Search Results for: blog selling our house is not frugal 1

Pre-Approval Letter

My husband and I are considering moving to Arizona. We love living in Texas, but there are factors that make a move to Arizona very attractive. That means that we have the arduous chores of selling our house in Texas and buying one in Arizona. The first step on this journey is deciding on an area to shop for a home. Once you know where you want to go you can start looking in earnest at available homes. This is when your eyes can prove to be bigger than your stomach and you might end up looking at homes out … Continue reading →

Reasons Why Garage Sale Items Are Overpriced

You may remember a previous blog I posted that talked about how pricing at outgrown sales and thrift stores has been on the high side for me, lately. It seems that things are just so overpriced, even compared to retail (when on sale). Well, I have been noticing some of this same thing in garage sales. Not by any means the majority of garage sales. Most that I visited last weekend were quite reasonable. But there were a few sellers who wanted to hold out on high prices and tough to negotiate with. The response I kept hearing at these … Continue reading →

Product Review: Baby Monitor

I love finding good deals on baby items. I subscribe to websites that feature deeply discounted baby items for a limited time, and can barely contain my excitement when a product I’ve been coveting for a long time appears at 50% off its regular selling price. What I love even more than finding a good deal on a baby item is when I get a baby item for free. I was recently contacted by an employee of The First Years baby brand, wondering if I’d be willing to test and review one of their latest models of baby monitors. He … Continue reading →

Easy Ways for Single Parents to Make Extra Money

One of my biggest challenges being a single mom is dealing with finances, especially around birthdays and holidays. However, I have discovered some easy ways to make a little extra money when times are tight (well, tighter than normal, anyways). eBay and Craigslist Ebay and Craiglist are excellent places to sell your old, unwanted things online. I usually put smaller items on eBay and larger items on Craigslist. I can typically earn an extra $50-$100 selling mostly old clothes and toys on eBay. Craigslist has always been hit-or-miss for me. I once listed a treadmill for $75, and it was … 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 →

Home Decor Trends go Vintage Too

If you hadn’t noticed, old is new this year in fashion. The same holds true for home decor. While this trend is certainly a side effect from a rough economy, you can’t help but be glad that you don’t have to spend a fortune on fall and winter decor to be in style. If you are looking for some new items to update your home you don’t have to look very far. Here is where you can find decor items for fall and winter 2009. Flea markets: Nicole Humphrey suggests some specific items to look for in Frugal Decorating with … Continue reading →

Renting VS Buying

I am sure the title made you think about renting a home versus home ownership. When being frugal however there are alot more things that you need to ponder over when it comes to renting or buying. It amazes me the things people will rent and the prices they will pay for the rental when they could in fact, own the item. Here is a list of items that you should seriously consider purchasing if you are in the habit of renting. Tuxedo: To rent a nice tuxedo can cost $75.00. A really nice tuxedo can be upwards of $200. … Continue reading →

EBay makes online auctions worthwhile again

I have always used EBay to make money saving purchases. When my video camera battery died, and it was no longer available in the stores, I did not buy a new camera, I got a new battery on EBay. When the cat popped a few keys off my daughter’s laptop, I didn’t spend $100.00 on repairs, I got new keys from EBay and found an online tutorial for installing it. Instead of buying a $1000 projection screen for the basement, I purchased fabric and screen building instructions from EBay and made the perfectly good screen for $40.00. EBay has saved … Continue reading →

What Are Mortgage Points?

Whether you are thinking about refinancing or getting a mortgage for the first time, whether or not to opt for points can be a confusing and sticky decision. Here is a quick explanation of points and some general guidelines about whether or not it is worth paying down points to get a lower interest rate. What are points? When applying for your mortgage loan, you may be asked if you want to pay points. Points are a lump upfront sum of interest that you can pay at the initiation of your loan to lower your overall interest rate. The more … Continue reading →

Home Bartering

If you have a home, then you have a valuable asset, even if it is worth less now than what you might have originally paid for it. Now is a great time to use that home of yours to barter for things that you may want or need. You can barter your home in exchange for home improvement services. If you have some extra space, you might be able to barter a room in exchange for professional improvements to your home. Craigslist is full of professional carpenters, electricians, landscapers and contractors who would be willing to offer their services in … Continue reading →