Why every penny counts
Dollars and Sense
With belts tightening everywhere, it’s more important than ever to look for ways to save money. Pennies count, and you can hold on to many of them if you surround yourself with a network of money-saving opportunities and make it a way of life.
•Get involved in a food-supply group. Angel Food Ministries [ www.angelfoodministries.com], for example, makes bulk purchases of food and has distribution points in 38 states. The cost of the food is very low. Often the program is run by local churches, but there are no qualification requirements. Once a month, orders are taken and the food delivered to a central location. If there is no distribution group near you, look into starting one.
•Look for other low-cost food distribution groups in your area. Do an Internet search for “low cost food” and put in your town and state.
•On FreeCycle [ www.freecycle.org], you can ask for what you need and give away what you don’t need. Areas are broken down by ZIP code across the country. The generosity of many people in this group is unsurpassed. Don’t be afraid to ask for things.
•Check the craigslist [ www.craigslist.org] Free section for your area before spending money. Lots of useful items are being given away all the time.
•Do it yourself, for everything possible. Need clothing altered, a roof repaired, oil in the car changed? Read up on it. There are manuals and how-to books for everything under the sun. If you can learn how to do a task, not only will you save yourself money, but you’ll then have a skill that’s valuable to others. Assess your skills and see what you might barter for things you need.
•Consider adopting a philosophy of voluntary simplicity where less is more. Voluntary simplicity can put a whole new face on a tight budget. Instead of feeling pressure about what you can’t buy, in a simpler lifestyle you won’t want extras cluttering your life. The less stuff you buy, the less you have to take care of and the more money you keep in your pocket.
Bottom line: Become extremely proprietary about your cash. Take a hard look at each and every situation in which you might spend money. Make every penny count.