| Sargent & Lundy Savings Investment Plan |
| PINCHING THOSE PENNIES |
| The following excerpts are from an article in the Spring
1997 issue of the "MFS Perspective" magazine. The opinions expressed
may or may not reflect those of the SIP Committee.
Are you eager for even more ways to wring extra money out of your household budget? They try some of these tips: 1. Encourage your kids to stop wasting electricity by promising them half the savings in the electric bill. They will start turning off lights with a zeal you've never witnessed. 2. Invest in a battery recharge. Rechargeable batteries are more expensive, but you'll save in the long run if you're constantly buying new batteries. 3. Store your bananas in airtight plastic bags. You may never have to throw away overripe fruit again. 4. Don't give up too soon on household items. Sandpaper can restore the sharpness of an old pair of scissors, for instance. 5. Wash your clothes in cold water. They'll last longer, and you'll save on your utility bill. 6. Don't grocery shop when you're hungry, and take a close look at the prices of generic products. They may still be cheaper, even when coupons let you buy brand names at a discount. 7. Abridge your book budget by waiting a year for the paperback version of bestsellers, and shop for music at used CD shops. 8. To save on prescription sunglasses, bring an old paid or glasses to an eyecare store and have them tined. 9. Place an egg time in front of you when placing long-distance calls, which, or course, you'll want to make when rates are lower in the evening and on weekends. 10. Don't make calls from hotel rooms. Avoid the standard hotel surcharge by using the pay telephone in the lobby. ll. Rediscover the last art of letter-writing to cut down on the number of times you call faraway friends or family members. For distant relatives, consider sending a videotaped greeting once in a while to cut down on the number of expensive phone calls. 12. Don't forget the wisdom of "a stitch in time saves nine." A tape rewinder will prolong the life of your VCR, and regular oil changes will make your car last longer. 13. Immediately after the last snowflake falls, remove the ski rack from the roof of your car. The improved aerodynamics will give you better gas mileage, as will unloading unnecessary heavy items from the trunk. 14. Keep your tires properly inflated and don't spend extra for premium gasoline. Most cares run just fine on 87 octane. 15. When purchasing anew car, catch a better discount by shopping during dealers' slow periods -- February or the two weeks before Christmas. Also, avoid models that thieves favor. You'll save on auto insurance. 16. Get to know the salespeople at your favorite stores. They may let you know if items you want to buy will be discounted in the weeks ahead. 17. If possible, expand your wardrobe at the end of the seasons, when retailers mark down merchandise. 18. Boys' clothes are cheaper than girls', so shop for your daughter's jeans and play clothes in the boys' department. 19. As a birthday gift for young grandchildren, nieces or nephews, tape record yourself reading their favorite books. (Be sure to provide cues on when to turn the page.) 20. If you can't resist those lottery tickets, invest a dollar for every one you play on the lottery. Then, at the end of the year, take a look at which provided you the better return. |
This page updated on 7/28/98