Hi, mishka, one thing we do to save money on gas for heating, is to use small electric heaters. If you have a family member who could spare one or two, you can take them from room to room to heat up the space you are in. And you can buy them for less than twenty dollars, and they have a tip over switch. If you can get some heaters, let the gas bill go, they can't kill you. And I hope the sleet we are getting now doesn't head your way tomorrow. If you have a cell phone, cut off the home phone. If you can't pay the electric, ask for an extension.
I'm sure you already know all the inexpensive meals to fix. I try not to spend more than four dollars for the meat for any meal, for three people. And I use pasta, rice, beans, canned tomatoes and potatoes a lot. Cheap, but fantastic meal starters. Dollar Tree has started carrying some good stuff.
And, desert_rat is right about doing your own taxes. I started doing our taxes myself about eight or nine years ago. My older sister is a whiz with it and I took her out to lunch one day, and she helped me learn to do it, and it really is easy. I will never pay H&R again! And we do the long form. I actually really enjoy doing them. And we are getting more back than when we had those lazy H&R folks doing them. And I think the United Way thing is for those making 50,000 and under. vc
