Mindful Home Economics

 

In our current economy every little bit helps.  All those little bits will add up to big savings overall.  I’ve always liked the saying “mind the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves” because it’s true.

 

In a previous post I mention that I am carefully reinvesting some of my retirement money in an annual high yield CD.  By doing so I have been able to make back every penny I have taken out of my savings account for my living expenses so that financially I am still where I was on the day I retired.  Not too shabby, huh?

 

I keep my monthly expenses very low by economizing wherever I can.  I only buy fuel for my vehicles once a month and I have a set budget for how much I can spend.  To stretch my fuel I drive less, combine errands and also use public transportation (a free perk as part of my job with the city).  When I do buy my fuel I use the Fred Meyer gas station as they tend to be lower on their fuel anyway, plus I have a rewards card with them that gives me a minimal 3¢ per gallon discount.

 

I use my heating and air conditioning a little as possible to keep my home comfortable and my power bill low.  I dress in layers and wear slippers in the wintertime.  I stay warmer by being active and if I am sitting for a while I keep a throw blanket handy in case I get chilly.

 

To keep my grocery budget low I shop carefully with a list.  I seek out loss leader items in the sales ads, shop for markdowns and manager’s specials and utilize special digital offers with my rewards cards at Albertson’s and Fred Meyer.  I use my rewards points at Albertson’s for FREE products and my points at Fred Meyer exclusively for additional fuel discounts.  Because I am a careful shopper I am also able to do a little bit of shopping at Costco.

 

I rarely eat out at restaurants preferring instead to eat at home.  By enjoying thrifty meals on a regular basis I can also enjoy more expensive items such as salmon or steak at least once a week.  By only purchasing REAL food I am able to enjoy a lot of healthy and nutritious meals for not a lot of money.  In my home I serve a lot of fresh meats or fish, plenty of fruits and vegetables and fresh dairy as well as healthy snacks and desserts.

 

At work we have a FREE swap table where anyone can place items they no longer need or want including food and household items.  I’ve taken many things in and put them on that table as well as helped myself to items I need and use.  Last fall I took in a case of pears and a case of apples.  Sometimes I will pick something up and decide I really don’t need it, lately it has been cookbooks, and then I take it back so someone else can have it.  Recently I picked up a full bottle of dishwasher detergent and a head of iceberg lettuce.  You just never know what you might find.

 

Taking care of and mending my clothes has allowed me to keep my purchases to a minimum.  I don’t spend much on clothing so I don’t even have a set budget.  Instead I make a short list of items as I need to replace and then wait until I have some extra money on hand and find those items at a good price on sale or on clearance.  Occasionally I will shop the thrift store we have at work and pick up something second hand or ask for it as a gift for my birthday or at Christmas.

 

Our public library is currently keeping me in books so I am not spending any money on reading material.  I can also borrow DVDs if I want to see a movie I don’t have access to on my Roku.  The library also offers a lot of FREE classes and events and there are a lot of other FREE options throughout our community.  The senior center where I work has a lending library which also includes puzzles.  Plus, we have a “cheap seats” theatre that offers $3 movie tickets, $2 on Tuesdays.  I can always find something to keep me busy or to entertain myself.

 

There are many ways to save money even when inflation seems to be getting the better of us.  I tend to take the current state of our economy as a personal challenge to get whatever I need for as little as possible without adversely affecting my quality of life.  So far, so good!  What are some of the things you are doing right now?