Life and finance have their seasons — sometimes of “plenty,” and sometimes of “want.” For many people you know, the world is a place of economic struggle, and many are financially challenged — some in seasons of life when they thought their lives would be more secure and stable. If that is true for you, then maybe it's time to make a resolution and learn some new money saving skills, or to re-apply some of the discipline you had when you were young and a starving student.

Did you know the amount of laundry and dishwasher detergent recommended on the packaging is actually more than you need to get items clean? Manufacturers often recommend more than necessary (for obvious reasons), so experiment to find out how little it takes to do the job. This applies to cleaning supplies, fabric softener liquid and dryer sheets, shampoo, conditioner, shaving gel, and so on. Experiment! Make it go farther. Don't wash your money down the drain.

2. Make Your Own Cleaning Products

There are many books and many web sites that have information on homemade cleaners. You will be amazed how many things can be cleaned using vinegar, which is so inexpensive.

3. Learn to Launder

There are so many ways to get stains out of clothes. Do a little sleuthing on the internet and follow the instructions. How many times have we reclassified stained clothing as only good for “work” or “painting,” when in fact, we just didn't know how to remove the stain. The important thing to remember in removing stains is to act quickly. Stain sticks will help with almost any stain on washable fabrics. If you have young children, keep a stain stick in the car. Or, if you or your loved one is just plain unlucky with stains, keep a stain stick at work and in the glove box.

4. Air Dry Your Laundry

Remember the days when everyone had a clothesline in the yard? The clothes always smelled so good after being dried outdoors. It may take a little time but will save considerable money over the course of a year. This is especially true if you have to dry clothes at a Laundromat. OK, in some seasons, this might not be possible — but when you can do it, why not?

5. Dye Your Clothes

As clothing begins to look faded and worn, you can dye it. Dying will give your clothes added life and can be used on most fabrics. This works especially well on solid colors, when dying clothes to restore the original color. Changing colors may not always be so successful. Check the directions for fabric information, and if items have small stains, try dying them a darker color than the original. You might be surprised at how good your clothes can look again.

6. Purchase Separates

Buying clothing separates will stretch your budget. Choose skirts and blouses, instead of dresses. You can then mix and match and have many different looks for the same price as a few dresses. Add pants in the same color as your skirts, and suddenly you have a huge wardrobe. If you purchase just four blouses, one sweater or jacket, two pairs of dress pants and two skirts, you will have created 32 different outfits. You could wear a different outfit every day for a month!

Organize a clothing exchange with friends and neighbors. There may be clothes you and your children can no longer wear or some you are just tired of. These may be just perfect for others, so invite your friends — and have them invite friends — and trade. Think creatively. Everyone has clothes that are just not right for them, and hardly worn. Swap and trade, and what nobody in your exchange wants, give to charity.

8. Learn to Sew

This is becoming a lost art, but it can save you lots of money. It is not at all difficult to make curtains, pillows, bed skirts, crib bumper pads and many more items. Find a friend who sews and they will not only help you learn, but who will also know where to purchase fabric at the best prices. Clothing is not always cheaper to make, but many other items can be made for half the cost of purchasing them. Sewing is also valuable to make simple repairs that would cause others to discard perfectly good clothing.

9. See, then Sew

Now that you know how to sew, look at old clothing, curtains, tablecloths, as fabric — not clothing. Years ago, when my children were small, we were struggling to make ends meet and Christmas was coming. I got some very inexpensive solid color fabric and some fabric crayons. The kids drew pictures and I ironed them on to the fabric. I took down the curtains in our basement and used those as a backing and made lap quilts for all the grandparents. Now that those children have children of their own, those quilts are real treasures. I recently made my granddaughter a princess dress out of an old lace curtain. Another obvious trick is to cut down old clothing and re-sew it for the kids.

10. Don't Renew Magazines Until ...

Don't renew magazines when you get the first notice that they are expiring. The closer you get to the expiration date, the better the deal you will be offered to renew (except for the Ensign , of course). Most times the best deals are offered after the subscription expires. Before you renew, check with a close friend who has the same interests and work out a sharing plan. They order one, you order a different one, and you share.

11. Car Pool

With gas at $3.00 a gallon in many states, are we ready to look at car-pooling yet? We can pool rides to work, to school, to Church, to PTA meetings, to dance lessons and even to soccer games. We often think of times when we can take a child, but why not fill all the seats in your Suburban one or two days a week? Expand the car-pooling you now do. Going shopping at a discount store out of town? Invite a friend, share the cost of gas and save even more by dividing large packages of bulk goods.

12. Use Public Transportation

If it is available, use public transportation or ride your bike to work. If you ride your bike, you will also be improving your health and saving on medical expenses. With gasoline so expensive, this is a great way to really save.

13. Recycle

When you bring soda to an event, make sure you get the cans back. Collect cans you find after sporting events. Contact a recycling center near you and find out what items they will recycle and start collecting. You'll be amazed at how may cardboard boxes you and the neighbors throw away.

We often come home from the recycling center with over $30, well worth the effort.

14. Shop Garage Sales

You may know already that garage sales have a dedicated following. As you become involved in shopping this way, you will meet others and will be able to use them to help you find items you need. Tell these garage sale buddies to keep their eyes open for baby items, for example, and before you know it they will be calling with a find. Remember to inspect all items closely before buying to make sure they are safe. But watch out that you don't get hooked on this kind of bargain hunt, or this idea may backfire on your budget.

15. Hold a Garage Sale

After you have shopped garage sales for a few weeks, you will have a good idea of the price you can charge at your own garage sale. For best results and to share expenses and effort, ask neighbors and friends to hold a sale the same day. Make sure this is worth the time. In some areas, garage sales don't work anymore because there are just too many of them and people are accustomed to purchasing cheap items at those $1 shops.

16. Shop at Flea Markets

19. Plan Meals before Shopping

When the paper comes with all the grocery ads, sit down and plan meals around the items that are on sale. Ask your family for a list of all the foods they like. Make a list of all your recipes. Combine the lists and use them as a reference when you plan your meals. It will help you to think more creatively as we all get in ruts, and tend to make the same things over and over again.

20. Shop with a List

It is easy to spend too much money at the grocery store, and with higher prices for everything these days, we are talking real dollars here. Take a list and stick to it. It will also help if you are not hungry and if you leave the children at home. If you have no self-control, take a friend or send your spouse to do the shopping with a list — but only if your companion has more self-control than you.

21. Purchase Extra Sale Items

Make it a habit to purchase a few extra cans or boxes of your most-used foods when they are on sale. As you build your pantry, you will get to the point where you only purchase the foods that are on sale, because your pantry will supply the other foods necessary to complete your recipes. You will be amazed how quickly your storage and savings will grow if you purchase just three or four extra items every week. Now you are feeding your family at last year's prices.

22. Watch Over the Checkout

Watch closely as items are rung up when you are checking out. Recently I was purchasing a lawn chair that was on sale for 50% off. It rang up at full price. My daughter and I went shopping for fabric at one of the great sales the day after Thanksgiving. We both purchased several items and when we got out to the car, we realized we were both charged for things we didn't purchase. We even had different people check us out! Of course we went right back in! This, unfortunately, is not unusual.

23. Shop at the Outlets

Find out where the local grocery outlets are located. These are most often bread and baked goods outlets, but you can save quite a bit over the cost in the stores and as the items are perishable there are often additional markdowns.

There are so many resources for used furniture. Make sure when you make a purchase that the piece is sound or can be inexpensively repaired. Also be sure you can refinish a piece without a great deal of expense, and calculate the cost of refinishing into the purchase price.

25. Use Your Cruise Control

Speeding up and slowing down while driving can cost you huge amounts in decreased mileage. Set your cruise control and relax. You will enjoy the drive more and you will save money.

26. Open and Close Window Coverings

During the winter months, open window coverings during the day to let in the heat of the sun. During the summer, close them as soon as the sun begins to shine in. In winter, close them at dusk, and in summer, open them at dusk.

27. Turn Down the Temperature on the Water Heater

Turning down the temperature will not only save money, but will also be safer as there will be less chance of the young or elderly getting burned.

28. Insulate Your Water Heater

An insulation blanket is inexpensive, easy to install, and will pay for itself in a short time — saving you up to 10 % on your water heater bill. With the cost of natural gas and propane skyrocketing, now is the time to take this step. Check with your local utility company as many provide a credit for installing energy saving items.

29. Install a Timer on your Water Heater

As with a water heater blanket, this can save you additional money by turning off the system while you are sleeping or away.

30. Put Timers on the Heater and Air Conditioner

There is no reason to heat or cool a home after you leave for the day. It is much cheaper to buy an extra blanket than to heat the house all night. Too often we forget to turn down the heat or turn off the air conditioner when we are headed to bed at the end of a long day. This can save up to 35 % on your heating and air conditioning bill.

31. Close Vents in Rooms You Don't Use

Why are you heating the guest room when there are no guests? Many times, we do not use all the rooms in our homes. Even when we do, we can close vents in the children's rooms during the day when they are at school.

32. Close the Doors

Keep the doors to rooms closed. Keep the heat in the room. Why heat the hallways? My office stays nice and warm when I keep the door closed because the computer generates heat. This allows me to keep the thermostat turned down. I am always amazed at the difference in the temperature when I open the door to leave the room.

33. Change Heating and Air Conditioning Filters

Changing filters often costs pennies but can extend the life of your appliances by increasing their efficiency. It will also save on the length of time the unit is running, thus saving on power cost.

34. Turn Off the Lights

This may be a hard one for children, so create a reward program if you have to until they get into the habit. The same principle applies to the radio, stereo or TV. If there is no one in the room, they don't need to be on.

35. Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

If you get a reputable brand, the savings outweigh the slightly added expense. Also, use the lowest wattage possible to get the job done.

36. Install Dimmer Switches

A dimmer switch will allow you to light a room only as much as needed for that moment in time. There is no reason, for example, to have lights turned on high if you are just watching TV. Dimmers will not only save money on your electric bill, but they will also prolong the life of your light bulbs.

37. Get a Home Energy Audit

Many utility companies will provide this for free. You can learn where you are wasting energy or losing it due to inadequate insulation or weather stripping.

38. Unplug or Turn Off

Do you realize that all those appliances with the little standby power lights and clocks on them are sucking energy. Unplug appliances such as breadmakers when they are not in use. Turn off the dishwasher as soon as it finishes the cycle. Turn off your computer at night. Most manufacturers are reconsidering their products' energy use in standby mode. Even small amounts of energy add up.

39. Ceiling Fans

I do not understand why they always remove ceiling fans on the TV shows when they remake a room. I would never give up my fans. They save on cooling during the summer and on heating costs during the winter. We even have a ceiling fan on our patio so we can enjoy being outside more of the day. They also help eliminate insects at your outdoor meals.

40. Run Dishwashers Only When Full

Many dishwashers are run after dinner even when they are not full. Avoid the temptation; wait until after breakfast, and run it full.

It may take you a few weeks to get used to this gentler spray, but it will save big money not only on energy costs, but also on water costs. Remember the droughts and the rationing of water?

42. Water the Lawn Early

Water early in the morning when it is cool and evaporation will be less. If you are paying for water, this will reduce the amount of water you need to use. If you are not paying for water, you will help ensure that your lawn and plants survive the summer and save you the cost of replacement.

Observe the track of the sun from sunrise to sunset for a week. Remember the track of the sun is different in the summer than the winter. Plant trees in areas where they will provide shade for your home. This will not only save you money now, but it will make you money when you are ready to sell by providing added beauty to your home.

44. Eliminate Cable or Satellite Channels

Seriously evaluate your TV watching habits. Do you need all those movie channels? Do you need cable at all? I have taped favorite shows for my children who are saving money by eliminating cable. They can fast forward through commercials, and grandchildren love getting a tape with all their favorite, mother-approved, shows.

45. Eliminate Unnecessary Phone Features

Read over your phone bill carefully and make sure you understand all that you are paying for. You may be surprised that there are things you are paying for that you did not realize. Do you really need the call waiting and other stuff you are currently paying for? Do you or your children really need text messaging? After watching kids in school and church exchange text messages when they should be concentrating on the things being taught, my answer would be no, they don't need it. If they want it, have them pay for it so they realize the cost.

46. Pay Bills Online

Save the postage. This may seem like such an insignificant amount, but all these small savings really do add up in a year's time.

Save the late fees. Be aware that if your cash flow changes, you will need to call the bank or adjust your payment at least a day ahead, and sometimes two days ahead of the due date.

48. Shop Around for Cell Phone Services

Even after you have found the best deal, re-investigate before renewing your contract the next year. Features and prices are changing all the time. Your own provider may reduce the rate or offer you another incentive to stay, if you hesitate to renew.

49. Shop Around for an Internet Service Provider

For all the same reasons you shopped around for cell phone service, the internet is a commodity where good service and price really counts.

50. Eliminate Long Distance Charges

If you have a cell phone plan that has nationwide free minutes, make all your long distance calls evenings or weekends when the calls are free.

Now that you are armed with even more ideas, it should be easy to decide which of these ideas are best for your most urgent and important new money-saving strategies.

Be sure to review the Meridian article Fifty Ways to Live Within Your Means.