Living the High Life in a Tough Economy

Everyone wants to cut costs in uncertain economic times. Certain costs like health or car insurance are foolish to reduce. Deferring maintenance can cost more in the long run; you should still change the oil in your car on a regular schedule.

Real cost savings can be realized with a little simple knowledge. Regardless of the economy, it is always nice to save money without giving up benefits. People that save you more money than you pay them are a good investment. Doctors, financial advisors, tax preparers/accountants, and attorneys fall into this group. If you cut these service providers out or reduce to a lesser qualified professional, your health could suffer, you could make a financial move that destroys your retirement plan, miss out on tax advantages, or end up with a costly legal problem.

You can still save on parts of these professional services. I have an nine year old daughter, Brooke and she is hard on her prescription eyeglasses. An eye exam usually costs under $100; the glasses and frames are the killer at $200 or more. The eye exam is the important part you don’t want to skimp on. These are your only set of eyes, you know. The glasses and frames are the part you can save big on. You can get glasses and frames at http://www.zennioptical.com/ for as little as $8. Yes, $8. You can choose from hundreds of frames and tinting or other add-ons. I have used Zenni Optical for years and am very happy. And the way Brooke destroys glasses it saves a ton of money. If you have seen me around the office, you never knew the difference. For $8, it might be worth a try.

Another area my family saves some money is groceries. I’ll pass on the coupon speech and go to an area most people are not even aware of, salvage groceries. It sounds a little disgusting until you know what it really means: dented cans, misplaced labeling, a box with a dented corner, and so on. Where I live, there is a salvage grocery store close by in Hilbert. You need to watch what you buy; not everything is a deal. However, canned soup, fruit, and vegetables are usually a bargain as long as you don’t mind a dented can or the label on upside down. Breakfast cereal and juice also are mostly reasonable. Check for a local salvage grocery store in your area and enjoy the savings.

There are many other ways to save money without sacrificing lifestyle. Even when the economy improves, these money-saving financial skills are valuable tools to have. This is a short article and it would be a wise investment to purchase a few books as a reference to a frugal budget, without living frugally. Two books that I enjoy the most are “Living Rich by Spending Smart” by Gregory Karp and “America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money” by Steve and Annette Economides (yes, that is their real name). You can browse Amazon.com for more books on the subject.

Here’s to the good life.

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Tax Prep & Accounting Services, Inc
1535 Plank Rd
Menasha WI 54952

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