Cutting Costs - Saving Money

 Date: October 22, 2008

    CNN - the website - runs little articles of interest on occasion and on occasion I read them.

    This time - I did read it. Saving over $8,000 a year!

    OK - go tmy attention.

    So I looked it over. Here's what they said to do:

    1. Smart Shopping - coupons, sales
I use the Preferred card at Albertson's - and shop those items (that I would buy normally) in quantity when on sale (I stock up). Since I stock up two houses - a stock up run can be expensive --- however - the saving can be huge. I spent $450 this weekend - saved about $100. My bills at the holidays will be significantly lower as a result of all these sales and I have essentials to last weeks.

They say generic (well - sometimes) and sales and coupons (hardly ever). Guess that willb e the next step - except - I shop so randomly coupions expired before I ever got to them!

I will try to start using the website BEFORE shopping - but I have no printer in SD so I'd have to that ahead of a trip - might be not worth the frazzle.

    2. Skip Starbuck's is another suggestion. Not when driving. I did cut way, way back and go for the bottled stuff - on sale preferred. At $2 a bottle, it's cheaper than a nice hot decaf cafe mocha grande non-fat no whip---- Of course - if they PUT DECAF DRINKS INTO BOTTLES I'd buy a heck of a lot more! Guess it's better that they don't!

    3. Upgrading appliances - well gee - I've already done that - BOTH HOUSES! Except the washer-dryer in SD - OK - that's the next project - and a new Culligan since the old one doesn't work ---- I will write to headquarters and maybe try the news achor who goes after idiots like these guys - it has never worked and now isn't even pretending to do so.

OK - I DO need to DESPERATELY upgrade the 22-yr old air conditioners in the wall in SD and the one in the wall up here (12 yrs) - that would cut costs somewhat. Once you recover from the $375 installation bill for the $375 airconditioner! Times whatever!

I did replace a zillion lightbulbs with the squiggly ones. Wonder if I will notice the savings? The newer ones are white light - not that yucky yellow. I DO keep a pole lamp with real bulbs --- for reading. I will switch that to the newer white squiggles. But the squiggles have trouble in the dusk to dawn fixtures. NEed that solved too.

    4. We discussed Generic products. Sometimes - I don't like them!

    5. Pay extra money down on the credit card. (And only use one.) Well - that won't help me - I pay it in full every month - which is the only way you should have a credit card! It's for EMERGENCIES! I buy everything on a card - but I pay it off every month and nothing, nothing is unplanned. In fact, I may think about it for a month to several years before shopping. Like the new matress I desperately need!

    6. Play groups and shared sitters - well, my kids are grown and gone. No help there!

To this we can add - drive less. Make your NEXT car purchase a gas-economical one or a Hybrid. Walk if possible. Consolodate trips Well, I do all that too.

Next year, I will grow tomatoes.