Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
Craigslist. It’s really the only good place to find a cheap place to live. There are many “roommate finder” websites but the options there are few and far between unless you live in a highly populated area. But everyone knows Craigslist, and you can find a ton of very cheap places to live by flipping through the rooms & shares section of your local Craigslist.
What is the ‘rooms & shares’ section of Craigslist? It’s where people go to find roommates. Most often, it’s homeowners looking for roommates. They list whether it’s a private room, has a private bath, what the parking situation is like, price, etc. Usually you get to live in the house just like it’s yours but you don’t have any of the responsibilities of being the homeowner.
I’ve lived in two different homes that I found via this method. They both turned out really great, but it took a lot of savvy shopping before I found the right place. Because honestly… most listings are from weirdos. There’s some seriously odd listings on Craigslist. Use your imagination. But if you’re willing to parse through and weed out the weird ones, then Craigslist is definitely the best place to find a cheap place to live. [ continue reading… ]
Our habits may be based on our core principles, but the surrounding elements will often change them on a daily basis. Be it frugality, way of life or our morals, people around us slowly change our behaviors in a big way.
When we were young, our parents help shape our values by setting examples. Once school started, we start learning from our friends and classmates. Then as we grow older, the sum of our experiences act as the ultimate trial and error experiment that forms our habits. [ continue reading… ]
Debt plagues millions of Americans each year, and it can be hard to make a dent in your debt, especially if you’re already living paycheck to paycheck. One solution to pay off debt quicker is to use a 0% APR transfer credit card for a promotional period.
I know what you are thinking. Credit cards are probably the reason that you are in debt in the first place. It’s true that you will need to address your budget and spending issues before using this debt repayment tip. If you cannot use a credit card wisely, then think twice before using one to help your debt repayment.
I’m taking a trip across Canada right now. So far, it’s been a great experience. And, of course, it’s a great time to come to Canada from the United States because the greenback is relatively strong against the loonie. Here are three things making my life a little bit easier as I spend two weeks north of the border:
1. No Foreign Transaction Fees on my Credit Card
I’m using a rewards credit card without foreign transaction fees on this trip. It’s been great because I don’t have to worry about fees. Plus, this is a card that’s in my Apple wallet, so every time I pay, a small alert shows me how much I’ve spent. I smile a little every time I see the alert that tells me my US dollar amount is lower (by about 30%) than the amount shown at the register.
And I feel warm and fuzzy knowing that there aren’t transaction fees and knowing I don’t have to stop at an exchange bureau or bank to get cash. (I do have some cash, but I’m mostly relying on the credit card for rewards and fee-free transactions.) [ continue reading… ]
How would you like to spend whatever amount of money you desire?
Therein lies the beauty of the percentage based budget. With this type of budget, no amount of spending is too much. No longer do you have to restrict yourself to a certain neighborhood because it’s cheap. No longer do you have to deal with a junk car. Everything you want – you can have.
I’m not blowing smoke.
Most budgets have limitations. For instance, let’s say you have $400 in a monthly clothing allowance. It’s $400 each month no matter what. Regardless of what you earn.
The percentage based budget functions much differently. Instead of limiting yourself to hard numbers, you simply spend a percentage of your income.
Let’s say after researching, you find out it’s wise to spend 5% of your monthly budget on entertainment. If you earn $5,000 per month, that’s $250 per month spent on entertainment. Do you think that’s not enough? Here is your solution… finds ways to earn more money. This way, your entertainment expenses don’t get out of hand but you still have the ability to spend a lot. For instance, you know that your number is 5% so you need to earn however many more dollars each month in order to meet your goal. [ continue reading… ]
During my senior year in college I learned to dread the common question “So, what’s next?” Even though I graduated at a more robust economic time (2001), I still found it fairly difficult to land an entry-level position that would make the most of my degree. This year’s graduating seniors may have wondered if there was any way they could avoid unemployment after graduation, adding stress to an already difficult transition. Here is what the graduating class can expect after they hang up their cap and gown: [ continue reading… ]
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