On 15/05/10 16:07, Bill wrote:
Transition from "American Dream" living to "3rd world country" living.

Do dishes by hand.

That often consumes more water with today's efficient dishwashers.

Buy the ingredients for food and make it yourself instead or eating at
restaurants or buying frozen dinners.

There's an odd thing. If I cook "nice" food (as opposed to designed to
be cheap) it can be as expensive as ready meals...

Search for frugal recipes.

That's the key...

Take showers instead of a bath, turn off the water while soaping up, and
take showers only when necessary. Maybe skip showers on weekends if you are
not going out. Fewer showers in the winter, but of course two showers in one
day might be needed in the summer if working out in the hot sun - just what
is needed is the idea.

Yep.


Don't see the latest movies, be content with the old movies. Disconnect
cable TV. Instead buy old VHS tapes at yard sales. These are selling for 50
cents each at yard sales now in my area. For $30 a month, you can begin to
acquire a very large collection of VHS tapes. (Use the cable TV money
instead for this.)

Yep, s/Tape/DVD/



Instead of heating/cooling the entire house, just heat/cool one room. Living
room during the day, just bedroom at night. Of course on very cold evenings,
keep the whole house (especially bathrooms/kitchen) warm enough so pipes
don't freeze).

Go shopping once a month. Have 2 of each item like ketchup, mayonnaise, etc.
When you run out of something, use the 2nd item, and write it down on the
list. Then you only need to go shopping once a month. Then go to the least
expensive store, buy generic items rather than name brand. Saves on
gasoline.

Or use Internet shopping - gives more time to browse for the special
offers and you can do it from your kitchen so you can be sure what you
need. Delivery of often free at certain times of the day, or is no worse
than the fuel costs of running the car.

I shop once per week, which with Waitrose stuff, is often just about the
use by period of the food.


Also buy the newest most energy efficient "Energy Star" appliances. I bought
a new refrigerator which reduced my electric bill by $15 a month. That paid
for itself in 5 years.

Lean to add....
$15 x 12 months = $180.
$180 x 5 years = $900.
The new refrigerator cost $800.

Energy saving tips...
http://www.energystar.gov


But do the sums... If you buy a cheap piece of crap and it dies after 2
years, you haven't won.

--
Tim Watts

Hung parliament? Rather have a hanged parliament.