Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
College, school clothes, toys, electronics — everything adds up when it comes to providing your children with their best possible future. What are you doing to give them the life they deserve?
Our Paycheck-to-Paycheck Society
Thanks to the wretched state of the present economy, much of our society is living paycheck-to-paycheck. Once upon a time, our parents scrimped and saved to stash all they could for their children — even if they didn’t have enough money to buy themselves the things they needed most. They’d gladly go without in order to provide for us, putting away the money required to safeguard our futures.
Thanks to the “freedom” of credit, we now spend every cent, digging ourselves a hole that will take years, if not decades, to crawl out from.
Spending beyond our means has become a time-honored American pastime. We spend money on anything from daily stops at the convenience store for sodas — because we work hard and deserve it — to buying cars because the commercials make it easy for us to imagine sitting in the driver’s seat with the wind in our hair. [ continue reading… ]
Even though we generally think of Social Security as a retirement program, there are also other benefits available. In particular, Social Security can assist the surviving family members of a deceased worker who paid into the program.
Like many aspects of Social Security, however, the rules for survivor benefits are a little complicated. Here’s what you need to know about Social Security survivor benefits:
Eligibility
The rules governing who may receive survivor benefits are very specific. In general, a surviving spouse will receive benefits from the program if they’re caring for the deceased spouse’s children who are under the age of 16, if they’re over the age of 60, or if they’re disabled and at least 50 years of age. [ continue reading… ]
A couple weeks ago, I discussed the benefits and costs of juicing fruits and vegetables, and I realized that people are more and more concerned with what they put in their bodies. Certain unhealthy foods can cause damage to your body in the short and long term, so it’s only natural that the organic food versus non-organic food debate rages on.
Does it really make a difference for your health? Let’s take some time to discuss this today. [ continue reading… ]
Another new iPhone is on sale, proving yet again that the “cult of Apple” has staying power. But purchasing Apple products can get expensive — I know. My husband and I each have a MacBook Pro, and I also have an iMac, an iPad, and an iPod Touch!
The good news is that we’ve found ways to save a little bit of money when we buy Apple products. As long as you’re not too picky about having the newest gadget as soon as it comes out, these tips might also work for you:
1. Only Buy What You Will Use
We don’t have iPhones, because I’m pretty sure we don’t need them. A smart phone isn’t really necessary in our situation. My husband has an unlimited talk and text prepaid plan that is relatively inexpensive at $50/month. I have a pay-as-you-go plan that costs me an average of $10/month. We don’t usually need our phones for anything other than keeping in touch.
So, instead of spending on the iPhone, we focus on buying products that we will use. And we choose Apple products that can handle the workload. [ continue reading… ]
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you can relax. The first year in a new job can still be a minefield — especially for new graduates. The culture of your new job can be full of the kind of politics you never saw when your classes and your social life were mostly separate.
Before you put your foot in your mouth during your first days, weeks, and months on the job, here are two things you should keep in mind about the political atmosphere of your workplace:
1. Young new hires are generally seen as green and untested.
During my first year of teaching, I was invited to a meeting to discuss a new program that affected my department. I had a few reservations about how things were going, and I made a couple of suggestions for making the program run more smoothly.
The beginning of fall signals the arrival of allergies for many people. Knowing a few frugal home treatments can save you a bundle, since managing allergies can be quite expensive. The good news is that you’ll feel better in the process, too.
1. Frugal solutions for pet allergies
If you’re allergic to pets, like cats and dogs, you can feel torn between living with your furry best friend and suffering from allergy symptoms. Some pet allergies can be quite severe, and allergy shots are only able to lessen the reaction.
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