If your family has recently become unemployed you might be wondering what you can do to make ends meet.

These thoughts were inspired by our readers:

Karie-Anne shares: Try and do all your errands at once so that you don’t waste gas. Keep a pad in your car to write down the local gas stations that tend to have cheaper gas prices.

Salvation Army and Goodwill make great spots for back to school, I also find “treasures” that we need in the house all the time. Wednesday is Family Day at Salvation Army so everything is half off. I find designer clothes for my kids all the time. Most major grocers have a seconds shelf, either dented cans, day old bread or turning produce. You can save a LOT of money by shopping these areas first before the rest of your shopping.

Ask for Help- If you need help with a school field trip, ask, if you need help with registration fees, ask, if you need some quick cash work, ask, you never know what you will find!

Register for Freecycle in your area. There are also great barter groups (you can find them listed on Craigslist.org).

Haley shares:  I would suggest looking into the Angel Food Ministries. They provide low cost food through their Non-Profit organization. You can order online or through a local site across 44 states and then pick up your food at your chosen site. You purchase the Signature Box for $30.00 which contains enough food to feed a family of four for a week along with a dozen eggs and milk. You can then add on boxes such as a grill box with steaks and/or hamburger patties, a fruit and veggie box, after school boxes with great and easy snacks for the kids, and more. It’s a great program providing a great services. Use coupon code ComeBacktoAFM15 for 15% off your online order.

Thanks Karie-Anne and Haley for those great ideas? Do you have an idea to share? Leave a comment! Stay Tuned for Part 3, coming soon!

I have Jimmy Dean Sausage coupons going out to Sarah, Karie-Anne, Pam and I was able to located one extra for Gis. If your name is listed, please send me your address!