Has the stimulus program really worked? On a CTA bus this week, I heard an announcement that the CTA has used federal stimulus dollars to purchase the more energy efficient bus that I was riding. The announcement like the bus was nice, yet it had fewer seats. The stimulus plan many opine that isn’t really working has made some communities and neighborhoods focus on getting people to spend money in their own neighborhoods.

Do you spend money in your neighborhood? Money.com highlights a community that encourages people to spend $50 a month at neighborhood businesses. This isn’t a new idea, some northside Chicago communities are suggesting the same thing as well.

The general idea that has been used in Chicago is to spend $50 a month in your neighborhood. Spending $50 in your neighborhood each month can be a budget breaker unless you include the money in your budget. If you are going to the local small café or restaurant a couple of times a month and spending money that is one thing. The article also suggests there are large corporations that have adopted the slogan because their businesses are in the community. Though it is true that large businesses are a part of the community they have a greater support system for corporate owned chains. For independent owned franchises depending on how you feel, may or may not be included in your spending plan.

Who wants to spend an extra $50 a month on things they don’t really want? If you have small stores with consumable items like food or beverages in your neighborhood then the local stimulus plan can work. Also, the stores have to offer things that you would actually use and need, otherwise it’s just wasted money. A stimulus plan has to be used for things that are necessary, even if it is a local one.

Want to have a party but can’t afford the expense? Think back to your younger days. Remember when a bunch of friends used to get together at someone’s house and then just chip in a few dollars for pizza? The person hosting generally provided pop. Why not do that now? If it’s just a few friends and you want to get together, they won’t mind if you tell them up front.

Instead of worrying about coordinating a pot luck, invite friends over and have each pay a small amount for a take out feast. Generally Chinese food and pizza are the most shareable foods and you money will go farther. If you know enough people are coming then you could order family style dinners.

What about beverages? If you are just hosting adults you could forgo alcohol altogether and have water with lemons and limes in it for a light refreshing treat or you could provide sangria. If you crowd likes to drink, then tell people to BYOB or make a sangria or other alcoholic punch.

When you are going to a picnic in the park or other event and bring your own food, you could do that was well as just tell people to bring their own food and then just provide a non-alcoholic beverage and dessert. When a bunch of friends get together at a restaurant – each pays his/her own portion. Having takout can be cheaper than eating in a restaurant and more casual as well.

There are still ways to have fun with friends and entertain inexpensively. Be creative. Generally, most people will not gripe about getting together with friends on a budget.

Checking receipts is crucial to saving money. We know that scanners are often wrong but what about additional charges that are added to your bill without your knowledge?

At an electronics store, my mother bought a small television set to replace an old non-digital set. The cashier asked if my mother wanted the extended warranty and then proceeded to just add it to the bill without waiting for an answer. When the price was about $70 more than the price of the television with tax she questioned the young lady and she said Oh I just added the extended warranty. You didn’t want it? No.

This isn’t the only type of upselling that happens. If you are in a restaurant and are asked if you want tap or bottled water, if you say tap you will pay an exorbitant amount for the tap water. Many places no longer just give you water without asking in order to save water and not having to wash the glass.

Watch what you are being charged for and if you don’t recognize a charge, ask.

Yesterday, for the first time I had something happen to me at a store which bothered me. I made a purchase at Target which was under $50 – about $44 and some change. I swiped my card and then was given the receipt. I asked if I needed to sign and I was told that I didn’t need to sign because the purchase was under $50. “It’s something new,” he said.

This new practice isn’t something that I applaud. When I buy gas and use a credit card, I was accustomed to just putting my credit card in the machine and then pumping my gas. Now the station that I frequent has added an added layer of protection and requests the zip code of the cardholder. I think if Target’s system asked for the zip code as well this couldn’t make me as apprehensive about using my card there for purchases under $50.

Though $50 doesn’t seem like a lot of money, several charges under the minimum signing amount can easily throw someone’s account off before the theft is caught.

Not every cashier even checks the signature on the card for “smaller” purchases. A smaller purchase can be less than $100 or $50 depending on the store. A few day s go I was at a bar with a  friend who had a tab and kept track of what she consumed. When she closed out her tab, the waitress didn’t ask to see her ID. On the back of her card it says, “ask for ID” in the signature line. My friend said something to the waitress about that and she said, oh, “I didn’t pay attention to that.”

Being diligent about using your credit card and also having diligent cashiers helps decrease credit card fraud.

If you drop your credit card in a store and someone makes several purchases, they may not be asked to sign anything, making it more difficult for you to prove that it was fraud. This is just another precaution to take when you are checking out at the store. Don’t take your card out until the last minute or if you have it in your hand, make sure you cover the numbers on your card so a thief won’t be able to take a photo of your credit card number. If you lose your card, report it lost right away.

It is a known fact that the snack size packs are more expensive per ounce than the larger packs, but what about butter? I needed butter and the price of a solid pound of butter rather than a pound in quarters was 50¢ cheaper than the quarters. I bought the pound and cut it into quarters at home, and put plastic wrap between the quarters.

The 50¢ that I saved was worth it to cut the butter at home. Sometimes the additional work that is involved in repackaging isn’t worth it. Buying in bulk when you will use an item, or even making your own user friendly packs can help you save big. Buying ground sirloin or other meat in packages of 5 pounds or more may allow you to get a much better price. If you aren’t using the meat all at one time, then put the meat into packages that you will use instead of going to buy meat each time you need it. Buying larger quantities of meat will allow you to save money.

Cookies, crackers and chips. Who doesn’t want a little treat occasionally? If you bought a small package on a road trip that’s one thing but if you buy the same snack every day, even a candy bar, buying your treat at the grocery store or warehouse club would save you more money. Snack size plastic bags or small containers can be reused and then you won’t be tempted to eat the entire bag if you just left it in your drawer at work.

Go to the pop machine at work a couple of times a day or week? Buy a 12-pack when it’s on sale and you’ll save at least half of what you spend in the vending machine. If you are really inclined, you could buy a 2-liter bottle and pour some into a resuable bottle which would be another cost saving measure as well.