Hearn has had to find ways to save money after losing his job at a home construction company in February 2008. He has since sent out hundreds of resumes, secured five interviews but landed no jobs.
So the married father of two teenage girls had to find ways to save money fast. In addition to traditional methods such as getting rid of satellite television, Hearn took some unusual budget cutting steps.
"This makes you very creative," said Hearn, 43, who lives in rural Princess Anne, Md., referring to long-term unemployment.
To reduce his winter heating bills, Hearn started using his wood stove every day, rather than just on weekends. This, combined with lowering the thermostat by 15 degrees to 58 degrees, saved him more than $1,500 last winter.
Heating the home primarily with wood rather than propane means Heard had to use 4.5 cords of wood, up from 1.5 cords the previous year. While a cord could cost $225 to buy, it only costs him $10 to cut.
Another way Hearn is squeezing out costs is by hunting more deer. He's hoping to bag and freeze four deer so he doesn't have to buy beef. Last year, his family ate deer up to four times a week for nine months and saved more than $1,200 in grocery bills.
"We rely on it more now," said Hearn, who hunts with a bow. "Now it's a necessity."
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