Summer hasn’t officially started, but if you are serious about saving money this season, then now is the perfect time to get in gear. Once you are done switching out your winter clothes for summer attire and getting your grill and patio furniture cleaned up for backyard barbeques, take some time to do a home energy audit. Experts recommend completing one at the start of the summer season in order to save hundreds or thousands of dollars on energy deficiencies. Many homeowners shy away from the process because a formal audit by a trained professional costs a few hundred dollars … Continue reading →

Be happy with what you have. That’s one of the best ways to save money, according to my dad. He used to employ that line a lot when I was in high school trying to pump him for money to buy designer jeans. Twenty years later, I see his point. When you stop looking for fulfillment in material things, it’s much easier to spend less money and find contentment in the items you already have. Of course, if you just lost 20 pounds and your pants don’t fit any more, then by all means, spend, spend, spend. Now that summer … Continue reading →

I’m addicted to these things, but at nearly $10 per box, I can’t afford to purchase them on a regular basis. Not just because they put a strain on my grocery bill, but if I ate as many as I wanted, I’d have to shell out additional money to purchase new pants. Mini donuts = money trap… but a dang fine tasting money trap. Thinking before you buy an item is a sure-fire way to avoid money traps. Exercise conscious spending. Before you fill fridge with cinnamon goodness or your den with pricey electronics or your kid’s room with a … Continue reading →

Giving up your Starbucks fix for a couple of days at a time or cutting coupons every once in a while can help you save a few bucks, but if you are looking to save cash long-term, you need to modify your lifestyle. The following are changes that can be made over time to significantly reduce the amount of money that is extracted from your household budget each year: Energy efficiency: You can save significant amount money by being energy efficient at home. Switch to energy-efficient appliances and lighting. In addition, make sure your home is properly insulated and that … Continue reading →

Not for nothing, but I just can’t see making my own laundry detergent for the rest of my life, regardless of how much money it could potentially save me. This is not to say that I look down on those who do. In fact, I admire individuals who possess the wherewithal to combine different ingredients and magically mix-up a concoction that actually gets clothes clean. What’s more, I am not above finding alternative ways to sanitize my home without breaking the bank. For example, rather than use Clorox to disinfect my kitchen sink and counters, I use vinegar, water and … Continue reading →

With all of the expenses of raising a family, parents are often searching for ways to save money wherever they can. One area of the family budget where spending can often be reduced quite a bit is entertainment. Parents often believe that they need to spend more money to keep their children entertained and occupied than they actually do. Children are naturally curious, and often parents are pleasantly surprised by how simple things can capture their imaginations and hold their attention for hours. My favorite example of low or no cost family fun is a trip to the playground. Depending … Continue reading →

If you are looking for ways to save money, buying certain items in bulk can be one way to trim your household budget. While it is true that a membership to Sam’s, Costco, BJ’s, or another wholesale club does cost money there are savings to be had if you shop wisely. For most families, it does not make sense to buy all of the groceries in bulk. For example, is the double mega pack of Honey Nut Cheerios really a good deal of your kids don’t like eating the same cereal for breakfast every day for a month? There are … Continue reading →

You may remember that a few months ago, I decided to give couponing a try. In case you are wondering how that all worked out, I must confess that I have stopped couponing. For about a month, I faithfully got the newspaper every Sunday and clipped and sorted the coupons. I had them all organized in envelopes, and I scanned three area grocery store flyers to see whether I could use any coupons along with sale prices to get great deals. While I did get some excellent prices on a few things, there were things that I noticed along the … Continue reading →

Many people who are at or near retirement age are wondering whether they should begin claiming their Social Security benefits at age 62 or whether they should wait until they are 66 years old. Waiting it out seems like a good idea because you get bigger checks. However, there are times when it makes more sense to begin collecting your benefits ass soon as you are able to. One major factor in deciding whether or not to wait is your health. Of course, it can be difficult to admit if your health is beginning to decline. Even though your benefit … Continue reading →

I have talked before about how timing purchases strategically can really help you to score some fabulous deals. Now that it is February, you may feel like letting your wallet see the light of day again because you have had about a month to come to terms with those Christmas bills that nearly knocked you over when you opened the envelope. There are a few things that you may want to buy this month, if they are on your radar of things that you were thinking of purchasing some time soon. You may be thinking of spring, but there is … Continue reading →