A lot of us these days are looking for ways to stretch our pay checks with gas prices well above three-dollars a gallon and the continuing talk of a recession.

I'd like to think I'm fairly thrifty. My wife might disagree! But in recent weeks I've found on the internet people sharing a number of creative ways they're pinching pennies.

The more obvious;

-Use coupons at the grocery store
-Buy generic store brands
-Walk or bike intstead of driving
-Bring your lunch to work--a $40 a week savings
-Drink water when you eat out

A little more creative;

-Go around the house and turn off left on tv's and lights
-Make meals with a slow cooker. If dinner is ready when you get home, you'll be less likely to eat out.
-Check to see if a defensive driving course will lower your auto insurance
-Don't take your kids with you when you shop. Enough said here!
.
If you've got good penny-pinching ideas you're using, I'd love to hear them.

---