How to Save Money in Hard Times

Now that we are firmly entrenched in a seemingly endless economical downturn, many people are finding it difficult to adjust. Disposable income is shrinking by the day and, in many homes across this land, depression is settling in as an unwelcome guest.

There just doesn't seem to be enough to go around, and this is threatening the harmony and in some cases, the very fabric of once happy, co-operative marriages and families.

Wives blame husbands and vice-versa; children rebel at cuts in their allowances and don't understand why they have to be penalized because some greedy, dishonest adults in Wall Street messed up.

Some of the following ideas might help to lighten things up a bit:

• Call a conference. Ideally, the whole family should get together around the table for an open problem solving discussion without any finger pointing whatsoever.
• Get everyone involved in a brainstorming session on how to cut expenses. Write each suggestion down, no matter how bizarre or impractical it may seem, and then refine it until some workable results start to emerge.
• Vote on the best suggestion and reward the winner. For example, breakfast in bed, reduced chores for a week, a homemade ice cream fest with the winner as the guest of honor, whatever seems like fun.
• Draw up a preliminary family budget that everyone agrees upon, and schedule a follow-up debugging session in a couple of week's time.
• Keep it light and have some fun. That way everyone will co-operate and the whole family wins.

You'll be surprised at some of the suggestions that could emerge. How about a weekly fun and games evening? Charades, Monopoly, Truth or Dare, Trivial Pursuits, go fish, and so on. A family cookout or picnic where each person is responsible for one menu item and the most delicious appetizer, salad, marinated and barbecued portion or desert is rewarded. Why not a car wash day where anything goes and nobody is allowed to keep dry. Instead of going to an expensive movie, rent a couple of videos and microwave some popcorn. Make a glitzy floating trophy and paint it gold, then have a handicapped X-box, Playstation or Wii tournament, (so that the grown-ups stand a chance)... whatever sounds like fun.

Make a game out of cutting expenses and think of enjoyable ways to do so. The payoff will be well worthwhile.