Frugality & Budgeting: Squeeze That Last Dollar
We all want to save money. It’s always wise to keep watch of our dollars, seeing how the economic tides seem to shift on a whim. For many folks, every dollar needs to stretch as far as it will go. But how do you do it? Do you clip coupons? Should you work on a detailed budget where you watch each expense with an eagle eye, or perhaps chase credit cards that sport lower rates? How about trading in your gas guzzler for a more modest vehicle? The answer is — there’s no one right solution for everyone. In fact, it may take a combination of such approaches plus a change in our lifestyle or habits to get us completely in the black. But we’re here to provide you tips, ideas and even support as you work on your savings plans.
Our articles cover a lot of ground, from stories that dish out concrete savings tips to those which analyze the psychology of saving and behavioral finance. For instance, we help you determine if you’re spending too much. We write about how to save money at the grocery store and how to spend less on great gifts, auto repairs and your monthly cable bill. We share with you frugal stories and budgeting tips to help you make the most of each dollar you earn. Why not join our frugal community today?
In my circle of friends, I am known as the budget traveler, a point of pride with me. I have a long list of cheap trips under my belt, and I love talking travel with whoever wants to listen, and not only to encourage them to travel often but to consider doing it cheaply. If [...]
When I was in middle school, my parents took me on a road trip to Madison, Wisconsin to see the Badgers play my beloved Iowa Hawkeyes (whom I have since deserted for Iowa State). Not only was it the first college basketball game I had been to, but the first major sporting event of any [...]
I’ve seen the term “everyday” savings used quite a bit. These are the types of savings you make on ordinary “everyday” things such as your groceries, daily living expenses and such. Now many people may find saving money as overwhelming but in reality, it’s a habit you can develop gradually so that it comes more [...]
We’re not very sophisticated or worldly travelers, especially when we’ve got young kids to handle. Unlike many of our own friends who’ve managed to travel heavily even with babies in tow, we’re simple homebodies, content to hang out at home and savor our well oiled routines. But once in a while, we’ll get restless enough [...]
Black Friday marks the beginning of the huge holiday shopping season when some of the best deals around are unearthed. Are you ready to join the big crowds and brave the shopping lines and traffic? For those of you who are into this shopping holiday craze, here are some tips. They’re pretty applicable and should [...]
Long distance travel does not suit everyone’s fancy. A lot of us, including myself, prefer to have fun by becoming a local explorer. Why not entertain a few ideas for saving money by focusing on local travel? When I want to know what’s going on around town, I like to pick up my local newspaper [...]
Young professionals have a ton on their plate, which often creates a paradoxical financial conundrum. With all the time spent on socializing, education, career, technology, and everything else — how is one supposed to focus on personal finance goals? The paradox is that there may be no more important time in your life than your [...]
Get a head start on Halloween. Are you planning for it already? Here’s one of the easier DIY projects around: go frugal by making your own unique, fun, cheap Halloween costumes. I thought to lighten the mood with something more humorous and entertaining. I thought to salute a few Halloween ideas that I thought were [...]
Here are 10 glorious tips to help you make the most out of dining out. When we’re eyeing our budget, spending on entertainment is normally one of the first items that people cut back on. But I was determined to figure out a way to eat out a couple of times a month, just to [...]