Almost Painless Ways to Trim the Budget

With the economic picture looming dark for most Americans, it's time to find ways to trim the budget and to save those precious dollars. Gasoline prices are hitting record highs almost each day, one price being bumped by another higher amount. Job security is becoming a golden oldie. Almost everyone I know has faced wage or hour reductions, had a job down sized or out sourced to another country, or experienced job loss when a company closed its' doors. Inflation has prices on the things we need most in everyday life soaring. Staples like milk, bread, meat, and other grocery items cost more now than they did a year ago and there's no end in sight. Wildfires, late cold snaps, crop freezes, droughts, and other natural disasters are going to affect the price of our groceries even more in the coming months. The best way to survive on a reduced income and to fight back when higher prices are on everything that we buy is to trim the budget and save money.

Most Americans will gripe and say they just can't cut back anymore than they already have but that's not true. These tips will offer tried and true ways to cut the budget and to save money.

First, consider giving those credit cards a rest. Put them up on a shelf and use only in the event of emergency. That doesn't mean when those fashionable shoes that you'd die for go one sale but when a family member needs medical care or your vehicle requires repair to keep motoring along. Credit card interest rates and fees continue to spiral so the less you use credit cards, the better consumers can be.

Second, pay off the balances you have now as soon as it's possible.

If you don't have a debit card, get one. Using a debit card instead of traditional checks saves money and checking fees. But once you have a debit card use it wisely. Always record purchases with the card into your check register.

Don't carry cash - it's too easy to spend!

And, opt to pay bills online. With postage stamps now at a record 41 cents each, it's cheaper to pay online and save.

Next, save and clip coupons. Yes, I know it sounds like something your grandma does but using coupons in the right way can trim money from your spending. The rule of thumb for the most effective coupon use is to clip only coupons that you will use, coupons for products that you normally buy. For example, a recent coupon in the Sunday newspaper offered $1 off a bag of Tyson chicken products, something our family often eats. I receive two Sunday papers and so I clipped the two coupons. When I went to the supermarket, the Tyson chicken products were already on sale and I saved an additional $1 on two bags. Coupons are available for many grocery items, health and beauty products, and even fast food. In addition to coupon inserts in local papers, check online for coupon sites.

To save gasoline, combine trips. Don't just make a trip to the supermarket. Combine that trip with a visit to the library, the bank, the discount store, and Mom's. Make every trip count and never make an impulse trip.

Careful planning is another way to save money. Never go to the store - be it a discount store or supermarket - without a list. Wandering up and down the aisles is a sure fire way to overspend so make a list and stick to it. And, buy store brands whenever possible. Look for mark downs on things like fresh meat and bakery items too. Some stores even have a discount shelf where outdated, slightly damaged, or discontinued products can be had for big savings.

Look around your town or neighborhood for what my cousin calls "cut rate grcoery stores". These chains like Aldi's, Save-A-Lot, ALPS, and others offer lower prices on merchandise. Often they will have some name brand products at bargain prices and many brands that although you've never heard of, are just as good - in some cases better - than name brand. Remember this insider tip that the owner of one my local cut rate groceries told me - the cake mixes, for example, are actually made by Duncan Hines even though the name is some nonsenical thing like "Great Cakes" and sell for a fraction of the price. The same holds true for many other grocery items. With family members who have worked in the grocery industry, I can tell you with complete confidence that name brand manufactuers run their name brand line and then run store brands using the same materials, same equipment, and same facility.

Never shop hungry. Being hungry while buying groceries can cause you to load up the shopping cart with items that you don't need.

When it comes to shopping for clothes, furniture, or other items, consider buying used. Many thrift shops today are upscale used clothing boutiques with tenderly worn clothing that looks new. Look for these shops and consider cleaning out closets to sell some of the outgrown or never worn items hanging in your own closets. Rummage sales are another option to find cheap, sometimes good clothing at a bargain price and the same holds true for things like furniture, dishes, pots and pans, home decor, and even toys. Holding your own rummage sale is another option that can put a few extra dollars back into your pocket with limited cost.

Eat at home instead of dining out. Making dining out a treat and limit how many times a month that the family will eat a meal in a restaurant.

Consider making a birthday cake instead of ordering a bakery cake. Homemade cakes made with love can be attractive as well as tasty for a fraction of the cost.

Buy special treat items like ice cream or frozen family entrees on sale and stock up at the lower price.

Make a family day trip to a nearby location instead of spending big bucks ona summer vacation or paying for a motel room.

Brown bag your lunch and cut down on those daily meals costs. Consider a family picnic instead of a fast food meal too.
There are many ways to save money and these are just a few of the ways anyone can trim the budget and save!