Archive for October, 2008
Charity on a Budget
With the holiday spirit already starting to flow and it is just now Halloween, many people will feel a bit put out that their strict budgeting does not allow for making charitable donations to the Santas at the mall or on the corner. Passing up a Salvation Army bucket seems scrooge-like and you feel bad [...]
Stage Your Home and Sell it Fast
With for sale signs on every other house on every street, competition is fierce for home sellers. It is definitely what we call a buyers market! Just getting potential buyers to step through your door is challenging enough, let alone having them realize your home is the perfect option for them. Home staging is not [...]
Bad Economy Is Hurting Pets
There are more and more families losing their jobs and struggling to keep food on the table for the humans in the household that is becoming increasingly common for families to have to give up their beloved family pets. There is barely enough money for basic needs that it is becoming more difficult for many, [...]
Health & Wellness Travel: Sedona Mago Retreat Center
When selecting travel destinations, many factors go into a traveler’s decision-making criteria. Is it a destination that has been on a wish list? Is it an activity offered at a location? Is there a lifestyle reason driving a certain type of vacation? According to SpaFinder’s 2008 State of Spa Travel survey an increased interest in [...]
Camping in the rain
Festival camping is so different from normal camping. For a start you have to park about three miles away from the entrance to the site so everything must be lightweight. From there you have to find somewhere to pitch your tent which is no mean feat. The hardcore party animals will have been there for [...]
Inexpensive & Easy Shrimp Delish Dish
Eating a great shrimp dish out at a restaurant can cost you anywhere upwards of $12 so many people don’t think about preparing shrimp dishes at home due to the time and expense. But my family makes an awesome shrimp dish that no only is inexpensive, it also can last for more than one meal [...]
Evaluate Your Home’s Safety with Easy Home-Safety Kit
There are a number of items that can be found around the home that can become part of a home-safety kit, and help you evaluate whether your home is safe for children or not. ConsumerReports’ recommends that you gather the following items into a do-it-yourself home-safety kit, and use them regularly to ensure the safety [...]
5 Medical Reasons You May Be Tired
For most people, walking around in a constant state of fatigue has become normal. Having a lack of energy and feeling tired can often be corrected with improvements to your diet and including exercise in your daily routine, but there are many medical reasons that could be contributing or causing your tiredness. Sleep Disorder. There [...]
Holiday Spending Relies on One Factor This Year: Price
As the Christmas holiday nears, most consumers are looking for one thing during their holiday shopping – great deals. Because of the struggles of nearly every family nationwide to cope with the unstable economy, consumers will be shopping much smarter than perhaps they have in the past. This year many families can not afford to [...]
Why Your Doctor Might Not Be Able To Help You Quit Cigarettes
Quitting smoking has been a constant theme in the health care industry, in the government, and in our own homes. There are many people who have tried and successfully kicked the habit of cigarette smoking and many more who have not. With the price of everything going up across the board, cigarettes have been becoming [...]
A Mont Tremblant Winter Wonderland Vacation
A luxury getaway in a Mont Tremblant condo or chalet can set the tone for year round family fun and relaxation without sacrifice. Located outside of Montreal, Quebec, this resort area hosts a variety of outdoor activities ranging from snow skiing to golf. Surrounding a pedestrian village of the resort area are several condo, chalet [...]
Expect to Pay More at the ATM
It used to be that ATM’s were a matter of convenience, an easy way to access your bank account and get your own cash without having to work around the operating hours of your local bank. However, as more and more people have grown to rely on this convenience, the banks themselves are cashing in [...]
What’s The Deal with Repossession?
With so many families struggling just to buy gas to get to work and groceries for your family, there is all likelihood that the worst-case scenario will hit many. Repossession due to the lack of funds to keep up with bills can be embarrassing process but one that many people may face with the state [...]
Unique Fall Travel Activities
A rite of passage in the Fall is taking time to take in the orange, brown, and red hues. But, how many times have you actually taken a drive or a hike to embrace Fall foliage? For those of us who have been there and done that, IgoUgo® has pulled together a list of autumn [...]
Carnival of Personal Finance #176 at Master Your Card
Master Your Card (genius blog name…) offers up the latest issue of the Carnival of Personal Finance. When you get there, you’ll be presented with a POP QUIZ, so I thought I’d repost the question here to give you a little more time to think about it before you get there Pop quiz – You [...]
Protecting Thanksgiving Travel Investment & Other Travel Insurance Tips
Besides long lines and possible winter weather delays, traveling during the holidays can be stressful for most. With the Thanksgiving travel season (one of, if not the busiest travel times) nearing and the airlines reducing seat capacity just in time for the holidays, travelers are facing increased travel challenges. Third party travel insurance provider Squaremouth.com’s CEO Chris Harvey [...]
8 Inexpensive But Fun Ideas for Kid’s Halloween Costumes
With family budgets getting tighter every week, there is no reason why you need to spend $30 on a costume that your children will wear once. Halloween should be a fun time for kids and parents alike. There is no reason to let money stress you out. The perfect costume can be right in your [...]
Healthcare Costs on The Rise for 2009
It’s about time for “open season”. I’m not talking about the hunting season - instead, I’m referring to the period of open-enrollment for your health plans. The majority of employers will be requiring their workers to contribute even more to their health insurance costs as 2009 predicts healthcare costs to increase anywhere from 6% to [...]
Travel Inspired by Television: Amazing Race Visits New Zealand
Television programming has inspired travelers with scenes of far off exotic cultures, animals and landscapes. CBS’s Amazing Race is a reality based show where viewers follow teams around the world completing various tasks centered on local customs. The latest country visited was New Zealand, where racers experienced the modern city of Auckland and the countryside [...]
Eliminate the Cable Bill – Watch Your Favorite TV Shows Online
If your family doesn’t spend a ton of time in front of the television set, you might wnat to consider dropping your expensive cable or digital cable service. The average American houshold is spending $60 a month for cable (or other multi-channel television service, like satellite) and for owners of a TiVO (or similar DVR [...]
Job Seeking in an Unsettled Economy
Interview after interview, perfectly capable job candidates are being told they’ll get a phone call when business improves. Is it possible to land a job during a tight economic period where money troubles are common? It’s true that the job market outlook is dimming, but the lights are on somewhere – it’s not completely blacked [...]
New Plan for Retirement – Turn Your Hobby Into Cash
There is so much up in the air right now concerning the economy. Many people are worried about their savings plans for college and their retirement. Families are struggling to survive with two incomes and people are left wondering what to do next. For retirees who have dreamed of the day they can quit their [...]
Is Your Home Making You Ill? 5 Areas to Check Out Now
Your home is your castle, right? It is the place where you raise your family, eat your meals, and lay your head at night. Your home is supposed to be your safe haven but what happens if your home is making you or your family members sick? The world is becoming more conscious about the [...]
4 Mind-Bending Money Mazes – Don’t Be a Sucker
Consumers have so much to deal with at the store. From deciding between what they need and what they want to comparing prices across the board, it can become so overwhelming. Add to the mix, schemes and scams that take our hard-earned money, it’s a wonder people are still shopping at all. There are also [...]
Travel Tips: Preparing for a Road Trip
First aid kit? Check. GPS system or map and directions? Check. Full tank of gas? Check. Recent oil change or tune up? Check. These are just a few steps travelers do in advance of a road trip. With the recent drop in gas prices, people are taking to the road to still have a vacation [...]
Is It Time To Move In With the Kids?
With the way things are going financially, so many families have had to make tough decisions in the name of basic survival. Many people have been hit hard by the economic crisis and are facing a lot of changes in their lives in a short period of time. One demographic group that is really feeling [...]
A Funny Carnival of Personal Finance Has Been Published (#175)
Budgets are Sexy offers up this week’s personal finance carnival in a funny way! Lots of great articles and tips included, so be sure to head over and check it out (and don’t miss the jokes!) Here are my favorites from the week: Debt Freedom Fighter from Discover Debt Freedom presents 3 Indicators that a [...]
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 ...