pedestrian friendly destination. Many big and small towns can be easily explored on foot.
  
• Look for a shuttle service. Bigger hotel chains often have shuttle service. Take advantage of it. And get a tour guide as a bonus.
  

3. Save on airfare.

• Be flexible to consider off peak schedules.
  
• Look into flying into near by airports. You can save by arriving in one airport and leaving from another.
  
• Online search alerts. Sign up for pricing alerts and also search day before and after where you can get some really good deals.
  
• Avoid online service fees by doing research online and then book with airline.
  
• Sign up for last minute email alerts from airlines for some great last minute deals. They often reduce prices at the last minute to get rid of any remaining empty seats.
  

7 Days Of The Week, When To Buy

Knowing a little more about the sales cycles of certain products and services and retailers can add much value to the your hunt for a deal. According to Smart Money, there are certain days of the week when you can find the best prices for things. If you have experienced success with this I'd like to hear from you.



Airline Tickets
Best to buy: Wednesday morning
Why: Airlines usually have deals over the weekend but the war begins after the weekend when other airlines are trying to match the prices set by the first airline that reduced prices over the weekend. Prices reach their lowest point by late Tuesday, early Wednesday.

Cars
Best to buy: Mondays
Why: Car dealers love the weekend because that is when they make the most sales. On Monday, they are already looking toward the weekend and the low foot traffic makes it seem like it will never come which gives the consumer a little more negotiating power.

Clothing
Best to buy: Thursday evening
Why: Kathryn Finney, author of "How to Be a Budget Fashionista" says this is when retailers begin to stock for the weekend and when retailers such as Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and Express start their weekend promotions. It brings people out to shop mid week.

Dinner Out
Best to buy: Tuesday
Why: Most restaurants don't receive food deliveries on the weekend and throw things out on Sunday (they should donate to the food rescue mission instead). By Tuesday they have received new deliveries so food is fresher and you get more bang for your buck.

Gas
Best to buy: Thursday before 10 a.m.
Why: In addition to oil prices, consumer demand also drive up prices. Weekend demand is higher when more people are traveling. Most gas stations change prices Thursday mornings and by getting gas then you will sneak in before the price change and weekend rush.

Department-Store Wares
Best to buy: Saturday
Why: Many department stores have a lot to mark down for their Sunday circulars, so they frequently start the process on Saturday evenings before store closing to prepare for the Sunday rush. Even if the markdowns haven't been made, many employees will honor the sale price if you ask. Print out the circular preview from the store's web site, and bring it with you when you head to the mall.

Cinco de Mayo Food Cents

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

One of my favorite days because I love Mexican food. I know you can eat it all the time but there something about having it on Cinco de Mayo that makes it better. And of course we can't forget about the margaritas. But, back to the food. I was excited when I learned of some low cost Cinco de Mayo recipes from Eating Well today. Now I know what I am having for dinner. Great recipes for less than $3 per serving! Can't beat that. Following is a sampling.

Crispy Turkey Tostadas: Shredded leftover turkey tops homemade tostadas in this Tex-Mex favorite. Making your own tostada shells from fresh corn tortillas is easier than you might think—crisp them up in the oven while you prepare the toppings. Choose either regular petite diced tomatoes or those with added jalapeños, depending on your inclination for spicy food. Serve with black beans, rice and extra salsa or hot sauce on the side.

Calabacitas: Enjoy this traditional Southwestern dish of sautéed summer squash, onions and peppers as a side or as a vegetarian filling for tacos.

Salsa Rojo: Here’s a homemade version of the tomato salsa served at taco stands and burrito joints everywhere. Try it with all your favorite Mexican foods—it even works as enchilada sauce.

If you make any of these let me know how you like it!

Spending 'Cents', Common Money Wasters

I am always looking for ways to scale back a bit. Especially now that I am unemployed. I was reading an article recently by Lori Bongiorno that contained a couple things I hadn't thought of yet. Things I thought maybe others hadn't heard of either and may benefit from regardless of their job situation. So here are some ways you can spend more 'centsfully' and avoid wasting money.

• Bottled Water. It hasn't been proven in the U.S. that bottled water is safer than tap water. They New York times estimates that it costs someone $1,400 per year to drink eight glasses per day of bottled water vs 49 cents for an annual supply of tap water. A scaled back option would be to install a filter and drink filtered water. It is still healthier and less expensive.
• Dryer Sheets. They can do more harm than good with the chemicals that are in them that can get in your clothes and then absorbed into your skin. A cheaper and healthier alternative to achieve the same result would be to use distilled vinegar and baking soda in your laundry (1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda). If you want the 'scent' a dryer sheet can give put some of your favorite essential oil onto a piece of fabric and toss it in.
• DVDs, books, and TV shows. This is a great one. We all know about the library option to save money. You can borrow DVDs and books there for free right. But, that means you have to keep an eye on the due dates. If you don't prefer to do that check out Swaptree. They can help you trade books, movies, music, and video games. You can also eliminate your cable television service. I know you may think this is crazy but trust me I did it and its not that bad. You can see a lot of your favorite shows for free on Hulu. And, depending on which network you watch, you can catch some current episodes online. I love to watching Dancing With The Stars and although my digital converter box does give me basic channels to watch basic TV stations my schedule doesn't allow me to catch this show. Since I don't have cable television to give me the DVR option I just catch up online. ABC has all full episodes of their shows on their website.
• Trash bags. A necessity for all of us but it doesn't mean we have to pay for them. Try using those left over grocery shopping bags that seem to always pile up (instead of throwing them away). I know we all know this but it doesn't mean we actually do it. I am guilty of this. Time to put it into action.
• Wrapping paper. You can get creative with this one although I am not sure yet whether I am even fully on board (let me know what you think). Look through you house for items to recycle like old maps, sheet music, kids' artwork, newspapers, magazines, paper bags, and more. Wrapping gifts in newspaper or magazines doesn't have to appear tacky especially with a little forethought. Think about the gift recipient. What are they like? Are they a sports fan, gardener, or do they like to read books? Choose relevant images or wacky photos. Paper bags can be cut up and decorated (or not).

Where Will Your Tax Refund Go?

Approximately 71% of Americans will receive a tax refund this year.  Where will it go?  Let us know what your economic stimulus plan is.

Will you pay off or pay down debt?  You may not experience instant gratification, but, you will feel financial relief.

Will you invest it?  Maybe contributing to an IRA especially if you are laid off and are not currently contributing to a 401k as a result.

Will you use if for personal enrichment?  Some view this as a way to squander their return.

Will you donate it?  Afterall, many charities are hurting as well as a result of the rough economy.  It will help advance recovery and could be a chance to donate beyond your normal means.

Let us know what your economic stimulus plan is.

Dollar Stretching Exercises For Tight Times

Regardless of whether or not we are in a recession I think times are tighter and cost of living has increased.   I've done some research and have gathered some good tips that have been shared by blog readers regarding ways we can stretch our dollar to make it go further.  Much of it has to do with our mindsets, however.  Instead of thinking "what do I need to buy?", think, "what do I have that I can use?".  That is how many got through the Great Depression.  Follow are a few things you can do to work out that dollar.  I've put them into categories.

Cooking and Eating Savings

• Bring lunch from home.
• Eat less. The average American consumes too much food.
• Get creative with leftovers to reduce waste.
• Make your own jello or pudding cups rather than buying them.  Its cheaper.
• Always take a snack or water where ever you go. Will reduce temptation to stop at fast food.
• Cook large amounts and freeze for busy nights.

Car and Gas Savings

• Walk as much as you can or ride your bike
• Keep tires properly inflated to appropriate pressure
• Regularly maintain you car
• Fill up with gas in the morning.  Air is cool and gas is dense. You'll get more gas and less air.
• Use gasbuddy.com to find the lowest gas prices.
• Don't suddenly stop or accelerate. Try to maintain consist speed to improve gas mileage.

Utility Savings

• Keep lights off during the day.
• Let dishes air dry after running them through the dish washer.
• Line dry clothes by setting drying racks over heating vents during winter and outside during the spring and summer.
• Turn off the PC if you won't be using for an hour or more.
• Keep the freezer full.  If you have to, put milk jugs filled with water in the freezer.  It's less expensive to keep a full freezer cold than an empty one.
• Never leave the water running when brushing your teeth, rinsing dishes, etc.  Only use the water you need.
• Use a programmable thermostat and don't run the heater at night.
• Use a fan.

Savings Around The House

• Store batteries in the refrigerator.  They last longer.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Email for free samples.
• Use water from boiling food or a dehumidifier to water your plants.
• Use a kitchen rag instead of paper towel.
• Wash a re-use Ziploc bags.

Entertainment Savings

• Eat out only once per month.
• Prepare special dinners at home, rather than going out to celebrate.
• Go to the park and have a picnic.
• Take advantage of 'get in free' days at museums, etc.
• Visit your local tourism guide for special events.
• Do free things for entertainment: hiking, free city concerts, game nights, etc.