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“A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned.” – Benjamin Franklin

I used to believe that this quote was about putting money into a savings account or other savings method so that my hard earned cash would earn interest. I agree with the principle of saving money in the traditional sense and work diligently to conserve for various future uses. Maybe that is just what Ben was trying to communicate to the people of the 1790s. However, in today’s consumer-driven society and with recent trends in the economy and the rising cost of food and gas I have gained a new understanding of this clever quotation.

I have discovered that I save money every time I do not spend it. This may sound obvious, but every time I go to the store, I have begun to think carefully about what I put in my cart. By making a menu plan and a grocery list for a minimum of one week, I reduce my trips to the store. If I can walk out of there with just a few less items, I may have just saved $10. I read somewhere that shoppers spend an average of $10 on unanticipated purchases each time they visit a store. If you stop at the grocery store 3 or 4 times a week, you may be spending an additional $30 or $40 a week. That is about $120 to $160 extra every month. If you do not believe me, take a look at your pantry and/or deep freeze. If it looks like you could feed an army for a month, then maybe you could benefit by making fewer trips to the store. By planning ahead for my daily errands, I can put everything I need by the door. On my way out, I will remember to get the library books for the library, a package to mail at the post office, and a bagged lunch so I can pick up Clark at preschool before we end up hungry and turning to fast food to satisfy our grumbly tummies. If I can make one less trip to town in a day, that may be worth $3 to $5 in gas savings. That is like money in the bank!

My interpretation of this well-known quote has helped me save money and resources so that I can do my part to provide the necessities for my family in these times of increasing prices.

Jennifer Tankersley is the creator ListPlanIt.com where you can find over 300 lists and planning pages including cleaning schedules, daily to do lists, grocery lists, and holiday/party planning to put your world in order and also of List Mama Blog: Lists of Lists for List-Lovin’ Mamas.

In this day and age of prices on just about everything running wild, everyone is looking for ways to save money. With rising gas prices, the cost on food is also climbing. Milk used to be considered a necessity in a household. Now it is more of a luxury with prices being between $4 and $5 a gallon. You may notice that a gallon of milk is about the same price as a gallon of gas now. This is not a coincidence. You may also see fresh fruit and vegetables becoming more expensive.

Here you will find 5 ways to save money, especially if you have a medium to large size family.

1. Coupon Clipping: This is an idea that was once used all the time by nearly every family. It may have gone out of style a bit with the introduction of generic and store brand items, but many families are finding that coupons are still a great way to save at the checkout counter. There are some people who form a Coupon Clipping Club. They meet once a week to trade coupons they have clipped.

2. Instant Milk: While this may not be the best tasting stuff in the world, it can be used to cook and bake with. All it takes is water and the dry instant milk mix. This is a great way to stretch your milk each week, while using the homogenized milk for drinking.

3. Fruit and Vegetable Stands: In most parts of the country, you will find little stands set up on the side of the road with fresh fruit and vegetables for sale. These are grown by the people selling them and are, by far, much cheaper than the produce you find in grocery stores. You can nearly always find some great deals at these little stands, and the produce is always much fresher than that bought in stores.

4. Alternative Transportation: Most people have grown too accustomed to the luxury of driving or riding everywhere they go. With the currently outrageous gas prices, now is the time to re-discover walking and bike riding. If you only have a few blocks to go, and the weather permits, try walking to your destination. Riding a bicycle is also a great alternative to using your vehicle. The exercise is great, and you will see that even this small change in your routine will help save at the gas pumps.

5. Less Fast Food: While we all enjoy a bit of a treat now and then, too many people tend to race to the fast food restaurants for lunch, dinner, and even breakfast. You will notice just how quickly this money can add up. For people on the go, there are many ways to prepare something for breakfast the night before, as well as making your own lunch even if you work outside the home. For busy lifestyles, there are crock pots which will do the cooking for you while you are away.

You may have thought of some of these 5 ways to save money already, but just are too rushed, stressed or tired to try them. In this very fast paced word we live in, that is totally understandable. However, make a deal with yourself. Try these suggestions for just one week. At the end of the week, add up how much money you saved. You may be surprised.

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