The U.S. is finally becoming a nation of savers. Now if only we could get something for our money. Interest rates are sinking to near zero for the first time since last year’s financial meltdown, dampening spending as Americans earn less on their bank deposits and investment accounts. It’s hardly encouraging news for an economy that sorely needs people to buy things.

For the first time in two years, Americans actually got a little wealthier. But the collective American wallet is still almost 20 percent thinner than it was when net worth peaked two years ago. Household wealth grew by $2 trillion, or about 4 percent, this spring, ending the longest stretch of quarterly declines on records dating back to 1952, the Federal Reserve reported yesterday.

Our power-shopping resources recommend the following: GROCERIES

• Make meals ahead and freeze them.

• Go vegetarian a couple of nights a week to eliminate pricey meats.

• Stay on the “outside loop” at the supermarket, where produce, dairy and frozen foods tend to be, rather than the inner aisles, which usually house processed foods.

Households raised their savings rate to the highest level in more than 15 years in May as many used a big boost in money from the government’s stimulus program to bolster nest eggs rather than to spend more. Still, with consumer spending expected to stay subdued, a sustained economic recovery seems doubtful anytime soon. The biggest chunk of the income gain in May came from $250 payments for more than 50 million Americans receiving Social Security and other government benefit programs. In all, $13 billion of the one-time payments were mailed last month.

Households pushed their savings rate to the highest level in more than 15 years in May as a big boost in incomes from the government’s stimulus program was devoted more to bolstering nest eggs than increased spending.

The U.S. isn’t usually seen as the nation of savers. But in the midst of a recession, a good chunk of Americans say they’ve managed to raise their savings rate. In a recent survey, American adults said they are spending less than they were three months ago—no surprise there. But despite rising unemployment, nearly 85 percent said they were saving more or the same amount as they were three months ago, with 40 percent saying their savings rate has increased.

The Dinwiddie County school system can save more than $400,000 by contracting custodial services to an outside company, school officials said last week. Finance Director Christie Fleming said the school system could realize a savings of at least $418,405 if the School Board opts to contract cleaning services at Dinwiddie Middle School and Dinwiddie Junior High School to SSC Service Solutions.

Parents will have an extra two weeks to lock in future tuition and fees for their children at Virginia public colleges and universities. The Virginia College Savings Plan announced today that it would extend the deadline for new prepaid tuition contracts through March 15. The enrollment deadline for the state program had been set to expire on Sunday.