Cost-Cutting Measures for Tough Times

In tough economic times such as today, cost-cutting is a must and in the long run, it does pay off, and we would feel less pain in our wallets. Being able to save up for tough times has always been a value that we should greatly cherish. For those of you who have debts to pay off, I understand that cost-cutting may be very difficult to accomplish. However, you can begin with the tiniest things in your house. Here are some which I believe are worthy of sharing.

- Electricity
– turn off appliances that you don’t use.
– unplug any idle appliances that you only use occasionally. Leaving it plugged in with the power off actually consumes so-called ‘standby electricity’. A study conducted 7 years ago(http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2001/02/09_energ.html) revealed that standby electricity can make up of as much as 25% of your current electricity bill.
– use energy saver compact fluorescent light bulbs (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls).

- Heat
– for those of you who have separate heating units for separate rooms in your apartment of house, there is absolutely no need to heat up the whole house at the same time. You can’t possibly be in all the rooms simultaneously, so just turn up the heat of the room in which you are present.
– For those you who just have a single heater for the entire apartment or house, purchasing electric heating fans (not your traditional ceramic heaters) for separate rooms (about $40 per unit) is a great option. There are those that are deemed ecologically smart which are 1) equipped with a timer), and/or 2) able to turn themselves off once they sense that the room is warm enough.

- Dry cleaning
– it is not necessary to spend $20 for every trip to a dry cleaning shop. Go to your supermarket and get one of those DIY dry cleaning agents and pads that can clean up 6 sweaters in one bag. All you need is the dryer in the laundry room. The effect is no worse than the cleaning done by a dry cleaning shop. The best thing is: it only costs $10 for a box of 12 cleaning pads, and to clean, it costs only $1 or $1.25 (your normal cost of drying one load of laundry) as opposed to $20 for 3 pieces of clothing.

- Fresh veggies
– while fresh veggies are good for you and you definitely should consume it as part of your diet, it is not necessary to have that for every single meal. A good alternative is frozen veggies (as discussed here: http://www.volume7.com/2007/10/dispelling-nutrition-myths.html), which cost a lot less than fresh veggies, and are as nutritious.

- Public transportation for work
– Gas and toll prices are on the rise, and driving to work every day can be a huge expense. If public transportation is a reasonable option for you, try that. A monthly bus or train ticket is usually discounted and it is an effective cost-cutting measure.

- Cell phone use
– Resist the temptation to have long conversations during your daytime minutes. You can reduce the chance of maxing out your daytime minutes and being billed for the extra ones. Try to talk during the time slots when you get free minutes.

- Paying your bills…
– online, as opposed to paying it by mail, thus reducing your worries on spending postage, buying envelopes, and using up paper checks (of which when you run out, you have to pay your bank to order more!).

- Using grocery coupons. (as discussed here: http://www.volume7.com/2008/02/4-principles-to-smart-grocery-shopping.html)

- Join supermarket shopper advantage programs. Their savings can add up over time.

- Coffee addicts
– go for McD’s or Dunkin’ Donut coffees. You will actually be 1) paying less overall, and 2) paying for the coffee rather than the sugar.

- Take advantage of free sample offers
– A great site to reference is this: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-And-Trials.aspx. Free samples, when regularly collected, can add up greatly and save you a trip to the supermarket just to buy those products at a more expensive price.

Last but not least, we cannot forget about Thanksgiving. While most families now view Thanksgiving more of an occasion for reunion, roasting a huge turkey in the oven can wreak havoc on the gas bill. If you don’t have 10 people in your party and if you absolutely need to roast something to observe symbolism and tradition, roasting an oven stuffer chicken saves more gas than roasting a turkey for hours on end. This can also save you the frustration of having turkey leftovers for the next 3 weeks!

Knowing about the existence of cost-cutting measures during tough economic times is definitely comforting. To enjoy the benefits of this, we have to try them out. The effects are most likely not going to be instantaneous; however over time, they can truly add up to your savings.

Trick Safe 'n Treat Safe

Every year, Halloween officially kicks of the holiday season, and it is the moment most anticipated by children - being able to dress up in a scary costume, knock the neighbors' doors, and what's more, to ask for free candy! It is indeed an enjoyable moment, if there is no danger or injuries. What we have heard or seen on the news about kidnappings, shootings and rowdiness can be a bit intimidating for parents, precautionary measures can be taken to ensure that the children can indulge in a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat experience.

For tricksters:

• Carry a flashlight
• Walk, don't run
• Stay on sidewalks
• Obey traffic signals
• Stay in familiar neighborhoods
• Don't cut across yards or driveways
• Wear clothing with reflective markings or tape
• Approach only houses that are lit
• Stay away from and don't touch animals you don't know
• If an adult is monitoring the group, stay close to his/her and follow instructions

For parents:

• Children should carry quarters or their cellphones so they can call home
• When possible, the group of children should be accompanied by an adult
• If you buy a costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material and contain reflective tape
• You must find out where they're going
• It is best to contact your neighbors to inform them that your child will be knocking on their doors
• Although tampering is rare, tell children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything
• Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspect

For treaters:

• Make sure your yard is clear of such things as ladders and hoses that may pose as safety hazards for the children
• Monitor and keep your pets from biting strangers
• If you use candles inside your jack-o’lanterns, place the pumpkin away from where the children will be walking or standing
• Instead of traditional candy and chocolate, consider healthier food alternatives like cereal bars, fig newtons, and cheese crackers
• Do not mix inedible things (such as erasers, beads, plastic rings, etc) among candies, to avoid children from accidental consumption

These are just a few precautionary measures that I suggest that parents, homeowner and kids should follow. Many more tips are found on http://www.sosnet.com/Safety/halloween.tip.html. With these suggestions in mind, trick-or-treating can be as fun as ever.

Have a "boo~~"-tiful Halloween!!