blogs

The Real Deal: What to Expect When Starting Your Own Business

It's easy to list "Start Business" as a goal for the new year, but do you know what that actually means?

Encounter With a Freegan

Would a good mother feed her children out of the Dumpster? My first encounter with a real live freegan leaves me wondering. Is helping save the earth and some money worth even t

My Car is a Lemon! What Now?

It all looked so great at the outset. But numerous trips to the mechanic and problems at the side of the road have shown you that you unwittingly purchased a lemon of a car.

Why don't people share more?

I saw an article recently suggesting that neighbors share a garbage service. One neighbor hires the service, the other kicks in to cover half the bill, and both bring their stuff

Fabulous Party Ideas For The Frugal-Minded

Need ideas for having a fabulous party with minimal money, time, and catering abilities? Here are 15.

Avoid the Gift That Belly Flops

The tale of the Christmas belly flop is a sad one. The shopper finds something that looks so appealing, often on sale, and wraps it up beautifully. The givee is truly excited --

As the Wood Burns: The Top 3 BioMass Heating Sources Revealed

CNN predicted a 22% increase in the cost

Is it Time to Talk with your Parents?

With your parents (and other family members), avoiding conversations about finances can be detrimental in more ways than one. Because life happens when you’re busy making pla

Get enough sleep

I have a theory about sleep. My theory is this: everyone who routinely uses an alarm clock suffers from chronic sleep deprivation. Using an alarm clock a few times a year (to c

10 Financial Frights to Avoid

This is a lighthearted (yet serious) look at some of the financial pitfalls we may find ourselves in if we're not careful.

No Signal? 6 Ways to Boost Your Cell Phone Reception

I have been researching and testing methods to boost my phone in case of emergencies. Here are the five methods that worked, with varying success, for me.

Healthy Eating--It'll Cost You!

It's not easy eating green! With fresh foods at sky-high prices, what's a financially challenged yet socially conscious eater to do?

I'm Tired!: 25 Awesome Ways to Beat Holiday Exhaustion

The holidays are fun but, honestly, they're exhausting. It seems like there is more of everything than at any other time of year: more social events, more items on the to-do l

Save gas; don't make left-hand turns.

You have to hand it to UPS. They crunched the numbers, they looked at the hard facts and they figured out that by limiting the number of left-hand turns made, you can save a whole

Make Your Hobby Pay Its Way

Hobbies generally end up in the expense category. Depending on the hobby, you may be paying for equipment, supplies, books and magazines, classes, training--the list goes on.

Peanut Butter: The Poor Man’s Protein

Peanut butter is a staple food of many households. The rich and the poor alike find it to be filling and delicious. Eating the ri

How to wrap gifts with leftovers.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m no fan of the greeting card and gift wrapping industries. Not only are their products way over-priced, they’re also less than original in most cases.

Seven Tax-Efficient Perks to ask your Employer For

If you are doing a good job, your employer will want to keep you. And to do so, they know they might need to woo you or otherwise entice you to stay if your skills are marketable a

5 Cool DIY Christmas Gifts for the “Under 6” Crowd

Handmade gifts are becoming cool again! Here are five gifts for smaller children that will be loved long after the season is over.

14 Behaviors and Attitudes That Can Drive Workplace Success

Ever wondered how you can influence your workplace and long-term career success? Here are 14 behaviors and attitudes that can make a difference.