Saving Money We All Know Prices Are High; But What Can We Do About Them?

I'm sure this won’t come as a surprise, but gas and food prices are soaring. By spring it may cost $4 a gallon to fill your car, reports The New York Times.

Wholesale prices are increasing at 12 percent annually, a recent report found, and those costs will most likely be passed on to you and me. With the Federal Reserve Board hinting it will continue cutting interest rates – which could further accelerate inflation – don’t expect the situation to get better anytime soon.

Since salaries aren't keeping up with increased costs, it’s time to consider ways to save money. For the next couple weeks, I'll be offering some of my favorites.

With fuel prices crimping our household budget, let's start there. As many parents know, one of the biggest time and gas wasters is shopping. Forget one thing, and you’re driving back to the store two or three times a week.

Make lists, whether it’s for the grocery store or Target. Our list for Trader Joe’s might read:

• Chicken Nuggets
• Fish Sticks
• Bean and cheese taquitos
• Bagels
• Vanilla frosted shredded wheats
• (Cheap) wine
• Peanut butter
• Something for dinner

If we need something in a pinch, especially from Target, I run to the pharmacy across the street from my office instead. Limiting return trips to the store saves on gas.

To further reduced those return trips, we try to buy in bulk. Our pint-sized apartment still fits several weeks worth of tissues, paper towels and toilet paper from Target – we're too far from Costco.  The better we supply ourselves, the more we save in gas. Bonus: Buying in quantity means lower cost per item.

Comments

[OM]

since we live in new york city, there is less of a need for a day to day car. we prefer using zipcar.com for the convenience and they pay for the cost of gas and insurance.

for multi-day trips it's more cost effective to rent from a rental company.

but zipcar.com has been great for us. they are not just a new york city thing either. your membership is worldwide and allows you to use cars in many states, canada, and england.

hope this helps.

OM

[brettdl]

We have zip car access at our building. If we didn't already own our car and if we didn't need to drive the kids to school every day, then they would work great for us. But it is a great money-saving idea.