My Economy Survival Tricks, part one

The economy has been tough on everyone.  I work at a shop where people would want to spend money and that makes it even harder to make a living.  Lots to learn and lots to report later on.  I don't have all the answers to surviving day-to-day and month-to-month, but I do have tricks.  Luckily, I don't have a mortgage payment or a car payment, which frees up a LOT of money.  But I'll pass on a few of my tricks to living off on nothing to you.

*No Satellite or Cable TV, sorry Directv & Dish, but thats a couple tanks of gas.

*I've even given up my internet connection at home, thats 2 weeks worth of groceries.  The library is a nice place to get most work done.  Unless a neighbor has wifi and help pay their bill for the access to it.  $25 is much better then $60 or more each month.

*My cell bill is down to about $75/month, which would be less but the $20 keeps the texting fees down.

*I opted for the 26 (?) inch flat screen TV over the bigger one, saves about 50/month of my power bill.

*Usually to tired in the summertime to turn lights on at night, so they don't get turned on much.  Even in the winter, I'll have one centralized light to run and light as much of the house as possible.

*Using a crock-pot saves on my power bill (or gas bill) if I'm cooking chicken soup &/or rice or another food that would take a long time to cook on the stove.

*Eating out is a treat and its usually the local brew pub or the best burger joint in the area.

*I haven't used my credit card in months, but paying $25 or $50 over the minimum payment and on time (mailed 10 days before its due)

*AC in my home, well, its a small fan that sits on the floor and blows air around the house.  Even if I had AC in my house, it would set at 78 degrees all the time and as high as 85 if I was gone all day.  Heater/furnace set at 68 in the winter time, with my small fan pushing air around.

I have 5 (five) bills I have to pay every month, not including food and gasoline.  The trick is to get yours down to where you can count them on both hands, ideal is one hand.  These 5 bills total right around $875 each month.  My rent being less the half that amount.  My income; well, thats another story.  But with some luck and some work that will improve.

How do I stay sane about it all, bills are higher then $ coming in.  It used to just stress me out to no end where it made me mean and crazy and I hated myself for it.  It took a ton on energy from me and that bothered me.  Now days, I keep in mind that everyone is having a hard time.  Letting the stress of money control you everyday will in-fact destroy you and possible your family.  You must not allow it to take over your every being which will make you plum crazy.  I have the same feelings most do, "I'm down, I need to go Shopping..."  What do I do, I burn up some gas until the feeling passes, easier to fill the tank then to explain the new pair of shoes with the money that should have paid the rent/mortgage.  If I have to spend money, I check the local dollar stores to see if they have what I need; envelopes, laundry soap, female items, rice, ect...  It may surprise you what you may find at these stores.  The quality of food still surprises me.  

Explain the situation the kids, give them the respect that they might just Get It, if you include them in the house cash flow problems.  They may even find ways to help out.

Hope this helps and don't let the cash flow stress you out.  There was a time when we didn't have the electronic toys and the fees that went with them.  

See you tomorrow & keep doing the work

Hugs