Final tally: We saved $8,285.39 dollars in 2008 using Kaizen.

The results of my tabulation are in: $8,285.39 saved because our family looked for a way to continually improve and reduce waste. I am stunned but happy and our saving account is better for it, Here's some of the details...

Largest savings: Installing my own furnace saving $2,675 over the quoted contractor price. Using a technique that Toyota calls "learn by doing", I learned by helping someone do it and then did it myself. Believe me, I'm not the most mechanically inclined but with some help from my brother, we did it and got compliments from people that looked at the final installation. Learn more at http://littlebylittlechange.blogspot.com/2008/12/kaizen-your-secret-weapon-in-down.html#comments

Second largest saving: $1791 in cash and gift cards recovered by selling items from the Great Household Purge. We've been thining out our household inventory and getting rid of the waste we have accumulated. Learn more from these posts:

http://littlebylittlechange.blogspot.com/2008/07/starting-great-household-purge.html

http://littlebylittlechange.blogspot.com/2008/08/great-household-purge-update-82708.html

http://littlebylittlechange.blogspot.com/2008/12/great-household-purge-update-121608.html


Third largest savings: $1300 from mixing and matching employer benefits. See http://littlebylittlechange.blogspot.com/2008/12/mix-and-match-employer-benefits-to-save.html

Most caffinated savings: $5.56 from buying no new coffee filters in 2008. I developed a process to re-use paper coffee filters over and over and the coffee tastes just fine.

Dumbest savings: $32. Canceling the paper that no one read, no one used, and had to be taken to be recycled. Duh!

Most delicious saving: $30. Picked gobs and gobs of apple from wild trees and they were so good. These trees aren't sprayed so they were as good as organic although some looked a little gnarly.

Quickest savings: $20 in 3 seconds. When I had my Toyota's timing belt replaced at the recommended mileage, I asked, "Could I get a free oil change with that?"

Random savings: $30-$50. My neighbor would get surplus groceries and they would bring them over to us what they didn't need. I didn't keep real good track but it saved us a bunch on eggs, soda pop, hash browns and other food.

Wettest savings: $840. My wife save this much off our annual YMCA membership by teaching periodic swim lessons, something she loves to do.

Most fun cash recovery: $22.00. Going though items to donate in the basement and found cash in a old bag. Sweet.

Teenage cash kaizen: $100. Asking the bank manager for any coupons for free cash for my son opening his first account. She had one coupon left for a free $100 for a new checking acct of $100 or more. Cha-ching.

Try using continuous improvement or kaizen at your home in 2009. Ask yourself these questions to find ways of improving. Here's some easy questions to ask yourself and your family as you start your journey...

• Can I do this easier?
• Is there a better, faster, or cheaper way?
• Is there an alternative?
• What can we do to reduce wasted time, energy, and money?

Soon, you'll be traveling down the Kaizen Way!

Dan Lafever, Kaizeneer