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You may be pretty confident that you’re good at saving money. But did you know you might be throwing money away and not even know it? Even if you think you’re living a frugal lifestyle, there are many things we all do everyday that are both a waste of time and money.
We can always improve upon our savings habits, and stash away more money. Even though I try my best, I know that I’m often throwing away my money on the most frivolous things.
Put yourself to the test and see if you’re guilty of one of these biggest money wasters:
When I look back on my childhood, some of the memories I cherish the most are the times my parents made an extra effort to make certain experiences special. It’s those kinds of memories that I want my kids to be able to look back on and smile.
I’m not talking about expensive trips to the beach, or a surprise day trip to an amusement park, although both of those sound fun too. I’m talking about the inexpensive things that occur in day-to-day life. Specifically, what I like to call Pizel Family Traditions.
These traditions are inexpensive outings and events we do each week that give us all a little something to look forward to, without blowing our budgets.
Preparing cheap meals at home isn’t hard, but the task gets more complicated if you want to do it quickly. This article will show you how to do.
I’ve been cooking nearly all of my meal at home since graduating from college. I started the habit because cooking saved me tons of money compared to eating out at restaurants. Now I cook mainly because it actually saves me a ton of time. That’s right, cooking at home saves more time than eating out. The fastest way of course would be to get food delivered, but it’s tricky for many people to get delivered food that is also healthy. So let’s stick with eating at home.
I’ll take this opportunity to address any concerns people may have right now. First, this style of cooking does take some upfront investment. It means having a decent kitchen, decent cookware, a decently sized refrigerator/freezer and at least a little time at home each day. Also, this style of cooking does not lend itself to a huge amount of variety. If you enjoy eating a massive variety of foods, then this may not be for you.
But if you’re focused on cooking cheap, healthy, quick, tasty meals at home – keep reading. [ continue reading… ]
Winter can get expensive! Whenever I feel the temperatures dropping, one of my first thoughts is, “Great! Back to seeing $500 each month on our utilities bill.” Heating is of course a major expense during the winter, but there are other expenses including buying new coats for kids who have outgrown their old coats, taking the family car to the car shop to make sure it’s winter-ready, engaging in snow sports (downhill skiing can get expensive!), and paying for indoor activities (since you can’t take the kids to the park).
With some advance planning, you CAN manage your costs during winter. These are the things that work for me as I try to keep my family’s winter-related expenses in check. [ continue reading… ]
Imagine getting home from a day of running errands and realizing that you’ve spent money you didn’t intend to. If your unexpected purchase is no more expensive than an occasional pack of gum or a latte, then no harm no foul.
But if you are regularly falling victim to money rationalization — where you talk yourself into a purchase you really don’t need or can’t afford — then you are doing yourself and your budget no favors.
It happens to the best of us, but have you told yourself any of these comforting lies recently?
You’ll probably think about downsizing your home at some point in your life. Whether it’s because you now have an empty nest or you simply just don’t need the space, moving to a smaller home can actually feel very freeing. A smaller space means less responsibility but more importantly, it means less costs.
Many Americans are known for living in “McMansions” or homes that are generally too big for their lifestyle. If you are thinking of downsizing, know that successfully downsizing a home can be a difficult task and it’s definitely a process that happens over time. Here are four tips to help you successfully downsize your space if you’re ready to live a simpler lifestyle in a more sensible home. [ continue reading… ]
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