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 […]
Archive | Spending Smart
The Gift of a Debt-Free Holiday
An estimated 12 million people are still paying off debts they racked up buying holiday gifts last year. That’s among the more sobering findings from a new holiday survey conducted by Consumer Reports. The lingering debts may be one reason why nearly 60 percent of people plan to use a gift budget this year–a much […]
It Isn’t Rocket Science
There was a funny post on the No Credit Needed blog showing a purchase decision flow chart. It lays out the process of making a wise spending choice so logically that it’ll make you laugh. p(matt). It reminded me of the Saturday Night Live skit called Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford, which may be […]
When Smart Shopping Becomes Disturbing
A new study of Wal-Mart shoppers (and that’s 9 out of 10 of us) shows that the economy is reshaping how we shop. As reported by USA TODAY, Wal-Mart has seen a double-digit decline in credit card use, a noticeable shift from the sale of discretionary products to necessary products, twice as many private label […]
Stay Away From Layaway
Buying “on layaway” is making a comeback. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Depression-era retail practice of letting shoppers put items away while they pay for them a little at a time is coming back in fashion. Analysts cite our rough economy, which has limited people’s access to credit. Kmart has even made […]
Spending Smart
While we can’t control what’s happening in the stock market we can control what’s happening in our homes, and now is an especially good time to look for ways to spend smarter. U.S. News & World Report offers a great collection of ideas for saving on the cost of food, clothing, healthcare, and more. Such […]
Building On a Solid Foundation
Much of the financial crisis gripping our country can be blamed on bad mortgages. Some say the mortgage mess is due to a lack of regulation or corporate oversight. Others say borrowers simply bit off more than they could chew. While the blame game intensifies, the Associated Press just reported on new Census Bureau data […]
Economizing Now and Forever
In the last issue of this eNewsletter, in an article about changes people are making in response to our tough economy, I asked what changes you’ve made that you believe will be permanent. Among those who wrote, Maria says she’s been taking a bus to work instead of driving. She’s saving money by doing so, […]
Couponing in a Hurry
Everyone knows that coupons can save you money when shopping for groceries. But not everyone thinks they have the time for all that sorting and clipping. Syndicated columnist Gregory Karp highlighted some sites that make the job easier. CouponMom.com, which is free but requires registration, enables you to easily scroll through a chain’s weekly deals […]
Free is Good
Each year, Kiplinger.com highlights its favorite freebies. In this year’s collection, it tells where to find free foreign language lessons, a free wireless connection while traveling, free e-books and sheet music, and not just one but two of the better free recipe collections. I’m writing this from a peaceful room overlooking a river at one […]