One thing I do is buy articles of grocery when it has been reduced. They reduce it by 30% when it gets near its due date. I buy meat, yogurt, bread, pies and other things this way. I use the bread to make bread pudding or to make bread crumbs. I even bought a little caramel birthday cake for my daughter's birthday last week at 30% off. It was very good..Sometimes they even reduce things by 50%. I use the meat immediately to make a stew or soup. Everything is very good.. I try to turn the thermostat down but my husband and I are getting to be wusses... We are always cold. We do wear sweaters and socks but we are still cold, especially in the evening..