Here are some new Ideas

• Use your credit card with airmiles on grocery item on sale
• Any freezer item should be make cool in freez not outiside
• Do not shop grocery when you are hungary
• Use coupon on sales item more saving
• Keep an eye on the scanner some times they charge wrong price.
• Buy 2-lts. soft drinks instead of pop cans
• Buy only the minimum amount you need
• Don’t buy non-grocery items at the grocery store.
• Compare unit costs, not list prices.
• Look high and low for deals, literally
• Store brands offer a cheaper alternative
• Look for manager’s specials
• Forget brand loyalty
• Sign up for customer loyalty programs
• Plan meals two weeks in advance.
• coupons are your friend.
• Bring a calculator
• Never shop hungry
• Make a grocery list - and don’t leave home without it
• Shop without the kids
• Don't throw out those ripe bananas. Simply peel and freeze them. Use them later in baking or for delicious fruit smoothies.
• Looking for an inexpensive, fun family outing? Visit a farm that allows you to 'pick your own produce.' Vegetables and fruit don't get any cheaper, fresher or more delicious than this!
• Tiny vents in bags, such as Ziploc Vegetable Bags, keep produce fresh longer by releasing just the right amount of moisture. These bags are also great for fruits such as grapes, blueberries, cherries or strawberries.
• Refrigerate apples. They soften ten times faster at room temperature.
• Buy ground beef in bulk, make your own meatloaf (Ijust posted a recipe for that), meatballs for spaghetti, and make you own hamburgers. You can make them as thin or thick a you want and add things like cracker crumbs, egg, Worstcheshir sauce or whatever suits your fancy.
• I buy the chicken leg quarters and then cut them up myself. See the difference in cost for them to be already done for you is aobut $2-$3 for them to do it. Tht is a good bit of savings. It's a bit messy, but the savings are big enough to cover that!
• Reduce the home temperature 2-3 degree when sleeping or not home
• Make you own Iced Teas (4 family sized bags make a gallon) You can add as much sugar (brown sugar is great too) you want to suit your taste and be creative--you can add flavorings that you purchase in the spice aisle of your grocery store. My favorite is Spearmint and Cinnomon (get the sticks for this and let them brew in the tea in the refridgerator. Don't buy pitchers for this, wash out your milk or juice jugs and re-use them.

Here are some simple lifestyle changes can save you the more cash in the recession year of 2009. These are just estimates only:

1) Reduce daily shower to 10 minutes from 15 minutes.

Saving- about $100.

A 15-minute shower consumes 37.5 gallons of water with a total energy and water cost of 85 cents. Over a year, that 15-minute shower costs you slightly more than $310. So get out of the shower faster to save some money.

2) Reduce your home's Electric Water heater setting to 110 degrees from 140 degrees.

Saving- about $100

That's if you use an electric water heater. The annual savings would be somewhat less -- $75 -- if you have a gas water heater,

3) Brew your own cup of coffee

Saving- about $900

A tall latte at the local coffe shop will run you about $3 a cup, or $1,095 a year, if you go there every day. If you brew your own at home for 50 cents or less per cup, you'll pay nearly $183.

4) Prepare your own lunch rather than buying.

Saving- about $1,500 to $3,500.

If you make lunch from last night's leftovers, you can avoid spending an extra $4 to $10 a day.

5)Use water cooler at work instead of buying bottled water

Saving- about $250 to $375.

If you can avoid paying for the bottled stuff (at $1 to $1.50 a bottle), you can save at least $5 to $7.50 for each five-day work week.

6) Carpool or work from home one day a week instead of driving

Saving- about $250

Let's assume a gas price of about $80 cent a liters.

7) Cut your lawn yourself instead of hiring a lawn service

Saving- $1,000 to $4,500

You can trim costs substantially by cutting your lawn yourself. Lawn services generally charge $20 to $40 for a weekly cutting for an average lawn, and as much as $90 if you throw in leaf blowing and hedging, etc. But you'll have to subtract what it costs to fuel your mower. Obviously, you'll have to use a manual mower to get the most savings.

8) Polish your nails at home instead of getting a weekly manicure?

Saving- about $500 to $1,000.

Skip the salon and buff your nails yourself, and you'll pocket $10 to $20 a week.

9) Order a film from a movie-rental service instead of going to the nearest multiplex?

Saving -$35.

This assumes that a movie ticket is about $7 these days (yes, such places exist. It can be more like $10 or up in many places). It also assumes that you go to the movies once a month, and that DVD services like Blockbuster.com and Intelliflix.com offer plans for as low as $3.99 a month.

10) Use compact fluorescent bulbs in your lamps and light fixtures instead of the old incandescent type?

Saving -about $100.

If you replace just one incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent one, you'll save $6 in electricity costs over a year, according to the EnergyStar program. If you've got 20 bulbs in your house, those savings will start to look even brighter.

11) Using coupon on sales Items

Saving -varies

This saving is depends upon the sale and the kind of coupon for that item

Save Money With Seasonal Shopping

Jan-Feb

• Holiday Clearance- the festivities are over for while. Look for sales on all holiday or festive items
• Winter clothes- inventory clearance of clothes, shoes, boots, purses and other seasonal items.
• This is a great time to buy wedding gifts or gifts for children.
• The traditional sale for linens, towels, bedding, etc.
• Household items, Furniture and other Textiles
• Dinnerware, Electronics

March-Apr

• Luggage- competition as people prepare for vacations.
• Garden Supplies- Competition brings down the prices this month.
• Spring Clothing and Shoe competition.
• Storm Windows are now off season with better price negotiation.
• Winter Outdoor recreation equipment - going out of season.
• Lots of new, seasonal clothes.
• Clearance on Easter dresses and accessories, as well as men's suits and ties

May-June

• Spring cleaning competition on supplies. Good time to buy a mop.
• Traditional White Sales on linens, blankets, towels, etc.
• Tires- competition as people start preparing their cars for vacations.
• Home Maintenance items, as the season begins to spruce up homes.
• Spring competition in buying new handbags, replacing lingerie, other light clothing.
• Summer clothing.
• Television sets, Refrigerators
• Continued sales on home improvement products.

July-Aug

• Home appliances-more home improvement competition.
• Clearance begins for summer clothes, bathing suits, and other light wear
• Clearance on air conditioners.
• Rugs and carpets- home improvement competition.
• Radios and stereo equipment- summer fun.
• Summer sports equipment sales.
• Used cars.
• Furniture, lamps, and other household items-last shopping trip before winter competition.
• Clearance on outdoor sport equipment, barbecues, air conditioners, fans, lawn mowers

September-October

• Household Accessories, such as rugs, lamps and dishes.
• Back to School Items: Clothes & Supplies.
• Gardening Supplies (the end of the season close-out).
• *Bicycles and Car parts.
• November- December
• Quilts and Blankets.
• Winter is Coming Items- Coats, Boots, Gloves, etc.
• Heating Devices and Appliances.
• Winter Items to keep warm still on sale.
• Toys- lots of competition to bring down the prices.
• Festive Occasion Items on sale-Tablecloths, gift items, party ware.
• Day after Christmas Markdowns- Everything from toys and wrapping paper to clothes.

 Less Energy Use in Summer time

Smart dishwashing — use your dishwasher overnight instead of during peak hours (peak hours are approximately 6 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.) This takes stress off the grid at peak times and cuts down on costs.

Turn off the lights — lights generate heat, so turn your lights off when not needed. Your air conditioning unit will thank you for it as it will have less hot air to contend with.

Close doors and windows — don’t let the warm air in and the cold air out. Additionally, keeping your drapes and blinds closed on sunny days can save on electricity costs.

Run exhaust fans — use exhaust fans to reduce heat in the kitchen when cooking and in the bathroom when showering. Ensure exhaust fans are turned off as soon as you’re finished using them.

Shade the windows — awnings, trees and shrubs can also help to reduce air conditioning costs. Shade trees are best planted on the south and west sides of a house