65
Chapter 4: Cutting Spending and Boosting Income
Book I
Taking
Charge
of Your
Finances
When you make a meal, double the recipe and store the extra half in
your freezer. When you have to work late one night or are feeling fraz-
zled after a difficult day at the office, you'll be less tempted to purchase
prepared food or carryout on your way home because you have a meal
waiting that you can just pop into the microwave.
Clip coupons and read the grocery store inserts in your local newspaper
for good deals on items you plan to buy.
Coupon Web sites like www·couponcabin·com, www·couponcraze·
com
, and www·coolcoupons·com offer savings at specific stores and on
popular national brands. Some offer free product samples, too.
Shop at several different grocery stores. Some may offer better deals on
certain items that you use.
Purchase house brands.
Minimize your use of prepared foods and convenience items. You pay a
premium for them.
If you drink regularly, drink less and buy less-expensive wine, beer, or
hard liquor.
Purchase groceries at warehouse stores, discount houses, and buying
clubs. When practical, buy in bulk.
But don't buy perishable items in large quantities unless you're sure
you'll use them before they spoil. Also, don't buy items in bulk or on
sale that you're not sure your family will use; these deals are good ones
only if you actually use what you buy!
Pack lunches for yourself and your family.
Make your own morning coffee instead of buying it on your way to work.
Eliminate sodas and junk food from your diet.
Reserve dining out for weekends or special occasions only.
Celebrate a special occasion with a picnic instead of a restaurant meal.
Pop your own popcorn for the movies. Old-fashioned homemade pop-
corn tastes a whole lot better than the prepopped stuff available at most
movie theaters, and it's a lot cheaper, too.
When your family goes on a day trip, pack your meal instead of eating at
a restaurant.
Grow your own vegetables and herbs. If you don't have a green thumb
or if you lack the space for a garden, buy your fruits and veggies at your
local farmers' market.
