Ask people what they might need to cope with a severe economic downturn -- aside from plenty of cash, that is -- and I'm guessing that not many would say "scissors."

But based on the following Ithaca Journal report, "Families Making More Out of Less," that handy tool is just what a struggling family needs nowadays.

Residents look for new ways to pinch pennies in tough times

NEWFIELD - Snip, snip. Clip, clip.

That will be the sound in Barb Miller's yellow house in Newfield this weekend as she goes through the weekend Ithaca Journal, a pile of magazines and a mail-delivery coupon service in search of bargains.

Miller says she has been a coupon clipper for years. It is part of the frugal lifestyle that she practices.

"I've always been a coupon user, particularly now. I live on a very fixed income," she said.

When she goes shopping next week at Wegmans or Tops in Ithaca, she will take along an expandable envelope that she uses to index coupons.

"That way when you go down the aisle, you have the coupons right there in order," she said.

Like many coupon clippers, she has found that is pays to plan and shop with care.

"Usually, the coupons are good for a month, and typically you'll find the product on sale in that month. I don't buy items that aren't on sale," she said.

Many area residents are stretching dollars with coupons, careful shopping and just going without in order to balance budgets to recession-reduced incomes. For some, getting accustomed to a frugal lifestyle is a new experience.

Rolling hills and a horse stable mark the landscape outside Dennis and Lauri Wech's Vestal home, which looks more like a large single-family house than an apartment.

Inside the landlord's garage, Dennis rolls out his 2001 Honda Shadow Sabre motorcycle that he bought new while he was still in the U.S. Army.

The motorcycle is a reminder of better times, when Dennis earned twice his current income in Santa Fe, N.M. It's a luxury, not a necessity, and that's why it's become expendable as the family of four adjusts to living a more frugal lifestyle.

As the nation grapples with a recession, many families throughout Ithaca and across the Southern Tier have found they must do more with less. But a little planning and some strategic bargain-hunting can help cut expenses while still leaving room for necessities - and even indulgences.

The good life

Like so many American families in recent months, the Wechs saw their lives change in the blink of an eye.

Before November 2006, Dennis worked at the New Mexico telephone company QwestCommunications, earning a stable income with ample opportunity for overtime. Lauri was pregnant with their second child, and there were few worries.

"We always had money left over in the bank, and we were not living paycheck to paycheck," Lauri said.

On the weekends, the family enjoyed traveling to places that looked interesting and buying whatever caught their fancy in the weekly fliers.

They even purchased a new 2008 Dodge Caliber. Then Dennis was laid off.

The family was forced to return the Caliber and packed everything in a trailer to move closer to family.

"Now, I'm just trying to build myself back up again," said Dennis, who is now employed at Simplex-Grinnell in Endicott as an electronic service technician.

The budget

Cornell Cooperative Exten-sion branches in many counties offer classes on making ends meet, and Chemung County's teacher, Toni Gardner, says she's taught the class to people from all walks of life. Many have lost their jobs, have health issues or a suffered a recent decrease in work hours.

So what does she teach? One of the most basic tools in her repertoire is budgeting. Sitting down and developing a budget can give people a real picture of how they spend their money and what they can cut, she said.

As you go through the month, don't let receipts pile up. Instead, carry a small pad of paper and write down what you buy when you buy it.

"A lot of times it's just rearranging your budget," Gardner said. "Sometimes you have to look at cutting back on something."

Eating lean

The Wechs know that lesson well. They've reduced the amount of red meat in their diet and typically dine on $12 a week by using a consistent menu of tuna noodle casserole, spaghetti and meatballs, burgers and fries and chicken and rice.

But that doesn't mean they don't dine out - Lori looks for coupons that make a night out more affordable.

Loree Symonds, a Cornell Cooperative Extension nutrition and community educator in Steuben County, said planning weekly menus like the Wechs do is a basic way to save money when shopping. But, she added, don't forget to keep an eye out for those sale items. Flexibility can be an important tool for getting a great deal.

"Look to see what you have, look at a flier and then plan your menu," Symonds said. "Maybe you were going to have turkey but you see chicken is on sale. You go to the store with a shopping list and you stick to it, unless you see a better deal."

Symonds said shoppers also should buy fruits and vegetables in season because they'll be cheaper than when they are out of season.

If it's an item you like to eat year round, stock up and either preserve the food by canning or freeze it.

She recommended checking to see if your local CCE offers courses on canning.

Food pantries

Sara Pines, coordinator of the Friendship Donations Network in Tompkins County, said people looking to save money on food should buy in bulk, eat oatmeal for breakfast every day, and stay away from name brands.

"The healthiest diet is beans, lentils and whole grains. That is the cheapest diet there is. Stay with vegetables in season and fruit in season," Pines said. "First of all, it's healthier and second of all it's cheaper."

And for those families who have already cut back and "you're going into the red or the orange, go to a food pantry," Pines said.

Pines coordinates food pantries that serve 2,200 people per week throughout Tompkins County and surrounding areas. Virtually every grocery store, and many bakeries, farms and orchards contribute. For locations and schedules of food pantries, go to friendshipdonations.org.

"There is no ID and no requirements. Anybody in need of mostly fresh, perishable food, which is the most expensive - dairy, deli, milk, cheese, eggs, vegetables, fruit, fresh breads, rolls, bagels, pastries, juices - it's all at the pantry," she said. "Complete anonymity is guaranteed at every pantry site to preserve dignity and self-respect."

Handing out coupons is not without its risks, of course. Sometimes, lot of people want to use them -- at an especially inopportune time -- as NBC Bay Area news reports in "Recession Triggers Coupon Scavenger Hunt."

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Five years ago, Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco's Mission District put an ad in the Yellow Pages, offering a 20% monthly discount. Times were good, and few people paid attention to the ad. They didn't need the help. Fast forward to the present, when a recession has families all over the nation struggling just to get by.

Now, as the San Francisco Chronicle reports, people are scouring the city for the coupon. People are raiding Library yellow pages, and taking the books from friends and family. Some are even signing up for multiple copies of the directory.

The news is a mixed bag for Rainbow Grocery. The store can't seem to stock the shelves fast enough and the company workforce has grown by almost 50% to keep up with the demand.

But that demand is also the problem. Rainbow Grocery is a co-op and employees are considering clipping the coupon program in an effort to alleviate the burden on workers and customers. They are also considering cutting back the offer to once every other month or increasing the days it can be used to spread out the number of customers. No verdict yet, so until then, the influx of customers will continue.