Feeling the Cruuuunch? Money-Saving Tips You Can Use Right Away
July 30, 2008 by Bridget Wright
Filed under Business
”We’re in a recession.”
“Unemployment rates are up 20%.”
“Today XYZ company laid off 6,000 of their workers and are expected to strike in the next 30 days.”
These one-liners seem to gracing our economic news and headlines frequently with no relief in sight. It’s pretty scary the things that can happen when life does what it does. People are reacting in drastic ways, doing frightful things, saying what they will and won’t do and being simply bewildered.
Everyone is feeling the pinch, and I do mean EVERYONE. Whether they are middle-classers or high-paid entertainers (I mean, hey, even their hired help gets expensive too!), people are looking for ways to save money.
These YouTube videos offer some relief ideas for those of you who need some tips, quick ideas and ways just to feel some relief. Take a look, and for good measure, I’m going to throw in a few of my own. Feel free to add yours in the comments as well.
Use leftover/unfinished bottled water to water house plants or pour it into the washing machine. It’s called “recycled water.” Right, Right.
Use the back of faxed do-not-need documents to jot down notes, grocery lists or give to your four-year old to draw and color on. Nothing like the imagination!
Save all of the leftover vegetables from all week (broccoli, string beans, corn, etc.) to make a delicious stir-fry at the end of the week. Put in some shallots, bellpeppers and cubed chicken and you’ve got a hearty, tasty meal.
To conserve water, let same-sex children take their baths together. What? They have to be how old?? OK, maybe I should stop that with my boys, huh? (Just kidding. They’re still ok at 4 and 7. I think).
What tips do you have? How have you managed to save money and conserve or recycle in this time of uncertainty? Do share. Are your tips better than mine?
Oh gosh, the way the Ling family saves money – it’s legend!!
We reuse all the official school handouts for our draft paper requirements in our printer.
We save all the egg cartons, cut them in half (effectively making 4 squares) and use those as liners for our wet garbage.
We save the plastic ties on salad bags and use those to secure our frozen meat bags we create (we buy in bulk and then freeze).
We walk when we need to get places. Excellent exercises!
Very good article,
Barbara
Barbara, you and my mom would get along great. :) The woman irons tissue paper! I’ve never gone quite that far, but to this day, I cannot unwrap a gift like a normal person because I’m trying to gently slice the tape so as not to tear the paper so I can reuse it.