If you are fortunate enough to know anyone who grew up in the Depression era, talk to them. You will find that they really know how to save money. They probably had no choice at the time, but most have carried that with them through the good times that followed.
The biggest obstacle we need to overcome in saving money is ourselves. Most of us have grown up in a disposable society. We have disposable razors, disposable contact lenses, disposable this and that. We use it and throw it away because it is usually cheaper, not to mention much easier, to just get a new one. Well, in today’s economic climate, we may need to take some advice from our Depression-era mentors.
Eat at home: Eating out can cost the average family of 4 anywhere from $30 – $50 in moderately-priced restaurants. If this is done every night, you can easily spend $1000-$1500 per month on supper alone. Plus, you still have to spend money for breakfast and lunch, and other groceries. By preparing meals from scratch (avoid higher-priced convenience meals), you can easily feed a family of 4 on about $600-$700 per month and even less. So, get out those recipe books.
Eat Healthy Portions: Most of us eat way more than we should. By controlling the size of portions, you not only save money on food, but you also will notice beneficial health changes as well.
Freeze Leftovers: Purchase a food vacuum-sealer and portion out leftover entrees. You can then freeze the main entrees (and anything else that freezes well) to use when time is short. A few minutes in the microwave, add some canned veggies and voila! You have a full meal without extra cost.
Do things yourself: Most home improvements can be done inexpensively by doing it yourself since labor costs are a significant part of any projects. Large home improvement stores usually have free weekend classes on home improvement. Also, visit the library to check out home improvement books.
Look for bargains: You don’t need to go to a salon and pay a high price for a haircut. Look for a local beauty college. You can save a bundle and help student beauticians at the same time. Look on the internet for coupons and freebie deals. Shop at thrift stores for clothing. Most clothes are in excellent condition for a fraction of the new price.
Family Night In: Plan a night to stay at home and play games as a family, or rent a movie, pop some popcorn and have a movie night. This is much less expensive and much more fun than going to the theater. Most new movies are showing up pretty quickly on DVD, so you can still remain current. Check out mail-order rentals like NetFlix and Blockbuster. You pay one price for unlimited rentals per month.
Consider Work at Home Opportunities: There are several legitimate home business opportunities, but be careful of scams. Something for nothing is quite tempting, but it very rarely works out. If you are willing to put some work into it, you will be successful.
Take the money you save and put some into a savings account, use some to pay down your mortgage, and remember use some of it to have fun. Everyone needs balance in their lives.