No matter what all the politicians might be saying about our economy and how bad things are not yet, the average person with a family to support can feel what is really happening. Although our lifestyles may not have gotten to the point of the great depression, we all know that things have definitely taken a turn in the past couple of years and it has not been for the better.

It seems that all of our wallets are getting a little lighter just a little quicker these days. We find that there is not as much extra money, if any, left over to do some of the simple things we used to enjoy so much easier than now. Small things like going to the movies with our kids, spending too much at the grocery store, or just going somewhere in the car because we want to get out of the house.

Since it is costing us a lot more now for gasoline for our car, fuel or electricity to heat and cool our homes, and more money to adequately fill up our refrigerators, all the other fun activities we have become accustomed to are not seeming quite as important these days. There are a few simple things we can do that will help ease this money crunch, even if it is only a small amount.

Stop making all those unnecessary trips to the store. Set aside one or two times a week at the most to visit the grocery store if possible. Make a list and do your best to stick to it and not give in to impulsive buying. A large percentage of our money goes for buying groceries and household supplies. It might be time to lower your standards a bit and try out some of the cheaper brands for certain items. You may actually be surprised at how well they will perform compared to their more expensive counterparts.

People who live in large cities with public transportation have long taken advantage of these services. When you live in rural areas there may not be any public transportation, but carpooling with friends to do things like taking the kids to school, shopping, or any other activity that can be done together using one vehicle is a great idea.

If you are lucky enough to have certain things in walking distance, by all means get some exercise, give the car a rest, save a little gas, and walk. It has never killed anyone and it is after all, good for you. These might seem like small things, but over a years time it could actually save you several hundred dollars and give you that extra trip or two to the movies.