Desperate times

"Desperate times call for desperate measures." Isn't that how the saying goes? And these times of high gas prices which have resulted in a definite void in a lot of people's wallets are the kinds of times that saying refers to.

My "desperate measures" are really just ordinary, common sense ways to try to stay afloat until my income catches up with the ever-rising prices. Here are some things I do:

• Limit driving as much as possible. I occasionally have to take people to work where I am a manager. I can't eliminate those trips. However, I have informed everyone that they must pitch in for gas money or they will wind up missing work.
• Do more home cooking. Along with everything else, the cost of eating out has risen significantly.Find frugal recipes that you can use to feed your family for less. The internet is replete with them.
• Haunt flea markets and thrift shops for items you need. I always feel a great sense of victory when I find something I really need, and I don't have to pay retail prices for it. Some may view these items as the castoffs of others, but any item that is both useful and needed is really a bargain in the rough. Every item in your home doesn't have to be off-the-rack new for it to have value.
• Adjust your thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter. I realize this is old news to you, but it's still a smart bit of advice. If you have screen doors and screens on your windows, open them at night to let the fresh, cooler air flow through your home. That fresh air will do you a world of good and will save you $$ on your electric bill. Use "draft dodgers" around doors in the winter and add heavier curtains to the windows to help insulate rooms and retain the expensive heat.
• Stay at home for entertainment and snacks. Renting movies from one of the online businesses will keep you from driving to the movie store or to the theater. New releases are only a few months old, and worth the wait so the whole family can have a fun movie night without the expense of going out. That tends to reduce my enjoyment anyway! Serve up home popped corn, kool-aid or juice, and throw some big pillows in the floor.
• Keep desserts simple. Fresh fruit, cut into bite sized pieces and kept in a tight container in the fridge serve as a great substitute for sugary desserts. Fruit is also more healthful, of course, and your family is more apt to indulge in a handful if it's been prepped and properly stored. To add glamor, layer it in stemware with some vanilla yogurt and serve it by candlelight.

This is just a handful of things you can do to help reduce your personal spending. Some things will not change - your rent or mortgage, your car payment, etc. But making a family effort to save money can be as much fun as just going out and spending it.