Frugal Living

DIY Plastic Surgery: This Is Not A Hoax.

Posted 1 day 6 hours ago by Paul Michael

Frugal Living, DIY, Consumer Affairs

Nose Job

I do a lot of research on the Internet for information about home-made solutions to everyday problems. In fact, I'll be posting one soon that covers recipes for home-made car wax, air freshener and even glue. But on my travels, I discovered a horrifying fact - in these tough economic times, people out there are taking medical matters into their own hands. DIY plastic surgery is on the rise.

full story 9 comments

Wine Tastings: Finding Cheap Wine That You Like

Posted 1 day 12 hours ago by WC Porter

Frugal Living, Food and Drink

Wine Tasting

There is lots of advice out there on how to save money on drinking by buying this or that wine. But forget that—everyone's tastes are different and one person's "good wine" might be another's dud. The only way to find good wines you know you'll like is to taste as many as you can. For free.

full story 5 comments

Save Some Cash With These 6 Clever Cleaning Hacks

Posted 2 days 3 hours ago by Linsey Knerl

Frugal Living, Green Living, DIY

I’m a sucker for brand-name cleaning supplies, and while it’s no crime to be brand-loyal and use what works best for you and your family, often times there are shortcuts that can cut back on cleaning time – and out-of-pocket expenses. The July issue of All You Magazine had some of the most inspiring ways to get your cleaning jobs done for less. Here are my top picks, along with some additional ways to stretch that dollar!

full story 12 comments

Can't Afford A Home Alarm System? You Probably Already Have One.

Posted 3 days 7 hours ago by Paul Michael

Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Life Hacks, General Tips, Real Estate and Housing, Consumer Affairs, Cars and Transportation

Broken Door

Home alarm systems can be expensive. A basic alarm system can be hundreds of dollars. Move up to the home-monitoring systems of ADT and Brink's, and you're talking big money. Installation can cost over $1000, and the monthly monitoring fee can be upwards of $40 a month. But, chances are, you already own a pretty good alternative.

full story 26 comments

The new normal economy

Posted 3 days 10 hours ago by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance, Frugal Living

Chairs and table on the beach

The economy is way short of full employment, so naturally, consumer spending is down. Sooner or later employment, I think, will return to normal levels. Consumer spending will return to normal too--but don't look to the first half of this decade as "normal." Normal is something very different.

full story 13 comments

Americans' savings rate up to almost 7% - who benefits?

Posted 4 days 2 hours ago by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Lifestyle

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the personal savings rate in May 2009 was 6.9%. This a 15 year high and a far cry from the negative savings rates of just a few years ago. Although a part of the increase in savings comes from the large stimulus bills passed recently, most of the increase seems to come from changes in Americans' spending habits. So who benefits from a higher personal savings rate?

full story 10 comments

Things wear out

Posted 4 days 12 hours ago by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance, Frugal Living

Shoes

I have a pair of shoes that are about to wear out. This sucks because they're shoes I wear pretty often (which is no doubt why they're wearing out). I'll probably have to replace them. I was mulling over a possible post on the universal experience of things wearing out, when it occurred to me that this experience may not be quite as universal as it used to be.

full story 12 comments

6 Upsides of the Down Economy

Posted 5 days 17 hours ago by Jeff Yeager

Frugal Living

The recession may have a silver lining in the form of better quality of life. Learn the 6 ways the recession has inspired us to save money and live well.

full story 3 comments

Car Sharing: Why Own When you can Just Share?

Posted 6 days 21 hours ago by Nora Dunn

Frugal Living, Green Living, Cars and Transportation

car share

Imagine a life where you don’t have to worry about unexpected car repair bills railroading your monthly budget; monthly car loan or lease payments are non-existent, insurance and long-term parking costs are distant memories; and even the gas is paid for…welcome to a life of car sharing. Read on for a primer on the basics of car sharing with resources for you to find a program close to you.

full story 7 comments

Europe on the Cheap: Take the Train

Posted 1 week 3 days ago by Thursday Bram

Frugal Living

Belgian train station

When it comes to traveling through Europe, there's a lot to be said for taking the train. With just a little planning, you can see five or six countries in just a week — and for a price that doesn't break the bank. And if you are interested in extended travel — or live the digital nomad lifestyle — you can travel around the whole of Europe for a fraction of the cost of plane tickets or car rentals. These tips can get you started in the right direction to do just that.

full story 7 comments

Have more to say? Join the discussions at Wise Bread's Finance and Frugality Forums.

Finance Blogs - Blog Top Sites