Cleaning. It’s something we all have to face at some point. Why is it that a bottle of generic cleaner that contains who knows what tends to eat up so much of my grocery budget? I am a self-proclaimed neat freak. Ask anyone who has visited my home and they will concur. I can’t help it. I just think more ... Read More »

I’m looking to replace some appliances in my kitchen. Mine are old and on their last legs. The trouble is that I really can’t afford new appliances and I don’t want to put them on my credit card. I’ve heard that you can get great deals on ‘scratch and dent’ appliances. But, I don’t know where to look for them ... Read More »

If you’re limited on funds, getting a car loan can be a bigger burden to your budget. You’ll be locked in for years for a payment and many times you have to pay even more on car insurance as per the lender’s requirements. Buying a car with cash can be an economical choice both now and later as you have ... Read More »

When finances are tight, or if you simply choose to live frugally, there are ways to make your home decor choices an active part of your frugal lifestyle. The lighting choices you make can noticeably affect your monthly energy bills. Lighting is a vital part of any home decor. Obviously, the best money-saving tip involving lighting is to turn the ... Read More »

My husband and I are pretty healthy and our doctor visits had been limited to yearly check-ups and an out of the blue visit when a cold wasn’t going away. This year has been a bit different for us in terms of using our health insurance. Besides getting my check-up I also had to go to my OB/GYN appointments and ... Read More »

An tip just came in from a reader. Seems Doug Van Arsdale the CEO of Lending.com and CEO of Credit Solutions of America is back in the news. The allegation is that Van Arsdale is the indirect owner of SaveMore.com, a Grouponesque spinoff that sells discounts and coupons, is not delivering coupons to consumers more funds to merchants. A visit ... Read More »

New is always nice, but gently used furniture, clothing, and baby gear can really ease the strain on your pocketbook when you are expecting. With my first baby, everything had to be new, and perfect. Yes, I was that first time mom! If it was made for newborns, I absolutely had to have it! I spent way more than I ... Read More »

Warehouse club memberships are usually presented as a frugal choice for everyone. Joining Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s is always the smart choice, but is it really? Can you save money with it? Can everyone find it worthwhile for their budget. I decided to share my take on our Costco membership and how it has worked out for us. Maybe ... Read More »

I almost never write money saving articles. I try to keep myself focused on just the get out of debt stuff, but I’ve got to make an exception this morning. You see yesterday Google announced the new flight section of their website where you can search and book for flights. While the usual collection of flight books sites like Kyak ... Read More »

“For the first time in my married life I was scared. We had never been rich but we had never been afraid before.” In 2008 Melody Page, a resident of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and her husband found themselves in financial disparity along with many citizens as the American economy took a turn for the worst. It only took about ... Read More »

As a child I can remember my mother diligently putting $5 a week away in a holiday club account at our credit union. Every week, the same amount, and every week it was done. These days, the amount has increased to a whopping $10 a week. Although this doesn’t sound like much, if you multiply $10/week by 52 weeks per ... Read More »

If you’re like me you enjoy a good adult beverage every now and again. There’s only one down side to going out with friends, family or colleagues for a drink: it’s not cheap! Most alcohol in restaurants and bars are heavily marked up, sometimes more than 100%. I recently sat down with a friend of mine, let’s call him George, ... Read More »

Serendipidously I had the pleasure to get in contact with Shaunetta Burk here in Raleigh, North Carolina who offers a business called Magnificent Products For Less. Shaunetta and her husband Charlie have devoted themselves to offering a personal shopping service to clients in the area which even includes grocery shopping. This type of service is one step further for the ... Read More »

If you’re like me, you love your dog. Or you’re cat/bird/turtle/hamster/lizard or small woodland creature. While animals provide us with unconditional love and the everlasting feeling of “I Need You!” they sure can be expensive. I put more thought into what my dog eats than what I eat. Seriously. You can find me sitting on the floor of my local ... Read More »

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Yelp.com (Source and Source). Yesterday, my love for the Yelp community and website grew a little bit fonder. Yesterday evening Yelp rolled out their latest mobile application update for iPhone and Android users to include their new feature: YelpDeals. These deals are not to be confused with Yelp’s Special Offers and ... Read More »