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Smart Savings: Senior living on a budget

06:31 PM EDT on Thursday, September 4, 2008

WHAS11 coverage

Share your money saving tips here!

Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - If times are tough for you, imagine what its like for senior citizens living on a fixed income.

Watch this story

They are finding ways to cut back and some of their ideas could help your family.

WHAS11’s Renee Murphy took a closer look at senior living on a budget.

The Kling Center is a lifeline for many seniors.

 

The Old Louisville center is the difference between eating and going hungry for some.

“Last week I ran out of money,” says Beth Schafer who is a senior on a budget.

And Beth Schafer isn’t alone.

She and other seniors are finding ways to make what they have stretch as far as they can.

“I come over here to the center to have lunch so its a lot of savings I don’t know what we’d do with out it,” says Betty Spears who is also on a budget.

What Betty Spears does can help other seniors you may know.

There are programs in the city that offer free lunches and meals to seniors on a fixed income.

She also encourages seniors and others to take part in a coupon club, ride the bus, run all of errands in one trip and cook at home.

The organization called Home Instead works with the Kling center and encourages people to check up on seniors to make sure they aren’t cutting back on necessities to save money.

“We have a lot of seniors who will cut the air off in 90 degree temperatures which is terribly unsafe,” says Becky Beanblossom of Home Instead.

 

As always we want to hear how you save money. Click here to share any of you money saving tips!

 

Share your money saving tips here!


I have been saving "buckets" by Alley Shopping - for myself, for neighbors & friends, and for family. It is amazing how many useful items are tossed out for junk pick-up, when it's true that one person's trash is another person's treasure. Recycling still-useful items is environmentally-friendly and wallet-friendly. Besides, some "found" items can be very unique, or re-constructed/refurbished into exactly what you need!


i have been using higher mileage oil on oil changes and checking tires. i get near 25-28 in town in hardinsburg area so i get over 350 miles on a full tank. i have cavlier


These days most people do not use their landline phone (thru Bellsouth/AT&T) but have it because they think they need to have a landline in order to have DSL. That is not the case. I recently disconnected my landline, thereby saving $40 month. This is not something that is "advertised" but it's available.


I've heard that you don't let yourt tank get below 1/2 tank. This helps with the amount of money each time as well as you getting better gas mileage on the first 1/2 tank.


My neighbor and I have been car pooling to the grocery store and the malls for 2 - 3 year now. If one of has to go, we call the other to see if they need anything or want to go along. We will alternate on which vehicle we take or give each other gas money.


I am saving money on gas by putting nitrogen in my tires. It cost $20.00 for the nitrogen for all four tires. I get better gas milage and I also will save my tires from wearing out as quickly! With nitrogen the air does not leak out the sides of your tires like air does!


I live on the border of Breckenridge and Meade Counties and I work downtown Louisville. As a Humana employee, we ride the TARC for free. So I drive my car about 25 miles and catch the TARC. It drops me off less then a block from my office. It takes me an extra 1/2 hour to get to work, but now I am not putting the wear and tear on my car, the gas consumption, the mileage nor am I having to pay for parking downtown. I now only fill up about once every 10 days vs. almost 3x a week. It's better for my pocket and the environment. And even better still, I don't have to deal with driving in the morning or afternoon traffic. Just read a book or take a nap!


I catch a ride with anyone I can. My cousin takes me to the grocery every Sunday. My friend has a company van she drives every where.


I bought a Toyota Prius hybrid a year ago just in time for when they were still available off the lot. I can't speak too highly of it. Up to 50 mpg. It isn't plug-in. In only has batteries to store and reuse energy recaptured from slowing down and letting the electric motor brake the car by becoming a generator. Makes a lot of sense... why waste energy by heating brakes and then burn more gas to get started again?
Best of all, it has a video screen with a display of gas consumption. What become clear is that expressway driving at 55 mph (even where the limit is higher) DOES save gas. It's quite a shock to see the display reveal how much your mpg goes down at higher speeds. The cruise control makes the saving on speed easy to live with.
I would hate the speed limit to be reduced from 65 mph. I like the freedom to save gas because I want to, but have the option of saving time if there is need to.
There should be no reason why huge numbers of similar vehicles couldn't be available from American manufacturers. But we know the reasons, and should be ashamed.
I hate that the gas I save is squandered by others, so the consumption and prices go up regardless.
I did get a tax credit, but that program has expired. Since Bush wants to give tax money back to stimulate the economy, a tax credit on hybrids would be a far better focussed way to do it. Pity the US manufacturers blew their chance by turning production over to SUV's.


I live in Henry County, but work Downtown so I use the TARC to get there. It is really convieniant to drive about ten miles park my car catch a bus and it takes me less than two blocks from where i work. I car pool on days that I dont ride the bus and split the cost of gas, to help ease the pinch at the station. When I have other things to do I make sure I have my coupons in hand and make a list, also make sure that the other people I live with dont need anything to save more than one trip. I dont eat out nearly as much as I use to, and I loved going to splurge on Chinese once a week, but now its a luxary just to do that.


I keep a list of all of my errands all week, and then run them all at once without driving all around town all week.


We haven't been doing unnecessary driving. "Sorry, we can't afford to go to the park, gas cost too much". Using 1 car instead of 2, and taking tarc to and from work. Sad really. I make decent money and can't even take my kids to the park, none of them are close enough.


We haven't been doing unnecessary driving. "Sorry, we can't afford to go to the park, gas cost too much". Using 1 car instead of 2, and taking tarc to and from work. Sad really. I make decent money and can't even take my kids to the park, none of them are close enough.


With gas prices being what they are...I'm glad I got rid of my car. I use a bus pass, which only costs $35.00, so I save all the way around.
Car Payment - $0
Gas - $0
Insurance. - $0
Maintenance - $0
Bus Pass - Priceless
I'm keeping my money in my wallet and I'm doing something good for the environment. Can't buy that for a dollar!


Pump your gas early in the morning while the temperatures are cooler. As the day goes on, and the temperature increases, gas expands. I believe that you get more gas for your dollar if you pump when it is cool.

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