K.K.
The only thing that I found that keeps me sane when money gets tight is to try to be proactive about it. I clip coupons like crazy- The Palm Beach Post website is a great place to find them. I also tend to food shop at Walmart or Target because it is a HUGE difference from the prices at Publix or Winn Dixie. I shop around for the cheapest gas (none is cheap LOL but the least expensive). Sometimes meal planning helps too- creating a menu for the week and using the leftovers from one meal to make another. Brown bag lunches are one of the most important ways we try to save money. My husband takes a lunch to work (either a microwavable meal or leftovers) 4 out of 5 days (sometimes 3 out of 5) and it saves us a ton. If you figure $6 per day if you buy lunch out (and that's conservative)- if you buy lunch 5 times a week that's $30 a week just on lunch! Add that up and it's like $120 a month. It's well worth it to pack lunch.