In Reply to: Unexpected drop in income.. need hints, ideas, tips, etc. of ways to cut back. posted by I'll start the list... please add so we can all learn! on August 22, 2005 at 11:00:56:
Our store puts out reduced meat in the morning, find out when your local grocery butcher takes meat back to reprice for quick-sale and make it a must to get out there a few times a week to snag up on the reduced meats. I bought a med. size chest freezer so I could save on meat prices. Works GREAT!
Yard sale clothes work great. Once you wear a new outfit, it isn't new anymore anyway. Might as well get one already broke in so you know it will wear well. :o) ALSO - I found that clearance racks at the mall stores are actually CHEAPER than some thrift stores!
Try taking a step down in brand names, but not too far. Sometimes stepping down too much costs more in the long run (like in batteries, you get what you pay for there). Stock up on off brands when they are on sale, you can save tons more that way! (when you can, of course)
$1 store cleaners for dusting, windows, and dishes are just as good as name brands. (Although, Ajax dishsoap is cheaper AND better.)
Coupons are GREAT! Don't clip the ones you don't know if you will use, clip the ones you know you need. I find if I keep too many, I don't use any of them, if I just keep the ones I need - I remember to use them.
Want better coupons? Write letters to the companies. I once wrote to Frito-Lay to tell them I loved their chips, they sent me TWO boxes full of their products! Most will send you a coupon for a free purchase. :o) Can't beat that for .37. Takes a little time, but it's well worth it in the long run. And if you have a complaint, don't hesitate to write - you get lots of freebies for complaints!
Most of it is learning to not want. Still working on that here, but getting better. I keep telling myself that happiness is not getting what you want, it's wanting what you got!