June 11, 2008
101 ways to save
1. I cut back on meat and eat a whole lot of fruits and vegetables.
Jackie Click, Statesville
2. I parked my riding mower and I got one of those push types.
Nellie Myers, 68, Statesville
3. I make a list, and I don’t do the spur of the moment trips.
Phyllis Imes, 61, Statesville
4. Bring your lunch to work instead of dining out every day.
Phyllis Deal, 63
5. I don’t eat at expensive restaurants as much.
Harold Pendergrass, Statesville, 68
6. I have a bad habit of overspending. I’m like a kid, so I had to stop that.
Jonathan Smith, 64, Statesville
7. We haven’t planned a vacation.
Brenda Yount, North Iredell, 64
8. I try not to use my air conditioner.
Alysia Owen, 33
9. We are eating at home more.
Nancy Paslay, 55, Statesville
10. I had a diesel truck and I got this Honda Accord.
Sharon Robertson, Mooresville, 43
11. My house is more energy efficient.
Tim Fitzsimmons, 35, Mooresville
12. We try not to double up on trips, if we don’t have too.
Brian Smith, 46, Statesville
13. We used to eat out in Cornelius. We just started eating locally or at the house.
Michael Rufty, 41, Statesville
14. Do some comparison shopping at different stores, and try to buy in quantities as long as its cost effective.
Brenda Speece, Statesville, 56
15. I’m going to learn how to drive a motorcycle.
Patty Littwin, 46, Mooresville
16. I have cut out recreational flying.
Charlie Littwin, 44, Mooresville
17. Just live closer to your job.
Richard Caparco, 47, Troutman
18. We need to get the oil. I don’t drive anymore than I have to.
Dennis Clary, 62, Statesville
19. You don’t let your car get down to E.
Barbara Washington, 48, Charlotte
20. Buy all your groceries at one place.
Joyce Clodfelter, 65, Statesville
21. A lot less entertainment, movies and baseball games — that is sort of the only way to do it.
Steve Shealy, Taylorsville, 52
22. We are trying to carpool more. We talk more about the cost of transportation than we used to.
David Bradley, Statesville
23. Park your car, park your boat
Ron Armstrong, 51, Troutman
24. We try to find free events.
Sara Ferrar, Troutman, 37
25. We walk.
Amanda Travis, 32, Troutman
26. Use biodiesel fuel.
Giovanni Pellegrino, 38, Statesville
27. At the grocery store, I try to buy the least expensive item. I look for the sales.
Holly McCracken, 38, Mooresville
28. Find out what your bare minimum is and go for it.
Nancie Cobb, 44, Troutman
29. I don’t go to Wal-Mart. I go to Dollar General because the milk is cheaper than at Food Lion.
Patt Griffith, 59 Troutman
30. I’m reducing the number of NASCAR races I’m going to. I plan on discovering more walks on the park.
Bob Kerlin, 58, Mooresville
31. We carpool.
Cindy Smith, 39, Troutman
32. I usually bring my lunch or I have them deliver it to me.
Nick McClain, 58, Statesville
33. I don’t get to church as much in Charlotte. I try to go to church around here.
Nellie McClain, 40, Statesville
34. I cut down to buying the essentials in Troutman.
Lisa Thomas, 35, Troutman
35. I stay at home more.
Jamie Hensley, 45, Troutman
36. Fewer shoes.
Tracy Smith, Statesville
37. I don’t go shopping at all anymore.
Sarah Montgomery, 19, Troutman
38. Buy used children’s clothing and baby items.
Mandy Huffman, 28, Stony Point
39. Planning ahead. No back tracking during shopping trips.
Matt Husted, 29, Mooresville
40. Pay your bills on time to avoid late fees.
Thomas Hazel, Statesville
41. We are trying to consolidate deliveries. Asking our customers, the ones that are far out to consolidate their orders.
Steve Johnson, 54, Statesville
42 I keep my thermostat at a moderate level to cut down on the bill.
Connie Daye, 62, Statesville, Cosmetologist
43 I am driving less and working on keeping an eye on what I spend. Every time I spend I write it down so I know where I can make adjustments.
Lakeisha Bares, 32, Statesville, Unit Coordinator Autumn Care
44 It’s not very much you can save with everything going up. I try to buy store brand groceries that are on sale that usually run a little cheaper. I try to buy things I really need.
Mabethel Sherrill, 85, Troutman, retired
45 I look for more sales in grocery and clothing stores. I shop more at second hand stores.
Renee Brownstein, 34, Statesville,
46 I make my list before I come to stores and shop instead of coming and getting one thing.
Carolyn Dellinger, 70, Statesville, Auto Auction
47 I’ve cut back a little bit on groceries.
Elizabeth Walden, 78, Statesville, retired
48 I don’t make unnecessary trips.
J. Walden, 57, Statesville, Team leader
49 We have two and a half freezers and we try to eat out of them as much as we can. We don’t eat out.
James Chambers, of Statesville, Pastor
50 I try to make a list before we leave the house of things we need to buy.
Pearlie Chambers, of Statesville, retired
51When I leave the house I turn off everything and I don’t let my air run when I’m out of the house.
Melissa Smith, of Statesville, librarian
52 I do shopping once a week instead of two or three times. I started shopping at grocery stores that have lower prices.
Michael Galanin, 43, Yokefellow Store Coordinator, of Ukraine, but lives in Statesville
53 We carpool to work. I’m always on the lookout for good buys.
Joan Harrelson, of Statesville, retired
54 I use coupons to shop.
Bettye Lackey, 68, of Statesville, retired educator
55 I absolutely avoid late charges on bills by paying on time
Theresa Golas, 36, of Claremont, Executive Director Iredell Museums Inc.
56 I walk everywhere instead of driving.
Rebecca Wade, 24, of Davidson, Administrative Assistant Iredell Museums Inc.
57 I don’t go out to eat anymore. We don’t have family evenings out anymore.
Maria Fox, 43, of Statesville, graphic designer
58 “My husband and I are retired, and we try to go together, just use one car, rather than each of us going in our own cars when we go shopping, visiting.”
Maggie Walker, 64, part-time instructor, Statesville
59 “I do a lot of grilling at home to save the power. Turning on the stove heats the house up.”
Kim Russ, 47, student, Statesville.
60 “I don’t just go shopping. It has to be something I really need and can’t do without. I’ve cut out everything that’s not a necessity. I can live without a lot of things.”
Wendy Pearson, 47, student, Statesville.
61 “When it’s down to just one individual, you don’t have to do that much.”
Muriel Irvis, 87, retired, Statesville
62 “I shop at Aldi’s (grocery store), because it’s cheaper, and I eat a lot of sandwich meat.”
Tonya Allison, 30, beautician, of Statesville.
63 “I try to do things by mail. When I go shopping, I try to get enough stuff to last two weeks. I just get what I need,”
Phyllis Upright, 67, retired, of Statesville.
64 “I have been cutting down on the use of water, and not using as much light,”
Cleveland Heller, 70, retired, of Statesville.
65 “We’ve cut down on eating out. Me and my wife sat down and we figured out we were spending about $700 a month to each out. We just about completely cut that out,”
Reggie Brown, 38, barber and minister, of Statesville.
66 “I try to eat at home rather than eating out,”
Holly Musinski, 33, beautician, of Statesville.
67 “Instead of going out on my lunch break, I pack my own lunch. You can save $3 or $5 a day, and it adds up after a while,”
Amber Benfield, 23, administrative worker, of Statesville.
68 “I’ve been eating a lot of leftovers. I used to go out to eat all the time, but I’ve been cooking more at home instead of going out to eat,”
Annette Shepherd, 28, beautician, of Statesville.
69 “We don’t go to town until we’re almost out of everything. I make a list before I go to the store,”
Nora James, 58, homemaker, of Love Valley.
70 “I try not to go and spend money unless it’s absolutely what I have to have,”
Louise Martin, 69, retired, of Hamptonville.
71 “I’ve cut down on driving. When I get my nails done, I try to make one trip. I don’t eat out as much. I used to eat out every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I’ve cut down to just once a week,”
Felicia Mayhew, 37, factory worker, of Mooresville.
72 “I’ve been cooking out on the grill a lot instead of cooking on the stove and heating up the house. If I see a light on, I cut that thing off,”
Gerri Isaac, 57, beautician, of Statesville.
No. 73: We’re going to plant a garden with all the food prices going up. And I bought a moped to ride to and from work. And milk is like $4 a gallon, buy a cow, too.
Anthony Gilbert, 38, of Harmony, boiler-operator
No. 74: Try and save on the water bill and the light bill. Sit in the dark at home during the daytime.
Mary Richardson, 70, of Statesville, retired sewing plant worker
No.75: Staying at home. As long as I can get out and cut the grass and do stuff, I don’t mind staying at home.
Iona Collins, 49, of Harmony, housewife
No. 76: I have to drive up here to work everyday from Statesville. I try and make only one trip and run errands and stuff and just try and do it all in one trip.
JoEllen Fox, 61, of Statesville, Mgr. of First Bank in Harmony
No.77: It’s gonna be rough. I tell ‘ya that gas (price) is killing everybody. That gas is murder and I ain’t looking for it to get no better. I’m just staying at home and trying to grow all the vegetable I can.
Jimmy Steele, 62, of Harmony, auto body worker
No. 78: I own my own (delivery) truck and only get 6 or 7 miles to the gallon, so no extra trips, no backtracking, no nothing. These days you can’t afford it.
Bucky Edmonds, 58, Statesville, Lance Crackers delivery truck driver
No. 79: Shop at home. Shop in your own community. Statesville people should shop in Statesville. People in Harmony shop in Harmony. That’s what people are doing.
John Ray Campbell, 72, of Harmony, Mayor of Harmony and 45 year self-described “flunky” at Harmony Galaxy Food Store
No. 80: We are organizing a farmer’s market for the town. People that are farmers can sell locally Friday afternoons from 4 p.m. to dusk. People that live in Harmony can save money not driving to Statesville and can still get fresh produce.
Joyce Rogers, 65, of Harmony, Harmony Town Board member and homemaker
No. 81: I’ve cut back on traveling. I used to go visit my mother in Charleston twice a month and my father in Fayetteville twice a month--normally every-other-weekend. Now I only visit my parents every other month. I visit my Dad one month and my mother the next month.
Angela Imes, 37, of Statesville, childcare business owner-operator
No. 82: We’re moving from here so I can be closer to the hospital where I work. Other than that we’re just staying home and not going to the movies or anything. But you know I heard it is like $8 or $9 a gallon in other countries so we’re not so bad off. It’s 45 cents a gallon in Saudi Arabia and that’s right there in their own back yard.
Sandy Blankenship, 36, Olin, nurse
No. 83: Buy from your neighbor if they’ve got it. Shop in your own neighborhood. Help the community out. You better be able to be a jack-of-all-trades. You better be able to do everything.
Gina Johnson, 40, of Harmony, owner-operator of Johnson’s Meats.
No. 84: I’m just learning to economize with the meals using biscuits and salad and things to extend meals. My husband and I have a family of 8.
Lisa Gilbert, 42, of Harmony, housewife and mother
No. 85: The most obvious thing do all your errands in one trip. Save ‘em up.
Bert Inglis, 58, of Harmony, retired.
No. 86: I traded my car 2 weeks ago to save money on gas. I commute to work. I went from a GMC Yukon XL that got 14 miles to the gallon to a Toyota Avalon that gets about 25 miles to the gallon.
Sherry Hager, 36, of Statesville, pharmacist at Harmony Drug
No. 87: I just don’t go anywhere so I won’t spend money. I’m a stay at home mom so I don’t have to really go anywhere ac-cept to pick-up my kids.
Valerie Trivette, 35, of Union Grove, mother
No. 88: Oh, Lord. It’s rough! And I don’t see it getting any better. I don’t go out anymore than what I have to. I try and buy cheaper groceries and stuff. I live on a fixed income.
Johnny Lambert, 48, Harmony, disabled.
89. “I drive a Toyota Prius hybrid. It gets 55 miles per gallon. But I mostly do it because it’s good for the environment.”
Christina Grau, Mooresville
90. “When I drive, I make every stop count.”
Jim Mason, Mooresville
91. “I’ve got three children so I utilize all the ‘kids-eat-free nights’ as I can.”
92. “When you go out, go a little early so you can eat off the lunch instead of dinner menu. It’s the same food but lunch prices are cheaper.”
93. “Three words: coupons, coupons, coupons.”
94. “Take your kids to state parks. Their free and the kids have a good time there.”
Dawn DuBois-Adams, Mooresville
95. “Stay home.”
As opposed to what?
“As opposed to going anywhere.”
96. “Look for sales.”
97. “Stack your trips up. Don’t drive to the store if you just need eggs. Wait until you need to go to the post office too to pick up stamps.”
Dawn Money, Mooresville
98. “Don’t go out and splurge shop.”
99. “Make sure you know what you want to buy before you walk out the door and stick to it. You can pick something up if you like it but then put it back down and stick to your list.”
Betty Leach, Troutman
100. “If I go out to eat, I go to the Chinese place, it’s cheaper.”
101. “Shop at Wal-Mart.”
John Valle, Mooresville
