Sharing insights since 2007 on carefully saving money, investing, frugal living, coupons, promo codes because the little things matter in achieving financial freedom!
Unfortunately, in life we experience setbacks. This is as true in finances as it is in anything else. I know that sometimes it seems as though it’s one thing after another. We had a flood in our basement just before Christmas, then 4th quarter estimated taxes for 2010 were due in January, and of course, we just finished sending checks to the State and the Federal governments for taxes. You probably have similar experiences: times when it seems as though one bill follows another.
Sometimes, too, we experience unexpected emergencies and catastrophes. When we have these setbacks, it can be tempting to think that we will never be able to get on top of things again. However, if you take the time to be in charge of your financial destiny, and make sure you are engaging in good financial behaviors, you might be able to weather the unexpected a little better. [ continue reading… ]
I used to think my mom was so cheap! As a teenager, I never could understand why she thought $40 was too much for a sweatshirt. Hello? Did she not see the Benetton logo? Or why she fussed so much over people leaving half empty drinks around the house. I mean, that stuffs cheap, right?
Like a lot of teens, I got a rude awakening the first time I had to try and buy groceries for a week on a limited budget. Why didn’t anyone tell me cheese cost so much? As time has gone by and I’ve become a mother myself, I’ve learned to appreciate the lessons in thrift my mom taught me. Here are four that I remember particularly well. [ continue reading… ]
Your taxes are filed. You’ve paid what’s due, and breathe a huge sigh of relief. But then, you get the dreaded letter from the IRS requesting an audit and your heart is racing. Before you panic…. take a few deep breaths. Just because you got the letter doesn’t mean you did something wrong.
Sometimes, businesses are picked at random so the government can gain economic information. And even if there is a problem with your taxes, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in legal danger. If something doesn’t add up, the IRS may just want to make sure your mistake wasn’t intentional.
If you’re one of the “lucky” who is chosen for an audit, don’t fret. The first thing you should know is that, as a taxpayer, you have rights. And you also have time to prepare. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know if you’re faced with an audit, including: [ continue reading… ]
Many people view massage as a luxury, but it doesn’t have to be. Aside from the fact that massage provides a number of important physical benefits, such as lowered blood pressure, greater range of motion, and an immune system that works better, it feels great. Still, some places charge $100 for an hour of basic massage, and that can be very hard to justify on a limited budget.
Yet, if you know the systems, you can get good massage for a lot less. Here is how. [ continue reading… ]
After the dogwoods bloom, you can start to see a fevered glint in the eyes of some homeowners. Suddenly, hardware stores and home improvement centers are overflowing on warm Saturday afternoons, and the sound of hammers banging, power tools humming and Gus down the street cursing at the bare studs in his third bedroom fill the air. Spring is the official start of renovation season, and every year it can bring on headaches, stress and maxed out credit cards. But it doesn’t have to be this way. After five years of renovating a 1921 bungalow, I’ve learned that although home renovation will never be an easy or seamless process, asking yourself a series of questions before you begin can help you make better decisions up front—before you’re several grand into the project and are surrounded by the remains of your kitchen walls. [ continue reading… ]
I read the book “The Millionaire Next Door” ten years ago, in 2001, shortly after the painful dot-com bust. At the time, I had felt that I needed to reinforce my basic belief system about handling money, the value of money, and what it means to be “wealthy.” Now, after the Great Recession and with a still-shaky economy and a high unemployment rate, the book is as relevant as ever – if not more so.
Define “Wealthy”
When I had first read the book, I really liked the basic premise, which contrasted a “wealthy lifestyle” with being truly wealthy. If I had to pick just one sentence from the book to sum it up, it would be this sentence: “Those who successfully build wealth believe that financial independence is more important than displaying high social status.” [ continue reading… ]
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