Published: August 07, 2009 04:18 pm      

DAY: Trying to save

This week, I am going to go out on the limb and relate my thoughts on ways to live a little cheaper and still maintain a somewhat usual daily existence. We, as Americans, are used to having what we want when we want it. In today’s world, we are experiencing a low side of that routine.

We start with the food we buy and we need to take a closer look at what is in the food we buy and take the ones cheaper in price. Many of our foods are about the same except for the name on the box. There are times when we in our home have had great meals at maybe a cost of a dollar. The reason for that is that I, being the chief cook and bottle washer, will at times make a large meal at one time and then bag it up in portions and put in the freezer for later on. You would be surprised at what you can do if you only set your mind to it. Fix the meal, eat what you want, and save the leftovers by freezing them. I can take a potato and clean it up real good, slice them up with the peelings still on, and season them with all kinds of seasoning, and put them with beans out of the freezer, and take the cornbread that I saved maybe a week before, butter them and fry it in the skillet, add some onions to the plate and lordy it is good. You don’t have to live high off the hog to enjoy good food. As far as meats are concerned, that is where you have to be very cautious because you don’t know what is in that meat that is sent here from other countries. If you want good fresh meat, you need to know who you are buying it off of. Don’t buy something just because it looks good. Know the actual source of it. Ask your meat cutters.

Cutting down on electric and gas use can save you money, too. Don’t use the ovens on a very hot day because it will cause your air conditioner to work harder. Cut down on the use of the microwaves because they do use a lot of power. You don’t need lights on in every room in the house. Turn on the ones that will help to light up another area, too.

Grow a garden, as it will benefit you greatly. You can eat all you want and you can freeze a lot to be used later on in the year when produce is high in cost. This year, I have put in a lot of work in the garden, which really is good for me. I have planted my garden at a low cost for the plants because I buy from sources that I know have good healthy plants. I would venture to say that I might have maybe $80 in cost and I will reap a bountiful result from that planting. I really think that everyone who has a space to spare about 3X20 feet could profit and enjoy that garden. Lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, and green beans can give you a full belly at harvest time.

By driving the car a few less times can be a way to save money if you have a bike. How many times have you driven to a place that would be easy to get to on your bike? And when you do need to drive, map out where you are going and never cross your path twice. I write down where I need to go and I try to go to as many places before coming home. That way I have done all of it in just one trip by car.

People have labeled me as a skinflint and I don’t mind because that means I watch what I spend and that leaves me a source of needed funds when I really need them. I have had a budget almost our entire married life and I can tell just about where all my money has gone through all those years. Maybe cheap, but wise.

• Ray “Uncle Ray” Day is a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune. Contact him at uncleray@earthlink.net

or (765) 457-3819.