These are hard economic times so it is daunting for many to try and save up for an emergency. However there are ways to do it without spending a great deal of money.
First off only buy expensive groceries and hygiene products when they are on sale or when you have a lot of coupons for them. You can even try your hand at Extreme couponing to save a few bucks. Do not fear buying in bulk when you can afford it.
There are some items you can make yourself. For instance it is quite easy to make your own laundry soap from washing soda and borax.
You will always save money if you cook from staples rather than buy processed or pre-packaged food. Staples are things like pasta, rice, beans, oats and corn. Add ingredients to these basic staples and you will save an incredible amount of money over time.
Baking your own bread is also another great way to save money in the present. Automatic bread makers are quite cheap and the fresh bread tastes wonderful too.
Growing a garden can save you money from March until December, especially if you can your own stuff. Some of the easiest vegetable to grow are tomato, onions and cucumbers. Squash and zucchini also grow very swiftly.
It is also a good idea to can your own produce or take advantage of bulk sales and make your own jams, jellies, preserves and spreads. For instance blackberries are three pints for two dollars in the summer but five dollars for one pint in the winter. It makes sense in both the present and in the future to start making as much food as possible at a very little cost.
Making pickles from your vegetables is also recommended. You can make pickles out of just about anything including cauliflower, zucchini, pickles and cucumbers. You can also make your own sauerkraut.
Another way to save money is to eat seasonally. The same melon that costs five bucks in December might only be two bucks in the summer.
This might sound like a bit of a cliché but every millionaire in history has recommended packing your own lunch to save money. Bring a thermos of coffee to work instead of paying five bucks for it. Instead of pouring coins into vending machines, pack your own healthy snacks. This is the brown bagging way to get rich!