For the first time in years, I will not be ordering pastelles and black cake for Christmas. Let me say that I am neither lazy nor inept in the kitchen, as I tell people, I have a dolly house stove that won’t allow me to do much more than cook and bake chicken every now and then.

Baking a cake would just be pushing my luck. You should have heard the shock in the voice of my pastelle and black cake provider when I told her I would not be ordering this year.

“What’s wrong, dear?” she asked sweetly.

I told her that I wanted to cut back on things since — even though our Prime Minister Patrick Manning would only imply rather than confirm — a recession is at hand.

With chicken pastelles at $15 for one (I usually order two dozen) and black cake at $175 for a small one, I told her that I could put the money to use elsewhere.

Mind you, as a known pastelle and black cake lover, my friends are concerned about the withdrawal symptoms that are likely to come this Christmas.

But like I told them and my Christmas goodies provider, I will use that money instead to buy fruits and pay a bill.

When the Prime Minister spoke of cutting back the other day, he was preaching to the choir. My belt is so tight, if it goes any tighter I would surely explode.

As one male friend put it, a woman is the greatest economiser. Here, here.

I have found some ways to cut back on things that I wanted to share with you, if you don’t mind. Anything to help you save more and survive this looming financial crisis.

• For Christmas, buy what you need at the grocery and don’t concentrate on feeding your friends when come by to parang on Christmas Day. I mean they are likely to make their own groceries. Let them eat at home.

The only thing you should be providing on that day is a cold drink and cookies.

• Stop buying clothes at the store and give the seamstress around the corner a call instead. Not only will the price of the fabric be reasonable, so too will be the service. The last time I checked, a skirt costs $80, a shirt $40 and a jacket $100.

• Learn to do your own hair. Going to the salon eats away at your pocket. Go online and look for a few of those “how to” hair sites and see how to get your hair salon ready.

Your only visit to the hairdresser should be for trims and relaxers.

• Take the bus. I know it takes forever for one to show up sometimes, but spending less makes up for the long wait.

• Save on utilities. Does it really make sense to have a landline phone and a cellphone. Ditch the landline and retain the mobile, preferably a prepaid so that you pay as you go.