Everyone has been buzzing about the economy and cut backs and job layoffs, but is the economy really that bad? Who is all of this affecting the most? Right now, gas prices are down, making us believe that if we wished to go anywhere, we could. A friend told us that a few months ago, a cross country trip would have been out of the question. Now, he is looking to doing just that, soon.

Seemingly, the personal finances for some people are horrible for a number of reasons, not necessarily reflecting current overall circumstances. Some people simply live beyond their means. We have come up with personal strategies that seem to work, and I would like to share them with you.

1) Stop eating out so often, and if you do want to do so, have a nice breakfast or lunch. People should consume the most calories of the day in those two meals as it is better for digestion, burning calories, and also easier on your pocketbook.

2) Cook meals that can be heated up easily. Soups, stews, and casseroles are examples of this kind of hearty fare. If you have a bread making machine, all the better. The smell of homemade bread will fill the house with a wonderful fragrance, and the resulting bread can be sliced and toasted, or made into “French Toast” for breakfast. In making meals that continue to “give,” you save money and energy.

3) Combine errands when you go out. Plan the trip around what you need to do, and what you need to pick up.

4) When in the grocery store, shop with a list, turning a blind eye to all the “extra” goodies like cupcakes, candy, and other such treats.

5) At restaurants, order water, even if you have to pay for bottled water. It is far better for your health than soda or other sugared drinks, and you can save in a number of ways, including preventing diabetes.

6) If you want an occasional candy bar, buy one. Just don’t buy the whole bag.

7) If you commute a long distance from work, consider either getting a different job, or moving closer to your place of employment.

Mend clothes. Don’t throw them away. Learn to do simple things like sewing on a button, or shortening or repairing hems, or darning a “hole” in a sock. Our grandmothers repaired clothing to extend the life of garments, especially in hard times. You can do it, too.

9) For entertainment, try taking a walk, or working on some creative hobby, or watching television, rather than going to a movie.

10) Turn down the thermostat at night, if you heat with gas or oil. Even five degrees will make a big difference in your bill. A nighttime setting of 62 seems to work well here. Any lower temperature makes my bones ache.

11) Don’t take “long, luxurious baths,” particularly in winter. They dry your skin and waste hot water and the energy to heat it. Our ancestors did quick wash-ups and kept very clean in that manner. Of course, it was that, or go to the well, haul in buckets of water, chop the wood, make a fire, and heat the water sufficiently. Quick showers are fine, if they are quick, which they usually are NOT, especially if used by a teenager.

12) This tip is the most critical of all: Don’t run up credit card debt. If you have a card, spend only as much as you can pay off, when the bill arrives. Credit cards are the bane of modern existence and especially gets young people “in over their head.” Debit cards are susceptible to fraud and are not good to even have.

I’m out of advice, and you are out of time, so that makes two of us with limitations. I hope these tips will resonate with someone who reads them, and I hope that if you are having financial difficulties, you will be able “to see the light,” soon. There is nothing more depressing than not being on top of spending habits, and nothing more frustrating when a person realizes that the amount of money coming in is not equal to what should be going out.

We all look to a better day for all,

Patricia Cummings

Every year, every American is entitled to a free copy of his or her credit report from one of the three major agencies that keeps track of such things. Most of us do not concern ourselves with bothering to request a print out. The two occasions that I have taken the time to ask for a copy, I was in for surprises.

The first time, I found that my report had been all tied up with someone of the same first and last names. She lives in my home state. She is a deadbeat and someone who freely uses credit cards and doesn’t bother to pay on them. That situation took months to clear.

Yesterday, I decided to check again. Seems that I am a bigamist who has two husbands, one of whom prolifically spends and has all kinds of accounts. The report, in fine print, amounts to no less than 31 pages.

I have my work cut out for me again, I see. There are so many entries, it would take forever to sift through them, checking numbers of accounts. So, I am going to ask for a re-do of the report, and for them to delete this “other” man from my life. Unlike the unwanted person previously tied up with my credit record, at least this man seems to pay his bills, a real plus!

Did you know that you can have too much “credit” – thus making you unworthy of more? This can become a factor, if you are asking for a loan or trying to buy a car. You see, credit cards often automatically “reward” you by increasing your credit line. Potential creditors fear that if you use all of your available credit, you may not be able to meet your new obligations. Too much credit on the books can mean denial, even if you pay off all your credit card balances monthly.

Just a few random thoughts for you. We live in an imperfect world, but if I could have my d’ruthers, I’d like people to know that I pay my bills and I’m married to just one guy. I suppose that virtue is its own reward but its nice to see it reflected … on paper!

Do yourself a favor. Ask for your today. Experian is one of the agencies that does this, and there are two others.

Patricia Cummings,