For ideas to help trim the food budget, see Frugal Menu Tips.

• Eliminate debt. Interest is generally not good stewardship, and being as debt-free as possible frees up the monthly budget considerably. Getting out of debt is easier said than done, but it is worth the effort to work in that direction. There are various factors involved in each individual situation but, as a general rule, try to pay
  the loans with the highest interest rates first.
• Consider your cars. (1) For most of us, a car is not a frivolous luxury; it’s a necessity. However, a bran-new car is not a necessity. An automobile depreciates considerably as soon as it is driven off the lot, and you do not want to be the one to pay the difference. Buying at least slightly used is nearly always wise.
• Consider your cars. (2) Do you really need all that car? Don’t buy a car that is much nicer than what you need. A high-end car will not only cost you more for the car itself; it will cost you more to insure.
• Consider your cars. (3) Think about the cost of fuel. If your family doesn’t fit in anything smaller than an SUV or minivan, of course you will need a large car. But doesn’t make sense to buy a 9-passenger SUV if a compact car will suffice.
• Cut home fuel consumption. (1) There are many ways to cut fuel consumption in your home. Some are basic matters of habit – turning off lights when you leave rooms, and that sort of thing. Those bulky plugs (the huge boxy ones) pull a lot of electricity.   If it’s practical, unplug these when you aren’t using them. Put your computer in standby mode when not in use. Turn the thermostat down a few degrees at night or when you will be
  away from home for a while (errand day?).
• Cut home fuel consumption. (2) Other methods of cutting home fuel consumption take a little more effort and sometimes a little cash. Cover your water heater and/or your pipes and ductwork with insulating covers/wraps. (Some electric companies will provide these free of charge.) Put lights and heaters on timers. Weatherproof your doors and windows. Utilize natural methods of heating and cooling your house – opening and closing windows or curtains, planting a windbreak, etc.
• Take a look at your bills. Check to see if there are less expensive plans for your telephone service, cable service, internet service, etc. that will meet your needs. These companies are not going to volunteer this information! Many cable companies have a “limited basic” plan. Do you really need/use all of the services you have? Do you watch the cable TV?   Do you use your three-way calling? Do you need all of the e-mail addresses that are provided with your current internet service?
• Eliminate your medical insurance. Many medical insurance premiums are huge.  Try switching to a Christian medical cost-share program, such as Samaritan Ministries. (They’re a more biblical means of meeting the needs of the saints, anyway.)
• Buy fewer books. I know, for some of us, it’s sacriligious or something to suggest giving up the purchase of books! But do you need to own every book you read? Consider purchasing hard-to-find titles and those you will refer to over and over, and checking the others out from the library.
• Eliminate magazine subscriptions. Consider your magazine subscriptions, as well.  You may have magazines you read over and over until they’re dog-eared. Those subscriptions are probably worth keeping. If you subscribe to magazines you only occasionally read, you might be better off taking advantage of the library’s copies. Or can you find the same information somewhere else?
• Give up the newspaper. While we’re on the topic of subscriptions, what about your newspaper? Maybe you’re currently subscribed to the 7-days-a-week delivery and you really only need the weekend papers. Do you actually have/take the time to read every paper that’s delivered to your home? Is there a less expensive paper you could subscribe to instead?
• Buy reusable. Do you need to use paper towels? Maybe you could use regular towels (at least for some purposes). What about napkins – can you use cloth? Do you need to buy brown bags for hubby’s lunch, or can you buy/make a fabric lunch sack? Every item you can reuse instead of purchasing replacements is a few dollars trimmed from the budget.  What else can you reuse?
• Shop secondhand. Mall-brand clothes can be quite pricey! (And often the high price is for the privilege to advertise for the store, as a walking billboard!) Try Goodwill, Salvation Army, DAV, and other thrift stores. These have much better prices and often have very good quality clothing. You may have to “dig” a bit to find the really good stuff, but it’s worth the effort when you find a pair of Calvin Klein blue jeans for $3, or a similar deal. The trick to thrift store bargains is to only buy what you need (don’t buy something just because it’s a good price) and to go regularly.
• Look to the future. I save tremendously on my daughter’s clothing by being willing to pick up something one or two sizes too large when I find a really great deal. When she grows into that size, I don’t have to pay full price for that item,  because I already have it, acquired at a much lower cost.
• Buy videos. I know that sounds funny as a money-saving tip, but it actually can save cash. If you are inclined to visit the theater regularly, consider purchasing videos instead. Even a full-price DVD is often less expensive than a trip to the theater, and it can be watched over and over.
• Don’t buy videos. On the other hand, if you are inclined to buy a lot of videos, consider cutting back. Check movies out from the library instead, or read books as a family.

Not all of these suggestions will be helpful for every family, but hopefully you were able to glean a few ideas – and perhaps I’ve spurred a few of your own.