blogs

Can Limits Help Productivity Soar?

A mild, temporarily disabling accident in my home led me to consider how my friends with chronic disease (and accompanying physical limitations) manage to get things done. Limit

Beyond Wrapping Paper -- Post-Holiday Bargains

It doesn't take a frugal bloodhound to seek out half-price wrapping paper and holiday cards in early January. But don't stop your discount shopping there. Recent

And did you do it with respect?

A few years back, I read a profile of a holistic fitness guru.  There was a sidebar with a little quiz

The Four C's of Applying for and Managing your Credit

What exactly is your credit score? What factors are weighed when you apply for a loan? How can you improve your credit and ability to get great loan rates? And how can you unwittin

Scammers Stole All of My Grandma's Money

The trouble started innocently enough. For as long as I can remember, Grandma bought a lottery ticket each and every week. She promised us, her children and grandchildren, that whe

To FAFSA or Not to FAFSA: A Former Student's View of Student Loans

It's getting to be that kind of year again--the time when you anticipate filling out your tax returns, sighing with relief, and then realizing that you're not finished with

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The See's Candies debacle

For those of you (and I presume there were many) who took up the incredible See's candies offer I posted yesterday, I have bad news. I too got the email from See's saying t

Common Currency: A Primer

These postings will pertain to the economy of life, which is all about personal alternatives that shape our financial world.

7 Cheap Treatments for Year-Round Allergies

If you’re like me, your allergies don’t always stop with the changing of the seasons. If you too are unwilling or unable to budget more than $700 a year on prescription allergy med

4lb box of See's chocolates for $1, plus FREE shipping. DEAL ENDED.

I'm scratching my head on this one folks. It may be a little premature to say I've found the "deal of the year" on January 1st, but I can't see anyone topping

Waste Not! Revisiting the 5-Second Rule and other Kitchen Classics

Working as a line cook for almost four years exposed me to the dirtier side of the food service business. Generally, I was less-than-impressed

Can the government help in a recession?

Recessions spread. A minor downturn in one business spreads to its suppliers and then to their suppliers. Workers are laid off (or simply fear that they will be) and buy less, sp

Impulse Shopping: A Controllable Handicap

A friend of mine has a pathological weakness for impulse shopping. But using the techniques outlined here, she dug herself out of debt and into impulse shopping bliss.

5 Ways to Dodge Peer Pressure to Spend

How do you resist the urge to spend money when you're with less-than-frugal friends? 5 tips inside.

I Got Duped! Dealing With Credit Card and Merchant Disputes

So you bought an awesome thing-a-ma-jiggy or service with your credit card. But when you got it home you discovered the item doesn't work, the service was a heist, or the

Make Your Own Moon Sand, Dirt Cheap

While moon sand is certainly not a bank-breaker, it is costly for what is basically wet sand. So, I did a little digging and discovered a way to make your very own moon sand.

You're a Chump if you Pay Full Price for That

Couponing and bargain shopping are not for everyone. It takes some time to clip the coupons, organize them, and keep track of sales at all of your favorite stores. But since I'

Free Prescription Drugs for Those Who Qualify

Prescription drugs are expensive. While generics do offer some relief, if you have to have several filled, your pharmacy bill can add up fast.

How to Buy All That Stuff the Police Seize. And It's Cheap.

Here's a terrific site that lets you bid on all sorts of great stuff at silly prices.