Living on Less: Tips for Stretching Pennies
Karma Metzgar, C.F.C.S. Former Northwest Regional Nutrition Specialist
Nodaway County Extension Center, University Outreach and Extension

Weekly headlines in rural Missouri tell of layoffs, business closings and the financial state of the State of Missouri. It’s not a pretty picture. To make ends meet, the "flexible" spending account of food is tapped because that may be the only budget item that has some give and take. 

What can you do? This is the perfect time to plant a garden or have patio or sidewalk containers of vegetables. Read on to find out that gardening does more than put food on the table! We also can learn to live with less. Living on less can relate to money, food, transportation, clothing, entertainment and extras. Living on less doesn't always mean doing without, but it takes some management. 

There are many ways to stretch what you have. A University Extension guide on Money Management: Living on Less (GH 3600) has 30 suggestions for food; 18 for clothing; 15 for transportation; 12 for personal habits; 26 for housing; and 11 suggestions for managing money. Most of the ideas are practical, everyday things you can do to cut expenses. If you'd like the guide, it is free through your local university extension center. Or view it on the WEB at http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/famecon/gh3600.htm. 

I'll share a few of the suggestions to help you live on less food-that doesn't necessarily mean going on a weight-reduction diet, it means examining your "nutrition" buying habits and making your dollars purchase the most nutrition. For example you could: 

• Shop with a grocery list organized by the store layout...and buy only what is on the list. This is called planned, controlled shopping. I've used this strategy for years and it makes my dollars go further. 
• Keep your food shopping trips to no more than once a week. This will save gas, time and money. I often go two to three weeks between shopping trips. 
• Plan the use of leftovers. Millions of dollars worth of food are wasted each year. When you put leftovers (or planned overs) in the refrigerator, make a note to put on the refrigerator. Sometimes leftovers will feed the family, others make a single serving perfect for snacking, carried lunches, or frozen meals for later use. 
• Break the vending machine habit. Vending machines can be expensive. Take items from home, or plan a limit to how much you will plunk into the machines. 
• Eat a variety of foods. If your family stays healthy, you will save on medical bills. A diet low in fat and following the food guide pyramid is proof. 
• Control the number of meals you eat away from home. Meals eaten away from home usually cost two to three times the cost of preparing them at home. I realize time sometimes is a factor. 
• Plant a garden-even a small one adds variety to the table. There are other benefits too besides saving money and putting food on the table. Gardening is an excellent exercise. 

Gardening involves: 

• Squatting-Exercises leg muscles and firms the thighs 
• Bending-Stretches the back and slims the waist 
• Spading-Strengthens the biceps, triceps and legs 
• Raking-Works the upper back, biceps and triceps 
• Loaded Wheelbarrow-Takes almost every muscle one has 
• Fresh Air-Good for the lungs 
• Sunshine-Good for the complexion, hair and smile-but wear a hat and sunscreen 
• Garden Beauty-Good for the eye and the soul

You may already be using some of these ideas, and not every idea will work for you. Choose the ones that will be the most helpful and be in control of living on less.