Cheap and Free Food on National Food Days I had never heard of a food holiday with free food. That was until one year I wrote a piece on National Coffee Day, and my blog blew up. National Coffee Day is a national food day occurring each September. I knew I’d struck a nerve with…
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Home Cooling Tips: Window AC Unit vs Central Air
Home Cooling Tips: Window AC vs. Central Air In your quest for home cooling tips, are you wondering about central air vs window units? Or should you keep cooling your home through window air conditioning units. What about those new fangled mini split air conditioning units also called ductless air conditioning aka heat pumps for warming…
How to Get Your Home Ready to Sell
How to Get Your Home Ready to Sell Are you wondering how to get your home ready to sell–and sell fast and for the most money? You’re smart–the part about getting your house ready to sell. That’s because many homeowners don’t realize how much work goes into getting your home ready to sell. They think…
Save Money on Car Insurance
You probably knew that being a bad driver could cost you more for insurance. But did you know that being a good driver could help you save money on car insurance? I’m not just talking a driver who doesn’t get speeding tickets or have car accidents. I’m talking about driving habits like not braking hard…
Save Money on Your Divorce
I am not getting a divorce. In fact, this November, my husband and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. I realize that not all marriages make it to the quarter-century mark and, unfortunately, end in divorce. If this describes you, then you may need information on how to save money on your divorce. If…
How a Refillable Cup Saves Money on Coffee
(I’ve updated this popular post from 2013 to include 7 places where it might be possible to get a discount on your cup of coffee when you bring your own refillable cup.) Starbucks is hardly alone in the coffee shop world in selling reusable tumblers. In 2013, Starbucks introduced a refillable cup that was supposed…
Rent Versus Own A Home
If your neighborhood is like mine, then “For Sale” signs are popping up faster than dandelions on front lawns. That’s because spring is real estate season. Even so just because you’re getting ready to move doesn’t mean you have to buy a home. Sometimes it makes more sense to rent versus own a home. There…
Daily Deals: Groupon Like Sites
You may think that these deals of the day sites only inspire impulse purchases–and therefore I would not recommend them–but I do believe that they have a place in the world of saving money. Case in point: if you’ve always thought about joining a wholesale club like BJ’s or Costco, you’d be wise to wait…
Get Cash for Gift Cards
When it comes to holiday gifts I bought this year, about half were gift cards. With regards to the gifts I received, about half were gift cards. According to the National Retail Federation, I’m like a lot of Americans–nearly 59 percent of us have requested to receive a gift card this year for the holidays,…
Dangerous Food for Dogs
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center receives more than 100,000 calls from worried pet parents and veterinarians, due to an animal ingesting something potentially toxic or a dangerous food for dogs. A few months ago I was one of those pet parents. My daughter had finished eating some kale salad and left her dish on…
Stores Closed on Thanksgiving
When you think about Thanksgiving, what do you think about? Turkey, stuffing and friends gathered around the table. Oh and football, probably. For some, though, Thanksgiving is now about getting a head start on Black Friday shopping. In fact, in 2014, 32 percent of Americans got their holiday shopping started on that Thursday, so says…
12 Ways to Put Cash Back into Your Budget
If you decided that you wanted to reduce your everyday spending, what would be the inspiration behind that move? Putting together a down payment for a house? Saving up for a big vacation? What about having cash on hand in case you have to deal with an emergency? While it’s fun to imagine the amazing…
How Product Reviews Changed How We Shop and Buy
News broke yesterday that Amazon.com is suing people who post fake reviews on the site. The fact that there are fake reviews troubles me. Not only because of the fraud factor but also because I rarely buy anything these days–or book a hotel room or make a restaurant reservation–without first reading product reviews. I first…
Free Baby Registry Gift from Amazon
Are you expecting a new bundle of joy soon? Are you considering setting up a baby registry? If so, you may want to consider consolidating that registry by creating a free baby registry on Amazon. Even better if you’re an Amazon.com Prime customer, you could qualify for a free baby registry welcome gift box, full…
6 Tips to Help Your Home Stay Cool This Summer
The dog days of summer are here and so are the scorching temps. Thankfully, the heat wave here in the Northeast just ended, but there’s no guarantee that another one won’t come along before summer is done. So if you’re living in a place with scorching temps, you may be wondering: how can a homeowner…
Frugal Life Hacks from Hack My Life TV
I recently realized that life hacks fit beautifully with a frugal lifestyle. So I’ve shared some oldies but goodies from past blog posts plus some new ones I recently learned from the TruTv show “Hack My Life.”
Refinancing: How to Save Thousands on Your Mortgage
Now is a great time to consider refinancing your mortgage to save thousands. Companies like LendingTree.com and Bankrate.com can help.