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Economic downturns are never much fun, but as Adam Smith observed centuries ago, these cycles of paucity and plenty are a fact of life. Though no one can say for sure when this most recent slump will reverse, there are at least sure ways of stretching your cash in the meantime. Here are some penny-preserving techniques tailored to our 21st-century lives:

1. Plenty of people are in the habit of cutting out paper coupons, but even though many of us do some of our shopping on the Internet now, not as many of us seem to have learned to coupon-hunt online. Sites such as CouponCabin.com, CouponMountain.com, and DealofDay.com list thousands of current offers at retailers all across the Net.

2. Use price-comparison websites such as Pricegrabber.com, Shopping.com, mySimon.com, and Google Product Search to find the best deals online.

3. When you’re out at a store, send a text message to 46645 (Google’s number) and enter the letter “f” and then the name of the item you’re considering. Google will reply with a message quoting its online prices. To compare prices at stores near you, go to ShopLocal.com.

4. If you don’t already belong to one, consider joining a warehouse club such as Costco or Sam’s and buying things in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a large family.

5. Buy generic instead of brand-name products. A lot of the difference is often in the marketing hoopla and not the product itself, anyway.

6. Withdraw your cash from surcharge-free ATMs, which can be found on AllpointNetwork.com and MoneyPass.com.

7. Buy locally-grown food at farmer’s markets or stores that sell local produce. Prices there are usually lower because the food doesn’t have to be transported very far.

8. Shop at dollar stores. You shouldn’t have a hard time finding them since they’ve been popping up all over the place in the recent past.

9. Buy discount prescription drugs from online pharmacies. You’ll often end up paying under half as much for the generic pills sold at these discount prescription drug stores than you would for the same brand-name pills at brick-and-mortar pharmacies.

10. If your vehicle is seven years old or older and/or worth less than $2,500, consider dropping comprehensive and collision from your insurance.  Your deductible may be approaching the value of your vehicle anyway, in which case a major collision would send your car to the junk dealer and you to the dealership.

11. Keep cell-phone expenses under control. Today’s kids love to send text messages, so save yourself from unexpected high bills by paying the flat monthly fee for unlimited text messaging.

12. Use online classifieds to find used items. Sites like CraigsList.org and Kijiji.com are great resources for finding everything you need, from vintage furniture to baby gear. By buying from local sellers, you can save on shipping costs as well.

13. Go to matinees. Matinee showings are usually more reasonably-priced than peak-time showings.

14. Install Power Planners (see www.energycsi.com/energysmart) to lower the energy usage of your electrical appliances.

15. For your next date, plan a romantic picnic instead of going to a high-end restaurant. Pack a blanket and a cooler full of your favorite foods and you’ve got yourself a low-cost rendezvous. Spice it up a little with a bottle of wine.

16. Instead of buying software, look for (legal) free software from places like Download.com and SourceForge.net. Depending on how you use a given type of software, the free alternatives will often be just as good as the commercial versions.

17. If someone in your house is a student, pick up the Student Price Card from SPCLive.com. It’s only $8.50 and it will get the holder 10% to 15% off in scores of participating stores.

18. Control your thermostat. Using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature will reduce energy usage when you’re asleep and away. Prices range from $30 to $120, but you'll reduce your bill by 10% to 20%.

19. Consider leaving your health club. Less expensive options might include a gym at your work, in your building or community, or at a nearby parks and rec. center.

20. Lower your water bill by installing low-flow showerheads and $1 toilet displacement bags.

21. When you eat out, choose waiter-less restaurants where you order up front and pick up your own food. You’ll avoid having to pay a tip, and these types of restaurants often have more reasonable prices as well.

22. Buy pre-owned books. Major online book sellers offer a “buy it used” option, where you can often find books in like-new condition at substantial discounts.

23. Have a friend or family member cut your hair. This works best for men and boys who like to keep their hair short and uninvolved, because someone without experience can do as good a job as a barber using a set of clippers. Professional clippers are sold in department stores for less than the cost of some high-end haircuts.

24. Swap babysitting responsibilities with neighbors. Instead of paying a teenager to do homework, send the kids to the neighbors’ place on your nights out and take their kids into your house for a few hours when they need some couple-time alone.

25. Replace your incandescent lightbulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lightbulbs). They use about 1/4 as much electricity, last about 10 times longer, and can now often be found on sale for only $1 each if you shop around.

26. Use personal-finance software such as Quicken or the free software from Rudder.com.

27. Trade one-time-use items (such as books) with friends once you’re done using them. If you each have items you’ll never use again but that the other wants, you can save yourselves the expense of buying them new.

28. Use public transportation or a bike to get to work, if possible.

29. When you need to upgrade your electronic gadgets, trade the old ones in for cash at sites like Gazelle.com and CellforCash.com.

30. Don’t shop for groceries when you’re hungry. If you do, you’re likely to purchase more than you actually need.

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