The San Diego Tribune ran a feature yesterday that included advice from a diversity of experts on ways to save money. One of the story's segments had advice from Patti Wooten Swanson, the UC Cooperative Extension nutrition, family and consumer sciences advisor in San Diego County.

The segment was somewhat counterintuitive. It suggested against buying in bulk. "If the food spoils faster than you can eat it, or the 'use by' date passes on medicine before it's used up, you've wasted money," the article says. On the other hand, cooking in bulk is a good idea, Swanson told the paper.

"You can save money and time by doubling or quadrupling soup or casserole recipes and then freezing them in individual containers for later use," the article paraphrased Swanson.

Other money saving ideas and the sources covered in the story:

• Take control of your budget - moneymagpie.com, a British Web site
• Shop with a list - a registered dietitian and nutrition instructor at San Diego State University
• Pay cash - Money magazine
• Bring your lunch - California Public Interest Research Group
• Entertain youself - ShopSmart, a sister publication to Consumer Reports
• Slow down (when driving) - U.S. Energy Department
• Turn on the (thermostat) timer - U.S. Energy Department
• Maximize your interest (on savings accounts) - author of “Get Out of Debt and Stay Out of Debt”
• Don't panic (but seek counseling) - Homeownership Preservation Foundation