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NBC17 Money Survival Guide: How Viewers Are Saving Money
 
Sunday, Jul 27, 2008 - 10:47 PM Updated: 11:33 PM
 
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By NBC17
E-mail | Biography

 
WAKE FOREST, N.C. -- With soaring gas prices and tightening budgets, NBC17 has been asking what you do to save money. 
 
Elizabeth Johnson, a Wake Forest resident and business owner, told us she spends less time and money filling up her gas tank by taking advantage of everything her home town has to offer.
 
On MyNC.com, Johnson wrote:
 
 "Even a trip from Wake Forest to Raleigh really depletes the gas tank, but not to worry as I find there is plenty to entertain right in my own "backyard," so to speak.  I can enjoy the charm and delights of Historic Downtown Wake Forest without spending a fortune to get there.  I love to start the day with a great yoga class at Wake Forest Yoga, then I can stop in for a latte' at the Wake Forest Coffee Company, stroll the Saturday Farmers market, cool off with an incredible gelato at a'La Mode ice cream cafe, and shop at my favorite shops! Of course, I love The Cotton Company and visiting all the galleries during Art After Hours every second Friday (free wine tastings and refreshments!), but I can also pick up some summer reading material for the kids at Alphabet Soup, have lunch or dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, and enjoy a visit to the Wake Forest Birthplace Museum to soak up a little local history! Plenty to do right here in our quaint little town and I don't have to spend a fortune to get here!"
 
When you start to explore your own 'backyard,' you might be surprised what you can find for the family to do for free or next-to-free.
 
Here are some upcoming events and ideas in the Wake Forest area.
 
FREE OUTDOOR FAMILY MOVIES
Community Movie Night presented by Wake Forest Baptist Church
Aug. 22, "Evan Almighty"
8 p.m.
Wake Forest Baptist Church Stephenson Center, 12120 Wake Union Church Road
Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy drinks and popcorn.
For more information, contact Rev. Mark Tolley, Minister of Outreach, 919-556-5141.
 
'Flicks on The Field' presented by Lennar Homes and Rolesville Chamber of Commerce
Aug. 22, "Horton Hears A Who"
Sept. 19, "Night At The Museum"
Oct. 10, "Facing the Giants"
Nov. 1, "E.T."
Gates open at 7:30 p.m., movies start at 8:45 p.m.
Rolesville Ball Park, behind Rolesvill Elementary
Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
For more information, contact Jenny at 562-7069.
 
ART AFTER HOURS
On the second Friday of each month, the streets of historic downtown Wake Forest come alive in the evening. From 5-9 p.m., see artists at work, browse local art, and visit shops and restaurants. Some merchants and galleries offer free refreshments, wine tasting, and entertainment. You can even take the kids on a free horse and carriage ride. It's a great way to discover some of Wake Forest's unique downtown businesses!
 
FESTIVAL FRIDAY
New this summer, Festival Friday is meant to provide a venue for local teens, performers, and musicians to gather and share their talents.  Festival Friday is scheduled to run every Friday evening from June 6 to October 17 at Festival Park at 525 S. White St.  Each week is to begin with an open-mic session at 6 p.m., followed by a featured performer. You're encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. In the case of rain, the event will move inside. Admission is $3, with some of the proceeds benefiting the Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment. For more information, contact ejohnson@medfaxxinc.com.
 
TAKE A HIKE
There are several trails and greenways in Wake Forest that are ideal for hiking, jogging, or biking.  Take in scenic creek and forest views, or stop at a playground or picnic shelter.
For a list of trails and parking information:
 
GET ON BOARD THE BUS
Public transportation is taking off in Wake Forest, due to a partnership between the town, the City of Raleigh, and Triangle Transit.  The new Wake Forest Loop runs an hourly route around town Monday through Friday at no charge to riders, stopping at various shopping centers, the library, and government offices.  At a park and ride lot near the downtown, riders can pick up the Wake Forest-Raleigh Express. The express runs to Triangle Town Center and downtown Raleigh for a $2.50 fare.
For more information on the routes and schedules: http://triangletransit.org/bus/maps-and-schedules

NORTH HILLS (RALEIGH)
 
Back in Ralegh, two North Hills residents are adding their suggestions to our Money Survival Guide.

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Their theory is the closer you stay to home, the more money you save.
 
By living and working at North Hills Luxe Apothecary owner Fiquet Bailey said she’s saved a lot in fuel costs over the past two years.
 
"Every thing's just close, I just don't leave,” Bailey said. "It started out that I wanted to be close to work and now I walk everywhere, you know out to dinner to the grocery store, bank."
 
Jason Peck lives in the same building as his favorite restaurant, and since he works from home running a website called northhillsbuzz.com he rarely has to leave. He said he saves on everything from fuel to cab rides.
 
"You've got the movie theatre over there, you've got a couple bars, restaurants, grocery store which is huge for me because I don't like to plan meals at all so I just walk over there every night,” Peck said.
 
The trend isn't just at North Hills. Many other communities including some of the new condos downtown are playing up having everything you need close by.
 
Both Bailey and Peck have gas guzzling SUV's, but because they walk more than drive, Bailey only spends about $15 bucks a week on gas while Peck averages $20. He said that's not only economical, but environmentally friendly too.
 
"It's an added benefit it's kind of like icing on the cake,” Peck said.
 
He could probably icing too, somewhere nearby.

THE SCRAP EXCHANGE OF DURHAM:
Step into the Scrap Exchange and you enter a place where a company’s trash can turn into your own personal treasure.

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The Durham nonprofit collects discarded materials from factories and businesses and sells them to the public.
 
It operates out of a 13,000-square-foot warehouse in downtown Durham. Its mission is to promote creativity, environmental awareness and community through reuse, which it has been doing since it was founded 17 years ago.
 
And in these economic times when folks are looking for ways to save money or have fun on a tighter budget, the Scrap Exchange is seeing an upswing in customers.
 
 “People get a lot more resourceful when they have less income or less money, so we’re a good place just to find very inexpensive materials for their arts program or any kind of program they’re doing,” said executive director Ann Woodward.
 
Woodward said not only can you save money and help the environment by purchasing reusable materials from the Scrap Exchange, you can also entertain yourself by browsing.
“It’s inspiring to come in here and look at thousands of different materials and sort of think about the possibilities of what each material could be.”
 
And if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to spend your afternoon, check out the Scrap Exchange’s Make and Take Room. For $5 you can use any of the materials that you find in the room – from ropes to ketchup cups – and make anything you want. Your imagination is your only limitation.
 
There’s also an art gallery with exhibits that rotate monthly and a market that sells sustainable artwork by local artists.
 
The Scrap Exchange is open form 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
 
For more information log onto scrapexchange.org.