$5 Dinners

To help pay for the crafts I'm wanting to do, I am looking for ways to save money. My job is to save on expenses right now. This last week, I have done several things to save my budget. Here are my top ones.

1. Turned off my long distance on my land line. I have worked in the telephone business my whole career. I know what happens when the power goes out, your VOIP line and cell line will not work, so I will not turn off my land line.
Savings $15 monthly

2. Checked my car insurance and life insurance policies. I found my deductible could be raised and my old car didn't need to have comprehensive insurance any longer.
Savings $28 monthly

3. Turned off some of the cable channels and returned my DVR. We can live without the DVR and still enjoy some television and be informed about what is happening in the world.
Savings $32 monthly

4. Install a programmable thermostat. Reset the thermostat. Having an adjustable thermostat that has time schedules for when you're home, away, asleep has saved us 100 gallons of heating oil in the past. Closing off our extra room on the back of the house saved us an extra 50 gallons last year, but this year we will go a step further and turn down the thermostat to a high in the morning of 68 degrees F, in the evening 65 degrees F, and overnight to 55 degrees F.
Savings $15 monthly.

5. Meal Planning, making a shopping list, and eat before going shopping. With this change there is so much in savings, less wasted food, a lot less spending on items that we don't really need and the smell coming from the bakery is there just to increase your appetite and get you to buy items that were not on your shopping list.
Savings $20 to $200 monthly

6. Use coupons smartly... With my meal plan and knowing what is in my local grocery adds, I can save a lot of money, but remember, if the generic or store item is still cheaper buy them and save the coupon. My grocery store shows the know savings I have every time I shop, but I usually can still save another $5 to $20 using the generics. Try generic brands of items you buy regularly too. There is nothing different with many of these products, many of which are products of the exact same factory as the name brands.
Savings $20 to $100 monthly