I’ve neglected my blog for way too long. In this down economy I think it is imperative that I start writing again.

Over at The Daily Hacks, they published 20 quick changes you make to your lifestyle to save money.

I was going to comment over there, but figured my audience – which is still rather high considering my neglect – would like to see my quick responses. Visit their list, then jump back for my commentary:

#3 Stay home yes. But don’t just sit around. Engage kids in the outdoor activities. Plant trees, plant and tend a garden (bonus food there). Kids love that stuff and don’t consider it work like us adults. If you have older kids, take the time to learn to play video games with them. And you can use it as a financial education as well, save up to buy a system (even used), then save for games, borrow games, etc. Use it as a lesson to show that rushing out and spending $60 on a game they bore with in 3 weeks is a waste.

#6 A bag of flour, a couple packets of yeast, salt, sugar and olive oil, you make about 24 pizza crusts for the price of buying 3 ready-made crusts.

#12 Get a 10-15 lbs kettle ball (around $20-25). You can find numerous video-guided kettle ball workouts on YouTube that will give you both weight routine (anaerobic) and a cardio routine (aerobic). Plus, you’ll be hip like the UFC/MMA fighters. My neighbor lost 35 pounds in 9 months by reducing fat intake and doing a 12-minute kettle ball routine 4x a week.

#15 Amazon has made books convenience purchases. Don’t forget that libraries still exist and many have expanded beyond books to audiobooks, music, popular DVD’s etc. Most communities are still free for library privileges.

#19 Teach your kids to avoid credit first and foremost. My parents taught me a lot of things but money management was not one, despite the fact they were very fiscally sound. Took me a few years of stupidity to figure that one out.

And one other point I want to make, if you are gainfully employed now, don’t be afraid to bump up 401k contributions and hold them in whatever cash-equivalent holding fund you have available. When the market starts to turn around, you will have a nice nest-egg available to push in to growth areas.