With another school year coming to a close, you may be looking for free activities for your kids. For kids who like to build things (what kid doesn’t like to build things?), home improvement stores have some great solutions. Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics, held Saturday mornings at 10:00, are for “recommended” for first- through […]
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The 80/20 Closet
You’ve probably heard of the 80/20 rule – that 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the causes. There are all sorts of places where this rule is at work. For example, at many companies 80 percent of their sales come from 20 percent of their customers. Recently, popular personal finance blogger […]
More Planning to Cut the Cable
More than 90 percent of U.S. households subscribe to cable or satellite television services, but that number may have peaked. CNN recently reported on a new survey in which one in eight pay-TV subscribers said they plan to eliminate or scale back on their packages. No, TV viewers aren’t suddenly switching to books; they’re switching […]
The Money Saving Triple Dip
The recession has turned us into a nation of coupon clippers and deal seekers. Today, there are so many deals to be had it’s hard to think of anything that can’t be purchased at a discount. And with relatively little effort, you can even score multiple discounts on what you buy. My favorite way to […]
Green Round Up
In honor of Earth Day, here are a few articles I found useful. This one includes links to sites that will help you turn your old unused electronics into cash. This one has some good ideas for cutting back on electricity use. And for some less predictable ideas, here’s how to have an eco-friendly wedding […]
Does Your Home Own You?
Garrison Keillor once joked that when people are young they often dream about being painters or poets, but the single biggest destroyer of all such romantic career notions is a 30-year mortgage. Get one of those, he said, and you’ll chain yourself to an eight-by-eight cubicle for the next 30 years as you labor to […]
The Road to Financial Freedom…
…is driven in a paid-for vehicle. While developing a set of detailed recommended spending plans for various size households at various incomes, it became clear to me that in order to live in financial freedom it’s essential to avoid financing vehicles. MSN recently pointed out that most of today’s vehicles should be able to make […]
From Community College to Med School
If you’re wondering how to help your kids make it through college without a mortgage-size loan, consider the experience of Brittany Blackburn. Her route to a full scholarship at Yale Medical School included stops at two community colleges. According to a WalletPop article, spending the first two years at a community college can make a […]
The Great Cyberspace Marketplace
Looking to buy or sell something online? There are more sites to consider than just eBay or Craigslist. Mainstreet.com recently highlighted 14 niche marketplace sites. Bonanzle is for buyers and sellers of “Everything but the ordinary,” including vintage toys, artwork, and more. To buy or sell homemade jewelry, handbags, or other crafts, try Etsy. Glyde […]
Are You a Two-List Shopper?
You’ve heard it for years: Never go grocery shopping without a list. But did you know that even list users typically have two lists? There’s the list in their hand and the list in their head. As reported on MSN.com, a new study found that 75 percent of shoppers entered the store knowing they were […]