frugality

Are Americans Experiencing Frugality Fatigue?

Posted November 4, 2009 - 06:00 by Sierra Black

Shopping

shopping

Are Americans suffering from "frugality fatigue"? After a year of tightened belts and tighter fists, we're reaching for our wallets again and returning to our bad old ways. Or so the theory goes.

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Thrive as a Starving Writer--Lessons from the Experts

Posted August 25, 2009 - 12:02 by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance, Frugal Living

The web is full of advice for starving writers. And why not? Any writer has heard the advice "Write what you know," and one thing many writers know is about being a starving writer. Oddly, most of their advice is on writing. A couple of truly great writers, though, have left us advice on the much more important topic of not starving.

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The Many Reasons to Make Do with Less

Posted August 18, 2009 - 05:00 by Philip Brewer

Frugal Living

Suspension bridge

Why would someone choose to have less than they could? Lots of reasons. There are as many ways to live large as there are people who refuse to think small. Over the time I've been writing for Wise Bread, I've expanded my list of reasons by quite a bit.

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What's the Right Way to Save?

Posted July 30, 2009 - 04:00 by Silicon Valley Blogger

Frugal Living

the right way to save

We all have our own ways of handling our finances -- and that's why it's called "personal" finance. What works for one person may not necessarily work for someone else, and this is why I find it highly interesting when people get into debates over the different ways to manage money or handle debt. Is there really a right way and a wrong way to do things?

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Will "forced frugality" last?

Posted July 18, 2009 - 09:00 by Xin Lu

Frugal Living, Lifestyle

Lately I have been hearing about the concept of "forced frugality" from the media and my peers. Many colleagues and family members say that they feel a need to be frugal in this economic climate due to job loss and investment losses. With this shift to frugality it seems that shopping at thrift or dollar stores is suddenly trendy. However, will this new wave of frugality last?

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Would You Accept $200,000 If You Didn't Know Where It Came From?

Posted July 7, 2009 - 12:52 by Paul Michael

Frugal Living, Consumer Affairs

Button Button

You know, I hear a lot of people say that frugal people would do anything for dime. Personally, I think that applies more to greedy people, but it got me thinking of a question that combines morals with money. Would you accept $200,000, no strings attached, if you did not know where it came from.

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The new normal economy

Posted June 30, 2009 - 05:34 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.

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Not driving your less-frugal friends crazy

Posted June 24, 2009 - 08:21 by Philip Brewer

Lifestyle

Sculpture in Allerton Park of two women crowning a third with a laurel wreath

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 me was the part where he talked about how surprised he was at the negative reactions. He wasn't telling anyone else that they shouldn't drive, but people were treating him as if he was a walking criticism of their lifestyle.

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How to save BIG

Posted June 18, 2009 - 09:46 by Xin Lu

Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Lifestyle

A friend recently told me that someone she knows is so cheap that he would not let her use paper towels at his place. Yet at the same time he complains about not having enough money and lives in a very expensive apartment and drives a brand new car. I also know some similar folks who seem to be tightfisted about everything except for one or two big expenses in their lives. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but perhaps it is more efficient to save on that big expense instead of clawing onto paper towels.

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Things You Might Not Know About Your Local Thrift Store

Posted May 28, 2009 - 19:09 by Tisha Tolar

Frugal Living

The nation as a whole has been exploring new avenues for savings these days. Thrift stores can be a great place to get what you need and pay what you want. Here are some tips for navigating the thrift stores and consignment shops in your area.

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