A Cheaper Cut... Cutting your family's hair at home can save time and money. You will have to invest in a good pair of scissors and perhaps clippers, but keep your eyes open for these items at yard sales. Books and videos are available at the library to teach you the basics. If your first attempts are on a wiggly toddler, prepare a box of 'goodies' for him to sort through while you snip. I've filled a bucket with costume jewelry and various harmless trinkets that emerges only during haircuts so the novelty doesn't wear off. Its likely that your first few cuts won't be flawless, but as with everything, practice makes (almost) perfect. If you just can't imagine taking up the scissors, check out a local beauty school for drastically reduced rates.

Keep Your Cool for Less... Its summer again and the mercury is rising. Running the air conditioning 24-7 can really increase your utility bill. Try the following five suggestions to keep your home comfortable and your costs manageable.

1. Leave windows open at night to collect cool night air. In the morning, shut the drapes and block as much incoming sun as possible. You may feel like you live in a cave, but at least its a cool cave. If you need some light, lounge on the lawn and leave the heat outside.


2. Plan summertime meals. Using the oven generates a lot of heat in your kitchen. Try eating more dinner salads, cool fruity desserts, quick stove-top recipes, and outdoor grilling whenever possible. When you do bake, cook in batches. You can make 4 loaves of banana bread while your casserole is cooking and freeze the excess.
3. Turn the air conditioning off while you sleep. If your bedroom tends to get too warm, hang a damp sheet in front of a fan for a cool breeze.
4. Install ceiling fans. Moving air is a lot less stifling, even if its warm air. You'll find the fans to be a good investment in the winter as well. Turning on a ceiling fan during the winter will force warm air down that has risen to the ceiling.
5. Plan to play in the water. Conserve water by swimming in community pools or local lakes rather than splashing in the sprinklers. For young children, host a "Pool Party" in the bathtub. Put a few inches of tepid water in the tub, dress the kids in their swimming suits, and serve popsicles. Use beach towels to dry off.

Toothpaste, Shampoo, Hand Soap - 1/2 Price!!... Make your toiletries last much longer and stretch your shopping dollar by using this simple technique. Try using half the usual amount of product per use. It's no accident that the directions on a shampoo bottle give instructions like, "Use a quarter size drop for short hair, more for long. Shampoo, rinse, repeat". How about toothpaste commercials that show smiling people (who really looks that happy in the morning?) squeezing a full, thick, inch of toothpaste on their brush? Use a dime sized portion of shampoo, a pea sized squeeze of toothpaste and train your family to only pump once on the hand soap. You'll be amazed at how much longer they will last!

Lost Arts... Not so long ago, when a family needed a loaf of bread, some new curtains, and toilet bowl cleaner, they couldn't simply pile in the car and head to Walmart. Our great- grandparents knew how to do all kinds of neat stuff and had lots of knowledge that has been lost to subsequent generations. Fortunately for us, volumes of books have been published to help us re-learn the lost art of Do-It-Yourself. Bread really can be made from flour, water, and yeast, curtains are just sewn fabric, and household cleaners can be made from cheap ingredients like vinegar and bleach. The best part? Learning is fun! Make a it a personal goal to learn at least one new skill per month, and while you're at it, teach your kids!

Where does it all go?... Have you taken a family spending inventory lately? Grab your last bank statement and categorize every penny spent in the last 30 days. You may be surprised at where your hard earned money is going. If one category seems particularly bloated (grocery, entertainment, and *miscellaneous* are typical budget busters), spend an hour brainstorming with your family ways to trim the fat. Set a specific goal (i.e. resolve to drop $50 off of your food bill), create a concrete plan, and review your progress weekly. Plan a special treat as a celebration when you meet your goal. Next month, plan another family budget challenge. This is not only a great way to save money, but a fun way to teach children about planned spending.

Begin saving by tossing in pocket change at the end of each day. Kids can help by adding pennies they find or even donating a few quarters from their allowance.
Every pay day, add a set amount as well. If you normally budget $50 per week on groceries, and only spend $48.65, put the extra $1.35 in the jar. If you deposit your
paycheck at the bank, deposit an even dollar amount and save the rest. If receive any unexpected money (a bonus at work, money from a relative), put some in the jar.

You'll be amazed at how quickly the money will add up. In December, the entire family will enjoy the treat they've saved for and you won't have to stress about paying for it
in February.

Please visit... the Library for books on tightwad living, frugal cooking, and family finance.