by M. L. Kiser

Created on: July 28, 2010   Last Updated: February 22, 2011

As more and more people continue to lose their jobs in this economy; more are looking at ways to cut back on spending.  If you were a two-income family that has been reduced to a one-income family then you are, no doubt, looking for ways to pay the bills until you can secure another income.  It’s not easy and all too many people today are enduring this crisis on a much smaller amount of money.  People are re-adopting the ways of their grandparents and living more sensibly without the frills.  The fact is that our society has become so dependent on technology and easy access to nearly everything that we’ve collectively forgotten how to survive on less cash.  It can be done; it’s not as fast-paced or often not as easy as the technology, but it is considerably more affordable.  If you are a family or individual looking for ways to make ends meet with less money, then here are some tips that just may help.

Consider what you don’t need for survival.  While we all need air, food, water, clothing and shelter; many of us also need or are required to purchase school supplies and good clothing for the kids; dress clothes for work or our job search, gasoline and maintenance on our cars, insurance for our homes, cars, etc.  No doubt, many of these things are simply necessary and you probably can’t do without them, but do you really need that cable or satellite bill every month?

Many people, even today, live with no television at all while others only have access to the local broadcast channels.  No one needs a television or gaming devices like the “X Box”.  Why not introduce the kids to the library and let them watch a video or two during the week on your computer instead?  Set a rigid schedule so that they get a couple of nights with a movie instead of letting them watch shows all night long or play video games for hours on end.  Engage them in the classic board games that everyone can play and make one night a week, family game night.  Really, it’s not as dull as you may think and the kids won’t go blind staring at a screen all evening.

Do you use your cell phone enough to keep a monthly plan?  If not, why not buy a card phone and load on the minutes as you need them.  Better yet, give the kids one and tell them that they have to buy their own minutes with their allowance instead of letting them run up your monthly bill.  They’ll

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