Whether you are single or a family, older or younger, or even if you live on a fixed or low income, there are ways to help yourself survive the economy without feeling you have to lose quality of life to do so.  In the process, you may just be able to set aside some money for emergencies or a mini-splurge now and then.  I have implemented the following tips into my budget and life-style, and feel a lot more secure about making it through the bad economy than I did a few months ago.  May you find something here of value to help yourself and others do the same.

 Taking a bite out of household expenses:

   1.  Clip coupons if you don't already

   2.  Buy family-sized packages of meat--for one or two people, divide them into smaller portions before freezing

   3.  Make extras of soups, stews, and casserols so that once or twice a week, all you have to do is reheat a meal

   4.  Keep the thermastat lower in the winter and higher in the summer and dress and you could realize a savings of 10-20% at the end of a year

   5.  Buy generic whenever you can and shop the discount, thrift, and dollar stores, whether for food, vitamins, medicine, household and beauty products

   6.  Consolidate errand-running and drive less often in general to save on gasoline

   7.  Keep your water heater on a lower setting and buy energy-conserving, long-lasting light bulbs

   8.  Stay friends with  your crock pot, which uses less energy and cooks the cheaper cuts of meat until they are very tender.  Also good for making large quantities of bean or pea and other soups at little cost

   9.  Consider cutting back on phone, internet, and television expenses by bundling them or by eliminating the land line totally if you have wireless internet and cell phones

  10.  Car pool and shop the bulk stores.  Share the expenses and goods with family or friends

Granted, these are not "high-yield stocks," but not much is these days. For the truly strapped, here are some tips on never being broke, and on buidling or adding to a modest savings account.

1. Be diligent yourself, or as a couple. If you have children, get them all involved in your "survival" plans. Kids love family projects. They love being a part of things.

2. Banks every where, one per member and one per coin/s

3. Each person can put every bit of lose change into various sizes or colors of piggy banks or glass jars. Keep the pennies separate, and when there are enough, turn them into your bank to use as "mad money." My last penny drop yielded over ten dollars, enough for an inexpensive meal out, which is a treat these days.  By steadily adding to your coin stashes, you'll never be completely broke.  It can also come in handy for small emergencies. 

4. Add each one-dollar bill you get to your existing savings account or begin to build one this way. At the end of a year, you'll be surprised how much you have in it. If you can, of course, add even more.

5. Have a yard sale twice a year, spring and fall, and add this money to your saving as well, or save part of it out for a family outing.

6. Sell anything you no longer use or need on Ebay

7. Pick up odd jobs where and when you can

8. If you are at the bare-bones level, pay the most necessary bills first. You don't want to lose the roof over your head, your utilities, or food!

9. Check into food assistance and food banks if necessary. This is no time to let pride be a barrier.

10. Do check on all insurances, as most can be found at a cheaper rate somewhere. This includes home, auto, life, and health. Be aware that necessary medications, with some forms from you and your doctor, may be available for little or nothing directly from the drug companies. Take advantage of free clinics and other discounts on medication, as help is popping up to get the average person or family through this crisis.

A little rearranging of your thoughts as to what constitutes a rich social life and some imagination are all that is necessary to maintain contact with friends, family, and the outside world and still maintain your new budgeting ways.

   1.  Comb your local newspapers for free events, groups, and other activities that appeal to you or you and your family

   2.  A group of friends or relatives can take turns hosting card parties, buffet-type dinners, book discussions, or movie nights.  Share around the expense and clean-up duties, and enjoy each other's company

   3.  Stay acquainted with the outdoors year round:  nature walks, the beach, picnics, the park, local festivals, biking, snow-shoeing, sledding...the list is endless

   4.  Make your new budget plans a family affair:  shop the stores together, attend auctions or yard sales, roam through a flea market

   5.  Have more family time together at home:  story nights, craft nights, karaoke night, board games on Saturday afternoons...again, the list is endless

   6.  Love your local library.  To take out the books and movies are free, and so is computer use

   7.  Split vacation costs with friends or family, or go camping for a less expensive vacation

   8.  Attend the local church events held throughout a week or month

   9.  Make helping an elderly or disabled neighbor a family affair if your children are old enough, or do voluteer work that you love.  It gets you out and in touch with people and helps them, as well.

With your creative minds and talents, I am sure you'll find many things to add to my list!