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Wise Bread articles that are hot today.

Wisdom from My Favorite Frugal TV Character - Julius Rock

My favorite cheap TV character is Julius Rock from Everybody Hate Chris. Julius is a character based on Chris Rock's father and in almost every episode of the show his fruga

Don't Ruin an Antique! How to Tell If You Should Refinish Wooden Furniture

Refinishing your grandmother's old dresser might be a terrible idea. Learn when you should refinish wood furniture, and when you should use a professional.

Surviving a financial panic -- lessons from the past

Financial panics used to be quite ordinary. In the century or two prior to the great depression, there was a panic every 15 or 20 years. Since the great depression we haven't had

5 International Cities to Boost Your Standard of Living for Less

Where can wannabe U.S. expats improve their quality of life for less? Here are five cities that you may have never considered before.

12 Ways to Make Yourself Save More Money

You know you should save more, and you'd like to — but how? Close your spending leaks and put your saving on autopilot to start building a cash reserve.

How Much Are Pricey Home Upgrades Really Worth?

When readying a home for sale, it can be tempting to go wild with a new deck or room addition. Before you start, do the math.

The Time Management Problem Most of Us Have — and How to Fix It

The world won't end if you don't say "Yes" to every project, chore, event, and favor request you get. Start becoming happy by doing just enough.

35 Bizarre Things You Can Be Taxed On

Uncle Sam always seems to have his hand out — and even expects a cut for these 35 off-the-wall things.

6 Affordable Home Remodel Tips for Pet Owners

Pets are always cute, but the mess they sometimes leave behind is not. Luckily, just a few tweaks to your decor can tidy up your space.

5 Details Your Financial Adviser May Be Ignoring

You depend on your financial adviser for guidance on life's money matters. But they may not always consider the big picture.

15 Free Ways to Spend Your Summer

Whether you're hitting the beach or the local library, you don't need a pocketful of cash to have fun this summer.

You're Denied a Credit Card Due to Too Many Hard Inquiries. Now What?

Hard inquiries ruining your rewards game? When you can't get approved for new cards, these strategies can help you make the most of what you've got.

The Dirt on Travel Insurance

In the world of travel insurance, no two policies are the same. Different activities and locales are covered in different ways between insurance companies, and even within the same

Should You be Ashamed to be on Public Assistance?

Government assistance such as the Food Stamp Program and cash welfare payments are sticky topics of discussion. What exactly is frugal about us

In times like these, separate the want from the need.

I remember saying to my dad, a long, long time ago, that I really needed a whole bunch of He-Man action figures for Christmas. Oh, and Battlecat, too. My dad looked at me, a hopefu

8 Nifty Tips for Getting the Most from an All-You-Can Eat Buffet

I’m no promoter of gluttony, and I would never recommend stuffing yourself for the sake of stuffing yourself. However, as a mother of 4 growing kids who only eat out once or twice

Your Sleeping Position May Be Hurting You

If you feel like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, it might actually be because you slept on the wrong side of you.

Afraid of Spending Money? Here Are 5 Perks of Your Phobia

For some, chrometophobia can be crippling. For the frugal minded, it's just another way to save more.

7 Surprising Benefits of Failure

Falling on your face hurts twice if you fail to learn why you fell.

15 Packing Secrets From a Professional Traveler

What to bring along — and how — bedevils many travelers. Find out how a professional wanderer has been doing it for seven years and counting.