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What? You wanted a gold watch?

By SUSAN ASCHOFF
Published August 25, 2006

	101 ways to save money 101 Ways To Save Money from the 4-page “Preparing for a Financial Setback”

To many workers at Northwest Airlines, it seemed cold. First came the news they could lose their jobs in a month. Then the list of 101 tips to save money - including dumpster diving to mooching off relatives.

"It came across to us, after losing our jobs after a lifetime of work, as patronizing and rather insulting," Bryan Dalzell said of the list in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Dalzell has been a customer service agent for 27 years.

The airline agreed, pulled the list and apologized.

"Some of the tips were insensitive," Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski said.

Titled "101 Ways to Save Money," the list was part of a 165-page booklet on pensions, benefits and relocation assistance given this month to 60 ground workers whose positions are being eliminated.

As the financially struggling airline restructures in bankruptcy court, employees have been laid off, relocated or agreed to pay cuts, some as deep as 40 percent.

Here are some of the tips on the list:

* Rent out a room or garage.

* Replace 100 watt bulbs with 60 watt.

* Buy spare parts for your car at the junkyard.

* Get hand-me-down clothes and toys for your kids from family and friends.

* Request to get interest on the security deposit for your apartment.

* Take a shorter shower.

* Make your own baby food.

* Hang clothes out to dry.

* Take a date for a walk along the beach or in the woods.

* Grocery shop on double coupon days.

* Don't be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash.

* Move to a less expensive place to live.

* Caulk windows and doors.

* Buy pre-owned toys and children's books at garage sales.

* Inspect clothing carefully before purchasing it.

* Don't use your dishwasher dry cycle; open the door and let them air dry all night.

* Use old newspapers for cat litter.

* Grow your own vegetables and herbs.

* Search the internet for freebies.

* Cut the kids' hair yourself.

Word for Word is an occasional feature excerpting passages of interest from books, magazines, Web sites and other sources. The text may be edited for space but the original spelling, grammar and punctuation are unchanged.

[Last modified August 24, 2006, 08:31:32]