Shopping Wisely in 2026

<img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dcr-apis/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/shopping%20wisely.jpeg" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> We’re all feeling the pinch when it comes to the cost of living in the Greater Bay Area. While it’s a relief to see gas prices come down a bit and some prices slashed at grocery stores, it’s also true that many other things cost a lot more. Now more than ever, it makes sense to watch your budget with an eagle eye.  My friends are coming up with all kinds of new ways to save money. They’ve given up things like manicures, takeout food, and bottled salad dressing and say they don’t even miss them! Some are no longer buying dryer sheets while others are switching to digital newspaper subscriptions. Many people are using cloth napkins, buying reusable storage bags and eliminating disposable razors. Personally, I’m trying not to buy new books and instead use e-books from the public library. All these little things can add up to big savings. In light of this new emphasis on frugality, Consumer Reports has launched a newsletter called Bread & Butter. It’s named after a bulletin that was mailed to members in the 1940s. The idea is to help people make good financial decisions and share secrets to saving more and shopping wisely. The first few issues covered topics like how to fix a suitcase handle, a description of surveillance pricing and how it affects us, and the best way to get deals on Consumer Reports’ top rated products. I especially enjoyed the story about the editor’s father, a doctor who paid $300 for a lifetime subscription to the New England Journal of Medicine. He enjoyed it for 50 years and the deal worked out to about $0.12 an issue! You can subscribe to Bread & Butter for free at <a href="https://crbreadandbutter.substack.com/" target="_self">crbreadandbutter.substack.com</a>. A new issue is delivered every Wednesday.  <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/" target="_self">Use Diamond Certified Resource to find top rated companies.</a> Related Articles <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/Personal-Finances-Investing/" target="_self">The Essential Guide to Personal Finances & Investing</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Rated Local Companies</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free)</a>