Thank you all for the insights and links.

Although my retirement isnt that far away, I really dont have much money to invest in risky portfolios. I also spend very little on myself (e.g. I make/fix my own office furniture instead of buying). But I am not that strict when it comes to spending on the wife and kids.

Expanding our pantry is one of the strategies we have followed lately. We try to hunt for deals and so forth.

I will read and print useful stuff from clarkhoward.com and financialsense.

Thank you all.