How to Live Large Cheaply

You'll learn to creatively survive and thrive in a struggling economy while using resources that are new to you.

Things You'll Need

• Creativity, open-mindedness, resources

Instructions

Food

1. Learn to exploit the learning curve of up-and-coming chefs at a culinary arts and hospitality program at a school near you.

2. Use coupons for your local health food store. They're found in the back of Energy Times Magazine which is distributed at most health food stores.

3. Check the discontinued items cart at the grocery store and pay as little as $1 for what used to be a $3-$4 energy drink.

4. Buy cheap organic groceries at a discount grocery store.

5. Check your church calendar for Fellowship Dinner Days and enjoy eating mega-church style.

Repairs and Bartering

1. Let your friend who knows how to do plumbing fix your $3 part on your toilet instead of hiring a plumber.

2. Buy rebuilt computers instead of new.

3. Try bartering. If you have a friend who is a groomer, for instance, and you have a dog, do dictation for the groomer's office in exchange for free baths for your pup.

4. Use your skills to teach at a facility where you would like a discount or free use of amenities, i.e., music teacher at a music store, yoga instructor at a local gym.

5. Attend Chamber of Commerce mixers for networking. Check your yellow pages for the phone number.

Entertainment

1. Cancel all subscriptions, ditch Netflix, and check out movies at the library for free with a library card. You can keep them for a week.

2. Become a docent at a local museum.

3. Volunteer at your favorite venue as an usher to get to see free concerts, ball games, and theater events.

4. Trade CDs, DVDs, and books at a used book store or other local buy/sell/trade places to update your collection without expense.

5. Start an entertainment blog and get free access to shows and hook up with promo DVDs, books, or CDs.

6. Buy tickets at halftime for any professional sporting event or during intermission for any performance.

7. 

   Adopt an animal from an animal shelter for cheaper than you would a pet store if you're in the market for a new pet. It's a furry companion for free entertainment.

8. Access hyenascomedynightclub.com to sign up for free passes on certain nights if you like comedy.

Miscellaneous

1. Bring the kid to the meeting and let him play with other kids there at kid-friendly meetings if you're in a recovery program and can't find or afford a babysitter for your child.

2. Get free HIV testing. Most health department offer these for those who cannot afford it.

3. Check out Catholic Charities in your town for financial services if you're disabled, elderly, a refugee, or have a child.

4. Turn off your water heater between uses to save costs, try cat litter instead of air freshener, use wax paper instead of Swifter refills.

5. Use coupons only for items you regularly buy.

Shopping

1. Check out thrift stores. Even thrift stores have sales..

2. Shop at a discount grocery store. You can buy two weeks' worth of groceries for $30.00.

3. Go to dollar stores for underwear and bras, ladies.

4. Buy off-brand items including perfume.

5. Stock up on soap.

6. Buy trial size or sample shampoos.

7. Check out debtorsanonymous.org

Jobs

1. Sign up with some temp agencies. Today's Temporaries, for instance, will pay you daily.

2. Check out the various job listings on the net such as careercity.com, careermag.com, careers.org, careershop.com, careersite.com, cweb.com, and careermosaic.com.

3. Peruse the bulletin board at city hall for clerical openings on a weekly basis.

4. Participate in market research studies occasionally for pay. The Chamber has a list of companies they can email you who hire frequently as well as a list of companies .

5. Check out cleaning, pet and house sitting, and errand services for jobs.

6. Look for jobs at the numerous workforce centers in various towns.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for bargains.

• Grocery shop on Wednesdays for deals.

• Eat breakfast or lunch at a nearby hospital cafeteria.

• Don't pay to park.

• Don't leave at lunch if you work in the office.

• Provide for yourself so you can provide for your pets if you have any.

Resources

• bargain shopping
• saving and spending money tips
• thrifty living