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This is the second installment in a three-part series focusing on
important ways you can save money on food, fuel, and fun.

Oil will soon hit $150 per barrel, sending additional shock waves through an already battered economy. With a gallon of diesel fuel at $5 in certain areas now, the financial livelihood of some is being threatened.

We cannot count on fuel prices retreating any time soon and the chances of prices staying permanently above $4 per gallon are quite high. That being said, high fuel prices isn’t a good reason for people to panic (is there really ever one?) as making rash decisions will cost you more in the long haul.

Most of the tips I have read about saving gas are very practical such as driving less, combining trips/errands, and keeping your speed down. Others are silly or even dangerous and include hypermiling (driving the car in neutral with the engine off while coasting) and trying to get your car to run on water.

Instead of following the folly du jour, might I suggest you consider:

Working From Home — If you have a long commute and are getting whacked by high fuel prices, is there any way that you can do your work from home? If not every day, how about once weekly? Or, can you work four long days instead of five shorter work days?

Carpool — Meeting up with people to ride to work is such a drag. It can also save you gas money, wear and tear on your vehicle, and extend the life of your car. In some jurisdictions you could even get a tax break or your company could if they supply the van and everyone shares the cost of gas.

Mass Transit — People who live in major metropolitan areas already have access to mass transportation, while smaller cities, exurbs, and rural areas do not. You might find that flying, taking the train, or a bus to your destination is much more cost effective than driving. If taking mass transit on a daily basis isn’t doable, consider once or twice weekly.

Trade In Your Wheels — If you are still making payments on your SUV, truck, or other large vehicle and desperately want to get something more efficient, I have news for you: you stand to lose thousands of dollars if you switch now. How so? The value of all gas hogging vehicles has dropped significantly, meaning you’ll probably still owe money on your truck when it has been traded in. Better to find ways to shave the amount of miles you drive than to get rid of a vehicles that isn’t worth what you thought it was worth. On the other hand, if you are ready to buy new now is the time to shop: deep discounts on even fuel efficient vehicles are now being offered.

Avoid the aftermarket parts schemes which promise you ten, twenty, even thirty percent or more in fuel savings, a “special” additive, or anything else that sounds risky, even weird. Driving slower, using a lower grade of gas where feasible, and combining errands are some great ways to save gas. High fuel prices are a fact of life, but they don’t have to rule your life either.

Next: Save Money on Fun

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This is the first installment in a three-part series focusing on
important ways you can save money on food, fuel, and fun.

It doesn’t take a genius to realize that the price of most consumer goods are rising and at a pace much higher than the rate of inflation. Thanks to oil prices which are now approaching $150 a barrel, consumers’ wallets are being picked at a rate not seen since the 1970s.

Fortunately, things in 2008 are much different than they were during the 1970s when then president Richard M. Nixon instituted price controls and came up with a silly marketing slogan — Whip Inflation Now (WIN) — to galvanize consumers to battle high costs. Presidents Ford and Carter did little to help either and by the time that Ronald Reagan became president, double digit inflation was becoming a nasty habit.

One area of big concern to people is food, not that we are at risk of starving, but finding good food at reasonable prices. Importing food from abroad has sent prices skyward while various scares relating to salmonella outbreak have put the consumption of tomatoes and spinach in the risky category.

You don’t have to be run over by high food prices, in fact there are ways you can trim costs enough to erase all of the price gains of the past year and then some. Let’s take a look at some smart ways to save:

Coupons — Yes, coupons. Only today you don’t always have to clip them. Thankfully, supermarkets have realized the futility of trying to draw customers in with clippable schemes and have wholly switched to you using a store card. This card, when swiped before your order is tallied, records all store coupons being offered for that week. If you check the store’s circular, you’ll find many of your favorite items being sold at extra low prices.

Discount Stores — Discount food stores are on the rise, thanks to high prices at many local grocers. Shoppers who don’t need a certain ambiance while shopping are visiting Aldi, Food Basics, No Frills, and similar stores. Your selection of name brand items will be less than at conventional stores, but you’ll find enough variety to keep your family happy, while bringing forth savings of 10-50% on your shopping order.

Superstores, Warehouse Clubs — Those big WalMart stores with food sections and stores like them often carry food items for less than what your Kroger, Safeway, A&P, or Pathmark store will charge you. Also, Costco, BJs, and Sam’s Club offer select items in larger quantities but at lower per ounce prices. Naturally, if you are a small family, that 3 lb. jar of pickles could be wasted if not used quickly.

Farmers’ Markets — Fresh produce is getting expensive especially when it must be trucked many miles to your home. Local farmers, on the other hand, prefer to sell direct to consumers where they can get a fair price on their fruits, grains, and vegetables. Many will be glad to pass at least a portion of the savings back to you. There isn’t anything that tastes better than locally grown produce!

Other ways to save include visiting your day old bread store, picking out the occasional dented can being sold at a discount, and switching to store brands or lower cost brands wherever feasible. Just remember that if you have to drive everywhere to find savings, you’ll spend away what you saved at the cash register in gas. Maybe then you’ll give thought to doing something that many Americans don’t do much of these days: grow what you need in your backyard.

Next: Save Money on Fuel

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Composting is a Smart Way to Recycle

Compost piles are oh so very mainstream these days. Back during the 1960s and 1970s when green living was part of the hippie lifestyle, earth-friendly ways of living were incorporated including the obligatory compost pile or bin.

These days, so many homeowners have caught on that it isn’t uncommon to find backyard after backyard with some sort of compost area in place.

What keeps many people from composting is the smell and work involved in maintaining a bin or a pile. However, there are a couple of ways to approach composting, either of which can yield nutrient rich soil useful for your garden:

Cold composting – As the name suggests, you simply gather your food and lawn scraps, throw them in a pile, and forget about them. Eventually, everything will rot and be useful for later use. However, left untended a cold compost heap can attract unwanted animals, stink when it is hot outside, and look awful.

Hot composting – This method requires active participation on your part to stir the pile, measure what goes into it, and layer the same. The biggest advantage of hot composting is that you’ll be rewarded with a rich end product much faster.

Compost Pile or Compost Bin?

If building a compost pile, you’ll need to find a remote area in your yard to where you can place everything. Take your neighbors into consideration by keeping the pile several feet away from their property and avoid placing the pile where downwind breezes will carry the smell to their yard.

Alternatively, consider purchasing a compost bin. From the simple – made out of plastic, resembling a trash can, to the complicated – made out of wood or high grade resin, your bin should be designed to where you can easily rotate the contents with an integrated handle or open up a trap door and stir everything with a shovel or pitchfork. The advantage of a compost bin is that you reduce smell, have an attractive unit at your disposal, and can hasten the decomposing process.

With many localities raising their rates on garage removal, you can help reduce municipal costs by composting select food items, grass clipping, leaves, and other yard waste. By carefully choosing a composting method that is right for you, you can come away with nutrient rich soil at no cost to you while reducing the impact you have on the environment.

Resources

Organic Gardening and Composting

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Adv. — Looking to save some money? Visit SayLowerBills to find smart ways to keep your budget balanced without going crazy in the process!