I remember when food items in supermarkets were marked individually with price stickers, making it easy for checkers to input amounts into antique machines called "cash registers"! I do miss those stickers. Having the prices clearly marked would make it easier to check the scanned prices, particularly when the items are on sale. Apparently, I am not the only one who's had that thought. Read on for October's Tip of the Month.

TIP OF THE MONTH. I shop at my local grocery twice a month. I started writing down the prices of the sale items as I shopped to make sure the correct prices were rung up at the checkout counter. At first, it didn't seem as if the errors added up to much, but after three months, the grand total that would have been charged to me inadvertently was $25.09. Now I write down the prices of all the items I purchase right on my pre-made shopping list. I've caught errors on non-sale items, too! -- Carolyn, e-mail

EARTH-FRIENDLY LUNCH. With everyone trying to be more conscious of our environment, kids should take reusable containers in their school lunches. Buy cheap plastic containers from the dollar store, and paint them with your kids, or stick stickers of their favorite characters onto them. It teaches children the necessity of stewardship toward our planet, not to mention it's cheaper than buying boxes of Ziploc bags every month. -- Mariah B., e-mail

WANT LIST. I created a "want list." If either my husband or I want something, it goes on the "want list" with the date of when that item was added. Then we wait 30 days. If after 30 days we still want that item, we go out and buy it. This has worked wonders to curb impulse buys, and it allows us to see how much we want that we don't need. This list is a mainstay on our refrigerator now. -- Anne, Alaska

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. If you have any of those outdoor solar lights, take them into your house as you prepare for a hurricane. In the days and nights following the disaster when the electricity is off, these solar lights are really useful. You can take them outside every day and bring them indoors at night. They are not bright enough to read by, but they'll help you navigate inside your house so you don't bump into the walls or furniture. This also helps you save precious battery life on your flashlights! -- Lynn B., Texas

KICKING THE HABIT. I keep a jar in my closet, and I put all the loose change acquired each day into it. I quit smoking Feb. 29, and I have put at least $3.50 in the jar every day since, which is about the price of a pack of cigarettes. I have saved more than $700 since my quit date, and it has been my incentive to continue to be a nonsmoker. -- Diane S., Illinois

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.