Ways to save during hard times

     I saw on Yahoo! Financials today that there's a certain day of the week when you can expect to save money more than at other times.  Guess what day it was?  WEDNESDAY!  And I always thought it was Tuesday!
     Wednesday is supposed to be the day you save money on buying groceries, the day when the biggest sales occur.  And if you go about two hours before closing, you might even get some great sales on bakery stuff and meat.
    Wednesday is also the day to guy gasoline at the lowest price, just before the big hike for the weekend.  Wednesday is also the day you can buy online kids' and women's clothes for the cheapest price.  And plane tickets...if you buy about 1 a.m.!
    I tell you all of this because way before Yahoo! came out with their good news, we started a contest here at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library for staff members.  The contest was for the best ways to save money.  Each staff member with a suggestion was to write their entry on a slip of paper and post it to the break room door.  And, believe me, we have some good suggestions.  Such as:

• Shop at discount stores, cut coupons and look in sales papers, limit expensive soft drinks to one per day for each person in the household, buy generic, limit trips to town, limit eating out, limit luxury items and wants.
• Bring lunch from home, buy clothing on clearance only, use a lot of generics or store brand, use cash instead of debit or charge cards.
• Buy grocery store brands whenever possible for milk, cereal, oatmeal, etc.  You can save $5 or $6 alone just on two boxes of cereal.  And tastes just as good.
• Get items from the dollar store that you use regularly (freezer bags, foil, dish soap, etc.), buy nearly-new (sometimes new with the sale tags still on) clothes at Goodwill.
• Check the following website for current gasoline prices; just enter the zipcode and you will get the current prices for numerous stations in that area, as well as a map showing where the stations are located.  http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx
• One person said: the way I save money is only spend on the things I really need.  Times are very hard now, but through the grace of God, I will survive.

     These were just a few of the suggestions.  But I want to give you one more.  September is National Library Card Sign-up Month.  By signing up for a library card, you can save bundles of money.  With the money you save here at the library on books, DVDs, audio books, magazines, newspapers, computers and a host of other choices, you'll have more money for gasoline, for food and clothing, and maybe even a little money for something special, whether it's a trip to the dentist or a trip to visit grandma.
     Just remember, we're here to help you save during hard times.  We're one of the friendliest places in town and we're always looking for ways to help.