Ode to the Ecofan
Posted October 10, 2009 - 06:00 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Considering whether buying an Ecofan is worth the price to keep you warm this winter?
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Dreaming of a Frugal Christmas: 6 Things You Can Make That People on Your List Will Use and Want
Posted August 30, 2009 - 22:00 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
You know sometime in November you'll be rushing around trying to think of cheap Xmas gifts to buy or make. Why the rush? Start now with some simple fun things to make that everyone on your list will love.
Disneyland on the (Sort of) Cheap
Posted August 17, 2009 - 05:00 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Do you sometimes feel like the "Happiest Place on Earth" is also the "Most Expensive Place on Earth"? Disney has marketing strategies like no one on this planet. Here are a few ways we've learned to combat the expense while still having a great time.
Little Road Trips Here and There: Little Savings Everywhere
Posted July 27, 2009 - 10:00 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
While we’ve been pondering shorter vacations, staycations, and the like, there is nothing like the great American road trip to feel truly connected to this great land of ours. It doesn’t have to be nearly as expensive as it sounds. Here’s my advice on where to cut corners and where to splurge, and have fun doing so.
Who Cares if there's a Recession? I just started a business
Posted May 22, 2009 - 19:51 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Thinking about starting a little business on the side in the middle of a recession? Go ahead and try it! I am.
The Disaster Known as the California State Budget
Posted May 21, 2009 - 13:43 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Live in California? Fed up with the budget crisis? If you could whisper a suggestion in your state reps ear or our illustrious governor, what would you suggest?
Are you a telecommuter paying commuter rates for auto insurance?
Posted April 18, 2009 - 14:51 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
A couple of things to ask your insurance agent that might save you a good deal off of your car insurance.
DIY Entertainment--A Recipe for the Recession
Posted March 4, 2009 - 23:57 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Live in one of those godforsaken next to the highway hamlets? Pining for a night out on the town but can't afford it? Don't sit home. DIY your own entertainment and bring some lively new fun to your community.
Book Review: Tyranny of Dead Ideas
Posted January 14, 2009 - 11:49 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Matt Miller's new Tyranny of Dead Ideas proves to be an insightful, fun read.
The Gen X Last-Minute-Get-Creative Xmas Present Alternative
Posted December 18, 2008 - 15:54 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Does nothing in the mall or your craft book seem like it will please the discerning taste of the Gen-Xer on your Christmas list? Don't want to spend a lot on them anyway? Consider their psyche, their aging, and my three point shopping guide that will yield a bag of cheap they'll respect you for...
The Bank Christmas Tree
Posted December 8, 2008 - 15:26 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
What are we teaching our children about wants and needs this Christmas? At my local bank branch the 'give to the needy' Christmas tree has reached new levels of tackiness.
The Great Coupon Debate
Posted October 15, 2008 - 21:32 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
What's the one thing worse than talking about a budget with your spouse? Grocery shopping. I live with a coupon cutter who insists we buy nothing that isn't bought with coupons. But my husband lives with me, an organic, fresh, and mostly raw foods eater. Can both eating philosophies survive in the same household? What are we saving by using coupons? Is physical health and well being more or less important than penny pinching? Is it possible to have the best of both worlds?
Calling all Artists: Be Your Own Cheerleader and Find that Room of Your Own (free)
Posted October 5, 2008 - 21:02 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Virginia Woolf famously said that women needed a ‘room of one’s own’ in order to create. But what if you didn’t graduate from the University of Iowa with the New Yorker wanting to print any word you breathe? What if you dropped out of art school? What if you aren’t quite on the grant track yet? What can you do to find that room cheap or free? And what if you aren’t really sure whether you are any good?
Fresh Fruit for Rotten Cheapskates Like Me
Posted September 15, 2008 - 06:41 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
What’s a good way to save money on fresh fruit? Eat with the season. Out of your own backyard. Or your neighbors. My quick and easy raw foods apple sauce recipe is at the end. You can freeze it!
Less Expensive Ways to Enjoy San Francisco
Posted September 6, 2008 - 00:18 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
There's more to San Francisco than cable cars, Union Square, and Fisherman's Wharf. The more of the 'other' San Francisco you see, the cheaper your stay becomes--especially a stay with children. Provided the fog hasn't rolled in too early, San Francisco can be a surprisingly great place to be outside. Here are some suggestions you might try.
Back to School: The Case for majoring in English
Posted August 22, 2008 - 15:46 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
This time of year college recruiters and counselors at both traditional and online colleges are selling students on the 'majors come lately': Criminal Justice, Business, Child Development, Information Technology, etc. But these majors are a one way ticket to a very specific job market that might not be there when you graduate and some are expensive to get into. Enter the tried and true English major. More bang for your buck. More options later.
The Letter Always Wins
Posted July 3, 2008 - 00:11 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
When it comes to shaming companies into rewarding the disgruntled customer, writing an old fashioned letter (and having the tenacious personality of my husband) is all that's really needed to get you on the road to brand new replacements.
Strategic Thriftstore Shopping
Posted June 20, 2008 - 22:47 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
True confessions? I'm a girl and a depression shopper (as in shopping, not unlike cheesecake, makes me momentarily happy like millions of other Sex and the City watching gals). But in an ever increasingly difficult economy it just ain't that wise to be buying those $200 dollar shoes. I give you strategic thriftstore shopping: same adrenaline rush but under $10 dollar satisfaction.
Buying (and Trading) on Etsy
Posted May 25, 2008 - 20:35 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Want to support artists, artisans,and the little guy while making your gift purchases? Need a new dress for summer but don't want it to look like everything you've just seen at Target? Want to buy hand-dyed yarn, and notecards? Etsy is the eBay of handmade items. Check 'em out.
The Art of the Trade
Posted May 16, 2008 - 20:28 by Margaret Garcia-Couoh
Money or not, things around the house need fixing, painting and up keep that goes beyond DIY. It might be a good time to look around your neighborhood for someone who'll trade his or her valuable skill for yours. And a good time to assess just exactly what skills you have to contribute.
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