This week, we are experiencing what it is like to be a one car household. It actually isn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. While I’m not sure if we could keep it up long-term, there are some distinct financial benefits to being a one-car family. With a one car household, here is the obvious savings of the purchase or lease of a second car plus all of the maintenance that goes with it. The AAA estimates that it will cost the average family approximately $9,122 to maintain one car. Youch. (You can find out how to reduce your … Continue reading →
Spend less, save more, and make your house a home with the following ten money saving ideas. 1. Buy Less Most of us have more stuff than we need, and we continually add to it all of the time. Think about borrowing instead of purchasing, and evaluate what you really can’t live without in your home. You’ll save money and have a more peaceful environment. 2. Learn to Make Repairs A simple change of a washer will cost you just a couple of dollars if you do it yourself, but if you call a plumber, you will be given a … Continue reading →
While the calendar is promising spring, here it still seems like winter. I can’t wait until I am able to open the windows and let the fresh air circulate through the house for hours. It is one free way to instantly freshen up our home. While the new catalogues that come in the mail are promising all sorts of ideas for freshening up a home and getting it ready for spring, I think I am going to stick with the free and the cheap. This way I can still have a nice fresh house, but can also save my money … Continue reading →
Head to your favorite stores the day after to get some great Easter clearance deals. The bargains are so good that I know one mom who puts off the Easter baskets and the egg hunts until after Easter, just so she doesn’t have to pay full price. Smart lady. Many stores start there Easter clearance on Monday, the day after Easter, with bargains from 50 to 90 percent off. Don’t wait long, though, because these clearance sales, especially for popular stores such as Target, are very popular. Zone in on the candy first, and freeze it for later use. You … Continue reading →
Pack those Easter baskets for less this year. Here is a list of frugal ideas you can use. Homemade Treats How about some easy-to-make homemade peanut butter cups or bunny-shaped homemade chewy granola bars. These recipes and more can easily be found on Pinterest. Homemade treats are not only less expensive, but they are also free from all of the chemicals that store-bought treats have. Coloring Books Coloring books are so inexpensive, and there are many Easter themed ones out there. The provide a nice foundation for any Easter basket and can be had for a dollar or less. Stuffed … Continue reading →
I love my coffee. What I don’t love is spending money on it. After all, water is free. Add some brewed beans, and you have to pay for it. Doesn’t seem to make much sense, does it? Well, combine my need for coffee and my need for living at our means and you get one motivated woman. I’ve learned a few things about saving money on coffee, even the gourmet kind. Organic coffee usually doesn’t cost any more than standard coffee. It is one of those weird but true things. So, if you only want organic, you don’t usually have … Continue reading →
Once you get to a certain age, you are supposed to be wiser, right? While I’m not ready for the retirement home yet (I don’t think they would let me bring my three school-age kids), the fact is that I no longer have as many years ahead of me as I once did. I do have a little more wisdom than I did then, especially when it comes to financial strategy. It is too bad that we can’t go back in time, isn’t it and give my younger self some financial advice? If I could go back in time, I … Continue reading →
Eating at home saves money. That is just a fact. I took my kids out to lunch at a family friendly restaurant for a treat, and with tip we spend half of our weekly food bill that feeds not only the kids and I but also my husband. Since we don’t often eat out, I had forgotten how much it really costs to eat out these days. Still, the kids love to do it. In fact, eight times out of ten that would normally be their choice. Well, it was that way, before I started getting more purposeful about making … Continue reading →
You may be spending some of the money you are earning at your job for work related costs. Cut down on these expenses, so the amount you save from your take home pay is at its maximum level. Here are three easy ways to cut down on the cost of going to work. Cut Down on Commuting Find ways to cut down on the cost of commuting. If you drive, find out if any of your co-workers would be willing or able to carpool with you. Everyone will save. For public transportation, look into buying weekly or monthly passes, which … Continue reading →
According to some recent numbers, the average person spends more than $130 on his or her partner for Valentine’s day. That is $260 per couple. While that might not seem too over the top, consider that if the purchases were bought with a credit card, the interest charged on those purchases over time can add up to some pretty scary numbers. Let us bring it all down a notch and get creative. Let us keep Valentine’s Day while staying on budget. Valentine’s Day is all about being romantic, right? Romance does not have to cost much. Think about quite dinner … Continue reading →
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