Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
Lifestyle inflation is a real phenomenon that I’ve surprisingly seldom talked about. Basically, it refers to the strikingly true fact that most people increase their spending as their income increases no matter how much or how little they earn.
Stepping up the standard of living ladder is fun but it absolutely sucks for people who have to scale back. Now that we are expecting our first child, we should not only think about the danger of our own inflation bubble but also of our children’s. My parents always reminded me that they were very happy making their own games with paper. In fact, they said it was one of the happiest times of their lives. But in this day and age of Nintendo Wiis and Sony Playstations, kids would look at you like you are crazy if you even hint at playing those paper games. It’s not that the games of old are no good. It’s just that they are used to much more complication toys. [ continue reading… ]
We all know that paying for a higher education is more difficult than in the past because the cost of education is on the rise. As a result, there is a chance that you might need to get student loans to pay for your education. After all, sometimes there are college funding gaps even after you save money for college, get a job, and apply for scholarships.
Getting a student loan doesn’t have to be the end of your finances as you know it though. Here are a few tips so you don’t end up like those featured horror student loan stories. [ continue reading… ]
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… ]
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