We are preparing for a no buy year. This is the first time we will have to think about EVERY THING we need including groceries. We started by developing a budget and worked on reducing things like utilities and insurance. We are taking the savings here and putting it away to handle the increased deductibles. 

The tough part is finding the ability to repair items rather than tossing them. I just spent nearly $10 on a spool of white thread for repairs. I know that used to be under $5. What has happened to the price of things?