Archive for August, 2008
Reminder in Fire Safety Saves More than Money
Summer is coming to an end and the heating season, at least here on the East Coast, is not far off. Along with the need to warm houses and the high costs of heating fuel, there may be a lot more people using alternatives, such as plug-in heaters and kerosene heaters to stay warm. With [...]
Credit Scores and Reports
By law, you’re entitled to a copy of your credit report from each of the consumer reporting companies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) once every twelve months. This is stated under The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA is intended to promote privacy of information and accuracy in the files of the nation’s consumer reporting [...]
How to Give Your Studio Apartment a Living Room and Bedroom
If you’re living in a studio apartment or loft style apartment, you might think you need to choose between setting up your main living area as a living room or a bedroom – but you can do both despite the small space. With a little creativity, you can have clearly defined areas that offer a [...]
How to Make Your Hobby Less Expensive
Hobbyists have a passion for doing something they love, acts which they often do not get paid for doing. A hobby is a wonderful way to blow off steam, master a craft, spend a rainy day, or eventually turn into a money-making opportunity. However, for all the good in life a hobby will bring, it [...]
Keeping Your Kids EnRICHment Costs Down
Extra-curricular activities such as soccer, cheerleading, football, dance, music lessons, and Scouting are all wonderful ways to encourage children to grow, gain a sense of responsibility, and to stay active. However, just the thought of the cost associated with these activities can make even the most seasoned parent groan. Putting aside for the moment the [...]
Official End of Summer Vacations
Labor Day has traditionally been regarded as the last long weekend to squeeze in any last-minute summer escapes. Yet, many are closely monitoring the Weather Channel to see if Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna will effect travel plans and spike gas prices to an all time high again…just in time for Labor Day celebrations. [...]
Are You Losing Money with Extra Pounds?
When people are looking to cut costs in their lives, they often look in the same areas of their lives to save, such as groceries, clothing, and entertainment. They tend to cut out things they feel they can live without. But doesn’t make sense to take a look at what you are living with to [...]
Save the Planet – Dump the Directory
We are fast becoming an internet-reliant society. I personally tend to think I live on the internet now. At any rate, the internet – despite the critics – is filled with information that can be accessed in no time at all. One can do everything from online banking to checking the weather before the six [...]
FREE Chick-fil-A® on Labor Day!
The fast food chain Chick-fil-A® will be working hard this Labor Day, September 1, 2008, providing customers with free chicken strips while supplies are available. Chick-fil-A® will be handing out their new Chick-n-Strips® at no charge but with a limit of one order per person. There is no coupon or special discount code needed to [...]
Repurpose Your Home Video & Audio For Any Use
In the last thirty years we’ve moved from recording personal video with old-style reel video to BetaMax and VHS to DVD, and now to digital formats. You might have videos in all sorts of formats and have no idea how to make them useable because they’re in all sorts of different formats. There’s a new [...]
Looking to Travel to Canada? Checkout Crave Canada
Many Americans think international travel is out of the question because of the costs involved, however it’s very affordable to travel to both Canada and Mexico. Both of those countries have rich histories, local customs, and attractions worth exploring. It might not be as exciting as a trip to spain, but it’s certainly a lot [...]
5 Ways to Be Frugal in College
Lots of college graduates know what it’s like to exist on ramen noodles and Kool-aid during some of the tougher financial times at school. Living off the generosity of mom and dad doesn’t mean you need to go spend crazy with incidentals. In fact, a grateful child should work harder to avoid costly their parents [...]
Pay Yourself Before Everything Else
It’s easier said than done. Financial advisors will often tell you the most important thing you can do for a healthyfinancial future is to “pay yourself first”. This can seem impossible to do if you’re just barely making enough to pay your bills, like many people, but it’s even more important for people who are [...]
Tips for Finding Low Airfare
Travelers hoping to score a low airfare for travels this fall and winter need to be more resourceful than ever. Coupled with reduced seat capacity, less flight options and the impact fuel prices have had on the airlines, a “cheap” ticket can be hard to find. But, it is not impossible. It is easy to [...]
Emergency Room or Urgent Care?
Is there a difference in the price or quality of care between hospital emergency rooms and urgent care centers? What instances require a hospital emergency room visit instead of an urgent care visit? Hospital Emergency Rooms Overused Numerous studies have shown that people are overusing hospital emergency rooms – or going to the ER for [...]
You Need a Budget – and Maybe Some Software
Every personal finance blogger I’ve come across promotes the benefits of having a budget you can live with. If you don’t set up a budget, it’s far too easy to spend more than you should on different items because you don’t have any boundaries set up. Living without a budget is one of the fastest [...]
“Gently Used” Could Save You Bucks Big Time
Some consumers could never dream of buying used…that is until the economy took a turn for the worst and gas suddenly began to cost more than many families could afford. There is a growing interest in budgeting and saving money – just take a look around the internet to find the truth in that. While [...]
5 Tidbits to Pass On to Your College Kid
Summer is slowly drawing to a close and universities and colleges are beginning to welcome a new semester’s worth of college students. Parents, especially one of first-time collegiate kids, will no doubt offer their offspring plenty of advise about sleeping, eating, and partying. But what about money? Quite frankly, next to safety, the topic should [...]
How to Keep Track of Your Budget With Credit Cards
It’s been proven the best way to take advantage of a rewards program (whether the reward is miles, cash back, or merchandise), is to use your credit cards for all monthly purchases and expenses, and to pay it off in full at the end of the month. For the not-so-financially disciplined, though, charging everything all [...]
How to Get Cheap Flight Deals in the UK
Although this is primarily a US based website, our traffic logs have been showing a very high percentage of our readers are from the British Isles. Interestingly enough, the way to get cheap flights in the United States is a lot different than how you get cheap flights in other developed countries. Most of us [...]
Carnival of Personal Finance #167 at Broke Grad Student
Broke Grad Student offers up the latest issue of the Carnival of Personal Finance. Some good stuff over there, including my favorites: Alpha Consumer’s How much Do Bloggers Make? Money Answer Guy’s Why don’t we save more? Happiness is Better offers up a story of a man who turned it all around. BripBrap’s Truth about [...]
Cruising from Alternative Ports
Florida has more cruise ports than any other U.S. state including Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Port Canaveral. Yet, alternative ports are attractive to cruisers who are looking to save some money without sacrificing their vacation. From New York, Baltimore, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Mobile, Alabama, and more there are new cruise vacations waiting to [...]
How to Better Organize Your Move
Moving is stressful. There is nothing worse than getting all of your “stuff” to the new place, only to discover you can’t find anything without digging through every box and tote to find what you’re looking for. Here are some tips to help organize your next move: Get Supplies That Let You Prepare Several weeks [...]
Stop Splurging On Your Pet and Save Big Bucks
Of course your pets are much-loved members of the family but let’s face it – if they are eating better than you and your kids, it is time to consider some cut backs in the doggie (or kitty) department. Between the rising cost of animal health-care, including vaccinations and emergency services, there is little room [...]
Carnival of Debt Reduction Takes on The Olympics
This week, American Consumer News didn’t make the picks for The Carnival of Personal Finance. So, I thought I’d take the opportunity to show off some of the great blog posts submitted and published in the Carnival of Debt Reduction, instead! If you’re struggling to get out of debt or reduce your debt to a [...]
Never Too Early to Think About Santa
Who doesn’t hate the holiday rush and worse….the holiday spending? Of course no one wants to think about Christmas and winter in the midst of August but if you want to avoid the money and time crunch of the holidays, there is no time like the present to get it in gear to start thinking [...]
Car Buying For Your Teen
Ahh…sweet sixteen! An exciting time for kids – not so much for parents. Of course every kid dreams of opening up their gift to find the keys to a brand new ride. While many parents wish they could honor that dream, few have the resources to do just that. Planning for the time your children [...]
I agree. If a local business is the one offering the sale price I will buy it from them. ...
We are retired and live on a grocery budget of $200 a month for 2 people in the Midwest. That ...