In Business / June 2007
Life After Taxes
Penny pinching is an established tradition following America’s annual interaction with the IRS. Homemakers feeling the need to pinch can try a few tips from present and past peers in penury.
Number one: never go grocery shopping when hungry. Hunger fills a cart faster than even the worst shopper. If the grocery store has a bakery, go to the bakery section last. The smell of bread stimulates appetite and increases purchases. If the plan is to only pick up a few things, grab a basket, not a cart. It’s the easiest way to resist the urge to throw in a few more things.
Remember, checkers are only human and machines only as accurate as their last programmer. Write down the prices of special items and check the scanned price against the price that was posted. The family may have preferences on specialty items but shop discount grocery stores like Aldi’s and Save-A-Lot for basics. The savings on flour, sugar, milk, margarine, cream cheese and canned goods can be substantial.
Don’t throw out good food because of freezer burn. Double wrap everything that goes in the freezer. Use a heavy duty plastic wrap and then wrap again in freezer paper, taping the ends down with masking tape. Each piece of wrap should go around the item at least twice. Or, use a freezer paper wrap and a freezer grade plastic resealable bag. Make sure there’s no air left in the package.
Double the amount of canned cake frosting by whipping it with a mixer for a few minutes. Frost twice as many cupcakes with the same amount of frosting, or a second cake. (And, reduce the calories and sugar per serving.)
Save and savor refrigerated leftover biscuits, pancakes, or muffins. Place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
Get the last little bit, from toothpaste to lard. For example, before adding sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill the cup with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don’t dry the cup. Next, add the sticky ingredient, like peanut butter, and see how easily it comes right out.
Each month, make one week’s meals using only the ingredients currently in the kitchen. Click the “ingredient search” menu on allrecipes.com for ideas.
Redecorate using things already at home but in different rooms. Put new photos in old frames.
Use hair conditioner for shaving legs. It’s much less expensive per use than shaving cream, leaves legs smooth and keeps undesirable or poor quality conditioner from sitting eternally on the shelf.
Purchase and install low flow shower heads: Replacing regular shower heads with low-flow shower heads can reduce hot-water consumption while showering as much as 30% and still provide a strong spray. Low-flow shower heads also make the hot water last longer for multiple showers.
Turn off the tap. Most people leave the water on while brushing their teeth or shaving but every minute the water flows wastes up to 2 1/2 gallons, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Run full loads in washing machines and dishwashers. Water plants in the early morning to ensure that water goes into the ground instead of evaporating. And use a bucket to wash the car, hosing it off for a quick rinse, to save 90 gallons of water per wash. Employing water saving tips can mean nearly 40 percent off the annual water bill.
The fees for bounced checks are an extravagance no one can or should afford. Sign up for overdraft protection and link a savings account, credit card, or line of credit to the checking account. Most banks offer the service for a nominal annual fee and a minimal charge per transfer, much less than the $30-$35 returned check charge.
Frequent ATM withdrawals for small to moderate amounts add up surprisingly fast. Put a lid on drive through cash. Withdraw the exact amount of cash that will be needed each week and only visit machines of the issuing bank to avoid other institutions’ transaction fees.
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