Look after the pennies, they say, and the pounds will look after themselves.

As hardline economic policies go, and a week after new Chancellor George Osborne delivered his Emergency Budget, it's not the sort of advice to lift us out of a recession in a hurry. But in our day-to-day lives, such homespun wisdom can make a practical difference.

There's already a brilliant Entry on tips for saving money in our everyday lives, but we were wondering whether, when times are tough and the cost of living makes getting by difficult enough, it is possible to put away money for a rainy day.

• So, when belts are tightening, is it possible to make sure you're still adding to savings, or keeping up with investments, to ensure a financially secure future?

• Are you trying to save up for something special - a holiday or a car? How do you make sure you're putting the pennies away? Or should such treats be considered unnecessary luxuries in these tough times?

• What 'austerity measures' of your own have you taken to make sure you and your family can still afford the things you need to get by?

• In the past we were encouraged to 'make do and mend' to make our budgets stretch further. Are there things you find yourself doing - mending clothes, using leftovers for meals - that hark back to a more straightened age?