Millions of people all over the world are facing downsizing, massive layoffs and the fear of losing their income soon; some might now be the sole providers for their families and are having a hard time paying mortgages, car loans or their children’s education.

 But the border and those Latinos leaving alongside it might offer a bit of age old wisdom in hard times, not only for daily necessities but also saving when it comes to a summer family outing.

 Here are some areas that with a little organizing and community work can result in mass savings and new opportunities for fun.

 Become a Binational cheap-gas hunter. Tijuana taxi drivers have always known how to be true hunters for the cheapest gas and in recent years, Binational commuters have joined them in the quest for the cheapest gas, be it in San Ysidro or Tijuana.

 For US prices, you can visit many websites and compare them to your own info gathering, which can be as quick as phone call to a relative living in Tijuana. In order to get a true bargain, gas-hunters should cross the border North or South, avoiding peak hours, preferably after 11 pm.

 Buy in bulk and share with neighbors. In Mexico, families are large and extended but in the US they are more nuclear, leading to the families buying smaller packages at bigger prices.

 To avoid it, get together with a few neighboring families that have similar shopping habits and shop together for massive amounts of toilet paper tooth paste, liquid soap and laundry detergent. Also get together to buy large quantities of fresh produce, meat or poultry and then divide them amongst the group for significant savings.

 You could even plan a trip to Tijuana where because of the difference in exchange rate you can see your bill shrink if you pay in dollars, but remember to buy products without a restriction to cross into the United States.

 Go with the season and stay at home for dinner. I’m all for the defense of cravings, but jicamas in mid-August? Buying figs on January? Learn from our ancestors who preferred local grown and seasonal fruits and vegetables, they are not just fresher but cheaper and more abundant that those not in season.

 Many families,-including Hispanics- gather together around food, but watch out! A family outing for dinner at a restaurant can cost almost as much as the weekly trip to the grocery store. Why not invite your family over for an afternoon of grilling “carne asada” that allows for time to be shared with the family and be extended into some board games or bike riding around a nearby park.

 Cook like your Mexican grandmother did. Mexicans have long known about financial crisis, and for many of them red meat is but a luxury they can’t afford in a daily bases, but world-famous Mexican food is not about the price, but about the flavor, achieved with non-expensive ingredients and plenty of spices.

 Some of the recipes avoid meat all together, making them welcome by vegetarians. That is the case with nopal-salad with fresh cheese, the Mexico City favorites Romeritos and even fried tacos made from beans or cheese and mashed potatoes (a great way to use leftovers), giving your family rich dishes good for your health and your wallet.

 Attend free events on both sides of the border. The new plan to save can be an opportunity to visit places you don’t usually think of when you think of a family outing, instead of a trip to Disneyland, why not go have a picnic at Balboa Park? Aside from the astonishing gardens you can also get a guide about the museums free-admission dates.

 Just this Saturday August 8th  musician Ximena Sariñana will hold a free concert at Centro Cultural Tijuana (Cecut) and every Summer Sunday the city closes off a few blocks from Zona Rio to allow families to ride bikes or walk across the streets enjoying music, art, performances and children’s plays… a bunch of joyous experiences that are even better, because they are free.