My Frugal Life: Surviving the Current Economic Times

I'm surviving the current economic times by using coupons on everything I can. One grocery store puts out a $10 coupon off a $50 gas card if you purchase $25 in groceries in their store. That is not difficult and you can use coupons on the $25 order. I buy my food, cosmetics, pantyhose, anything in the grocery store or discount drug stores with coupons. A lot of the things I get for free, or almost free, with coupons are donated to a local food pantry/community center. At the end of the year, I can deduct the donated items from my taxes.

I buy all the food I can from the store that gives Fuel Perks, $.05 per $50 in groceries, off my gas purchases. I'm also taking advantage of a free food truck that comes to my friend's church each week. She says what they don't give away (donated from local stores) is fed to the hogs, so she invited me to partake of the produce and bakery items. Last week, we got Bing Cherries at the free truck. They were $3.99 a lb. in the store.

For clothing, I either buy it very cheaply on clearance in a retail store, or go to Goodwill to their $1 racks. Sometimes, everything in the store is 1/2 off the marked price as on Labor Day.

I take advantage of all the free Grand Openings at businesses, free health fairs, free lunches if you listen to a senior topic such as Insurance or Medicare subjects. My senior friends alert me to all the things I don't know about. We invite each other as guests as these functions.

The oil in my car is changed free every 3 months by a local church who has an Oil Change Ministry. Not only do they change the oil in the cars for single and disabled men and women, but check out the car completely and give you a written report.

My entertainment each week is free Bluegrass/Gospel music. For other free entertainment, I check out the Free Happenings in my local newspaper.

Each week, I lead a Coupon Club. We share tips on what is on sale where, and exchange coupons. Although I collect coupons from many sources, this also gives me coupons I need. I also teach others, free, how to use coupons.

By Betty Gibson from Williamston, SC

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