tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53633461763574382902026-03-04T13:08:16.600-07:00Spend less. Waste less. Save more.Money Crashershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01458978398655534075noreply@blogger.comBlogger367125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-90204532841343713342012-07-23T23:29:00.001-06:002012-07-23T23:29:41.836-06:00

Are you one of those people who spend entirely too much money on groceries every month? You are not alone, as this is a big problem for many people all over the country. Everybody needs to eat, however, though you certainly don't want to spend so much that you blow through your budget and put your finances at risk. Wouldn't it be nice if there were a way to spend less money on groceries without

Money Crashershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01458978398655534075noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-13157383629224604722012-03-03T15:47:00.000-07:002012-03-03T15:47:26.430-07:00

One of the biggest obstacles people face when trying to solve their personal debts is understanding that being frugal doesn't necessarily have to be a lifelong strategy. If you've got a hefty credit card debt that you need to eliminate, you may only have to resort to clipping coupons, turning down the heat an A/C, and eliminating most entertainment expenditures until your debt is gone. Once

Money Crashershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01458978398655534075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-87467604002201160412011-03-28T06:19:00.003-06:002011-03-28T06:19:00.403-06:00

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day, saying.."I will try again tomorrow." ~Mary Anne Radmacher I’ve been looking forward to this day and dreading this day. I look forward to today because I realize that I have finally feel that I know how to ride my figurative bike without training wheels. When I first started Frugal for Life, back in 2004, there

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-80101022924646329142011-03-21T06:19:00.001-06:002011-03-21T06:19:00.260-06:00

What are your habits? Do you eat from the vending machine each day, go to the same place for lunch with your co-workers, and fall into bed at the same time each night? Maybe you've made a habit out of spending on impulse, avoiding a budget, and staying up as late as possible. Someone famously said: “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-30883242331392644022011-03-14T07:16:00.016-06:002011-03-14T07:16:00.206-06:00

Nothing freaks me out more than seeing meat or poultry thawing on the counter. I'm always asking how long an item has been out and no matter the answer, I usually end up tossing it in the fridge to keep the bacteria at bay. The USDA states: Perishable foods should never be thawed on the counter, or in hot water and must not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. Even though the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-91823905119795344562011-03-07T06:08:00.002-07:002011-03-07T06:08:00.524-07:00

Now that I'm an aunt for the first time, children's clothes, activities and behaviors now catch my attention as I try to understand the mystery of growing up from the outside now. I'm regularly asking my sister what activities my 7mos. old nephew is doing. It is too early to figure out his interests yet, but it is fun to wonder if he will be a DIY builder, a weird scientist concoction mixer or if

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-45259630968520979012011-02-28T06:07:00.013-07:002011-02-28T06:07:00.621-07:00

Since starting the new job I've been trying to find out every little way I can save money by using discounts through the company I work with. I usually work within the telecommunication industry and with that I receive whatever item they sell for free or at a greatly reduced price. Additionally,  they have connections with other companies that provide discounts for computers, car rentals,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-2804512576311754392011-02-25T06:43:00.002-07:002011-02-25T06:43:00.498-07:00

Monday I put together a very basic understanding of bonds and what I had learned from them. While I was reading I found that there was so much more that I didn't understand and could have added to my learning. Having written about frugal living for the past 6 years, I have found that the personal finance side of frugality is the part that is harder to learn. To me, it is easier to find ways to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-66941861318323271432011-02-23T06:16:00.065-07:002011-02-23T06:16:00.112-07:00

Previously I've daydreamed about winning the lottery. But recently a British survey (pdf) gathered people's opinion on what they would do for a million pounds (~$1.6 mill. USD). The options were not typical. Be Photographed naked for a national newspaper (31%) Have no human contact for a year (18%) Have sex with someone you find physically "repulsive"(17%) Give up a kidney (15%) Not see sunlight

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-70391991870325062842011-02-21T06:31:00.001-07:002011-02-21T06:31:00.419-07:00

SchoolhouseRock - Tyrannosaurus Debt TOUR GUIDE: And this is the U.S. Treasury. It sells Treasury Bonds, bills, and notes, and savings bonds to finance the debt. The U.S. government promises to pay the owner interest plus the value of each bond at a future date.Up to a few days ago, if you asked me what a bond was, I would tell you it was a way to make some interest on your money through the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-70184116463983056472011-02-17T06:37:00.009-07:002011-02-19T15:24:16.526-07:00

You want to be financially fit. You know all about buying generic and what needs to be done to start a budget. You know what is involved in starting your retirement fund and how much to sock away. You can even picture a future with fewer stresses and possibly an early retirement. So why aren't you on the road to that frugal success you read about? Simply put, there are life issues that block

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-70877391098098968952011-02-14T06:21:00.001-07:002011-02-14T06:21:00.956-07:00

A 2007 survey of low- and middle-income consumers with credit card debt found the following: Nearly one-third (29 percent) reported that medical expenses contributed to their current level of credit card debt. I would think that with the economy in the dumps since then, that percentage hasn't gone down very much. As a matter of fact, in a 2008 study: More than one-half (52%)of indebted low- and

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-58905143074395494702011-02-10T17:28:00.000-07:002011-02-10T17:28:12.131-07:00

Just an FYI out there for those who may not know that, even though your credit score can be in the high “700s” and/or even in the low “800s”, it often times does not help you in acquiring a credit card, loan, or anything else you may wish to get on credit if you have very limited credit. My friend, unfortunately, found out that the hard way. DO NOT CLOSE DOWN your credit card accounts even if you

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-56023238608831393952011-02-07T07:10:00.011-07:002011-02-07T07:10:00.326-07:00

Just because I like to think and live frugally, doesn't mean I don't like to dream a little. Every once and a while when I stumble across the amount of the lottery in my state, my mind drifts off to planning how I would spend the money if I got won it.  Given I would have to be a VERY lucky person as I don't buy lottery tickets. I've always said to people that if I'm lucky enough to win the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-22531870462209216932011-02-03T06:37:00.000-07:002011-02-03T06:37:00.116-07:00

I recently saw a UPI article about Lead Found in Some Reusable Bags that were offered from grocery and retail stores. "The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) released new lab results showing that a number of major retailers’ reusable shopping bags contained excessive levels of lead. Of the 44 organizations whose bags were tested, 16 are selling or distributing reusable bags containing

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-44501587963418237472011-01-31T06:43:00.000-07:002011-01-31T06:43:00.453-07:00

After getting laid off from my previous job I initially thought I would remove the money from my 401k to cover any expenses that would come. But then I reminded myself that I'm not going to do this anymore unless it's an emergency. Considering that the last few years of filling out tax returns has resulted in me paying out instead of getting a refund, I figured that would constitute an emergency

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-77077569046677525332011-01-28T06:09:00.001-07:002011-01-28T06:09:00.286-07:00

When I was growing up, my frugal-to-the-core mother was the master of “re-using.”  Now, first, I must say that I love my mother more than anyone on earth and my respect for her knows no bounds.  However, as a child, this whole concept of “Don’t throw that away!  You can RE-use it!” was first annoying and then just “not cool.”  Ironically, now a few years out of college and

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-6863225070097156162011-01-26T06:51:00.006-07:002011-01-26T06:51:00.067-07:00

Being laid off has it's advantages like more time with family, crossing off items on the to do list, no longer putting off that exercising because you are too tired. But one definite disadvantage to being laid off is that depression lurks around the corner to sneak up on you if you are diligent to keep watch. I was doing really well keeping myself positive, working out and keeping myself busy

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-80759839871397696502011-01-24T07:19:00.027-07:002011-01-24T07:19:00.045-07:00

"My ribs hurt!" "I feel better sleeping on the couch or recliner." "I hate getting into that bed." "I never get a decent sleep, I think the bed needs to be replaced." These are all comments that have been mentioned in my home, more and more often, and I think it's almost time to get a new mattress. The foam mattress in question is going on it's 6th year and has acquired hills and valleys. A

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-90145138257237444162011-01-21T07:07:00.009-07:002011-01-21T07:07:00.833-07:00

Anytime frugality is brought up in a conversation, eventually the talk turns to those who are extreme in their frugality. I know that there are some things that I do that are too extreme for my co-workers and some things they do that are beyond the pale for me. But frugality isn't about shocking your friends and family. Frugality isn't an extreme sport where there are winners and losers. It is a

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-8218166152050221812011-01-19T07:02:00.001-07:002011-01-19T07:02:00.368-07:00

I've written multiple times about my own bankruptcy and having to deal with the aftermath of a ruined credit score. I have also had to learn ways to bring my credit score back up to a good level. The classic way and most common suggestion is to make sure that you make all your payments on time and keep your debt ratio around 30-50% (or less) of the credit that is available to you. These two

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-16464491837641256682011-01-17T07:38:00.001-07:002011-01-17T07:38:00.550-07:00

In a 13 page, study, researched by Xinying Cai, Soyoun Kim and Daeyeol Lee, they have come to the conclusion (at least in monkeys) that immediate gratification may be one firing neuron away and can determine if we are genetically spenders or savers. "Two monkeys (H and J) were trained to perform an intertemporal choice task, in which they chose between two different amounts of juice that is

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-49571703643329797962011-01-14T07:28:00.009-07:002011-01-14T07:28:00.109-07:00

The longer you stay in the grocery store the better chance you have of increasing your receipt total with impulse purchases. My partner is amazed when I run to the store to pick up the groceries, how quickly I come back after leaving. For her it is an easy 60-90 minute shopping trip. I thought I would pass along a few ways I get in and out so quickly for those who are wanting to cutting down on

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-43749374021561763332011-01-12T07:51:00.021-07:002011-01-12T07:51:00.268-07:00

Holiday season 2010 was the best year for retailers in the last 4 years even though December was a poor sales record on it's own. (via) Why? Because people started their holiday buying early! Not that I like to see the Christmas season creep in on Halloween, but it's nice to hear that sales are helping people spread out the buying so that people like me can use a budget to buy gifts instead of

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5363346176357438290.post-63050436237867972212011-01-10T07:04:00.002-07:002011-01-10T07:04:00.624-07:00

Coupon Sherpa recently post the top 10 coupon stories of 2010 and I have a few things to say about this last year as well. The good, the bad and the ugly part of coupons. 1. Groupon goes viral - I am one of those people who signed up and has bought a few things through them. I bought a good deal for a subscription to the newspaper (for the Sunday coupons) and I have been milking that

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0