The Penny Pincher's Post

How I'm Keeping My Financial New Year's Resolutions

2012-02-10T18:39:00.001-05:00

If you're like me, making New Year's resolutions is the easy part. I think up a few goals on New Year's Eve, throw salt over my shoulder and toast my success. I'm great for the first few weeks of January, but by MLK Jr. Day, I've pretty much forgotten them. Here are ways I'm not only making but keeping my 2012 New Year's resolutions. Since most of my resolutions involve money, I'll focus on those. Read more at First Person: How I'm Keeping My Financial New Year's Resolutions

Right-to-Work Legislation Michigan; What it Means for Workers

2012-01-24T20:26:00.001-05:00

Lawmakers Push Right-to-Work Legislation in Michigan Legislation is under scrutiny in Michigan that would prohibit unions from making workers join a union or pay union dues, Michigan Radio says. Gov. Rick Snyder opposes such right-to-work legislation, but other Republican lawmakers like Rep. Mike Shirkey are pushing for the bill. Here are details about this legislation. RTW means lower paying, part-time jobs without benefits. It means workers don't have a voice in their own work life. It means less income and less money spent in the state. Read more...

How I Equipped My Kitchen for Under $500

2012-01-15T19:54:00.001-05:00

How I Equipped My Kitchen for Under $500 Through 24 years of marriage, 23 years of parenthood and four children, I've spent a lot of time in the kitchen. The wedding shower gifts have long since been used up and replaced. I've experimented with all kinds of equipment, utensils and gadgets and developed a list of must-haves. Here's how I equipped my kitchen with those essentials for less than $500. My secrets are to watch sales, use coupons, comparison shop and never sacrifice quality for low price. Read on for penny pinching tips...

White Elephant Lamps: Cheap Decor or Funky Gifts

2012-01-03T01:20:00.001-05:00

White Elephant Gift Ideas I collect unique, vintage home furnishings, accessories and furniture. I also love to give original, fun, creative gifts. Lamps are a favorite decor element and gift. I chose lamps for their unique design: if it looks like something everyone and his brother would have, I give it a miss. Lamps are a great way to express individuality. Lamps reflect architectural style and historical period. Here are great places to look for artsy lamps. I love to explore second hand shops for unique lamp shades and bases, looking for tall, pillar lamps and small table lamps. I never buy two matching lamps. When people redecorate, many of the original design elements end up in secondhand stores. This provides a harvest for a bargain hunter and giver of eclectic "white elephant" gifts. Read on...

Black Friday Shopping Battle Plan

2011-11-08T14:33:00.001-05:00

Black Friday Shopping Black Friday...that 'morning after' when bargain-hunters descend like a swarm of locusts and devour every 'hot buy' in site, leaving exhausted, shell-shocked store employees and ravaged shelves. It's the great American dream in the land of plenty. I have braved this tsunami of shoppers before and have a battle plan to share, worthy of General Lee himself. My battle plan involves three phases: SURVEY, STAKE-OUT & SIEGE and SWEEP-UP. These strategies will help you get the best deals without becoming a casualty. You may actually enjoy it! Read on...

How to Beat those Bank of America Debit Card Fees

2011-10-11T19:23:00.001-04:00

Bank of America Charges for Debit Cards Bank of America announced that it's charging debit card users $5 per month to pay for purchases using the card. The Federal Reserve capped the per-transaction swipe fee. Banks have been pushing consumers away from cash purchases. When buyers use cash, banks can't collect fees. Banks were charging merchants up to $.44 per debit card transaction. Now they can now only charge $.21 each. They're scrambling to keep fees coming in. Banks already penalize accounts that don't maintain minimum balances: around $1,500. This hits youth, teen and college students especially hard. My sons both pay fees because they were unable to maintain a minimum balance. Read more...

Job Seekers, Halloween Outlets Hire Thousands of Seasonal Workers

2011-09-10T19:24:00.002-04:00

Halloween Outlets Hire Thousands of Seasonal Workers Halloween is one of the top selling holidays in the U.S., in sales of costumes, candy, party supplies and decorations. Party City is hiring more than 14,000 seasonal workers for Halloween. Spirit Halloween, Halloween USA, Halloween Express, Halloween City, Halloween Express and other vendors are looking for help in hundreds of stores. Great opportunity for underemployed and unemployed people who need to pick up some hours. Excellent opportunity for high school students and college kids, too. Read more...

How a Mom of Four Saves 80 Percent on Back to School Shopping

2011-09-05T13:41:00.000-04:00

How a Mom of Four Saves 80 Percent on Back to School Shopping Labor Day means children return to school. It also means back to school shopping. If you haven't finished shopping, don't worry. I've raised four children; here are do's and don'ts to save 80 percent on school supplies and clothing. Read more...

Jonah Hill Weight Loss; Can You Lose Weight Without Expensive Personal Trainers?

2011-07-21T17:55:00.002-04:00

Jonah Hill Weight Loss; Can You Lose Weight Without Expensive Personal Trainers?Jonah Hill, star of teen snark flicks 'Superbad' and 'Get Him to the Greek,' has reshaped his formerly chubby self for a new film '21 Jump Street.' Hill's personal nutritionist and trainer helped him lose weight; are expensive resources needed for weight loss? The keys to successful weight loss are information and willpower. Read more...

How to Get Whiter Teeth Fast

2011-05-09T19:55:00.002-04:00

How to Get Whiter Teeth Fast Review of fast, inexpensive teeth whitening services and products. Includes a diy guide for cheap, easy at-home teeth whitening using pre-brush rinse. Read more...

The Lenten Kitchen: Kosher, Vegan Pretzel Recipes - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

2011-03-28T13:00:00.000-04:00

The Lenten Kitchen: Kosher, Vegan Pretzel Recipes
Pretzels are a religious, lenten symbol and a yummy, low-fat, sugarfree, snack. Here are vegan and vegetarian recipes to enjoy pretzels.

CPSC's Safer Products Program Gives Consumers a Voice - Yahoo! News

2011-03-27T21:19:00.001-04:00

CPSC's Safer Products Program Gives Consumers a Voice
Sick of having to wait for a defective product to be recalled before you know if it's safe? Want a voice in which products get declared dangerous by the CPSC? Now you've got it. SaferProducts.gov. Check it out.

Must-Have Freelance and Tax Preparation Ebooks

2011-03-18T15:44:00.003-04:00

NEW Ebooks for Freelance Writers

Hello all! I want to share with you something that I have been working on for the past several months. Based on a lot of the questions I get from other freelance writers, there is a lot of confusion out there about managing a freelance writing business and most definitely about taxes. I have put together two ebooks to help writers handle the business side of freelancing: Managing a Freelance Writing Business and Tax Preparation & Planning for Freelance Writers. Here are the details (this blog post comes from CA, CMA, finance expert and friend, Angie Mohr; freelancers, penny pinchers and taxpayers, do yourself a favor and check her cutting-edge tax books.)

Food Imports Crippling American Food Industry, Economy

2011-02-07T17:28:00.001-05:00

Importing foods, especially from third-world countries is unsafe, unhealthy and bad for the economy. Why are we continuing this practice? Fifteen percent of food marketed in the United States is produced in foreign countries. Sixty percent of all our fruit is imported. A whopping 80 percent of our seafood is produced in foreign countries, primarily in Asia. Read more...

Duro Extend, Man Up Now, Rock Hard Weekend, Magic Coffee Powder Recalled for Viagra Ingredient

2011-01-04T23:06:00.000-05:00

Sexual enhancement drugs marketed as dietary supplements and energy boosters and marketed as healthy and natural have been found to contain the Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. Intelli Health Products voluntarily recalled Duro Extend Capsules for Men. The FDA has recalled another male vitamin supplement: Man Up Now capsules. Magic Coffee Powder and Rock Hard Weekend have been recalled too. Sildenafil is used to treat Erectile Dysfunction. Read more...

Where to Find Free Holiday E-cards

2010-12-21T19:26:00.000-05:00

A string of holiday cards across a window makes a lovely sight! I have sent and received cards for years. It is one of my favorite holiday traditions. But the cost of everything seem to be rising, so to save money, here are sources for holiday e-cards (electronic cards sent by computer). No waste, no expense, no postage. Read on...

How to Feed a Family of Four for a Week on $75 at Walmart

2010-12-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

Food prices, like everything, are rising. It is possible, however, to feed family for four on $75 a week. Shopping at Walmart, practicing once-a-week cooking and buying fresh options- here's a meal plan, recipes and shopping guide. Read on...

Financial Planning Advice from a Teacher

2010-12-01T13:04:00.000-05:00

Teachers are uniquely qualified to give financial advice for several reasons. Teachers must budget carefully to plan for summer months of unemployment. Teachers are dependent on public mileage opinion for a paycheck.

Here are personal finance tips from a teacher. I've been a Michigan certified K-8, CI and CE teacher for 20+ years. I've worked in public and private school settings. I've also homeschooled my children. This advice is culled from years of frugal living and financial prudence. Read on...

2010-11-29T13:32:00.000-05:00

Cyber Monday is the biggest online shopping event of the year on the Monday following Thanksgiving. Here's a diy guide to get you all the best Cyber Monday deals. Bargains, coupons, rewards, best shopping sources, penny pincher tips and more. Read on...

Best Gifts for Baker's and Cooks Under $15

2010-11-14T20:02:00.000-05:00

Looking for holiday, Christmas, wedding and bridal shower gifts for friends and family who love to bake and cook? Here's a diy gift-giving guide with gifts for bakers under $15. Read on...

Must-Have Kitchen Supplies: 7 or 8 Qt. Self-Draining Stock Pot

2010-11-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

Must-Have Kitchen Cooking Utensils: 8 Quart Non-Stick Stock Pot
I cook every day; along the way I've learned which kitchen gadgets that work, aren't necessary and which are must-haves. A Teflon coated 7 or 8 quart stock pot is with self-draining lid is a must-have. Bed Bath and Beyond sells Invitations pan under $15.
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A Story About Honesty

2010-11-03T16:37:00.000-04:00

All Souls Day Stories: An Honest Little Boy
It's All Souls Day, and I'm feeling reminiscent. After homeschooling for years, it seems a little odd not to be wrapped up in holy day and holiday preparations. Here's a little story to warm you for the holy day. It's true.
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How to Winterize Your Home and Cut Home Heating Costs

2010-10-25T10:41:00.000-04:00

Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Reduce Your Home Energy and Heating Costs
We've winterized homes and mobile homes and have learned many tricks along the way to reduce home heating costs. These DIY, 'on-a-shoestring' tips do not require large investments of money. Cut your energy consumption with these green ideas.
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Convenience Foods that Save Time and Money

2010-10-18T18:48:00.000-04:00

Healthy Packaged Convenience Foods that Save Time and Money
You always pay more for the convenience of packaged foods, right? Convenience foods can't be healthy and save money, can they? Not always, but there are some convenience foods that are health and save time and money. You have to do the math.
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Free Printable Halloween and Trick-or-Treat Party Decorations and Crafts

2010-10-09T20:50:00.001-04:00

Free Printable Halloween and Trick-or-Treat Party Decorations, Banners and Streamer
Hosting a childrens Halloween party? Looking for ways to decorate the house for trick-or-treat? Want to decorate your classroom for Halloween? Here are free printable Halloween decorations: witch, pumpkin, ghost, black cats, monsters and more.
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