In honor of Paul getting linked by NPR, I've written five more ways that Northwest Airlines Employees can save money when they lose their jobs. As you may or may not remember, Northwest Airlines sent out a Budget-Saving letter to employees, incuding suggestions to not feel too proud to take things out of the trash. Well, in that spirit, here are my contributions.
102. Read new books at Borders. Brew a pot of coffee and put it into your child's thermos. Take the bus to the local Borders Bookstore and root around in the trash for a coffee cup. Wash the coffee cup out inside the bathroom, then pour your coffee into the cup, being sure to use the free milk and sugar (mmm, calcium) to sweeten your beverage. Now go to the shelves and pick out a new book (maybe one that discusses how to live on a budget). With your shiny Borders cup and a book, no one will know that you didn't buy the coffee and aren't thinking about buying the book. After two hours, put the book back, but keep note of the page number. Leave the store and get back on the bus to head over to the nearest Barnes and Noble retailer. Find the book, repeat the coffee process, and finish the book, with no one the wiser!
103. Get free beer. Having lost your job and having little money - consider drinking. Don't be a sucker and pay for every beer. Buy dark colored bottles, and when you're almost finished, go to the bathroom and fill the bottle with warm water. Then leave the bathroom and stand by the bar. Try to get another patron to bump you, and when the do, drop your *full* beer, and expect the bartender to buy you a new one. Everyone wins!
104. Collect bottles from the trash of well-off neighbors trash and recycle them. Now that you're comfortable taking things out of the trash, learn to scave...I mean repurpose your neighbor's refuse for big bucks. Getting the bottles is easy, but if you can, consider hitching a ride on an empty truck to take your bottles to Michigan, where I hear you get $.10 a bottle.
105. Eat Breakfast with Your Children. Something you haven't thought of is your children will now qualify for a free hot breakfast at school. You've always wanted to spend more quality time with your kids, and now here's your chance. Walk your kids to school, and wait for them and their friends in the cafeteria. Each day, pick one child who refuses to eat and convince them to give you their breakfast. Children are very gullible, so if you make it a game, you should be able to eat three, four times a week. Bon Appetit.
106. Beg to get lunch money. The American people are very generous, and if the beg is performed correctly, you can usually get a few dollars to spend on the dollar menu at McDonald's. Try this. Approach someone in a grocery store parking lot and say, "I'm not trying to beg, but I was just mugged, and the mugger stole my wallet. There wasn't much in it, just a few dollars, but I was hoping to get some lunch before my big interview this afternoon. Can I do something for you, maybe carry your groceries to your car for a dollar or two?" The best part is you won't even have to carry the groceries - most people will just give you the money.
*Whatever you do, don't approach people near an ATM. They only have $20 bills, and won't want to give you one.
There you go - Five Economical ways to save money during hard times!
