User Post: The Good Life On A Low Budget

Many of us are getting by with less these days, but there are ways to stretch your dollars and still have a little fun! Some folks have been doing this for years, but for others it's a new experience. Examine your budget and lifestyle to see if there are places that you can trim expenses and build in some low-cost entertainment, too.

Food Want to see quick results? Pay attention to the money you spend on food. Think about where you do your shopping - do you go to the nearest grocery store just because it's convenient? Break that habit - you're probably paying too much for food! Discount grocery stores like Winco or Grocery Outlet look just like a typical large grocery store and carry all the familiar brands, and the prices are much better - at Winco, the biggest difference is that you bag your own groceries. Plan your meals, make a list, and shop once a week - even if you have to drive a little further to the discount stores, you'll save money.

You can save on some items at warehouse stores like Costco or Sam's Club, but calculate prices carefully - not everything is a bargain. To keep from buying too much on trips to warehouse stores, don't use a cart - once you've reached the point where you can't carry your stuff around the store, you're done! Consider shopping at farmer's markets for fresh produce - you'll be surprised at some of the great bargains you can find and the quality and taste is unbeatable. The experience itself can be entertaining since there are often musicians and artists there, too.

Approach the current coupon craze with caution, especially if you have a small family. Some people swear by coupons, but ask yourself a few questions before you dive in. Are you using coupons to buy things your family normally uses, or are you buying a bunch of stuff just because it's cheap? Is it food that's healthy and nutritious, or is it stuff that you probably shouldn't be eating anyway? How many different stores do you have to drive to in order to use your coupons? When you factor in your gas and time, you may not actually be saving money.

If you're doing more cooking at home lately, try buying spices in bulk. You'll save big on the ones that you don't use often enough to justify a whole jar, since you can just buy the amount you need. Are you still paying outrageous prices at the nearest coffee shop when you could be making coffee at home for cheap? If you don't have a coffee pot, you can buy a plastic coffee brewer for a couple of dollars - add a paper filter, your favorite coffee, and hot water and you'll have an excellent cup of coffee in a minute or two with no coffee pot to clean.

Transportation Do you really need more than one car? Do you really need a car at all? What about using a car-sharing service like Zipcar? If you must keep your car/cars, do your best to minimize the gas you're using, and shop around for the best prices and plan your trips so you can fill up where it's cheap. In my family, we look at the calendar when we're doing our two-week budget (which coincides with our paychecks) and plan out all the driving we'll be doing. If we're over-budget, we cut some of the optional trips, or try to do a better job of grouping trips together, or think about whether there are cheaper alternatives (going to a church in the neighborhood instead of driving across town to our usual church, or walking to the nearby gym instead of driving). Check your car's owner's manual to find out how often you actually need to change your oil - many cars can safely go much longer than the 3,000 miles they suggest at your local oil-change shop. For my six-year-old car, the manufacturer recommends oil changes every 7,500 miles!

Utilities Watch the thermostat! In our house, we don't turn the heat on until November 1, and it goes off again on March 1. We keep the temperature as low as we can stand it, put heavy quilts on the beds, and we wear sweaters and warm clothes indoors. Sometimes we also use a small electric space heater so we're just heating the room we're in rather than the whole house. Since we live in a moderate climate, we only use the air conditioning from mid-June to mid-September. As soon as we get up, we open the windows to let the cool morning air in. When the temperature begins to rise, we close everything up and shut the blinds and curtains, and we can usually make it until late afternoon before we need to turn the air conditioning on, even on very hot days.

If you have a gym membership, shower there and cut down on your water bill. At home, install low-flow shower heads - a local utility in our area sent us two of them at no charge through an offer on their website, but even if you have to buy them, they'll soon pay for themselves! Slash your phone bill by using Skype to make free calls all over the world - all you need is an internet connection, and video calls are free, too. While you're at it, ditch cable TV (or at least cut back to basic cable) and watch your favorite shows online.

Entertainment If you enjoy movies but can't afford the high movie theater prices, try Redbox. Their website lets you see what's available at the kiosks in your area and reserve the movie you want. You only get the DVDs (or Blu-ray discs) for 24 hours, but the $1 price is hard to beat! Look for free movie showings in your community, often at a libraries or parks. Although they may be second-run movies or classics, it's a great bargain and for outdoor shows you can usually bring your own food and drinks. Is there a drive-in nearby? Pack up the kids or grab some friends for a low-cost movie experience! Don't forget second-run theaters - prices are low, and they may even offer comfy couches to sit on instead of cramped movie theater seats. If you must go to the multiplex, save a few dollars by going to a matinee, remember to eat before you go, and bring gum if you think you'll be tempted by the ridiculously-priced popcorn.

There are all kinds of free plays and performances in parks during the warmer months, and kids and dogs are frequently welcome. Plan your own gallery walk and check out the work of local artists and photographers - even if you're not ever planning to buy anything, you can have some great conversations with your companions as you compare tastes. Museums and zoos often have days or evenings where admission prices are reduced or even free - check their websites for information. If you have an AAA membership, remember to use it for discounts on entertainment, too.

Sign up for Groupon and LivingSocial (they're free!) and get notices about special deals at local restaurants, salons, hotels, and all kinds of other places, often at half price or less. Watch for volunteer opportunities that can lead to free admission to your favorite activities. Large runs/walks and bike rides sometimes have opportunities for volunteers that include free registration - it's worth checking out. Same goes for smaller concerts or theater productions - volunteer ushers may receive a ticket to a future performance, for example. If you're a golfer, tee off later in the afternoon and you can enjoy big savings at many courses. Entertainment Books are full of two for one or half off deals on restaurants and attractions, and are a good option for active people and families.

Personal Care/Services When I could no longer afford expensive salon hair care products, a stylist tipped me off to Sally's Beauty Supply. They sell generic versions of many of the top brands, the quality is much better than the drugstore brands, and the prices are amazingly low. Want to get in shape, but can't afford a gym membership? Consider cheaper options like the Y or a community center. Check workout DVDs out from the library (or from Netflix if you have an account) - when you find one you like, you can purchase it for convenience. If you don't have health insurance, or have a basic plan that doesn't cover prescriptions, check into low-cost prescription services at stores like Costco or Walmart.

Clothing prices are predicted to rise dramatically in the coming months, so it's a good time to start exploring discount stores like Ross, or consider used clothing at consignment stores or Goodwill. A friend whose wardrobe I've always admired recently revealed her secret - she's been shopping at Goodwill and other used clothing stores for years! She changed my snobby attitude toward shopping for used clothing, and I've found fashionable suits and skirts in good condition at amazing prices. Although you may have to look a little harder than you would at a department store, discount fashion gems are there to be found!

Housing This is the biggest expense for most people, so carefully consider your options. If you own a home and can't sell it, can you rent out a room or two? If you don't want to commit to a long-term renter, some colleges have programs for adult international students who come to study in the US for one to nine months and need a place to live. Large businesses are employing a lot of contractors these days, both from around the US and outside the country. These folks often move from their primary home for anywhere from three weeks to 18 months, and many have to find their own housing. If you decide to rent rooms in your house, there are many companies that provide credit and background checks online at low cost. Remember to protect yourself with a rental agreement, too - they're also available inexpensively online.

Travel Even at resort destinations, discount options are available, so do some research before you go. On a recent trip to Orlando, we found that SeaWorld offered discounted "Twilight Tickets" during the summer (3 pm to closing, which is at 10 pm on most summer evenings). We also found plenty to do and see at Kennedy Space Center for less than half the cost of some of the big-name parks. For a budget Disney experience, a friend tipped us off to Downtown Disney - there's no admission, parking is free, there are plenty of Disney-themed shops and restaurants to choose from, and a variety of entertainment options for the over-21 set are available, too. Some Downtown Disney attractions do have an admission cost, like Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba show, DisneyQuest indoor interactive theme park, and Characters in Flight balloon ride, but you'll still probably spend less than you would for a day at DisneyWorld.