How do you feel about a person ahead of you in a store checkout line who is using coupons? Do you think to yourself, “Now there’s a smart shopper”? Or do you think, “What a cheapskate”? The New York Times reported on a study in which people using low-value coupons (50 cents off on a […]
Archive | Spending Smart
Living Well on $44k
How did you do on finding holiday gift deals this year? Can you beat this: 27 gifts for $90? As reported on TODAY, that’s just the latest in a long list of amazing money moves executed by Steve and Annette Economides, who have turned smart shopping into an extreme sport. The Arizona couple, along with […]
Overdraft Protection For Less
More than three-quarters of all banks automatically enroll their customers in the most expensive form of overdraft protection. That’s a key finding from a new FDIC survey, as reported by MarketWatch. If you are among the 25 percent of people who spend more than is in your checking account at some point in a given […]
Gift Card Watch-Outs
Despite a raft of bad publicity, gift cards continue to be a popular choice among holiday shoppers. If you give or receive a gift card this year, Consumer Reports offers some helpful advice. For givers, the magazine suggests steering clear of retailers that are known to be struggling (it’s tough to redeem a card from […]
Gifts That Last
When shopping for gifts this year remember that the least expensive items are not always the best deals. Be sure to also consider how long a gift may last. As we considered what to buy our kids this year we were mindful of all the broken toys that fill our toy bins. So, we’re giving […]
Deals That Delight
One upside to a down economy is that lots of products are on deep discount before Christmas. But which deals will truly satisfy? According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, behavioral economists and psychologists have found that products that enrich your relationship with friends or family members rate the highest on the satisfaction scale. […]
Save on Everything – Part Two
In the last issue of this eNewsletter I steered you to a blog post with links to some of the best money-saving ideas from around the blogosphere. Now, here’s a collection of some of the best holiday-related money saving ideas from various blogs. And, with an assist from a reader named Mary Ellen, here’s a […]
Penny Wise and Artichoke Foolish
Like many of us, a grocery shopper named Jill is paying more attention to the cost of food these days. So, as described in a New York Times article, when one store’s price on cauliflower seemed too high, she went to another store, and then another. Finally, she found a good price, only to discover […]
Save on Everything
Suggesting ways to save money is the core mission of most personal finance writers. Now a personal finance blogger has compiled over 1,000 of the best money-saving ideas from across the blogosphere, all linked to their original sources. With a list this large there are bound to be some obvious ideas (“bring your lunch to […]
More Gift Giving Tips
If you have a child on your gift list this year, buy them something that doesn’t require batteries. Such gifts usually require more imagination on the child’s part and less ongoing cost for the child’s parents. Also, do as much of your shopping as possible online. Whenever I’m shopping online I open three Internet windows–one […]