I’m hemorrhaging money. Every time I fill up, run to the grocery for a few things, get what my kids need, it’s like opening an almost healed wound only to have it bleed again.
I’ll leave others to debate the “why” of record high gas prices, food prices, utilities and on and on and just say that for me and my neighbors, we are squeezed. As moms, neighbors, community members, we should help each other out with advice and tips to weather this season stressing our budgets.
I live in a middle class, formerly rural, community about an hour south of Atlanta. My neighbors are truck drivers, airline employees, 
medical professionals, state workers and others who tend to commute that hour for their jobs. Five dollar a gallon gas is literally causing people to make drastic changes in their lifestyles and standard of living.
One of my neighbors called for money saving suggestions in our neighborhood social media group and some of the answers were shocking. Several people suggested skipping meals. Others have resulted to double up in housing because they can’t afford the increased rent. My heart goes out to those faced with choices between gas and groceries. I’m afraid that is happening more than any of us realize.
Operating from a point of view that you put your oxygen mask on first, before assisting others, here are the best of tips offered in social media post. Maybe by tightening up on our end, we will be able to help those who can’t tighten any more. If you find yourself needing help, ask, your community will help you.
- #1 tip- stay home (and stay off the computer if online shopping is too tempting)
- Work from home if you can, or as much as you can
- If your utility company allows for budget billing, sign up
- Evaluate your expenses and shop around for insurance, cell phone plans, cable packages
- Read your bank statements (how many times does it say Chick-fil-A???)
- Garden and if you have extra, share
- Don’t eat out
- Skip manicures & pedicures
- Combine trips, shop once a week
- Rice and beans , breakfast for dinner, frozen meatballs are cheaper than ground beef for spaghetti
- Drink Water! Make old school Kool-Aid from packets or tea (skip soda, juices)
- Add extenders such as corn or beans to Hamburger Helper
- Use Coupons
- Shop at the Farmer’s Market
- Search for grocery shop where you gas discounts
- Replace cookies & snacks with Jello (the box kind you make)
- Check prices but also check volume. Many companies haven’t raised prices, but they have decreased the amount you are getting for that price. It may not be a bargain.
- Visit the library for books and activities
- Take advantage of free summer meals for kids if your school district offers those
- Do you need all those streaming services or phone apps?
- Clean houses, pet sit, babysit for extra cash
- Pay off or pay down credit cards. Interest rates are going up.
Even if you aren’t as affected by higher costs personally, consider this a wake-up call to do a financial check-up. It’s a great time to look at your payments, insurance and other negotiated expenses. Whereas natural disasters have the Waffle House factor (is it bad enough that Waffle House can’t operate?) economists have a Walmart factor. So goes Walmart, so goes the rest of us “little people” and the news from stores such as Walmart and Target show that non-essential spending is slowing down. The “R” word, recession, is being whispered on the business channels. If you are looking for red flags, they are flying.
Some of my neighbors were already making plans to scale back Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is a good time to mention saving for Christmas or taking advantage of the big box stores’ inventory dump and buy for Christmas now. It is likely the selection you are used to won’t be there due to stores anticipating slimmer sales. Scout eBay, and other resellers as people clean out closets to raise cash.
As for my family, we are taking advantage of the free summer meals provided by our school district. They are offered to all students this summer and I am using them to supplement groceries. I am trying to curtail driving to a couple of days a week and combining trips. My summer to-do list includes a forensic look at my bank statements and credit card statements to highlight impulse buys and bad habits. I am also cleaning out and preparing for a garage sale.
Finally, ask for help if you need it and give if you can. This too shall pass, but together we can make it bearable. Love thy neighbor!
