Yesterday I started a blog on how to live on a tighter budget. You can find it here.....

http://activerain.com/blogsview/938511/Surviving-the-economic-crisisfrom-materialism-to-frugalism-part-1

Today I will continue with ideas 6-10 on how my family lives/manages and how we will continue to survive the economy no matter which direction it heads. I was never a Boy Scout for the obvious reason but be prepared is still my motto.

6. We drive used cars. Some people think if you buy a used car you are asking for problems or you are getting someone else's cast off that just isn't as nice as that new car smell. I beg to differ. What you get is a HUGE savings in cost since your new car loses over 20% of it's value the minute you drive it off the lot or within the first year depending on which "expert" you ask. Why waste your money like that? Let someone else take that financial loss and you can reap the benefits when they trade it in after 2 years for something new. When I first got my Suburban it was in perfect condition. No one even knew it was used until I told them. It was in fact 2 years old. I will confess that I had leather seats installed because cloth doesn't work with our kids (and I got brand new tires and wheels) but even with the cost of adding leather seats and wheels and tires....I still saved about $20,000 when I paid $21,000 for my used Suburban.

7. Learn to cook. I know several people who eat out more than 4 times a week. I know about how much money they make so this one amazes me that they can afford to do this. They say they don't like to cook, don't like to clean up the mess after cooking or they are just too tired. Well, the economy has taken a turn for the worse and now they have hit rock bottom and don't know what to do. They were running up the credit cards eating out. A lot of people were. So now they have to eat at home but don't know how to cook. Well, if you learn 5 simple recipes you can survive. You can even save and freeze the leftovers for a later date or do what my husband does and take leftovers for lunch.

My 5 simple recipes that feed a troop are...

A) Spaghetti (one week with meat and one without and it's usually ground turkey for us)

B) Beef Stew

C) Chilli (I like to alternate between using chicken, ground turkey and beef)

D) Chicken and rice

E) Beef tips and rice

....and if you need the recipe....just ask and I will send it over.

8. Grow your own food. I recommend everyone learn to grow one food item. Even if you live in an apartment you can still grow at least one item in pots on your balcony. I know because I did when I lived in apartments years ago. Buy a book, take a class, hook up with a neighbor with a green thumb but learn to grow at least one thing and learn to either freeze it or can it. I will be planting my garden soon. The family will help tend it. As a reward they get fresh veggies and a trip to the drive in theater once a month which by the way is $5 per person for two movies.

For the record, I recommend you buy your seeds rather than trying to use seeds from store bought veggies. You can learn to harvest seeds for replanting later.

On a side note, you can also find where other people grow it and let you work the land as a co-op for a subscription fee and you get to share the bounty. They are called CSAs. (Community Supported Agriculture). You can find one in your area by going to www.localharvest.org Here is a map of where they are in the US.

I also know where there are huge patches of black berries every year and the kids and I pick them and freeze them. The owner did give us permission. No trespassing!

9. Buy your meat at night. Most of the big groceries stores mark down their meat at night after 9pm but specifically I know Krogers does this. It's the exact same package you would have or could have bought at 10am but after 9 at night you will find that $20 steak marked down drastically. I learned this years ago when I had to start shopping after the breast feeding babies were asleep for the night so I could sneak out to shop. You can still have streak but at the cost of ground beef and the stores aren't crowded!

10.) Donate to charity instead of having a garage sale. Sure you will get some quick cash when you have a garage sale but did you know that by donating it not only are you helping someone else but you will reap a bigger monetary reward if you itemize at tax time when you calculate those donated items? You may sell that shirt for 50 cents but if you use say Turbotax and use their donation tool then you may get a credit of $2.50 or more towards your taxes for that one shirt? Keep a detailed list of everything you donate. Like, 10 mens shirts, 4 men's shorts, 3 ladies blouses and the date and to which organization it was donated. Get a donation receipt as well because you will need to tell the IRS who you donated it to and they will want the address. These things really add up at the end of the year and can save you money on your taxes and get you a bigger refund. The savings gained is much bigger than what you could make at a garage sale. My husband and I just got our tax refund a week ago. We used it to pay off his truck. That was a good feeling.

That's the end of part 2. Hopefully you can take away at least one suggestion here to make your life in these troubling economic times better. IF not, stay tuned for part 3. Maybe there will be something for you there.