How to stretch your budget
By Barbara Beaudoin

Thrift - n. careful management especially of money
-Merriam Webster Dictionary

Have you noticed the resurgence of magazine articles on how to save money? Recession jitters are recalling the tips we learned from our mothers and grandmothers. Most of us filed them away with the made-from-scratch recipes. Those practices proved their worth in the Great Depression and the ensuing years before the national economy reached its peak. Apparently, it's time to relearn the meaning of "thrift." Once again, the savings realized from careful management of resources may help families coping with reduced buying power.

Home cooking no longer has to be "from scratch." When you buy any shortcut packaged meals, check the labels. First, look at the price, then the fat and sodium content. You may find you're paying a high price for salt and fat you should not be eating in the first place. Buy meats without marinades and you'll pay less per pound. Add your own seasonings such as pepper, fresh herbs from a countertop or deck garden, or packaged dried herbs. Marinate meat with the herbal mixture, a little oil, mild acid (vinegar, lemon juice or tomato), refrigerate for at least an hour up to 24 hours, and cook. Notice you have added very little fat and no sodium and saved dollars in the process.

There was a time when peeling potatoes was one of the chores that helped a child earn an allowance. Now boxed potatoes are peeled and dried, and some are cooked, mashed, and ready to eat. Unless you regularly buy too much and toss out sprouting potatoes, the prepared item will not save you money. To save time, boil potatoes and use them in various ways on ensuing nights for dinner: cold or hot potato salad, potato patties, sliced and sautéed potatoes with green beans, or a mound of garlic mashed potatoes.

Bread prices have increased steadily, but you can reduce the cost per loaf by buying frozen bread dough at a bakery or supermarket and bake your own. Shop farmer's markets to stretch your food budget. Fresh vegetables are preferable for flavor and texture, but they can be expensive unless in season. You might find bags of peas, carrots, corn kernels, and green beans helpful to have on hand in the freezer. Add a few handfuls to soups and salads. Try ethnic dishes that use less expensive greens like escarole, turnip greens, or kale with beans and a small amount of meat. Hearty soup is economical and easy to prepare. Simmer combinations of meat such as chicken, turkey beef, pork, lamb, along with vegetables, grains, and legumes, and you can create a satisfying stew or soup that will provide a nourishing family meal. Creamy vegetable soups made from pureed squash, pumpkin, or potato with chicken broth and seasoning are a thrifty starter for a winter meal. Cold fruit soups are a summer hit and will use up fresh berries and melons that might otherwise be wasted. Consult your favorite cookbook (or find it free at the library), or search online at www.allrecipes.com.

Recycling is common, but usually refers to things we throw away. Try finding new uses for your trash. Use old towels, t-shirts, and other absorbent fabrics in place of paper towels and disposable cloths for wiping up spills, polishing furniture, washing windows, and cleaning bathrooms. Use styrofoam trays as paint pallets for stenciling or crafts. Line a wire shelf with a few large trays to hold small spice jars from tipping. Use milk and egg cartons as starter pots for seeds. Always use both sides of computer printer paper if possible, even if you redline the side that is obsolete. Repaint furniture; repurpose a bookcase to hold clothing in a bedroom or towels in a bath. Trade unused furniture, draperies, and other household furnishings with friends and neighbors or sell them at a garage sale, flea market, or consignment shop.

To save more money, look for gently used clothing at thrift shops, personal care items at dollar stores, and whenever feasible make bulk purchases at grocery warehouses. Coupons work well for brand-name shoppers who use them consistently, but you can save by purchasing store brands, too.

In place of expensive restaurant dining, invite a few adult friends for a game night and serve inexpensive appetizers and drinks. For example, a low-fat cream cheese topped with hot pepper relish makes a tasty spread for crackers. Wine punch or beer can accompany a tray of cheese, salami, and roasted vegetables (red peppers, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, zucchini) seasoned with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and herbs and served with a loaf of hot and crusty garlic bread. With children, hold an old-fashioned family game night. A deck of cards, a board game, and several bowls of hot popcorn will fill your evening with fun.

Whatever is free doesn't cost money. Borrow books and magazines from the public library or start an exchange program among friends. For maximum savings buy only what is essential and borrow or share when possible. Trading tools with neighbors is helpful, but problematic if you damage someone's expensive equipment. In that case, for short-term use, try to find the best price at a rental agency. Start thinking like you're poor, and you'll be richer for it.

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