Saving Money

5 Not-So-Rewarding Credit Card Rewards

Five Not-So-Rewarding Credit Card “Rewards” Have you shopped around for a credit card recently?  If you have, you probably noticed that there’s a mind-boggling selection of cards out there, each offering a unique combination of terms, interest rates, and – of course – extra perks. Credit card companies know you’ve got tons of options to choose from – especially if you’ve got a solid credit history and a decent...

Cut These Expenses and Watch Your Savings Grow

Want to make this a great year for your finances?  The new year is a great time to set some money-related goals, whether you’d like to pay off your high interest credit card debt, beef up your emergency fund, or save up for a big purchase like a vacation or a down payment on a house. Of course, whatever your goal is, you’ll need to free up some extra...

7 Strategies for Cutting Your Grocery Bill

7 Strategies for Cutting Your Grocery Bill Looking for a way to save more money each month? You might want to start with a long, thorough review of your grocery spending habits.  Are you overspending on fancy items you can’t really afford and don’t really need?  Are you going to the store without a plan?  If you’re like most people, you can probably answer “yes” to more than one...

Not-So-Frugal Mistakes that Frugal People Make

Not-So-Frugal Mistakes that Frugal People Make A new year is just around the corner, and for a lot of folks that means a fresh start on finances: A chance to pay down credit card debt, save money, and create a budget. And if you’re planning on making 2016 the year of living frugally it’s important to make sure that your attempts to save money and scale back spending don’t...

8 Tips to Save During the Holiday Season

8 Tips to Save During the Holiday Season  It’s official: The holiday season is here. There’s a lot to love about that festive stretch of time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day: The parties, the food, the over-the-top decorations, and the gift exchanges are all part of what makes this time of year so much fun. But if you’re not careful, all of that partying, eating, decorating, and gift...

The Rewards of Responsible Credit Card Use

I spend a lot of time on this blog discussing the negative side of credit cards because, well, used irresponsibly, there is the potential for a lot of negative consequences.  For example, if you treat your credit card as a secondary source of income, or when you carry a balance month to month and allow interest to pile up, you run the risk of serious, costly long-term debt problems....

8 Spending Habits that Can Cost You

You’re not a big spender.  You don’t drive a fancy car.  Your rent/mortgage payments aren’t astronomical.  In fact, you consider yourself to be fairly frugal. You should have no problem saving money. But somehow, all that extra cash you should have seems to disappear by the end of the month.  Why? Where does it go? And how does it get there?  Is there some kind of financial Bermuda Triangle...

6 Ways to Avoid Bank Fees

Do bank fees have you at a breaking point?  From ATM fees to overdraft protection to fees for online bill pay and maintenance (whatever that means, exactly), it seems like most banks today are more interested in taking your money than helping you manage it safely. But the good news is that, if you’re willing to put in a little time and effort, you can find ways to sidestep...

How To Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

When you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck, few things are as stressful as the last day or two before your next payday:  Your bank account is running on empty – and so is your gas tank.  You’ve got a stack of bills waiting to be paid, and your refrigerator is looking pretty bare. And when payday finally comes, you find that by the time you fill the car, pay the bills, and...

6 Ways to Pay Yourself First

It’s nearly impossible to read a savings or budgeting blog without coming across the phrase “pay yourself first.”  And there’s a good reason that this is such a popular piece of advice:  By “paying” yourself first — in other words, setting aside a specific amount of money out of each paycheck — you can build good financial habits and ensure that your savings account continues to grow. Sounds easy,...