Big Mac Index

I am getting hungry. I’ve fixed the toddler’s dinner, which she’s not really eating, and now I need to plan dinner for myself and my husband. Sonic sounds good. Sonic has great onion rings and a Campfire Blast that looks delicious: Graham cracker flavored ice cream with chocolate covered marshmallows. I’m drooling, but we don’t have a lot of extra for takeout right now. What do my food cravings have to do with money? Well, other than my comment about not being able to go out right now? I read an interesting article about the Big Mac Index. The Big … Continue reading →

Inflation

Prices are rising and not just at the gas station. With our economy in a bit of an uproar and many uncertainties… prices are going up in many sectors. This general price increase is known as inflation. While most people understand that inflation means the prices of things we buy is increasing, there is actually a lot more to this concept. As an economic factor, inflation is caused by an increase in the amount of money and/or credit in relation to the amount of goods and services. It is a balancing act that occurs naturally in any economy. As the … Continue reading →

Meet Your Gas Buddy

In addition to watching your gas consumption, there is another way to save money on gas. Find the cheapest gas in your city. In many major metropolitan areas, there can be a wide range of prices for a gallon of gas. How do you find the best one without wasting gas driving all over town? The best way to check prices is the Internet. This is true even for gas! If you are lucky enough, you can find your town on this website, www.gasbuddy.com. It is a website directory of more than 181 separate gas price websites maintained by neighbors … Continue reading →

Save Money on Gas

Gas prices have hit record highs in the United States. With a nation so dependent on our cars, this has hit us all hard. The rising cost of gas has led us all to feel poorer and reaching for some solutions. There are many options to reduce the cost of gas, some of which I will list here. If you know of any others… please include them in the comment box below. Simple things you can do to reduce the cost of gas immediately: 1. Drive less. Take the bus, train or subway. Walk or ride a bike. 2. Share … Continue reading →

Emotional Spending

Why does spending money makes us feel better? For many, going shopping is a type of cure for the blues. Just like using food as a stress reliever can wreck havoc on our diets, using money to cure depression can destroy your budget. When the kids are whining at the store, do you promise them a new toy if they calm down? This is the beginning of teaching pleasure in spending. Stop it with yourself and your entire family. One of the fastest tips to cure the emotional spending bug is to not carry your cash or money with you, … Continue reading →

Save on Cooling Costs

While this spring has been more winter-like in most of the country, eventually the hot weather will hit us. Will you be ready? The cost of electricity is rising along with everything else, so finding ways to keep cool and cut costs will be critical this summer. The following is a list of less expensive ways to cool down and some cost cutting measures as well. Please feel free to add any of your own in the comment box below! 1. If you do use an air conditioner in your home, try to keep it turned to 78 degrees during … Continue reading →

Save Money with Gardening

Summer is almost here and there is no better time to start a garden as a tool to save money. Not only will growing your own food save you money on your grocery bills, it is also a great stress reliever. Working in a garden is good for your body and soul. You do not even need to have a big backyard. Even a patio with pots will work fine. All you need is a place outside and some soil. Even a windowsill will function as a mini herb garden. Be creative and you can find a way to grow … Continue reading →

Save Money on Food

Even though the news has focused closely on the rising cost of groceries, it is still far cheaper to eat homemade foods than restaurant meals. If you are trying to cut back in this crazy economy, food is obviously a necessity. Still, a few creative ways can help you cut back on your food bill, allowing you to have more room in your budget overall. Once again… I would love to hear your ideas! The following are some of mine: Make as much as you can from scratch. If you ever take the time to price it out, you will … Continue reading →

Save Money on Paper

As we move into a time of higher gas prices and a rising inflation, we all need to focus more on watching our spending. Taking a more frugal approach when using items in our life will help us with our budgets overall. Given this, today I would like to highlight some ways to save on paper. Paper is a huge part of our lives – bags, drawing, notes and more. Whether you just use a ton at home or you own a business, finding some key ways to save on this item will help us all reduce a common expense. … Continue reading →

Volunteering to Save Money

When you cannot afford something, sometimes you can replace the cash with your time or skills. Many organizations would be happy to allow you to work for them in exchange for their product or service. It almost takes us back to the old bartering systems of long ago. Is there a big concert or theater production coming to town that you would love to go to, but the tickets are too expensive? Contact the promoters and see if you can work the event in exchange for the price of admission. In addition to saving you money, sometimes event volunteers also … Continue reading →