Message #79179

[Katie G]

One thing I've noticed can be a real money-eater in our household is not planning our meals. Those "quick trips" to the supermarket to just "pick up a few things" can add up very quickly.  If we plan, then we make sure we have the stuff onhand to make dinners and lunches (including plans for leftovers and how they'll be used).  And if you eat chicken in any quantity, buy it whole and cut it up yourself.  A good pair of kitchen shears is great for this.  (I save the giblets, back, neck, and skin in a freezer bag to make broth for soup - another "economy" meal.....)

I'm the queen of the clearance racks when it comes to clothing!  I honestly can't remember the last time I bought something that wasn't at least 40% off.

Shop around for better deals on car insurance, cell phones, etc., budget plans for utilities (watch these guys though.  My local electricity provider changes our "budget" payment every three months.)

I realize this may not be for everybody, but...unless cable is the only option for TV in your area, consider dropping it.  I don't know about the rest of the country, but where I am, when the transition to digital TV happened, we picked up a lot of new broadcast channels - some show movies, some show "classic" shows from the 50s, 60s and 70s, etc.

Luckily, we have a produce store that's just down the block from our supermarket.  I get our fresh produce there.  It's considerably cheaper than the supermarket, and, since they don't take credit cards, we only buy what we have the cash to cover.