Pinching Pennies

Living on a budget may be uncomfortable, but it doesn't mean it has to be hard. We've all done it at one point or another, and the way the economy is going, we may have to do it for quite some time now. Here are some common sense ideas, that you've all probably had before....

If you can't pay for it cash...

Well, let's face it, if we can't pay for it cash, we probably can't afford it. Use credit cards only in emergencies, paying interests only makes somebody else rich.

Rent Movies:

Movie rentals can cost anything from $2.50 to $5.00 for one or several nights. Rather than going out to the cinema, invite friends over to watch a film. Pitch in, somebody rents the film, somebody else provides the popcorn (easily .69 cents individually, or up to $5.00 a box), and somebody else brings beverages. This way you can certainly enjoy movie night once or even more times a week, spend quality time with family and friends without easily spending $40 on a movie theater for just 2 people.

Value Theaters:

If you absolutely must go to the theater, why not wait until a movie hits the value theater? You only wait a period of 1 to an average of 3 months since its premiere in order for it to hit a value theater, and these easily cost no more than $1.50. Some of these cinemas even offer value days; in which cost can drop to .50 cents a screening! Take advantage of discounts, even in regular theaters, (yes, premiering movies) have discount days or showings. Some theaters offer the first screening during the weekday at half-price. Others have ladies night, and some even offer discounts for teachers, students, and those who are serving or have served in the armed forces.

Lunch Break!

Take your lunch with you. You would be surprised at how much money we spend on meals in a week. If you start cooking and taking your meals to school or work with you the cost can easily be cut in half. How about we develop a new routine? Wake up earlier and cook a meal for the day, or if waking up early sounds painful... cook it the day before. If you're not a fan of cooking, buy minute meals, easily costing no more than $2.00 each, ready in just under 3 minutes in the microwave, rather than spending those $6.00 on that flavorless cafeteria sandwich.

Shaken not stirred....

This is the time to practice and improve your bartending abilities. With the price of drinks through the roof, we easily pay $5.00 - $12.00 per drink. That's enough to drive you to drink. Instead of hitting the town and spending a fortune on the bar tab with your buddies and girlfriends, make it a boys or a girls night in. Pitch in, buy the materials, and presto, you have yourself a lively bar. If you don't want to stay inside then have the drinks at a park, lake-side or beach-front, just remember not to drive. And if it's your bartending skills that scare you, and others for that matter, not to fear, the world wide web is here! Just pay a lovely visit to your cybartenders: http://www.drinkswap.com/ , http://www.thebar.com/ , http://www.drinkoftheweek.com , among many others.

Use the library:

Instead of buying DVDs and books use your libraries resources. They usually offer a wide variety of audiovisual content available for check-out, and an immense variety of books in a wide array of topics. Libraries usually offer quiet reading rooms, and free internet connection, short of allowing you to drink coffee I can't think of anything that sounds better. Take your laptop, find a plug and settle in for an afternoon of leisure, work, or plain and simple... procrastination.

Free!...Internet.

A lot of us spend the day glued to the internet, or if not, thinking about what we will do when we get connected. So... instead of paying a fortune to stay online limit your access to hours in which internet cafés, bookstores, coffeehouses, and libraries are open. So many places offer free connection nowadays its hard to think why we would need a connection at home, short of waking up at 3am to bid on that lamp in eBay. Use your libraries connection! Most of them offer one, and so do most university and college campus. Even fast food places are embracing the cyber age, Burger King offers free internet connection nowadays. So, sit back relax and order the net with a side of fries.

Discount Stores:

When we go shopping we're blinded by brands and labels. Shop at value and discount stores instead. Wal-mart, target, and many others offer great prices daily. If you want brand-names at discount prices check out stores like Marshalls, and many others that can be found in your area.

Alternate modes of transportation:

And no...we're not talking about clown cars. However, think about how much gas and money you spend driving to work everyday. Carpool! Talk to people you work with, establish days and gas costs may go down; leaving your pocket some much needed breathing room. Pick the car that wastes less gas and offer to pay part of the gas. Let's say there are 4 people that take the same route to work everyday, same hours, weekly you spend $80 on gas, now, carpooling with 3 other people if each pays 1/4 of the gas, that'd be $20 a piece. Not to shabby eh? Public transportation is also a great alternative. Bus systems such as Lynx offer a monthly pass for just $14.00. Think about it, $14.00 with unlimited access to their transportation system. Also, if you live close to school or work, how about riding a bicycle? I'd suggest roller-blades as well, but I only seem to be an expert at falling with those.

A lot of these ways to save also provide for a greener planet...just think about it, you're not only doing your pocket some good, but you're giving the Earth a little more breathing room as well.