This is an interesting discussion. And it's interesting to see how we all cope. Making a loaf of good bread in my bread machine costs less than $.75 for me. My DIL has chickens, but hens eat chicken feed, too. Gardens are good, but they take work and time as well. I know as I've frozen and canned all my married life. I watch some little things like using a pump for the dishsoap and shampoo bottles-I use less of both than pouring it into your hand. I rewash ziploc type bags whether they are new from a box or used to sell nuts or brown sugar. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store--the more processed foods cost the most money and generally are the least nutritious.