There isn’t a soul out there who doesn’t relish saving cash. However, many people don’t take advantage of money-saving opportunities because they feel it takes up too much time or energy. For example, my dad refuses to cut coupons as he feels it is a waste of his precious time. What he doesn’t realize is that he could potentially save hundreds of dollars per month by simply sitting in his recliner and working a pair of scissors for a few minutes each week. If coupon cutting or rebate programs are not your cup of tea, then consider modifying your lifestyle … Continue reading →

I love clothes. However, my wardrobe has been looking rather shabby and not at all chic for quite some time. The reason? I have not had much time or money available for clothes shopping over the past couple of years. This afternoon while I was looking through my drawers for something to wear, I realized that there are probably ways that I can freshen up my wardrobe even with a very limited budget. Sure enough, there are tons of tips online for how you can look great for less. Here are a few that I intend to try. If you … Continue reading →

Much of the time, people think that if they want or need something, the best way to get it is to buy it outright. Many of us do this every day without even thinking about it, it is just how we do things. However, there are some times when you may want to consider renting an item instead of buying it. If you think about it, renting items that you only need to use once or will use infrequently can not only save you the cost of buying those items, it can free up space in your home that would … Continue reading →

There are a few ways that you can turn unwanted “stuff” into money. Yard sales, consignment stores, and eBay are all popular options. Today I decided to look at another way to turn “stuff” into cash. Well, not really cash, but Amazon.com gift cards. I consider those to be rather valuable because you can buy pretty much anything that you could want or need on Amazon.com. Amazon.com offers a trade in program where you can send in items from a handful of categories – books, movies, video games, and electronics – and receive Amazon.com gift cards in return. This is … Continue reading →

I haven’t even finished clearing the sea of ripped holiday wrapping paper from the living room floor and I’m already being flooded with post-Christmas sale reminders. My email inbox is filled with alerts heralding major day after Christmas deals. Macy’s sent me a link to a WOW! Pass, which allows me to take $10 off my purchase of $25 or more. JCPenney is offering the same deal, while Old Navy is selling women’s jeans for just $15 all-day tomorrow. In addition to the after-Christmas discounts, retailers are poised for an onslaught of shoppers looking to redeem gift cards they’ve collected … Continue reading →

This is it. With just a few hours left until Christmas morning, there is not much time left to procrastinate. If you’ve been holding out on shopping for gifts because you planned to take advantage of last-minute doorbusters, you may be in for a big surprise. Money experts warn that while some stores claim their last-minute deals are major money savers, in most cases they aren’t. In fact, financial wizards are quick to point out that retailers prey on procrastinators and the amazing deals you think you are scoring are in fact not much bigger than those advertised at any … Continue reading →

As we head down the final stretch to Christmas Day, stores are pulling out all the stops to lure in last-minute shoppers with sensational seasonal sales. If you have gotten this far sticking to your holiday budget, don’t be tempted by these late season offers. Often, they don’t save you as much money as you’d think. Procrastinators on a budget should stray from big-box retailers during the final days leading up to Christmas. To preserve your budget, head over to the local Dollar Store for economical gift ideas. For example, if you are looking for a last-minute present for your … Continue reading →

If it seems like some of your small appliances do not last as long as the ones that you remember your parents having, or even the ones that you had for years before you bought those shiny new replacements, you are probably right. It is true that at least for some items, they really do not build them like they used to. If you are lucky enough to have some of these items in your attic (or basement), you may want to give them a second chance before getting rid of them and buying a newer model. Furniture is one … Continue reading →

Holidays are expensive, even holidays that don’t involve gift-giving. As we approach Thanksgiving, I’m noticing how expensive it can be to host a large family gathering. A large turkey, even on sale, was almost thirty dollars, and that’s just the bird. There are other foods to prepare, plus getting my house ready—it’s a little overwhelming. As I’ve looked over my preparations, I’ve come up with some ideas for how to keep the expense under control. Hopefully, these tips can be of use to you, too. 1. Pay attention to which grocery stores are offering free turkeys when you purchase a … Continue reading →

Who says “cheap” is a bad thing? Just because you are trying to avoid a holiday debt hangover doesn’t mean you have to look like Ebenezer Scrooge in the process. There are a myriad of ways you can make merry this Christmas season without breaking the bank. Some frugal ideas include: Hooray for Homemade: Use your vast array of talents to make gifts to give this holiday season rather than draining your wallet at the mall. Whether you knit, bake, paint, sew, or you’re a whiz at woodworking, there are plenty of presents you can make that are creative, thoughtful, … Continue reading →