It’s been about a month since we launched this series, “Tough People, Smart Money,” and the response from you, our readers, has been terrific.

We’re receiving money-saving tips from our readers daily, plus lots of compliments for undertaking the series. Meanwhile, two other newspapers have contacted us about running a similar series in their areas.

In case you haven’t been following, early in January I announced that we would undertake a six-month staff project to help our readers deal with this severe downturn in the economy. And we offered a money-back guarantee.

We assigned a full-time reporter, Bonnie Washuk, to work exclusively on this project. Since then, Bonnie has been relentless in tracking down money-saving ideas, finding experts with advice and interviewing people who have found creative ways to save money.

Between the money-saving tips, the thrifty recipes on weekdays, the Breaking it Down stories on Wednesdays, Thursday’s Fun on the Cheap, plus periodic features, we are trying to fulfill our bargain to you every day of the week.

I said our goal would be to provide $1,000 in money-saving ideas between January and June. Judy Meyer, our managing editor/days, has been keeping track of the savings produced with our daily tips. The total to date: $1,273.58.

Looks like we need a new goal!

It’s not too late to take advantage of our guarantee. In order to qualify, you must be a Sun Journal subscriber or become one by March 10, 2009, and maintain your subscription without interruption through June 30, 2009.

If you participate in the series, we guarantee that you will save more than double the cost of your subscription. If not, give me a call, and I’ll arrange to refund the price of your subscription.

We want to earn our keep in your household – first by providing you with community news and, second, by helping you get through this historic recession.

Remember, tough times don’t last – tough, smart people do. Working together, we can all outlast this economic storm.