YOU CAN INCREASE YOUR INCOME BY CUTTING YOUR SPENDING

In our society, money is a god. The economic demands of today's society often make it difficult for a family to make ends meet on one earner's salary. There is a daily challenge to master your money so that it will go the farthest in a way that will honor God with our stewardship and trust.

Ways to save money in the home:

Just say No. Say no to magazine subscriptions, lunch dates, cosmetic surgery, concert and athletic events tickets. You don't have to share all your financial dealings with those who invite you out, or expect you to join a team, but you can honestly - and graciously - state that your family has not budgeted for that expense.

Cut corners. Shop garage sales, estate sales, and resale shops. You can find clothes, toys, tools, and home furnishings at bargain prices. Clip coupons, buy generic-brand products, buy in quantities, and carefully consider each purchase to stretch the budget from one paycheck to the next.

Be inventive. Plant a garden. A few peppers, tomatoes, and herbs planted each summer can help you save money. Learn to sew. Hang clothes on a line to dry. Learn a craft to make gifts. Cook from scratch. Make and take your lunch to work. Watch the thermostat settings and eliminate unnecessary use of electrical appliances. Write letters instead of calling long distance. Find a hairstyle that doesn't require frequent haircuts.

Do it yourself. Cut your kids' hair, perm your own hair, garden, tackle household repairs, exchange favors with others. Start a babysitting or food co-op.

Create your own entertainment. Have picnics, go camping, frequent restaurants where kids eat free, attend community events. Become a regular at your library, take a drive. Learn to appreciate sunsets and babbling brooks. Take advantage of free college, high school, and church events. Make visiting, or entertaining other families, your entertainment (play a board game or share a rented movie). Learn to shop rather than to buy.

Angie Peters is a stay-at-home mom, professional writer and editor. She has written for publications such as Today's Christian Woman, ParentLife and Christian Home and School. She and her family live in Benton, Ark.

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