Our family is no exception.  Dadisodes and I had a good cry last week, post 401K check in.  I am also updating my resume, just.in.case.  As our family buckles down to do a bit of belt-tightening, I figured why not share some of the ways we’re doing it here and get feedback.

13 Ways to Pinch a Penny While Feeling the Pinch

1) Eat out less and cook more meals at home.

2) Give meals longevity by preparing larger portions to save energy or gas, and leftovers can be spread out to other meals.

3) Starbucks (Starcrack).  Make it at home, or opt for the regular brew.   Having a regular $4.50 cup of Joe adds up to $90/month, and over $1000 per year.  A cup of the regular stuff is usually about half the price of the fru-fru brews.

4) Drink more water.  Alcohol, coffee, and juice can really add up.

5) Ride a bike or walk.

6) Purchase store brand versus name brand (example: We love the cushiony clouds of Charmin, but buying the store brand can sometimes cut the cost of bathroom tissue in half).

7) Shop second hand/thrift stores and garage sales.

8 ) Make fewer trips- Plan an itinerary ahead of time to prevent leaving the house for multiple trips.  I’m also purchasing many items I would normally buy at Target at my grocery store.  Not only does it save gas, it also keeps me away from Target, where I tend to spend an extra $50 bucks on stuff I never intended to buy.

9) Vacation delay- The cost of a vacation can be a heavyweight on any budget.  Until the economy mellows out, and job security is more certain, we’re holding off on any extravagant vacations.

10) Do-it-yourself toys and gifts.

11) Library- Rather than purchasing books, check out local libraries for titles (even new releases).  Most libraries have on-line systems where you can search for and reserve books, CD’s and DVD’s from home.

12) Hold off on big purchases or investments. Dadisodes and I share a small car and recently moved into a home.  Although we could certainly use another vehicle and furniture, we’re keeping our coins in the bank for now.

13) Stay home.  It seems every time we leave the house, we spend money.  So we’re spending more quality time at home listening to music, reading, or playing our 5,230th game of Candy Land.

How about you?  Are you and your family taking measures to pull back on spending? Do you have any tips to share?  Please share them in the comments below.