Keep Your Pantyhose On

Suggestions for saving money and improving quality of life

The current economic uncertainty has many of us seeking ways to cut back on expenses and streamline our lifestyle. Using grocery discount coupons or looking for those “buy one, get one free” meal tickets have become commonplace. Restaurants have recognized the changes in dining habits and have established reduced prices on various menu items. And those of us who are seniors can always take advantage of special buying days, such as 15 percent off on purchases on Wednesdays at Kohl’s department store.

The latest issue of the AARP Bulletin ran a feature titled “99 Great Ways to Save,” and even though the publication is for seniors, many of the suggestions are applicable to all. I suspect most of us are attempting to maintain and improve the quality of life we now enjoy and are always looking for ways to do so. Several of the suggestions could be considered bordering on improvements in quality, and thus I concluded that this subject would be appropriate for Quality Digest Daily.

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Comments

Dental School

Bill,

I know you're writing in jest - but the dental school thing is a really good bit of advice. Many people I know here in central NC with no dental insurance get first-rate care at UNC Dental School. The students ARE all supervised by professors - those are the experts the rest of us would pay a fortune just to have a consultation with. I have a dental plan, but the amount covered by the insurance any more is the real joke. I recently paid around $100 out of pocket for my daughter's checkup and cleaning - above the insurance, which is supposed to cover 100% of 'reasonable and customary' charges for this service. I'm seriously considering transferring our care to the dental school too. That's some savings to sink your teeth into!

Dental school

Carla - thanks for your feedback. Yes, my comments were tongue in cheek and dental school is a great alternative to the high cost of having our teeth cleaned and filled. Thanks for writing and keep reading Quality Digest.

Saving water (and money)

Here in Oregon, we don't worry about taking too long in the shower. We just take a bar of soap with us outside and benefit from mother nature's constant showers. Works for about 9-10 months out of the year. In summer time when the rain stops for a few weeks, we just skip bathing and don't get too close to each other.

Turn the thermostat down

Turning the thermostat down can help a lot... but using a programmable thermostat is even better. Instead of using pans of water near the vents, get a humidifier. It's easier, cleaner, and less temptation for pets and kids! We installed a heat pump with a very efficient back-up furnace a few years ago. It made a huge difference in the heat bills in the winter. It also gave us central air in the summer which we hadn't had before. (This is not a cheap investment but the savings over a few years can add up quickly - it paid for itself in 2 years for us).