We are nearly all of us suffering in one way or another due to the economic crisis.  Some of us have lost our jobs and are barely able to survive on the pay-out from the dole and others have still got a job but don't know for how much longer and so in both cases we have to learn to cut down on what we spend.

It really is a case of cutting out anything that could be considered a luxury because unfortunately during this period of time we can't afford the luxury of giving ourselves luxuries!

To start with unsubscribe from any monthly or yearly subscriptions that you may have like magazines, gymnasium sessions, book clubs, dancing clubs or what ever.  You will have to learn from now on to do your exercises at home, dance at home to your own choice of music and re-read any books that you have which is always good as you get to digest more things than when you read them the first time round.

If you have a daily help or a gardener they will have to go too and you will do yourself a favour by saving a lot of money here while at the same time getting yourself into good shape while you mow the lawn and mop the floors yourself.

Hide away every single credit card that you possess.  For the time being you should not use them for anything as they will only be a temptation for you to put your bank account even more into the red.

Cut down on the food you buy and change the way you eat by only opting for meat once a week and the rest of the time healthy salads and lean ham, pasta, rice and lentils.  These are all substantial foods but they dont cost as much as meat and fish.  You really have to go back to the way that people had to eat during war time when everything was scarce and too expensive.

Dont buy bottled water because apart from being an extra cost you are adding to the clutter of plastic bottles in the world that take thousands of years to disintegrate.  Get yourself instead a water jug with a filter and use your tap water which when filtered is perfectly healthy and free from any additives

Only use your mobile for striclty emergency calls.  If you want to have a chat with a friend send her a text message instead and arrange to meet somewhere where you can chat for free over a coffee.

Look around to try and reduce the insurance on your car, your home or whatever else you have insured.  You can usually find very good deals out there as all the insurance companies have lowered their prices greatly in order to be more competitive.  You might even find that when your insurance company finds out that you want to move away to a cheaper one they will lower their price in order to match the other company-s price rather than lose yet another customer.

Instead of going out to restaurants always opt for inviting people home.  With a little thought and imagination you can make a very tasty dinner for the price of just one person eating out.

No buying new clothes.  You for sure already have enough clothes in your wardrobe and if they are not in keeping with the present fashion then decide on how you can bring new life to some of them.  Dye a faded blouse into a bright new colour.  Change a dress into a skirt or a blouse by cutting it at the waist.  Crop trousers into shorts.  You can even dye your shoes and handbags a different colour so as to give them a new lease of life.

Try not to use your car when you could really walk the distance as you will be saving on petrol that way while at the same time doing some more exercise.  And if you own a bicycle you could try and do as many trips with this rather than use the car.  And talking about cars, if you learnt the basics about your engine like changing the oil, maintaining the pressure of your tyres, charging your battery, keeping the levels of brake fluid etc all up to scratch you would also save on the cost of its service at the garage.

When it gets cold in the winter instead of putting the heating on full blast which will undoubtedly shoot up your electricity bill no end, try to wear thermal underwear and warm clothes on top and when you are sitting in your sitting room have a sofa blanket to pull over you which will keep you really warm while you watch your favourite programmes.

If you have a small terrace, and even better if you have a garden you can grow most of your own vegetables and herbs at home which will also save on the grocery bills and there is nothing more rewarding than eating something that you have grown yourself and knowing that no contaminating pesticides have been used.

Try to learn how to cut, style or even dye your hair at home as this will save a lot on hair dressing salon bills.  If you really can-t master it maybe you know a friend that could help you with it and you could help her back.  Also learn how to do your own manicure and pedicure and avoid visiting any beauty salon.

If you have any debts try to get rid of these as soon as you can and that goes for things that you have bought on hire purchase as well, these are all costs that attack you every month and leave you with less money available.

You could, if you had a large home and a spare room, consider taking in a lodger and then the monthly rent would help no end with your bills.

Holidays are a real luxury although at the same time they are quite necessary for anyone that has a full working life as your body and brain really need a break every now and then because if not they will just fall apart.  But you could take a holiday just by staying at home and going off to visit towns that you had never visited before which are near to you.  Go and visit the museums, take a picnic and explore a new park and just basically pretend that you are a tourist in your own locality.

If you have any more ideas on how one can save money in this economic crisis that we are going through all thoughts would be welcome.