by Mike on February 25, 2013
Does the Wallet feel a bit lighter after your weekend spending? Having spent a rainy and windy filled weekend with my lady I cant but help notice my wallet is feeling a bit lighter than usual. Which bought to my mind some reflection of my habits of weekend spending on fine clear weekends versus lousy [...]
by Mike on February 23, 2013
Betraying the code – Retailers I know I may not have commented about it in my About Me page but I spent a somewhat interesting three years working in retail in my past working history. On top of that (yes I am a sucker for punishment) I spent another seven years working in wholesale [...]
by Mike on November 18, 2012
Quick Pay Day Loans – Fickle Fad or useful? Here is your chance for fame! After keeping an eye on my twitter and the community at large I have noticed a large payday loan movement particularly in the UK. From the number of searches per month (approx 3-4 million globally) its clear that many people [...]
by Mike on October 30, 2012
Transitioning to a Cash-Only Budget When the budget gets tight, people often reduce expenditures such as expensive entertainment. There are many other ways to reduce overspending, but many households overlook these. Shopping around for cheaper medical coverage, or comparing online car insurance are two frequently overlooked ways to save. Another exceptionally helpful way is to transition towards [...]
So many gifts to give, and so little time to go and shop for them! Doesn’t that seem like the mantra these days? I know that I sometimes feel overwhelmed when having to shop for gifts for friends and family, and I (while not sounding like a jerk) wished there was another way to go [...]
by MelissaBatai on April 30, 2012
When you see your friends buying nice things such as a new car or a second home, do you automatically think that they have gone deep into debt for the purchase or do you secretly envy them and think they must have come into some money? Do you think, some people have all the luck [...]
by Mike on April 16, 2012
If you want to make changes to the way in which your kitchen looks you’ll probably be aware of the fact that it will cost money to carry them out especially when you take in mind new appliances. With this in mind you’ll be interested in any ways to save money wherever you can without [...]
by MelissaBatai on February 13, 2012
The latte factor is a term coined by financial author David Bach to describe daily, wasteful spending. For those of us trying to save more and lessen/consolidate debt, knowledge of the latte factor can cause a sense of guilt as we slyly shuffle into a Starbucks to spend our hard earned money. On the weekend, [...]
by MelissaBatai on February 8, 2012
If you are just starting out, it can be expensive to furnish your first apartment. When I moved to graduate school and lived on my own for the first time, I spent about $500 furnishing my apartment, and that included having many pieces my mom was generous enough to give me from her home. If [...]
by Mike on January 27, 2012
The Super Bowl is just around the corner and if your house is about be invaded by party-goers, you might be worried about what hosting a huge party is going to cost you. Potlucks and BYOB are always a good way to host a party on the cheap, but if you want to keep the [...]
by MelissaBatai on January 11, 2012
I don’t like cleaning; and I make no secret of that fact. Dust can multiply for months, and I might notice that it is there, but I probably won’t clean it. I do have the basics that I do every day—dishes, and general picking up. I clean the bathrooms and sweep and mop the kitchen [...]
by MelissaBatai on January 8, 2012
It is not unusual for students to move several times over the course of their college career. They may move from the dorm to an off campus apartment with friends and then to their own apartment. However, before moving multiple times, think carefully about the expenses you will incur. When I was in graduate school, [...]
I received the following email the other day. Here is the email below and my reply. What other stories / advice can you offer this reader. I asked her to check back here for more info from this great community! I am currently taking the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class that is being offered [...]
Last week I adopted a puppy from the Humane Society. It’s no secret that any pet will cost money, so I figured it would be an interesting exercise to see how much the pup is costing per month. This is what was spent in the month of Feb. I adopted him on the last day [...]
Yesterday I wrote about my encounter with an Internet scam artist. Fortunately, I’ve didn’t fall for his ploy or countless other ones encountered in the past. I’ve been shopping online for at least the last decade and don’t plan on slowing down. It’s convenient and you can find some great deals. While I’m certainly no [...]
The hubby and I decided we wanted a puppy! Anyone that knows me knows I am a dog lover ~ always has been. So I’m very excited about bringing a puppy home. We knew we were going to get a dog once most of the major home renovations were out the way. Now that’s done [...]
by Mike on February 11, 2011
Every once in a while I like to do a financial check-up to make sure I’m getting the best deal possible. Sometimes, what was a good deal in the past is no longer a good deal. As old habits die and new habits emerge it’s important to make sure you’re not paying for something you [...]
by Mike on December 4, 2010
I’m not a fan of Kim Kardashian. In fact, I barely know who she is accept that she was featured in one of the challenges of this season’s Apprentice. What I did find interesting is the controversy surrounding her debit card. Even more interesting…and the point of this article, is the cancellation of the Kardashian [...]
by Mike on October 18, 2010
I won’t be winning the crown for the “queen of frugality” this year! There are areas where I still suffer from lifestyle inflation. OK, maybe suffer is a bit extreme because I’m enjoying my new toy that I am about to disclose below. When asked what frugality means to me for Almost Frugal This is [...]
by Mike on October 13, 2010
Over the summer, I wrote about a money hack that would save money when you find yourself tempted to dial information. Free 411 (a service I never used), and Google 411, a service that I used so often it was on speed dial. Well on Oct 8th…Google announced they will be shutting down the 411 [...]