As of this past March I’ve been posting monthly tips for saving money, which I’m calling “frugal flips.” So far, the flips I’ve shared in this series have the potential to save around $1973 a year. Frugal Flip #6: Re-think your coffee brewing method This one will be especially useful for those of you who regularly make your own coffee at home with a single cup brewing machine, such as a Keurig. If you’ve been thinking...
When it comes to saving money there’s no denying the popularity of coupons. In their 2017 Coupon and Promo Code Use Study, public opinion research firm PRRI found that 92% of consumers have used coupons in the past year. But do they really help us save money? Unfortunately, too many of us end up spending more money when we use coupons than we would have without them. And that is exactly why coupons exist. Budget conscious...
Last month I rolled out a new series in which I will post monthly tips for saving money, which I’m calling “frugal flips.” So far, the first four I’ve proposed have the potential to save up to $1900 a year. Frugal Flip #5: Make your own soap Before you tune me out because this one sounds too complicated, hang on a moment. It’s actually super easy and will only take a few minutes of your time,...
According to Experian’s latest quarterly report the average amount financed on a new car loan is $30,621. With the average loan term and interest rate at 68 months and 4.69% respectively, an average car buyer would end up paying $4308.49 in overall interest. For many of us that’s a lot of money. It’s no wonder “tens of thousands of people” sign up for so-called loan payment acceleration plans who claim to help them pay off their...
Back in the day, before reality TV and the internet were there to tell me otherwise, I thought I had mastered the art of living on the cheap. As a single parent on a tight budget, resourcefulness was essential for survival. My ability to stretch a dollar became so great I considered it a super power. I was the Wonder Woman of frugality and a DIY champ before crunchy granola moms and their Pinterest boards made...
So you finally found your dream car (or something close to it that you can afford). You’ve done your homework and you’re pretty sure you’ve got all your ducks in a row. You took the test drive, shopped around for a fair price, got approved for a loan with terms you can live with and a budget friendly interest rate, and you’ve made arrangements to get the right kind of insurance coverage. Ready to sign the...
I may never set foot in a grocery store again. Yes, I know. Never is probably not realistic, especially when it comes to buying food, one of life’s absolute necessities. So I wax a little hyperbolic. Forgive me. I have finally been relieved of one of my most loathed housekeeping chores and I am just so flipping excited! Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I will only ever have to darken the doorways of any...
Gaming consoles, smart watches, Wi-Fi enabled dolls and toys, fitness trackers, toys with microphones and cameras, TVs, laptops, and tablets were among this past holiday season’s hottest gifts, to the tune of roughly 34.2 billion dollars. The Consumer Electronics Association projected that 160 million of us would give high tech gadgets as gifts in 2015. And these gadgets, according to the anti-malware company Emsisoft, could turn out to be the gifts that keep on giving--but not...
Reality check: 76% of American families live paycheck to paycheck. Only 50% of us have enough savings to cover expenses for three months. 27% have nothing saved. 38% of adults don’t think they’ll have enough saved by the time they reach retirement age. Only 40% are following a budget. Collectively, we owe 11.52 trillion dollars in consumer debt. When it comes to their personal finance knowledge, 40% of adults would give themselves a grade of C,...
If you’ve been thinking seriously about starting a business, you’re probably well aware that you should write a business plan. It is, after all, one of the first steps most experts will advise you to take on your entrepreneurial journey. The Small Business Administration calls the business plan “an essential roadmap for business success” and places it at the top of their suggested 10 step process to starting a business. Surely, if the SBA says the...
