Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
I’m not much for paying attention to what I eat or how often I exercise, but when I started gaining weight, my doctor questioned if my new medication was to blame, or if it was my lifestyle. She suggested that I keep a food and exercise diary, but then quickly changed her mind as she watched my kids tumble across the exam table.
Yeah, finding time to log everything I eat and how many times I chase my kids around the yard in a paper journal probably isn’t realistic. Instead, we talked about activity monitors.
These little gadgets come in different varieties and electronically log how active you are during the day. Some monitors get clipped to your clothing, and others come in a wrist band that looks very similar to the rubber “cause” bands that are so popular (LiveStrong, Autism Awareness, Save the Boobies, etc.).
Here’s why activity monitors are a frugal choice for getting fit:
Many people don’t enjoy grocery shopping. It takes a lot of time and effort to find affordable, high-quality, and healthy foods.
My wife and I have shopped for groceries in cities across the United States, which means that we rarely have a home store. When we need to save and be efficient, there are a few things we keep in mind.
Choose the Right Store
This is one of the first things my wife and I do when arriving in a new city. We locate a grocery store that is in our area — and our budget. In Florida, we chose a Super Target because of the array of products in addition to groceries. In Connecticut, we’ve been going to ShopRite.
Choosing the right place usually starts with some good research. Browse the internet, use apps that offer an “around me” option, and compare circulars. We also ask people in the area who’ve been there longer than us. This gives us a few options to choose from. [ continue reading… ]
My husband’s current career path has been largely influenced by his mentor. When my husband was an undergraduate student, this mentor encouraged him to consider teaching and to focus on research.
As a result, my husband knows a great deal about research design and has found an interest in teaching. While he’s run into some obstacles, he’s had some inspiring mentors who have helped keep him focused and encouraged him through it all. His latest mentor can take credit for the fact that he’s been kicked into high gear and might be on the verge of receiving an offer for a tenure-track position.
Because of all the help my husband has received from his own mentors, he, in turn, acts as a mentor to other students. It’s been extremely satisfying for him and has helped him to improve his own skills. [ continue reading… ]
Many readers asked me over the years how MoneyNing.com started, and I keep telling them it was all by accident! Some thought I had everything mapped out before I put together the site, but the reality is that what you see today is the result of relentless adjustments over the years. Ask me 10 years ago and I couldn’t even imagine working at home and running a business. But here I am, telling you that anybody can become an entrepreneur.
The economic conditions in which you’ve grown up have undoubtedly influenced your financial habits and attitude toward money, whether you realize it or not.
The result is that each widely-recognized generation group in the last several decades has drastically different statistics for spending and saving, as well as notable pitfalls and strengths.
Here’s an overview of the differences in the spending and savings habits among Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millenials. [ continue reading… ]
Several weeks ago, my husband was horrified to find that some miscreant decided to key his beloved 1993 Volvo 240 while it was parked at our local Wal-Mart. The paint was scraped off all the way to the metal underneath, with the damage spanning two separate door panels.
Because the car is 20 years old, the “simple” repair will be fairly costly, as the body shop will have to mix the paint in order to match the now-faded factory color. Basically, some jerk’s 30 seconds of malicious fun will cost us $800. Since our auto insurance deductible is $1000, we’re going to be paying for this out of pocket.
But even if we had a $500 deductible, we would still decide to pay for this repair on our own. That’s because in the world of auto insurance, filing a claim isn’t just about having your insurer help you out with repair costs.
Your insurance company can adjust your rates depending on the number of claims you file, so it can often cost less in the long run to simply pay for certain repairs yourself.
The problem is, that with relatively small repairs, it can be difficult to figure out whether you’re better off filing or paying.
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