How do you manage your shopping? Money-saving tip enclosed!

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Do you make a list and stick to it? Are these times so hard that you've stopped spending altogether? Are you making do, reusing, recycling or doing without? Sometimes it's to our advantage to use a credit card! Yep, credit is the epitome of evil right now but you can make it work for you. I do! I have a Visa that credits me 1% of all purchases and credits it toward the principal on my mortgage. I also have a Visa through my bank that credits me 2% cash towards my purchases of gas, groceries and department stores and sends me checks. I'm a "DEADBEAT"! That's a person who pays off their balance in full every month, has no yearly card fees and gets cash back for the purchases. Work the credit cards to your advantage. I made credit mistakes when I was young but when I was older I figured out how to work the game to my advantage. BE A DEADBEAT!!! I also subtract the amount I charge from my bank account, usually in red ink. When the bill comes, I add it back in and write the check. This gives me a real-time balance and lets me know if I'm going over my budget. I NEVER owe the credit card more than I can pay. If you're not doing this now, please start. They are vultures, poised to pick our still-living bones whenever they can. Don't give them the satisfaction!!