Cost of living
With the cost of living increasing by way of gas prices, which ultimately affect everything else, it's tempting to use the extra money from a pay raise for one's own, immediate needs. But money spent is gone forever. I'd rather have the money working for me so that at some time in the future I can retire and not be one of the millions of retired persons having to choose between food and medicine.
Gas here is now around $3.10 a gallon locally, and I realize it's much higher in other places. Where I've been going to work lately, the gas is up to $3.18 a gallon for regular. Around here, Valero has the cheapest gas but I've used it and wound up with engine problems. So sometimes, cheap isn't the best way to go. But, remember that the cost of petroleum directly affects the cost of all other consumer goods. It may not cause an increase immediately, but it will eventually make the cost of your groceries and other items go up.
Invest in your own future
This is why, when I get a pay increase I apply it to something that will work for me instead of adding the increase to my regular budget. I use pay increases for things like 401k contributions, stock options, auction selling, or domains.
Adding to income in the here and now
I also find ways to increase my auction sales at eBay and TLPSH auction sites. These are easy to list auction sites that can yield a pretty big return for a very small investment. Online auctions allow you to work any time you want and from any location. I can post auctions from my laptop, regardless whether I'm home, waiting to clock in at work, or visiting my Mom. The primary consideration is making sure I have pictures of the items already uploaded to my laptop and quick descriptions saved in Notepad.
Shopping frugally
Bear in mind that every meal doesn't have to have meat. Meat is expensive, and too much of it is actually detrimental to your health. So, having meatless meals several times a week can help your budget and your health.
Shopping for house brands is good unless the product just simply doesn't do the job. I've found that house brands of bleach and detergents really don't work as well as the name brands. However, there are other cleaning products that work just fine whether they are plain label or house brands. For example, "scrubbing bubbles" from the .99 store works just as good as the national name brand of this type of product. The name brand is around $3 a can, so that's a good savings for a product you can actually use all around the house and not just in the bathroom.
Basics like rice, beans, flour, and other grain based foods are perfectly fine in plain label or house brands. Grain is grain, no matter who packages it.
I actually prefer the cheapest green beans on the shelf. They are odd cuts and an occasional stem, but they are tasty and appear more like the green beans I pick and cook myself! On the other hand, canned corn can be pretty bad if it's not picked and processed correctly, so your best bet is to get a name brand for corn. Most other veggies, though, are just fine in plain label or house brands.
