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Putting Money into Your Pocket

Tough economic times may be upon us, but I have solutions for freeing up a little money at home–and rewarding myself in the process.

I have been working with some managers at work to implement a Kaizen program. This is a Japanese term that means continuous improvement, and is often referred to in lean manufacturing. The purpose is to look for opportunities to improve processes or increasing efficiencies, thus reducing costs. Many companies give a small percentage of the savings to the employee(s) who suggests the cost-saving idea.

I propose establishing a Kaizen program in the home. My wife has been pushing a new budgeting program on everyone, and my spending money is in jeopardy. But if I can propose ideas to reduce costs, then I think I should receive a percentage of the saving for in my spending allowance. I also think I should receive a percentage if I can find ways to increase our income. Here are some ideas I have come up with:

The Donkey’s Suggestions for improving The Financial Situation at Home:

• Wear underwear for a week straight, thus reducing laundering costs.
• Change baby diapers twice a day or switch to cloth diapers. (Husbands wouldn’t be at home to change the cloth diapers, so it’s a great proposal.)
• Shave everybody’s heads in the home. This reduces the need to visit the barber. I also propose shaving your wife’s head. You could have her hair made into a wig. This would be a significant up-front cost, but over time you would continue to shave her head while she wears a professional looking wig.
• Buy your wife a pair of jeans for Christmas that are a size or two too small. The tightness of these jeans will constrict her stomach and reduce food intake.
• Early morning paper route. This is great if you have a new baby since your wife would be up feeding the baby anyway. She could finish the entire route before you leave for work.
• Cancel the Internet at home. Not only does this save $50 each month, but it forces your wife to go to the library to use the Internet. This will also reduce snacking by all who would have otherwise been hanging out in the house.  If she decides not to go use the internet elsewhere, it will at least cut down on the development of symptoms discovered on the internet.
• Have everyone in the house take a bath in the same water. Sure it sounds gross, but if you have little kids they won’t even notice. Be sure to get in there first though, and don’t fill the bath up too much.
• Enroll family members into product testing marketing programs. Whether it’s toothpaste, shampoo, or food, there is always something someone in your family could be trying out for a little extra cash.
• Stop using the bathroom at home or simply wait until the evening to flush toilets. Schedule bathroom trips to the library, neighbor’s house, or convenience store

What are other cost saving/income generating ideas do you have?

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