Most of us don't take much time to think about how we could spend our money more efficiently. When we do, however, we're often surprised by how much we can save with just a little planning.

If you receive government benefits for a psychiatric disability, you may already qualify for a number of special discounts on everyday expenses (see the next article on Special Discounts). But there are many other simple ways people with limited incomes can make their money work harder.

Plan ahead

A good general rule of thumb when shopping for anything is to figure out ahead of time how much you can comfortably afford to spend (your budget) and what you really need to buy. This will prevent you from spending money impulsively on things you don't need.

Then, when you go shopping, first buy all the basic necessities – things you can't live without. Add up the prices and check the total against your budget. If you have money left over, you can add extra items to complement your basics.

Start with the basics

Food, one of the most basic necessities, is also one of the easiest places to start saving. It's something you have to buy, but probably spend more on than you realize.

When you shop for food, try these guidelines to get more for your money:

• Find the lowest prices; store brands are usually cheapest, and pricier often doesn't mean better.
• Be sure to compare price per quantity (e.g., the price per ounce for a box of cereal), which is usually posted with the actual prices.
• Use coupons and sales, but only for things you know you need.
• It's usually cheaper to buy in bulk (e.g., a 5 pound bag of rice instead of a 16 ounce box) and with less packaging (meat by the pound at the deli rather than in small packages).
• Shop at grocery co-ops when possible (their food is often cheaper and fresher).

When you are planning meals, try these money-saving tips:

• Cook from scratch and in large quantities; freeze leftovers in meal-size portions to minimize the amount of waste.
• Eat dinner leftovers for lunch.
• Limit the number of times you eat out or order in.
• Use only small quantities of more expensive foods like meat and fish; fill out the rest of your meal with vegetables, pasta, rice, etc.
• Good sources of protein that are cheaper than meat include cheese, chicken, turkey, eggs, peanut butter, beans, lentils.
• Omelets and soup are both economical and versatile; you can use all kinds of leftovers like vegetables, cheese, or chicken, and soup can last for many meals.

Other Money-Saving Ideas

• Visit secondhand stores; many have quality merchandise, such as clothing and home furnishings, that is still in good condition. You can also find bargains at flea markets and yard sales, but you have to look a little harder.
• There are lots of free activities you can take advantage of with a little searching; local newspapers have listings for performances, lectures, and discussion groups at public locations like libraries and schools.
• Vocational schools or colleges can be a great source of low-cost services; for example, beauty schools offer free or low-cost haircuts, while dental schools usually offer dental care to the public.
• Many Web sites are dedicated to finding ways to save money; try www.stretcher.com for lots of good money-saving ideas.