| Does your family long for a boat, a recreation vehicle, a new car, or a nice vacation?
Are debts getting you down?
Do you wonder how they do it when you see others with family, home, and income comparable to yours enjoying such luxuries while you either have little or nothing left at the end of each month?
Perhaps your neighbor's money goes farther because he and his family have learned to plug the leaks, channel their income where it counts, and practice the basic rules of thrift.
By making thrift a habit, you, too, can have more of the good things you desire. That is the purpose of this book-to show you what small, seemingly inconsequential thrift habits can do for you. Let me give you two Centsational examples:
Would you like to own your own home, free and clear-no more monthly payments-in twenty years from now instead of thirty?
Small, consistent thrift efforts can do that for you.
The average home mortgage, you see, can be shortened by ten or eleven years by making five or six extra principle payments each month for the first year or so.
"Extra payments!" do I hear you groan? "We can't possibly..."
Yes, you can! Read on and see.
At first, only about $5 of the monthly house payment you are struggling to meet applies to the principle; the rest goes to interest and monthly installments on taxes and insurance. Therefore (unless you and your family are already superperfect in small thrift habits), by playing the Family Thrift Game as described in Chapter One of this book, you can easily save the $25 or $30 a month needed for those five or six principle-only payments on your mortgage.
How would you like to retire as a millionaire at age 65?
The Thrift Game can get you there.
Again, let me explain.
Last year, one of Utah s leading banking institutions published this projection, with figures to substantiate it:
A $25 weekly investment in an IRA account, beginning at age 26 would net you $940,571-almost a million dollars- at your age 65. (These figures are based on the then current 12 percent interest rate.)
"But we can t possibly commit ourselves to an extra $25 weekly saving," you say. "Our budget is already stretched to the limit. Besides, sixty-five is sooo far away."
Again I say: YES YOU CAN-painlessly, unless you and your family are already superperfect in thrift habits, in which case you don't need this book.
Does this sound preposterous to you? Then perhaps shortterm goals aimed at getting some of the things you are longing for would excite you more. Either way, thrift can get you there. I sincerely believe that the average American family of four, just by cultivating thrift habits, can save $25 a week, or even more, without lowering their standard of living in any way that matters.
Moreover, thrift can be fun-if you make a game of it.
So, turn the page and let's see how the Family Thrift Game can work for you. |
| Chapter 1. The Family Thrift Game, 11
Description and Purpose, 11
Rules of the Game, 12
Chapter 2. A Thrift Game for Moms, 14
How to Measure Your Thrift Idea, 14
Other Examples, 15
Discard Thrifties that Don't Meet the Test, 16
How Much is a Housewife Worth?", 16
Chapter 3. No-Guilt Budgeting, 17
Simplified Record Keeping, 17
Problems You May Encounter, 20
Cutting Expenses, 21
Increasing Your Income, 21
Should the Mother Get a Job?, 21
Rewards of a Good Budget, 22
Chapter 4. Good Meals Need Not Cost Much, 23
1. Don't Tolerate Waste, 24
2. Use Your Head, Buy Ahead, 31
3. Rotate Your Food Supply, 32
4. Use Meat Sparingly, 38
5. Be a Super Shopper, 42
6. Learn to Enjoy Simple Foods, 45
7. Be a Nutrition Expert, 46
8. Keep Your Freezer Centsibly Full, 46
9. Make it From Scratch, 49
10. Grow as Much Food as You Can, 55
11. Use Less Sugar, 56
12. Learn to Substitute, 58
Chapter 5. Centsible Ways with Babies and Kids, 60
Guard Your Health and Theirs, 60
Shop Carefully for Nursery Equipment, 60
Centsible Maternity Clothes, 61
Layette Cents, 61
Cloth or Disposable Diapers, 62
Diaper Service - Another Alternative, 63
Home or Hospital Delivery, 64
To Nurse or Not to Nurse, 64
More Saving Ways with Babies, 65
Food Cents for Children, 67
Chapter 6. Centsible Toys, 70
Examine Your Motives, 70
Guidelines for Selecting Toys, 71
How to Save Money on Toys, 73
Grown-Up Play, 80
Do-It-Yourself Savings with Children, 81
Pets - Yes or No, 83
Play With Your Children, 84
Chapter 7. Gift Cents, 85
Have a Gift Shelf, 85
Family Gifts, 85
Mailing Centsibles, 86
Gifts of Love, 87
Gifts for Children's Parties, 87
Gift-Wrap Centsibles, 88
Create Clever, Low-cost, Personalized Packages, 88
Ribbon and Bow Substitutes, 94
Chapter 8. Entertaining the Relaxed, Inexpensive Way, 96
Prepare Ahead, 97
If Your House is Too Small, 97
Some Money-Saving Suggestions, 97
Make Your Own Snack Foods, 100
Miscellaneous Hints for Centsible Entertaining, 101
Play-While-You-Work Parties, 102
Chapter 9. Health and Safety Cents, 104
Be Cheerful and Optimistic, 104
Assume Responsibility for Your Health, 105
Learn to Recognize Danger Signals, 105
Be Self-Reliant - Trust Yourself, 106
Feed Your Body Well, 106
Familiarize Yourself with Natural Remedies, 107
Find a Good Pharmacist and Stay with Him, 107
Think, Teach, and Practice Safety, 108
Be Prepared for Emergencies, 108
Avoid the Expense and Trauma of Being a Crime Victim, 109
Give Nature a Chance, 110
Be Your Own Nurse, 110
Be Receptive to New Ideas, 111
Practice Preventive Dentistry, 111
Miscellaneous Home Health-Care and Safety Suggestions, 111
Safety in the Kitchen, 113
Chapter 10. Linen Thrifties, 115
Make Oversized Sheets from Regulars, 115
Consider the Smaller Size, 116
Sheet Blankets, 116
Long from Short Pillowcases, 117
Pillowcases from Sheets, 117
Make Them Wear Longer, 117
No Two Beds the Same Size, 118
From Washing Machine to Bed, 118
Sheets for Yardage, 118
Blankets, Quilts, and Comforters, 119
Snuggie Bags, 119
Sleeping Bags, 120
Electric Blankets, 120
Pillows, 121
Old Sheets are Worth Money, 122
Bathtowel Cents, 123
Bedspreads, 124
Table Linens, 124
Chapter 11. Bathroom and Cosmetic Centsibles, 125
Toothpaste, 125
Soap, 125
Toilet Tissue, 126
Grooming Aids and Cosmetics, 126
Bathroom Organizers, 128
Cleaning Aids, 129
Chapter 12. Centsible Family Recreation, 131
Make Time to Play with Your Children, 131
Camping Together, 132
Tent Centsible, 133
Miscellaneous Camping Centsibles, 134
FishingCentsibles, 134
Boating Centsibles, 135
Safety Centsibles, 136
A Home-Made Survival Kit, 136
Traveling With Children and Pets, 137
Index, 141 |
