May 2, 2013 1 Comment
You may be under the impression that you are surrounded with temptations and money-spending occasions. Why not take things the other way? Your daily life is packed with dozens of money saving opportunities. Grab 10 easy tips that will help you put a halt on overspending: 1. Plan in Advance And Go Grocery Shopping Only Once a Week You might not realize it just yet, but all those little extra things you buy everyday for your meals represent a whole lot of money. Not to mention that a half-empty fridge may lead you to go out to a ... Read More »
September 14, 2012 3 Comments
Our friends at FOX Business – Stocks Editor Elizabeth MacDonald, shares with us tips on how to save given the rise on food and gas prices. The Labor Department reported today that consumer prices rose last month by the most in three years. Higher gas prices were responsible for about 80% of the increase, and food prices rose 0.2 percent. Nothing tests the sanity of the ordinary American than seeing gas prices steadily climb at the pump, or food prices inexorably rising at the cash register. I’ve been at both, and the experience is teeth grinding, my molars are almost ... Read More »
August 13, 2012 3 Comments
Couponing has increased in both interest and practice over the last few years due to many families falling on hard times. For example, Thanksgiving forces many families to consider how to feed at least 5-25 people on a budget. Yikes! That’s alotta moolah! We tell you how to do just that in today’s article. Using Thanksgiving as an example, here are some tips and tricks to get the most bang for your buck when cooking for a large group or just basic tips getting started with extreme couponing which helps you save money on groceries. Thanksgiving Tips/ Deals: If you ... Read More »
July 3, 2012 6 Comments
In today’s tough economy, saving money is a top priority for many individuals and families. Enacting money-saving measures can help families get through tough times today and prepare for a brighter future. Cutting back on a family budget can be difficult but is certainly not impossible. There are many simple cost-cutting measures that anyone can use to save money. The following ten tips provide easy ways to save money on a day-to-day basis. Make the most of produce sales. Buying fresh fruits and vegetables can bolster the health of anyone’s family. Unfortunately, these items are often among the most expensive ... Read More »
April 2, 2012 4 Comments
Admittedly, I drive a large vehicle. However, when I filled my tank this week for a grand total of $110 I almost fell over. When will the madness end?! In the meantime, most of us have no choice but to continue to drive our vehicles, so something’s gotta give when you’re maintaining a strict budget. Luckily, there are some easy, fairly painless opportunities to make some room. Gas While we can’t do anything to change gas prices, at least we can make sure we’re not filling up at the most expensive station in town. Before you head out for the ... Read More »
March 26, 2012 5 Comments
It is never too early to start saving for college for your children! 529 plans are an excellent tax-advantaged investment tool to save for higher education expenses. Here is a guide to introduce you to how they work. What is a 529 Plan? A 529 plan is a college savings plan named after Section 529 of the IRS tax code. Contributions grow on a tax-deferred basis and withdrawals used for qualified education expenses of a designated beneficiary are tax-free! 529 plans are administered by state agencies and higher educational institutions, so there are many available across the USA. There are ... Read More »
March 7, 2012 11 Comments
The article, Expecting the Expenses in the Washington Post highlights issues couples should consider when deciding to have children. Here are the some of the main points gleaned from the article: If you are planning on having children, save as much money as you can before baby gets here. Kids are expensive, but do I really need to tell you that? Look into a short-term-disability policies such as one from Aflac, a secondary insurance provider, to help cover the loss of salaries while the new mom is home taking care of baby Increase your withholdings (check with your financial/tax advisor) ... Read More »
January 8, 2012 18 Comments
Are you one of those people with several unused Groupon or Living Social vouchers in your account? If so then pull up a seat, because this post is right on time for you. Maybe you’re thinking that you save money with companies like Groupon, and maybe you’ve scored a few unbelievable deals. But the most expensive is the one you forgot to redeem. Groupon Purchases Are Impulse Driven Every morning you wake up with a new deal in your inbox. And you probably think, “oooooh I could use that!” Well the reality is that you don’t need it. Unless this ... Read More »
December 2, 2011 15 Comments
The art of shopping has become quite a complicated affair. It has become an art form because on one side you have the business owner who has to keep selling or he or she doesn’t make a living, and the consumers on the other side who really only want to buy what they need but are tempted on all fronts to buy more. It is more than an art form. This is a very real battle. Instead of going through this constant battle, I’d rather get everyday savings with Walgreens coupons. Much research goes on behind the scenes to ... Read More »
November 16, 2011 4 Comments
Over the last few weeks, several friends, family members and acquaintances have gotten engaged which of course has prompted discussions around wedding planning and the inevitable, how much will all of this cost? Your wedding should be memorable, but it shouldn’t break the bank. Check out the following tips on how to save in different areas: Budget Costs and Save For The Wedding Before Setting A Date This isn’t always possible for those who want to get married within 6-12 months. However, for those planning on being engaged for 1-2 years before tying the knot, it would be prudent to ... Read More »
November 7, 2011 1 Comment
Last week I got my gas and electric bills only to be surprised that the utility companies owed me money in the form of a credit on my account. I set up my bank’s bill pay system to pay all of my bills so I didn’t really notice that I was overpaying until I logged into the account. Well, to my surprise my bill went down. Way down. Keep in mind at any given time over the last 2 months there have been at least 4-6 people in my home. This includes house guests in addition to my husband and ... Read More »
May 13, 2011 10 Comments
Im sure we can all relate to opening up that email or paper bill from Verizon, TMobile, Sprint or AT&T and gasping at the huge bill. I know I do. Last year we switched from the strong arm of AT&T and the iPhone in favor of Sprint and the HTC EVO. I’ve been in love with the Android OS and the super high end HTC EVO phone ever since! I was tired of the higher priced phone and data plans along with the politics that came with Apple and their Walled Garden. I was done. So, we switched to Sprint. ... Read More »
May 1, 2011 19 Comments
photo credit: bchow By now you’ve watched the TLC series, Extreme Couponing about how a family pays less than $10 for over $500 worth of groceries. And, while I admire the technique, time and patience it takes to cut costs in this manner I don’t believe that it’s for everyone. Processed Foods Dilemma Unless you’re into eating loads of processed foods like chips, canned foods and cereal then I’ll pass as this is my number one reason for not utilizing this in my grocery shopping routine. I primarily shop at Whole Foods and Trader Joes and 90% of what I buy ... Read More »
January 3, 2011 9 Comments
You know the feeling. It may not happen often, but when it does… You’re in the dressing room of your favorite boutique, falling in major lust with a pair of jeans that were made for your body. Despite the shop’s terrible fluorescent lighting and 8-way mirrors, you have been instantly transformed into a sexier, fitter, smarter W-O-M-A-N. The only thing standing between you and this slice of denim heaven is the hefty price tag, so you make a quick pact with the shopping gods that you’ll be a good girl for the rest of the month. As you make your ... Read More »
December 24, 2009 29 Comments
DC is no stranger to the high cost of living you often see in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles. But can you live on $30,000 a year there? This question came up on a listserv I frequent and the responses were equally divided amongst those who felt it would be damn near impossible and others saying it’s hard but doable. Here’s how it started and I’d like your thoughts on the matter. Here’s the job posting: Job Title: Festival Assistant @ The Kennedy Center Department: International Programming Job Type: Full-Time, Regular Salary: $30,000 – $33,000 / Yearly Duties: ... Read More »
