Life Hacks

19 Tips to Cut Costs by Using Your Oven Efficiently

The oven is not the most energy-efficient way to prepare your food. 19 tips to help you maximize your oven’s energy-efficiency, as well as to cut your cooking costs.

Walt Disney Offers Refunds for Baby Einstein DVDs

A group of lawyers threatened a class action lawsuit last year against Disney for deceptive practices since their Baby Einstein videos are heavily marketed as educational but resea

What Is a “Value-Added Tax,” Anyway?

Probably due to the fact that my monthly health insurance premiums rose dramatically this year, and also because I am about to take a state-mandated 5% pay cut, my ears really per

10 Ways to Make Money for the MySpace Generation

I can recall thinking that the internet was all fun to play with, but I didn’t see the big picture of how it would so drastically change the world that we live in. Luckily, all the

Tools to Get Organized, Family Style

Many people think I’m incredibly well organized because I can easily manage (certain) projects and recite dates, locations, deadlines, etc. for my family’s activities. The truth is

5 Online Tools to Help You Land a Job

There are social media tools out there that — when utilized properly — are a great resource to build a personal brand and online portfolio, as well as to network for a job (unlike

$80 for an HDMI Cable? Give Me a Break!

"You should never pay more than $10 for a standard six-foot HDMI cable" -CNET

Should There Be a "Fat Tax" on Junk Food?

Yes. Well, that's just my humble opinion, but I really don't see why this has so many people throwing their arms up in the air with shock. We tax liquor and cigarettes, neither of

Recession Journal V: Mind, The GAP

Some well known mainstays of Corporate America have decided not to wait for an official recovery but to sell the idea of it to you. Can we collectively as corporate citizens and co

Phishing Scams Continue to Plague Social Media Sites

Social Media networks like Facebook and Twitter are going through unprecedented growth. Unfortunately, this growth makes them a target for spammers and scammers. We break down a

Ode to the Ecofan

Considering whether buying an Ecofan is worth the price to keep you warm this winter?

Is a Prepaid Debit Card Really Cheaper and Better than a Bank Debit Card?

A few month ago, my husband received an unsolicited Visa Debit Card from NetSpend and I wrote about it here on Wise Bread. What I found interesting was that several commenters defe

Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes for Kids

I love Halloween but hate paying high prices for kids' costumes. Over the years, I have managed to create a few costumes cheaply.

Don't Go to College to Learn

There are good reasons to go to college. And, if you do go to college, you will no doubt learn a lot. But you can learn anywhere — and probably learn more, better, and fast

5 Ways Self Storage Units Are More Sad Museums Than Savvy Solutions

This week I did an intervention on Sarah, one of my dearest friends. Sarah has a substance abuse problem -- but not with drugs. Sarah has a problem with self storage.

Beyond the Slow Cooker: 10 Eco- and Budget-Friendly Household Helpers That Progress Left Behind

Cleaning? Cooking? Ugh, you say. Make friends with it, compadre; they’ve got to be part of the frugal warrior’s toolkit. I look for ways to make it easier and cheaper, because when

Can You Survive with One Car in Suburbia?

Do you live in suburbia? It seems everyone who does has two (or more) cars in their driveway. Is it a necessity for everyone, though? Is it possible to lead a one-car lifestyle whi

Tips and Tricks for Dealing with a Recalcitrant HMO

Most of us will, at one time or another, have to struggle with our insurance company over payment approval, referral approval, or any one of a myriad of other common issues. Here a

Six Ways an iPhone Can Save You Money

A lot of people find themselves wondering if phones like the iPhone are worth the money. Here are 6 reasons why they are.

9 Money Saving Reasons to Buy a Food Dehydrator

Food dehydrators can save you money and time, and are very affordable these days. Here are nine ways a dehydrator can help you stretch your budget

Latest Articles in Life Hacks

How to Protect Yourself From Credit Card Theft

Don't let a scammer get a hold of your credit card number. Here's how to keep your account secure.

How the Sandwich Generation Can Protect Their Retirement

Being part of the sandwich generation isn't easy, and it can take a real toll on your retirement fund. Here's how to protect it.

Should You Pay Your Kids For Good Grades?

Have you ever considered rewarding your kids' good grades with money? Or is that a terrible idea? Let's discuss.

How to Get Your Kid Started With Investing

You don't have to wait until your kid grows up to show them how to invest. The earlier they start, the more they'll have later on!

Ask the Readers: What Do You Do for Fun While You're Stuck at Home?

Tell us what you're doing for fun while you're stuck at home and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: Do You Volunteer?

Tell us about your volunteer experience and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: What Are Your Home Organization Hacks?

Tell us about your home organization hacks and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

How to Decide If Pet Insurance Is Worth the Cost

Pet insurance can cost a pretty penny, but it can also save you an arm and a leg.

Ask the Readers: What New Skill Would You Like to Learn?

Tell us about a new skill you would like to learn and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: What Helps You Relax?

Tell us what helps you relax and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: What Are Your Goals for 2020?

Tell us about about your goals for 2020 and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

What to Do Now to Prepare for Tax Season

Tax Day may seem far away, but after we celebrate the new year, it'll be here before you know it. Here's what you can do now to get ready.

Ask the Readers: What Are Your Holiday Shortcuts?

Tell us about your holiday shortcuts and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: How Do You Fight the Winter Blues?

Tell us how you fight the winter blues and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Ask the Readers: What Are You Most Thankful For?

Tell us what you're most thankful for and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

3 Money Arguments That Can Hurt Your Relationships

You should really nip these common money arguments in the bud before they hurt your relationships.

How Pre-Commitment Mechanisms Can Help You Resist Impulse Buys

You might think impulse buys are impossible to resist, but if you train your brain with pre-commitment mechanisms, you can fight those urges and save money in the process.

Ask the Readers: What Do You Do For Self-Care?

Tell us what you do for self-care and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

How to Keep Office Solicitations From Busting Your Budget

Office solicitations are a sneaky budget buster. It's time to stop letting them drain your savings.

Ask the Readers: What's Your Best Experience With Customer Service?

Tell us about your best experience with customer service and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!