How to Live on the Thin Dime: Part 2 - Making it Scream

Living on the thin dime means you are going to cut away what you can live without. If you read part one then you know these a cuts to the bone. You do away with what is not needed and you live to a frugal blade. This is going to save your home, your family or just put food on the table, but it's up to you how far you can go and what you can live without to keep what you have.

1. Phone service eats up a lot of the budget each month. Cell phones for each adult, all the kids, gadgets, pictures, movies and storage. Stop. One phone per family. The one with the car gets the phone for the moment. Carry only the most bare of charges, because this is for emergency use only! Calling with the latest gossip or yelling at the kids is not an emergency. Working late, an accident or a break down is an emergency.

2. If you have high speed internet cancel it. If it is for playing games or email then you don't need it. If you earn a living by computer then you can keep it. Home phone plans now are very inexpensive for unlimited long distance so call your family and friends from home.

3. Start a window garden to help with the cost of food. You can grow peppers, onions, rosemary, strawberries, wheat grass, barely or bean sprouts. All will help to flavor the food you eat and promote better health for you and your family. Next is plant a small garden. If you can plant only in containers then grow carrots, parsnips and tomatoes. You can grow onions in a barrow as well as small red potatoes. It may not seem like much, but every cent is important at this time.

4. Check for day old bread stores in your area. They are a great place to buy high quality breads and snacks at a low price. You can buy in bulk and freeze for later use. Find a good recipe for bread pudding and learn to love it. You can change the flavor with raisin's, cinnamon, chocolate chips or apples. Any additions will change the flavor and use up the last of the slices always left in the bottom of the bag. Just freeze until you have enough to make a complete pudding.

5. Learn to control your meals. Have good meals, but you don't need deserts after every meal or even snacks every night. Control the portions and cut your cost. Use what you have and don't keep buying things no one likes or eats. If you have too many of these uneaten items offer them to neighbors or friends to fill in their cupboards.

6. If you have a yard plant an apple tree. They are hardy and the apples taste so good. You can eat them fresh, in pies, cakes or apple sauce. There are so many uses for apples you can't find them all before you tire of them. When you have extra sale them or give them away to neighbors, friends or families as a good jester and to help fill their larders. By sharing what you have from a garden you are promoting friendships ad community caring. You will be remembered well when the time comes and you need help.

Well this is enough for now. The dime is getting thinner all the time so keep trimming until life gets better and your finances grow once again.