Articles on Frugal Living

Spend or Save: The Fashion Edition

Shopping for clothes doesn't have to be painful: not to your wallet, not to you schedule, and (most importantly) not to your poor, aching brain.

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

Home alarm systems can be expensive. A basic alarm system can be hundreds of dollars, but chances are you already own a pretty good alternative.

The new normal economy

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 re

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

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 yea

Things wear out

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

Cheap and Easy Repairs for Wardrobe Malfunctions

At work, parties or other formal occasions, wardrobe malfunctions can be expensive. Sudden downpours, popped buttons and scuffed shoes can lead to quick-fix shopping sprees or expe

6 Upsides of the Down Economy

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.

Car Sharing: Why Own When You Can Just Share?

Car sharing is taking off in urban centers around the world. Here's what you need to know.

Best Money Tips: Summer's Bounty

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup! In this edition, we'll share with you how to store summer's bounty, save money on a gym membership, talk about finances before t

47 Simple Ways To Waste Money

How are you doing with your money? Do you have everything under control, or are you spending a little more than you should? Well, if you'd like to blow even more of your money, thi

Not driving your less-frugal friends crazy

A while back, I heard an interview with a guy who, troubled by the Exxon Valdez oil spill, decided the right response was to quit driving. The bit of the interview that stuck with

Europe on the Cheap: Take the Train

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

Funny Taste Mystery: Using Google for Medical Diagnoses

I have just recovered from a case of pine nut mouth, or at least that's what I'm calling a recent health hiccup. And I have Google to thank for saving me thousands of dollars, coun

Book review: The Education of an American Dreamer by Peter G. Peterson

The Education of an American Dreamer: : How a Son of Greek Immigrants Learned His Way from a Nebraska Diner to Washington, Wall Street, and Beyond is the personal memoir of Peter G

The Secret Really Does Have A Secret (or Ten Tenets for Arranging Your Rich - Part 3)

The third installment in my ten-part series (which has taken me much longer to write than planned), I decided to take a look at the Law of Attraction since the concept has hung aro

Wash It Yourself & Other Ways to Save Money on Organic Fruits, Veggies

My children appreciate the added flavor in organic fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Unfortunately, organic products are expensive. The following strategies have helped us to

Times Are Tough; Would You Consider A DIY Funeral?

It's never pleasant to think about death and funerals, but if there is one certainty in life, it's that we're all going to bite the dust at some point. And just like most things in

Best Money Tips: Hot and Humid

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup! This edition has tips for a better lawn, backpacking prep, productivity for everything, and more.

Getting by on a lot less money: 3 ways it's easier than you think

I spent my whole adult life trying to figure out how to get by on a lot less money, because I wanted to be a full-time writer and knew that it wouldn't pay enough to support the li

"Cash for clunkers" bill passed by Congress - what does it mean for consumers?

A few months ago I wrote about several car buying incentives that were floating around. This was before the bankruptcy of Chrysler and GM and there was a rumor going around that t