utilities

4 Ways to Win the War Against This Summer’s Electric Bill

Posted June 15, 2009 - 09:24 by Linsey Knerl

Frugal Living, Lifestyle, Green Living

Energy increases are common this time of year, and with many families already struggling to pay the utility bills, it can seem more burdensome than ever. There’s no one-size-fits-all method to kicking your increase to the curb, but these four tips are sure to put a sizeable dent in next month’s “total amount due.”

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Looking at Your Expenses with New Eyes

Posted February 18, 2009 - 07:41 by Catherine Shaffer

Personal Finance, Frugal Living, Budgeting

cable box and remote

A lot of people think that banks have high security, but the most fortified brick-and-mortar institution in my town is the local Comcast office. This is where you have to go to drop off broken cable boxes or pay your bill if it's late and you don't want your service turned off. The clerks work behind a thick shield of bullet-proof glass, and there are two-sided, bullet-proof boxes at every station for transferring equipment. Surveillance cameras are placed in the corners of the room, and a large poster by the door makes it easy to estimate your height as you leave the building with that bag of loot.

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Refactor your budget categories

Posted May 17, 2008 - 08:02 by Philip Brewer

Budgeting

Budget pie chart

There are a lot of budget templates out there. Any will serve the purpose, and if you've got one that's working for you, that's a good enough reason to stick with it. If you don't have a budget, though, or if you're going to be changing your budget categories around for some other reason, I've got some thoughts on what makes a good category.

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Manage your fixed expenses

Posted February 17, 2008 - 15:27 by Philip Brewer

Personal Finance, Frugal Living

Gas meters

When you think of people ruining their lives with foolish spending, it's easy to focus on the little things that add up--the meals out, the hefty bar tab, the daily Starbucks habit, and the retail therapy (whether for new clothes, new shoes, or the latest must-have electronic gizmo). The fact is, though, that these expenses (although they can make it tough to save for the future) are not the ones that ruin people's lives. It's the fixed expenses that do that.

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