Housing

• Learn to do simple repairs.
• Do your own decorating.
• Do your own painting.
• Turn down the furnace to lower the temperature at night.
• Save newspapers, glass and cans for recycling.
• Plan meals to use a minimum of food.
• Shut of lights, computers and TVs when not in use.
• Carry only replacement value insurance on house.
• Conserve water.
• Make only emergency long distance calls.
• Stand up when talking long distance or use a timer.
• Write letters or use email.
• Give up all unnecessary services on your telephone (i.e. call waiting).
• Improvise furniture, shop the paper or garage sales.
• Use worn out towels to make wash cloths.
• Use glass instead of paper cups.
• Make your own cleaning supplies.
• Use washable dust and dish rags.
• Equip the house with storm windows and doors, if possible.

Food

• Pack a Lunch - "Brown Bag" as often as possible ($5.00 a day saves $25.00 a week: $100.00 a month)
• Cut down on meals away from home.
• Avoid the morning cup of coffee at the coffee shop or gas station (this expense really can add up!)
• Consider generic or bulk foods.
• Take advantage of seasonal specials, especially fresh produce.
• Do more cooking from scratch.
• Use crock-pot methods to cook less tender cuts of meat.
• If storage permits, buy in quantity if cheaper.
• Preserve food when feasible.
• Grow a garden.
• Stretch hamburger with bread crumbs, oatmeal, or tomato sauce.
• Avoid buying snack or "empty calorie" foods.
• Use equally nutritious reconstituted dry or evaporated milk, for cooking instead of more expensive whole milk.
• If space permits, store products in freezer to prevent spoilage.
• Cook only as much as will be eaten unless it can be a part of another meal.
• Use leftovers in soups and casseroles.
• Limit food shopping to once a week; the less trips to the grocery store the better.
• Plan menus in advance for your shopping trips.
• Use coupons for items, you regularly buy.
• Make a grocery list, and use it!

Transportation

• The best car is one that is PAID FOR!
• If the car is paid for, you don't have to have full coverage insurance, just PLPD
• Use public transportation.
• Get rid of one car.
• Consider moving closer to work.
• Drive small cars that cost less to operate.
• Do your own maintenance (change the oil yourself).
• Car pool.

Clothing

• Sew as much as practical, repair, remodel.
• Buy clothing that is washable.
• Carefully coordinate.
• Launder carefully.
• Hang on clothesline to dry instead of using a dryer.
• Organize laundry so that a minimum number of loads are run.
• Use detergent that works well in cool and warm water.
• Mend clothes promptly.
• Have children change to old clothes for rough play.
• Do not buy clothes that require dry cleaning.
• Buy clothing that does not need ironing.

Health and Medical

• Service nutritious meals.
• Follow safety rules to prevent accidents.
• Have regular check-ups.
• Carry only one health and accident insurance.
• Investigate services offered by the health department.
• Use immunization clinics.
• Develop good health habits.
• Stop using tobacco, alcohol and/or addictive drugs.
• Learn to take temperature, pulse and respiration.
• Learn about symptoms of common diseases in order to determine if seeing a doctor is advisable

Education

• Use the public library for reading materials.
• Subscribe to only one newspaper, or none at all (find one in the lunch room).
• Cut out subscriptions to magazines that entertain only.
• Study to improve your qualifications for the job you hold.

Employment

• Develop skills to enhance your position.
• Make your position more secure by being a valuable employee.
• Use washable uniforms.
• Share transportation.
• Let your boss know you are interested in additional training.

Child Care

• Investigate government or church operated nursery.
• schools that are operated for children of low income families.
• Share child care responsibilities with a friend or neighbor (or spouse).

Gifts and Donations

• Carefully consider each situation and cut out all monetary giving that you possibly can.
• Make gifts instead of buying them.
• Give or your time instead of your money.

Recreation and Entertainment

• Do family things together that are in inexpensive.
• Consider the costs or habits such as smoking.
• Attend high school and sports events instead of more expensive college and pro events.
• Have potluck affairs at home.
• Take vacations at home.
• Use public parks and picnic areas.
• Eliminate cable TV.

Personal

• Select cosmetics that are reasonably priced.
• Do your own shampoos, sets and blow dries.
• Cut children's hair yourself.
• Set reasonable amounts for children's allowances and have a definite understanding of what the amount is to cover.
• Carry only pocket change needed for bus fare and small items.

Savings

• Determine your saving goals.
• Be willing to compromise.
• Use payroll deductions for savings.
• Save bonus income.
• Keep your loose change for savings.
• Save on a regular basis: pay yourself first.
• Alter your spending habits
• Use savings for emergencies only.
• Make saving a family affair.
• Put your budget on a diet!

Miscellaneous

• Have a qualified attorney evaluate alimony or child support payments.
• Consider all costs to determine if family really profits from two incomes (i.e. is daycare actually eating up the entire second income?)
• Reduce pet care expenses by doing your own grooming.