Families CAN SAVEThousands of Dollars

Freefork Web Agencywww.Freefork.com

Four Easy Ways

NOW THAT THE ECONOMY IS IN AN APPARENT CRISIS, MANY FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO CUT COSTS WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR PRESENT STANDARD OF LIVING. MOST PEOPLE ASSUME THAT THE OBLIGATORY BELT-TIGHTENING WILL BE A DEPRESSING PROPOSITION, BUT WITH FEW SIMPLE ADJUSTMENTS TO DAILY ROUTINE, FAMILIES CAN SAVE MONEY AND ACTUALLY GROW CLOSER IN THE PROCESS. TRY THESE EASY BUDGET-CUTTING STRATEGIES INSPIRED BY OUR GRANDPARENTS, WHO WERE MASTERS AT MAKING DO WITH MUCH LESS, AND WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT EVEN SMALL EXPENSES ADD UP VERY QUICKLY.

By Marcus Lane

ONE SMALL EXPENSE THAT ADDS UP QUICKLY IS BOTTLED WATER. DRINKING TAP WATER CAN SAVE YOUR FAMILY $25 A MONTH. IF YOU MAKE YOUR OWN COFFEE AND CARRY IT WITH YOU IN A THERMOS INSTEAD OF BUYING IT AT THE LOCAL COFFEE DRIVE THROUGH OR DONUT SHOP, YOU WILL SAVE $2 A CUP. IF YOU ARE REALLY ATTACHED TO THE SUPER DUPER WHIPPED CREAM SPECIAL COFFEE, THEN BUY YOUR OWN CAN OF WHIPPED CREAM AND MAKE YOUR SUPER DUPER WHIPPED CREAM SPECIAL AT HOME. TRY COOKING MORE OFTEN, TOO. SAVING RESTAURANT MEALS FOR ROAD TRIPS AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS MAKES THOSE OUTINGS EVEN MORE SPECIAL.

By Marcus Lane

NOT ALL SPECIAL OCCASIONS, HOWEVER, NEED TO BE MARKED WITH A TRIP OUT. REMEMBER WHEN BIRTHDAY PARTIES WERE CELEBRATED IN PRIVATE HOMES? NEXT TIME YOU CELEBRATE A CHILD'S BIRTHDAY, HAVE THE PARTY AT HOME. YOU'LL SAVE AT LEAST $200 PER BIRTHDAY. MAKE THE CAKE AND FROSTING YOURSELF. SKIP THE PAPER CUPS AND PICK UP A REAL PUNCH BOWL AND GLASSES AT YOUR LOCAL THRIFT SHOP. THE ADULTS WILL POLISH OFF THE CAKE AND PRAISE YOUR CULINARY SKILLS; THE YOUNGER CHILDREN WILL FEEL SOPHISTICATED WITH PRETTY GLASSES IN THEIR HANDS, EVEN IF IT ISN'T REAL CRYSTAL. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE KIDS ASK YOU WHAT THE CAKE IS; THEY MAY HAVE NEVER TASTED A HOMEMADE CAKE BEFORE. THEY MIGHT EVEN TEXT A FRIEND ABOUT THE GREAT DESSERT THEY HAD AT YOUR HOUSE.

By Marcus Lane

OF COURSE IN THE OLD DAYS TEENS DIDN'T HAVE INSTANT ACCESS TO PERSONAL PHONES TO PROVIDE A RUNNING COMMENTARY TO THEIR FRIENDS. THEY SURVIVED (EVEN THRIVED) WITHOUT CELL PHONES, AND WHEN THEY GREW UP THEY TURN OUT TO BE, WELL... US. SO IF THE BUDGET IS REALLY TIGHT, START LIMITING YOUR KID'S ACCESS TO CELL PHONES. FAMILY CELL PLANS VARY, AND SO WILL THE AMOUNT OF SAVINGS, BUT IT'S WORTH CHECKING INTO. IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, KEEP AN EXTRA CELL PHONE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO CHECK OUT. COLLECT THE PHONES AS SOON AS THE KIDS WALK IN THE DOOR. YOUR KIDS WILL HAVE SOME VIOLENT WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS. YOU'LL THINK YOU'RE RE-LIVING SCENES FROM THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, BUT AFTER YOU SURVIVE THAT YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH EYE CONTACT YOU GET AT DINNER, WHEN YOUR TEENAGER ISN'T SECRETLY TEXTING UNDER THE DINING ROOM TABLE.

By Marcus Lane

IF YOU DO FIND THAT YOU LIKE THIS INCREASED INTIMACY WITH YOUR CHILDREN, YOU CAN CUT BACK ON THE KID'S EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND PLAN TO SPEND MORE FAMILY TIME AT HOME. HAVE THE KIDS PICK ONE TEAM OR CLUB TO BELONG TO PER SEMESTER. YOU'LL DRIVE LESS, YOU'LL SAVE ON GAS, AND YOUR CAR WILL LAST MUCH LONGER. YOU'LL SAVE THE COST OF UNIFORMS, SPECIALTY SHOES, FUND RAISERS PURCHASES, AND COSTUMES. THIS WILL SAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS PER SESSION PER CHILD. YOUR KIDS WILL FIND OUT HOW TO PRIORITIZE, AND THEY'LL FIGURE OUT THAT THEY CAN'T PURSUE ALL OF THEIR INTERESTS. PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU'LL HAVE MANY MORE RELAXED EVENINGS TOGETHER EATING HOME-MADE MEALS, TALKING ABOUT THE ONE ACTIVITY THAT THEY CHOSE TO STICK WITH, OR PLANNING THE NEXT HOME BIRTHDAY PARTY. WITH THE CELL PHONES PUT AWAY YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE HAVING REAL CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR CHILDREN. THAT'S ONE PLEASURE YOU'LL NEVER WANT TO SCRIMP ON.

By Marcus Lane

Good Luck!

Freefork Web Agencywww.Freefork.com