Money Saving Tips

Someone left a can of whipped cream in the fridge at work, so I've been making myself "poor-man's cappuccinos" this morning. The fact that this is my last week at work is starting to hit me, not only because of the lack of paychecks (once my severance runs out, that is) but because of the lack of little perks, like the coffee maker, fancy teas, and little holiday luncheons that I've grown accustomed to. Not to mention my sweet office view! But alas, this is what happens when the economy takes a downturn.

What tips do I have for trying to live on less during these tough financial times?

1) Return all returnables to the grocery store. This is rather piecemeal--you could return a hundred bottles and still not have enough to afford a six pack. Makes more sense to buy less bottled beverages in the first place.

2) Eat out less. Gonna have to do that. Still, grocery costs are surprisingly not that much less than costs of eating out. In any event, portion control is the key.

3) Use library instead of buying books. Well, I can't remember the last time I bought a book--normally I reread what I have, or read books borrowed from friends, or read online.

4) Postpone any big purchases that can be put off. I guess no new car for a while, and no new suits (I do have a couple good suits for interviews. I just wont' have to buy new suits for work, which is just as well, as most places are going casual these days).

5) Use cheapest gasoline option. Makes sense, though I drive so little anyway it won't make a huge difference.

6) Rent out spare room. This is a tricky option--after all, if I end up moving away I may need to rent the entire apartment, and it may be easier to rent it as a whole rather than room by room.

Looks like lean times ahead.