Carrie Kirby's blog

9 Things You Don't Need to Clean

If you're looking to shorten your cleaning to-do list, experts say you'll be fine — or even better off — by not cleaning these commonly cleaned things.

18 Frugal and Romantic Dates at Home

Date nights are important to your relationship, but restaurants and babysitters are expensive. Here's how to have fun at home for less.

20 Recipe Substitutions That Save Money and Prevent Food Waste

Can you really taste the difference between pine nuts and sunflower seeds in that pesto? Your wallet can! Discover 19 more great, money-saving subs.

How to Save on Babysitting Without Ending Up on the Local News

When babysitting rates hit $14 per hour — per kid! — it's time to think about cheaper (but safe) ways for parents to get stuff done and have fun.

25 Ways to Lower Your Grocery Bill

Combine a few of these 25 surefire grocery shopping tricks, and you'll experience substantial savings — while still eating healthy, delicious food.

Money-Making Lessons From the Girl Scouts

Slinging cookies is tough business. One Cookie Mom shares 11 money lessons she's learned from working with the Girl Scouts.

7 Hidden Advantages to Getting Rid of Your Car

Sure, getting rid of your car will save you money — but that's just the beginning of all the benefits you could realize.

6 Reasons Cutting Your Landline Is a Bad Deal

Dropping home phone service has become a popular way to cut a few dollars from the budget. But are the savings really worth it?

Do It All Car-Free With a Cargo Bike

If you want to drive less but still get your errands done, consider a cargo bike — these 'cycles can carry everything from kids to groceries and more.

How to Distinguish Yourself Online From People With the Same Name as You

Who shares your name online — a fugitive? Or worse, a reality show star? Learn how to distinguish yourself from other people with the same name online.

Get the Most Out of Safeway's Just for U Deals

Safeway offers personalized grocery discounts with its Just for U program. If you're in the know, you can squeeze even more savings out of it.

How to Beat Grocery Price Increases

Facing grocery price increases caused by food shortages can be daunting — but with these frugal techniques, you can drastically cut your bill.

Hurray! Annual Freebie Calendar

Whether you're looking for comic books or coffee, print this list out and stick it on your fridge, so you'll always know when the next big freebie is coming.

How Much Does It Cost to Keep a Cat?

A cat's true worth can't be measured in dollars...but that doesn't mean that your furry friends don't come with costs.

Should You Become a Landlord Instead of Selling Your Home?

With the housing market still in the dumps, many of us have become "accidental landlords." Should you join us?

10 Ways to Save on a Long-Distance Move

When you're moving a long distance, you can't just buy a pizza and a 12-pack and ask your friends to pitch in. Here's how to save on a cross-country move.

10 Ways to Get Rid of Stuff Frugally

Who wants to pay to have unwanted stuff hauled away? Here are 10 ideas for profiting from your unwanted clutter — if not in dollars, at least in karma.

Grocery Shopping and the 4-Minute Mile: How to Challenge Yourself

Spending less on groceries is like running a faster mile — to improve, you must challenge yourself. Here's how to perform better in any pursuit.

The Best 10 Items to Borrow

Sharing seldom-used items among friends and neighbors is a great (and earth-friendly!) tactic for saving money. Here are the best things to borrow, not buy.

10 Ideas for Using Your FSA Before Year End

Need to use up the funds in your flexible spending account before 2012? Make it happen with one (or more!) of these 10 purchases.