Cheap living, Budget cooking, How to grocery shop
Now is the time to practice " cheap living ". Many people have lost their jobs and need to cut back on their spending. There are many ways to do this task but it does take some serious thought and planning.
We have just gone through a time of major extravagance. Even people receiving social checks have accumulated material items like never before in my lifetime. I have been amazed at our tenants moving out of our houses, leaving food, furniture and lots of change on the windowsills. This has happened many times.
At Christmas time, we spend more on gifts and decorations than ever before. Americans spend many millions of dollars to have their teeth whitened. It seems that almost every man, woman and child carries at least one cell phone. We spend millions on diet products and yet more people than ever are obese and the count is going up.
We all need to get serious about getting our priorities in order. The positive note is that it can be done! I hope to help with the following suggestions.
- First if you have accumulated a lot of materialism, sell off anything that you are not using. If you have not used something in the past two years, you probably do not need it. Have a yard sale and get rid of it. Getting rid of the clutter will also clear your mind.
- Next try to make do with what you have. If you really have to have something, NEVER PAY FULL PRICE. ( This is my slogan)Look for it at yard sales. Also many stores are clearing everything out so there are some good buys out there.
- Prioritize your miscellaneous spending. Stay away from stores as much as possible. Never buy on impulse. Always think about a purchase overnight, even the smallest items. Most wasted money is spent on small junk items.
- Cut recreational spending. There are many things that you can do for fun that are free. We are seeing the visitors at our beaches picking up. People are bringing their families and a picnic lunch. This is a great way to spend a day. Have a list ready for free entertaining.
- Cut your eating out in restaurants. This amounts to a huge expenditure for most Americans. You can have a better quality healthier meal for much less by cooking at home.
Most families spend way too much in groceries. Learning budget cooking to prepare cheap recipes is a start. Find leftover recipes so nothing goes to waste. Then learning how to grocery shop is a must. You will be surprised at how much money you can save, and your family will be much healthier by cheap living.
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