We are all getting interested in living on less these days.  That is if we haven’t already been living this way.  And I’m sure we have always done a certain amount of modest living, in certain areas.  Other areas we’ve maybe been a little more extravagant.

Our generation, in general, has not had to count pennies, or use all of those cute sayings, “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”.  We are going to have to interview all of our grandmas to learn tricks on how to cut corners, make from scratch, or even heaven forbid, do without.

Food can be an easy area to cut corners.  Lot’s of us go out to eat for our food, or we buy premade foods at the grocery store.  Cooking from scratch is usually a lot cheaper (only if you’re looking at just a few simple, easy to find, ingredients).  Couponing is still popular (be sure to ask your store if they will double coupon).   Buying in bulk at a really great sale price will make a difference in your budget in the long term.
Utilities are often on our “fixed” portion of the budget; there’s nothing we can do about that bill when it comes in the mail.  Wrong!

Research the lowest possible price for TV/cable, cell phones, etc., and ask them to match, or you switch.  Control the usage of your electricity and gas by lowering or turning off.

Entertainment can be free (or almost) if you do a little research and look around locally.  Library, dollar movie house, on foot or hand powered recreation, board games, old fashioned communication on the front porch/visiting with the neighbors.

Debt should be paid off as fast as possible, doubling, even tripling, the principle as you save money in other areas.  Call your creditors for lower interest rates.  Stop charging on your cards.  Use cash only.

Sell all your unused items.  Clear out your garages, attics and corners.  Begin making sacrifices by choice, before you’re forced to.  Downsize your cars, your wardrobes, your toys, your spending habits.

Luxuries are not gone forever.  We just need to view luxuries differently.  Most true luxuries are actually free:  time, safety, love, happiness, comfort.

Our attitude will probably need some adjusting.  That’s okay, the challenge of that is rather exhilarating.  A penny saved is satisfying and motivating.  Outsmarting Wall Street and all those sadly misplaced big spenders is what should keep us going.

We can do this.  We should have already been doing this.  We will do what it takes and find joy in the doing.