Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
Recently, there’s been a lot in the news about database security breaches. From Target to Michaels to Neiman Marcus, it seems like any major retailer could be the target of a database breach.
A few years ago, one of my credit card numbers was stolen as a result of the PlayStation Network breach. Having your credit card number stolen is frustrating enough, but having your debit card information at risk is even worse.
Introverts get something of a bum deal. They’re urged to “get out of their shell” when they’re perfectly happy listening to conversations rather than participating. They’re more likely to be told to smile by strangers. And they’ll often lose out on saving money when given the chance to haggle — especially considering the fact that even extroverts find this particular type of social interaction challenging.
But introverts have some decided advantages in negotiations that they can use to become successful hagglers, without feeling overwhelmed.
Here are some ways that introverts can get the most out of haggling while staying (mostly) in their comfort zone: [ continue reading… ]
In this case, it’s increasing the demand for propane gas, one of the key sources of heating for thousands of homes and businesses.
From the middle of December through January, the price of propane increased by more than $1 per gallon. Even more alarmingly, prices jumped as high as $4-$5 per gallon by the beginning of February.
While this phenomenon can be blamed in part on the unexpected demand for heating fuel due to the Polar Vortex, there are actually a few more factors that have influenced propane prices, starting as early as last fall.
According to the Vice-President of the National Propane Gas Association, a huge wet grain harvest placed greater demands on propane stores for drying. This depletion, just a few months before an unusually cold winter, had a huge impact on national supplies.
Additionally, there have been distribution problems because of maintenance to bad pipelines. As a result, propane and natural gas suppliers in the Midwest states heaviest hit by the Polar Vortex are struggling to meet the demand.
Whatever the reason for the shortages, paying up to $5 a gallon for propane is no joke, and many consumers are angry, frustrated, and worried about being able to heat their homes through the rest of this bitter winter.
With that in mind, here are five tips for surviving the Midwest propane shortage. [ continue reading… ]
Despite my occasional weather-induced moodiness the past couple months, I’ve been happy and just enjoying life.
My thoughts, which used to focus on money a tad too much, started to shift. Now I focus more on trying to do nice things for others — especially my friends and family. Maybe this is due to the life changes I’ve gone through the past couple of years, or maybe it’s just maturity.
Either way, what makes me happy now is not earning a ton of extra money — but instead, doing nice things for others and spending time with those closest to me.
I’ve also set a goal for myself to practice acts of kindness. And, since my budget doesn’t allow for helping anyone monetarily, I’ve started making lists of the things I can do for others that don’t cost a dime.
One of the pleasures of celebrating the New Year is making resolutions. Having a fresh calendar offers the opportunity to turn over a new leaf and make this the year you finally become the person you want to be.
Unfortunately, a 2007 study revealed that 88% of New Year’s resolutions fail — and according to a 2013 survey, 53% of resolutions are abandoned before Valentine’s Day.
That depressing news may be enough for you to feel like you should just walk away from whatever resolutions you made for yourself. But there’s no need to. Simply by making some tweaks to your resolutions today, you can ensure this year will look exactly as you hoped it would when you were watching the ball drop.
Here are three ways to get your New Year’s resolutions back on track: [ continue reading… ]
The federal tax code changes constantly. With so many new laws about deductions and credits, it can seem overwhelming to tackle your yearly income tax preparation on your own. If you choose to seek professional help, there’s certainly no shortage of tax preparation services to help you navigate the code as it applies to your personal situation.
Roughly 30% of Americans, however, choose to file their own taxes.
If that many people are comfortable filing their own taxes, it can’t be that complicated, can it? What’s the difference between these two methods of tax preparation, and how do you determine which is right for you?
Here are four questions to ask yourself as you decide how to file your taxes this season. [ continue reading… ]
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