Gas costs more than $4 a gallon. Food prices continue to rise. If your income is climbing ahead of these increases, that’s terrific. I’m happy for all three of you.
In these tough economic times, the rest of us must help each other.
I’ll share some of my best tips for living well on the cheap. I invite you to share yours. Hey, we’re in this together.
1. For example, see the photo above? I bought all those products at the 99-Cent Store on Hilltop Drive in Redding. (The limes and oregano were from Mexico. Everything else was from the U.S.)
These 99-Cent and Dollar Tree stores have things like canned fruits, mayonnaise, shampoo, toothpaste and even plastic wrap and waxed paper. Among my favorite 99-Cent Store finds were sacks of onions from Washington.
Some of my other favorite places to help cut grocery costs include Cash & Carry on Hartnell Avenue, the Grocery Outlet on Churn Creek Road and, believe it or not, Superior Thrift Store on South Market Street, all in Redding.
2. Back when I had a regular paycheck, I visited my hairdresser every five weeks. It was nice while it lasted, but it’s now a luxury I can no longer justify. Consequently, for many months now, I only visit my hairdresser for hair cuts, not hair color. This means I see her probably once every two months.
Regarding hair color (if you’re not into hair color, you might want to skip this part), I cannot believe I didn’t think of this sooner, but if you’re just coloring roots, you don’t have to use all the ingredients. Rather than mix all of both containers together (yes, as the directions say), empty about 1/3 of each mixture into another container. Shake it well and use as directed. Presto. One box of hair color (that I buy on sale) can last me three colorings.
3. Develop a Depression-era mentality when it comes to saving food. I’ve always been like that. It’s why I’ll turn stale bread into croutons, bread pudding and/or seasoned bread crumbs. It’s why I cannot throw away a chicken or turkey carcass because I’ll turn it into stock. It’s why I save little bits of this and that in my freezer that eventually find their way into meals.
4. Get pedicures, facials and manicures from local beauty colleges for a fraction of the cost. (Or buy a Ped Egg, as recommended by our friend, Kelly Brewer on Pink Hollyhock. Hey, I recently found some Peg Eggs at the Grocery Outlet for about $6.)
5. Buy clothes and housewares at thrift stores. Better yet, wait until the Salvation Army in downtown Redding (1557 Pine St.) holds its periodical 50-percent-off-everything sale. It’s usually on Fridays, but sometimes Saturdays. (There are some exceptions, like mattresses). One 50-percent-off day I found a beautiful black Liz Claiborne dress for my upcoming Dancing with the Stars gig. How much? Just $4!
Some even better deals may be found at The Attic at 1336 Oregon St. It’s a wonderful thrift store (for years it benefited Shasta County’s Family Service Agency). But its very best bargains are found on 10-cent Tuesdays. Ten cents!!!
6. Support your favorite restaurants: Can’t swing the price of dinner? Go for wine and appetizers or coffee and dessert. Whether it’s Market Street Steakhouse, Maritime Seafood & Grill, Vintage or Moonstone Bistro – all in Redding – it’s better to go sometimes and spend a little money than to stop going entirely because you can’t spend a lot.
OK. Those are my best tips. What are yours?
