Economy worries....Get Thrifty

As many of you, I am very worried about the economy. I feel like Eric and I are in a crummy situation since we can't support ourselves on regular income (we are currently using student loans). Eric quit his job in August so that he could take 23 credits this semester and be graduated in April. Well, this leaves us worrying like crazy. Anyway...I have been trying to find ways to save money. I recently came across a bunch of money Saving tips, and thought it might be useful to share them with you all. So here it goes....

-Use your local library...
1.) Check out books
2.) Check out DVD's and Video's.
3.) Children Games (Orem Library has a game section were you can check them out).
4.) Story and Singing Time (Most library's have so many options for diff. age kids).
5.) Friday Night Movie
****Check your local library for different options*****

-Unplug all of your appliances when you are not using them...including your TV. Even when a
light is plugged in and you dont have it turned on, you are still using power. There was a
lady who's bill went from $269 to $70 from May to June when she started doing this.

-Save on Groceries by...
1.) Plan your meals and shopping lists around what is on sale.
2.) Use your coupons when items are on sale. If you do this you can get things for almost
nothing.
3.) Stock up on common items when they hit a low price.r
5.) Check out your resources....www.couponmom.com and
www.pinchingyourpennies.com

-Create a spending plan and stick with it...
1.)One thing that they suggested on the recent Oprah show about becoming Thrifty was
to create a budget for each expense, and then take the cash out each week. When the
cash is gone out of the envelope, then you are out of money for that area. Example.... You
budget 600 for food for the month. Each week take out $150 and put it into your Food
envalope. If you spend all the money on Friday, then you are out until Monday.
2.) Any leftover cash at the end of the month, apply toward debt or savings.

-THIS IS MY FAVORITE IDEA....Swap with your neighbors. If both of you want a new couch
becuase you are sick of your old one, trade. Also, here are some great websites for
trading things...all you have to pay for is the shipping.
1.)Zwaggle- obtain points for selling certain things and then buy other peoples items with
your points. This isa site for parents...toys, games, children's stuff, etc.
2.)Swaptree - A place were you trade items for Free.

- Don't Spend money on a gym membership....instead, go ask if they are looking for teachers and
ask if you can swap gym membership for you teaching one of their classes (may only work
for people with a health background.)

-Learn how to trade services...I remmber as a kid, my dad was a brick mason and he would
trade his work. He would trade a brick job in our dentists backyard for our dental work
for that year. (needless to say our dentist had a lot fo great brick work done on his house
and we had great looking teeth.)

Think about all the options, you could tutor your furniture salesmans child if he can get
you that new table. Or teach yoru auto mechanic's children swim lessons, or something
like that.

You will be suprised at how willing people are to accept an offer.

Let me know if you have any other money saving tips that you use. I would be very interested in hearing from you all....

Love, Tamber