How Not to Go Broke Celebrating Halloween

(All treat no trick) You don’t need to be a parent to know that celebrating Halloween is not cheap. These days dressing up as a naughty nun and gorging on 100 Grand bars can really set you back, and not just spiritually. The cost of costumes, candy, decorations and fillings for cavities caused by giving into your Laffy Taffy addiction is scary expensive. And, if you have multiple kids to costume and provide school treats for, the total cost of the holiday can be even more frightening. In 2011, Halloween surpassed Valentine’s Day as the second most expensive holiday celebrated … Continue reading

Need to Furnish Your Home? Act Now

If you are looking to furnish your home any time soon, whether that means rooms of furniture or a few art and decor pieces, you may want to keep reading. That is because now is the time for great bargains from antiques to durable family-friendly pieces. Why is it the right time to furnish your home? There are a number of reasons. First, right now there are a lot of younger baby boomers going into retirement who are ready to downsize their living space. At the same time, older baby boomers are moving into retirement homes or with family. They … Continue reading

Is it Worth Selling Your Items for Cash?

Cleaning out unused or unwanted items from your house and selling them can be a source of cash, but sometimes it just isn’t worth the time or the expense (yes, expense) to do so. Here are some ways that you can determine whether it is worth it to sell those items or not, and some alternatives that will also save you money. First, how much are your items really worth? Find out how much might actually make in a yard sale or by selling your items online. This will vary on the region you live in, as well as the … Continue reading

Four Things that Can Be Turned into Quick Cash

Do you need cash in a hurry? Getting extra money might be closer than you think. Here are four things that can be quickly and easily turned into cash. Baby Clothes Baby clothes are a hot commodity at outgrown sales or on the Internet. You can turn those outgrown clothes into cash. Don’t have any baby clothes at home? Shop cheaply at your local thrift store and then make a profit selling them online. What to look for: name brand and higher end items in excellent condition. Gift Cards Scour your drawers, car, purse, etc. for unused gift cards. There … Continue reading

Christmas Debt

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is out and about trying to get their shopping done for the holidays. Some of you may have even braved the Black Friday sales last week. As a single parent money is always tight. Most of us are living paycheck to paycheck. There’s barely enough money to provide the essentials, let alone everything else. There is rarely any money left over at the end of the month as it is. The thought of having to find a way to finance Christmas on top of that can be more than a little daunting for … Continue reading

How to Shop the Holiday Deals

Starting in late October, I am online several times day to check my favorite deal websites. Why do I do this? To get the best bargains for my Christmas shopping, of course. If I see a great sale or clearance or other great deal, I pounce on it and whittle down my Christmas gift list. Of course, it helps to have a real plan in place. I keep track of all of my holiday gift purchases, so I won’t overbuy. I list who the gift is for, and I keep a running total of how much I spend per person … Continue reading

Scrapbook Steals

I would not say that I am the queen of frugal scrapbooking by any means, but I definitely like to find a good deal on scrapbooking stuff. Recently, I have started doing a lot of couponing for my groceries, and I am constantly thinking about how I can get cheap scrapbooking supplies as well. Garage Sales are a great resource! I have purchased many things from garage sales. One of the best finds was when I went to a garage sale of two sisters that lived together and were avid scrapbookers. You could tell by the amount of stuff they … Continue reading

How to Find Money Around the House

Let us say that the kids are begging for the latest DVD movie. Or, you would really enjoy being able to eat out once a week. Maybe there is a small unexpected bill that needs to be paid. You know, however, that these things simply aren’t in the budget. Well, guess what? You may be able to find the money you need right in your own home. No, this is not a scam for a reverse mortgage or selling your gold jewelry. Instead, it is just a guideline on ways that with a little bit of effort, you can find … Continue reading

How to Find Video Games for Pennies

Are your “kiddos” gathering their Christmas lists? My kids are already having this discussion. I overheard them taking at our dining room table with the neighbor kids while everyone was coloring. My daughter wants “ruby shoes,” and my son is hoping for a video game. The discussion got me thinking about video games. They are so expensive. Current games can cost around $50 at the store. And the systems start in the hundreds. But if video games are on your list, there are ways to get them for less. Here are some ideas to help you get that special game … Continue reading

Internet Infidelity Leads to Attempted Hit

This morning while I was once again watching Today (yes, I’ve noticed I start off with this line a lot), they ran a story about a woman who used Craigslist to try and hire someone to kill her lover’s wife. Apparently 49-year-old Ann Marie Linscott is married and lives in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area. She met her lover, who lives in Oroville, California, while taking a course over the Internet. They engaged in a cyber affair, but when she tired of being the other woman she got the bright idea to use Craigslist to change all that. That’s pretty … Continue reading