Become A Baby Boomer Fruga-lista

You know when you reach a certain age you need to become a baby boomer fruga-lista. This is because if your on a fixed income then you need to be creative and not necessarily a cheap skate to stay afloat each month.

This blog is just to give you - the baby boomer fruga-lista - some ideas to make it through the month.

Empty fridge syndrome: I used to find that if I shopped every week I was throwing out a lot of food. If you basically use everything in your fridge before you go out grocery shopping the tip here is your less inclined to throw out a lot of food. I am not saying starve yourself - I am just saying throw less out. This will help you save money.

Eat in more - eat out less syndrome: If you eat out every day it will add up a lot. I am not saying never ever eat out - I am just saying - watch it - keep tabs - or eat out at cheaper venues. For some seniors - they go out every day for a coffee - and I am not saying never do it - as your social life needs some inter-action - otherwise - you might get depressed especially because of cabin fever.

Eat healthy: fruits and veggies are cheaper than a lot of red meat. I find that if I eat greasy food I start breaking out - ya - I hate that. So, I try to avoid that stuff. It could be hormones too - who knows - it just happens sometimes.

To stay out of the mall during the holidays is probably not going to work too well for you. Just don't impulse shop - take a list - and try to stick to your budget.

Going out with family and friends to eat: find out where they are going so you can plan what your eating. Remember, you can always choose a cheaper item on the menu or maybe just have a salad.

If your a movie fanatic try to go to cheap night at the show which is usually cheap Tuesday. Even your concessions are cheaper on Tuesday night. Maybe it is boring but I do watch a lot of my DVD's over and over again so that I don't get tempted into a Paper-view movie which will add up and go onto your cable bill.

Remember - walking is free - and - if your a people watcher and friendly you can run into neighbours - exchange  a smile or a hello - and when you get home you will feel really good. My doggie died some time ago and I really miss the walking with him. Unfortunately, I cannot afford the dog bills any longer so I have decided on a no pet policy for now. The dog bills actually really put my budget into turmoil. Yep, the dentist would be another one. Thank goodness I have a plan. Or, man oh man I would be in trouble.

I don't run in icy weather but I do a lot of exercising in front of the TV. That is free too. Stay away from paper-view movies as that will cost you. Go into all the free TV shows instead.

Curbing your spending will not happen overnight. Sometimes it is a life time of bad habits that we need to stop.

I am all for coupon shopping if you can control your spending. If your for sure buying an item you might as well save from the coupon.

I was trying to become a Coupon Queen but the only store worthwhile to shop where I live is Shopper's Drugmart. Not enough can be said about the Shopper's Optimum Program. Ya, it is a spend to get mentality but if your buying the items that you really need - well -  you might as well enjoy the points.

December and January are the worst months for me to save because your out xmas shopping and that does add up and your pocket book probably will take a hit. Try to create a list and stick to it. Don't over-indulge too much because it will take you how many more months to play catch-up.

People today are paying enormous amounts of money on rental housing. The problem for baby boomers is two-fold. First of all there really is no new affordable housing especially for the baby boomer. Most boomers are now paying about 50% of their income on rent and some even more. Secondly, if you don't want to live in a dump you will be paying for it. Better or more rent control is needed in this city if you ask me.

When you retire you think it will be easy to get a part-time job. Think again. Most of the time the employer will see that you are retired and I think they put you at the bottom of the pile. At least I think that is what has been happening. They don't realize that a lot of pensions are small and you are stuck between a rock and a hard place because Toronto is such an expensive city to live in.

Myself I don't give up too easy. I run a self-employed business that I hope will one day be my Plan B. At least for now I can get some tax right-offs. It also gets me out of the apartment net-working so that I don't suffer from cabin fever too often.

I always hope that maybe I will find a job in writing. Do Blogger's get paid? I tried Squidoo and that is a hard job keeping up with all the lenses you have to create. So for me I now go into the site when I am bored. At least writing keeps me out of the mall.

Forget doing surveys from home - been there - done that - they just don't pay enough to make it worth your while. At least not from my experience.

So between calling the temp agency, applying on-line for walmart, lcbo, shopper's drugmart - I just have to hope one day I will get a call for a part-time job. Oh ya - gave out dog flyers - and - that hasn't worked out too well for me.

So try to watch what you spend - and - don't beat yourself up if you fall down because - you just gotta brush yourself off and try over and over again - until you get good at it.

I believe the Universe will send me some good news on the financial front really soon. Oh, you didn't know I was psychic.

That's it for today.

Your - Diva Money Saver