Newest Articles

Coincidentally Green: Saving the Planet When you Least Expect It

Posted 32 min 39 sec ago by Myscha Theriault

Green Living

It struck me recently as I was working on something in the kitchen that what I was doing was actually quite eco-friendly. The funny thing was, I made the actual choice as a budget strategy. So I started thinking, were there other areas of my life where I was being “coincidentally green”?

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What if energy costs keep rising?

Posted 3 hours 25 min ago by Philip Brewer

Budgeting, Cars and Transportation

Last year's gas prices

I don't know if energy costs will keep rising.  Nobody does.  Even with recent growth in China, India, and elsewhere, the US still consumes 25% of the oil produced world-wide, so a severe recession in the US could easily cut total demand enough to bring the price down.  Recession or not, I think the medium-term trend in energy costs is up.  Just in case I'm right, you ought to have plan for that.

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Get Free Hotel Stays with Wyndham's Best Rate Guarantee

Posted 14 hours 53 min ago by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Freebies, Deals, Lifestyle

Yesterday my super cheap ex-boyfriend told me that I would be proud of him. I asked him why and he told me that he will be staying in Washington DC hotels for free for three nights. I asked him how he managed that and he told me about the Best Rate Guarantee from Wyndham hotels.

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Cheap Charity Is Sweet Charity

Posted 20 hours 26 min ago by Carrie Kirby

Deals

Saturday is the Letter Carriers' annual food drive, when you put bags of food out and your mailman or mail woman will pick them up to share with needy families. But with rising food prices, who can afford to buy an extra bag of groceries for someone else?You can. Here are a couple of food deals going on this week that, if combined with coupons, yield about 2 bags of non-perishable groceries for as little as $3. Even without coupons, you'll spend no more than $10 on food that will really come in handy for those less fortunate.

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Book Review: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financial Aid for College (Second Edition)

Posted 1 day 1 hour ago by Linsey Knerl

Personal Finance, Career and Income, Consumer Affairs

You don’t have to be a complete idiot to need a little guidance in matters of finding and securing money for college. But just in case you are, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Financial Aid for College is the perfect roadmap to the financial aid process. (And it works pretty well for the rest of us, too!)

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How Big of a House Do You Really Need?

Posted 2 days 17 hours ago by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Lifestyle, Green Living

For my entire life, I have never lived in a place bigger than 1400 square feet. The smallest dwelling I had was a studio less than 400 square feet which I shared with my parents. Because of my experience of living in small homes I think of anything over 2000 square feet as excessive for two to three residents. Today I want to highlight some of the reasons why I prefer smaller abodes.

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The Gas Tax Holiday; don’t fall for it.

Posted 2 days 18 hours ago by Paul Michael

Consumer Affairs, Cars and Transportation

tax break?

Both John McCain and Hillary Clinton are proposing a new Gas Tax Holiday that will run during the summer months, bringing “much needed relief” at the pumps. But will it? More than 200 economists, including four Nobel prize-winners, have already signed a letter rejecting the proposal.

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Ten Tortilla Tips for Mealtime Madness

Posted 2 days 23 hours ago by Myscha Theriault

Food and Drink

With food prices on the rise and available prep time also at a premium, quick and affordable meal ideas are always in demand. Here are ten simple meals you can whip up using basic tortillas.

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Not So Straight Path To A Dream Job (U.S. President)

Posted 2 days 23 hours ago by Julie Rains

Career Building

White House, Washington, DC

Once upon a time (aka when I was a kid), the job of U.S. President was deemed the ultimate career destination. Considering the careers of the current contenders (Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain) has helped me to see that the path to success may not be a straight one. What are the career-building lessons among those who aspire to world leader?

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Papa John’s Offers 23-cent Pizzas to Cleveland Cavs Fans

Posted 3 days 20 hours ago by Linsey Knerl

Frugal Living, Deals and Coupons, Deals, Food and Drink

Did Papa John’s go overboard with its T-shirts calling Lebron James a “Crybaby?” Regardless of how you feel about it, this cheap price on pizza might help to make amends. Check out more on this Thursday’s promotion!

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Trent Reznor giving away new Nine Inch Nails album

Posted 3 days 23 hours ago by Paul Michael

Deals and Coupons, Freebies, Deals, Lifestyle

Trent

Music fans of the world, unite. The very cool Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails (or who basically IS Nine Inch Nails), is letting fans download the entire new album The Slip free at the NIN website. This is one further slap in the face to the RIAA, and a move that will no doubt shake up the archaic music industry even further.

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The ethics of hoarding

Posted 4 days 19 hours ago by Philip Brewer

Shopping, Food and Drink, Budgeting, Investment, Consumer Affairs

Bags of rice

In the Philippines, they're threatening life sentences for people hoarding rice.   In the United States, grocers need to put limits on rice purchases just to keep their shelves stocked.  Philippine traders are now afraid to fill their warehouses, for fear of being called a hoarder.  Even ordinary US shoppers are worrying that buying a big bag of rice might make them a hoarder.  In this climate, it's worth thinking about what hoarding actually is.

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Wanna Put Away Some Cash? Take A Vacation!

Posted 5 days 12 hours ago by Linsey Knerl

Personal Finance, Career and Income, Productivity

A cruise to the Bahamas or a trip to that luxury spa aren’t going to get you ahead financially. However, if you’re looking to sock away a couple hundred bucks or more, some time off from work just might be the way to get you there -- if you do it right.

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The Gasoline Pump "Y2K" Problem

Posted 5 days 20 hours ago by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Technology, Cars and Transportation

Here in San Mateo County, many gas stations are starting to sport prices above $4.00 per gallon. The trusty Gas and Shop down the street is still holding on to $3.93 per gallon but it seems inevitable that gas will cross that $4.00 mark. Funnily enough, some of the older gas pumps around the country in rural areas are experiencing a technical issue similar to the Y2K problem. Read on to see what it is.

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To Tax or Not To Tax: That Is The Money Market Question

Posted 5 days 23 hours ago by Kate Luther

Personal Finance, Taxes, Investment

Tax - Image Courtesy of Stock Xchng

As America’s love affair with self-investing continues to grow, so does our fascination with tax-free accounts. Don’t believe me? See for yourself. The next time you’re in a conversation, try working the words “tax free” into your conversation and watch the ears perk up. Admit it. We despise taxes. We loathe them. So much so in fact, that Uncle Sam made not paying those taxes a crime. So the idea that we can legally earn a buck without sharing it with our dear old uncle is well, deliciously criminal.

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Score Free Comics For One Day Only!

Posted 6 days 20 hours ago by Linsey Knerl

Deals and Coupons, Freebies, Art and Leisure

You don’t have to be a die-hard comic geek to enjoy Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 3rd. Check out the list of participating retailers, and show some support for your favorite super-hero!

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Have you ever seen such amazing junk?

Posted 6 days 23 hours ago by Paul Michael

Frugal Living, Green Living, Art and Leisure

Bird

My recent post about reusing old plastic bottles inspired me to look around at other ways to use, well, garbage. And I found a site that really made me think twice about the contents of my own garbage can.

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I Bond rates go to zero

Posted 1 week 1 hour ago by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance

Savings Bonds

Since 1998, the US Treasury has had a pretty good deal for small savers who were worried about inflation--the Series I Savings Bond.  The interest it paid was based on inflation plus an additional return that was set by the Treasury and fixed for the life of the bond.  On May 1st the Treasury announced the value of that fixed return for the next six months:  Zero.

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Love Your Skin With Free Health Screenings!

Posted 1 week 2 hours ago by Linsey Knerl

Freebies, Health and Beauty

May is skin cancer awareness month, and as a close friend to many skin cancer survivors, I know how important it is to get regular check-ups. If the cost of seeing a dermatologist has you headed for the hills, check out these free ways to get to-notch preventative care!

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Are You a Yawn?

Posted 1 week 1 day ago by Xin Lu

Frugal Living, Lifestyle

I am familiar with the meaning of hippies and yuppies, but today I heard a funny new word for a demographic of people - yawns. YAWN stands for Young and Wealthy but Normal. It is a pretty silly acronym, but this is how the radio program I was listening to described this group of people.

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