Growing a garden can be very rewarding, providing you with food, flowers, and a beautiful landscape all season long - but buying an instant garden at full retail can be very costly. Fortunately, it's easy to cut your costs if you have pa ...
The IRS estimates that approximately one third of American taxpayers wait until very close to the deadline to file their taxes. If you are one of the 10 million that haven't filed yet, you may be relieved to hear that this year tax returns ar ...
Frank, I actually had an article on this planned but wasn't sure if it was too early. Glad to know there's already interest in this topic - I'll post the full article soon.
Spending less during the holidays:
Agree with your extended family to skip the gifts altogether (or do for kids only) and everybody contribute something to the family dinner instead.
Have everybody draw a name from a hat and get a really awesome gift for their one person.
Utilize your hobbies, skills, and talents to make or put together a personalized gift for each person on your list.
Make goodie baskets with several inexpensive (but thoughtful) items catered to your recipients' interests.
Add to your decoration collection over time by starting small and then catching the after-holiday sales where you'll find prices of half off or more.
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Good point, Frank. Though interest rates earned on our savings are pretty low and almost laughable sometimes, it's important to find the best rates to maximize our savings because every bit counts. Thanks for your feedback!
It's not hard to find ways to save a few dollars here and there, and those few dollars can easily add up to $100 or more per month. Consider making changes to your routine to find the cash to put into your emergency fund, savings for a down p ...
It's not hard to find ways to save a few dollars here and there, and those few dollars can easily add up to $100 or more per month. Consider making changes to your routine to find the cash to put into your emergency fund, savings for a down p ...
Your credit card issuers gave you a Cardholder Agreement with their terms and conditions when you opened a new account, and it's your responsibility as the card holder to abide by them, or be hit with fees and interest charges. But we're ...
Your credit card issuers gave you a Cardholder Agreement with their terms and conditions when you opened a new account, and it's your responsibility as the card holder to abide by them, or be hit with fees and interest charges. But we're ...
OK here's mine:
I completely agree with Finance Globe on leaving things in my online shopping cart for at least a day - I can't count how many times I've come back and took nearly everything out. (Then went on to purchase the one thing that I actually needed.) Shopping from the comfort of my home is so convenient but can really be too convenient at times 
Really limiting the typical "family entertainment" venues - movies theatres, pizza/video game place, amusement parks and county/state fairs, and other places like that. But we've invested in equipment like archery gear, lawn games, kayaks, hiking and camping gear, and video games. So even though the upfront costs were not small, we'll get many years worth of excitement and entertainment for very little additional cost.
We do enjoy an occasional night out to dinner, but most of our meals are made at home. We've learned we can usually make a better dinner ourselves for much cheaper than what we pay for at a restaurant. Also, I make sure to pack a really good snack bag when we travel or even just in town if I'm running errands with the kids to avoid buying cheeseburgers for "starving" people.
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The term "being frugal" can surely conjure images of a penny-pinching, never-splurging kind of lifestyle - not having any fun for fear of spending a few dollars.
Of course there has to be balance - save where it makes sense so you have some cash left for the good stuff. My personal example is that I always stock up at the grocery store when things I normally buy are on sale and fill up when gas is cheap. But when it comes to outfitting our home or getting gear for our family's many outdoor activities, I like to buy quality (but not top-of-the-line) items. And I have nothing against resale stuff in great condition.
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Rob, you may be charged a late fee, but it probably won't affect your credit report as long as it's paid before the next due date - or your credit report can get hit with a "30 day late" mark. Best way to know for certain is to call your bank.
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Choosing a credit card at Finance Globe is designed to be fast, simple and efficient. However, choosing the wrong card can lead to unnecessary costs or fees, a feeling of resentment and unpleasant surprises. With your credit and wallet at stake, y ...
