SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - Most Southwest Floridians are trying to find ways to stretch their budgets these days, and a group that specializes in cutting household expenses, gave WINK News some ideas.

"The best single thing most people can do is cut back on eating out," said Sandee Rains of Consumer Credit Counseling Service in Sarasota.
That group is a non-profit that helps people budget better, and pay off their debts.

"When I say, eating out, I include fast-food places, as well as the morning coffee purchases. People forget how much they can spend on the store-bought coffee and donuts or bagels each day. And fast food, while cheap by reputation, really can be fairly expensive. If you spend $5 a day for burger and fries and a drink, that's $25 a week, or $100 a month," said Rains.

She also told WINK News, people should shop wisely for personal care products, such as shampoo and cosmetics. "Expensive is not always the best," Rains advised. She noted that many discount stores carry the name brands of hair color or shampoo, at perhaps one-half the cost of bigger stores.

Rains also strongly suggests that people cut out or control their buying of lottery tickets. She says people often spend $100 a week on tickets and scratch-offs, with only a tiny chance of winning a significant prize.
"That is just such a waste of money," said Rains.

"The bottom line is, we all need our "treats" and our "comforts", but do not have to go to extremes. We can plan our meals out, and perhaps look for coupons or discounts for restaurants and personal care products, and save a lot of money," she said.