Recent comments

  • 15 Things You Should Buy at Costco   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I'd love to know what amazing Costco the author was able to find these products at. My local Costco in Los Angeles rarely if ever has anything organic.

  • How to Make Your Own Soda   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Great article! The best place I've found for recipes is homemadesodaexpert.blogspot.com There's a lot of good recipes there including a knock off for Mountain Dew. Definitely going for the pear juice in the ginger ale next time. Nice touch

  • Quick, Easy, and Festive Cream Cheese Appetizers   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Thanks Christie. I've never tried that combo but it sounds good and the cream cheese can help stretch the cost of the crab meat.

  • 8 Overpriced Grocery Items to Skip   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Spices from a specialty store will tend to be fresher. Big companies also tend to go the legal limit on contaminants such as insect parts.
    I've found that dollar store cleaning products do the job as well or better than brand names - who cares if bowl cleaner smells good when it will be down the tubes in 60 seconds?

  • 7 Ways to Get Warm On the Cheap   14 years 38 weeks ago

    We use old tube socks filled with rice as personal heat. Just throw in the microwave for a couple of minutes and then they are either placed at your feet under a blanket or we stuff them into the front pocket of a sweatshirt to warm the hands. They retain heat for quite a long time and are easily reheated in minutes. 42 degrees in the house this morning but I am toasty with one of these at my feet with a blanket and the other is keeping my hands warm as I type by using it as a wrist rest in front of my keyboard.
    Easy, cheap and work great. Another tip. Use small socks and then you can put them in the pockets of a coat and you have great handwarmers when you have to go out!

  • The 25 Best Things to Buy on Craigslist   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I feel like there is a lot of potential in craigslist searches for almost any household item you might need. When someone is looking to upgrade and remodel, they almost always want to get something for the things they are taking out. It's either throw it away, or take a picture and post it on craigslist-most people choose the latter. It is beneficial to those who want to take the time to sift through these lists, but in the end is often a big payoff. Especially with the holiday's coming up, this is a great time of year to look for good deals on potential gifts for children. Sporting and gaming equiptment, along with musical intstruments are all good items to look for on craigslist- kids will be too excited about the new present to notice if its second-hand, or if it has a scratch somewhere on it. If your a family strapped for cash during the holiday's, this is one of the smartest ways to give amazing gifts at a fraction of the cost.

  • 8 Overpriced Grocery Items to Skip   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I recently started going to a farmer's market close to my house. I found that I could get triple the amount of fruits and vegetables for the same price as a few items at my local grocery store. This was very eye opening for me, and I vowed to no longer get my produce from the supermarket. Also, I love GoodValue products. This is the generic brand that is sold at Walmart, Target and other large chains. The food taste's great, just like any brand name version of my favorite Trail Mix or fruit snacks would. In this economy, it's smart to look for these products that taste the exact same as the ones in the fancy packaging, and will certainly be MUCH easier on your wallet.

  • Quick, Easy, and Festive Cream Cheese Appetizers   14 years 38 weeks ago

    You forgot our favorite! Open a can of crab meat, spread it over the cream cheese, top with a jar of cocktail sauce. Serve with crackers or cocktail bread. Delish!

  • 8 Overpriced Grocery Items to Skip   14 years 38 weeks ago

    If you compare the prices of a store brand cereal with the name brand (on a sale) then the name brand is much, much cheaper. Using a coupon will save you even more.

  • Feeling Stuck? 100 Ways to Change Your Life   14 years 38 weeks ago

    i found it really difficult, and struggled to get 76 points. but i guess its just because i dont know what i want in my life - i just finished uni and dont know what to do with myself now. will see what i can come up with tomorrow, when i review my list. thank you for sharing the article!

  • The 25 Best Things to Buy on Craigslist   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I think if you focus on selling things to groups who are, by nature, deal shoppers, you can do very well on craigslist. Of course, you need to be careful (we only accept cash as a policy to minimize the scamsters). But it can be great.

    We've found children's products between $100 and $300 to be a good sweet spot for craigslist. We just sold a stroller on Craigslist in that price range last week. And we got full asking price (which was a good deal admittedly) and got it quick.

  • 25 Frugal Changes You Can Make Today   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Most modern cars hit peak economy between 50-60mph on flat track like conditions when the engines are brandnew. Which means peak efficiency on actual roads equates closer to 45-55mph. Also, as a car ages its gas efficiency deminishes.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Save on Winter Clothes?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I save on winter clothes by doing the following:

    1-Maintaining my weight so I don't need different sizes all the time

    2-Taking care of what I have, pay extra attention to details in laundering instructions, etc. When I was 12 I put a wool sweater (that was my stepmother's) in the regular washer and dryer. Lesson learned, never again.

    3-Buying off-season, got a great brand-new lined navy blue wool blend suit on the clearance rack in June for yard sale prices, I think it was $17, great quality, will last forever.

    4-Check thrift stores for sweaters, jackets and coats. Amazing how many you can find new with tags for only a few dollars, so many people get them as gifts and never wear them, especially here in the south.

  • Where and Why to Buy Fair Trade Goods   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Holiday decor, ornaments and gifts are also great to buy Fair Trade. During the holidays you can spread cheer and goodwill not only to your own family, but to artisans around the world. I love giving handmade, Fair Trade gifts to friends because I know the gift wasn't made in some sweatshop by a little kid.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Save on Winter Clothes?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I save by taking care of what I already have - I'm a champ at darning and reattaching buttons. You don't have to replace what ain't broke.

  • DIY Shampoo: The Baking Soda Experiment   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I started the baking soda routine about five days ago. As of now, my hair is in a hard to describe phase. It is both oily and dry, if that makes sense. The roots are very oily, the ends very dry. I have been doing the baking soda routine daily, just because of the excess oil (no way could I go two days with this..). I have also been using the diluted vinegar because my hair is fairly long and thick. I am still experiencing that my hair is very tangly and even falling out in the shower. I am really inspired to keep up with this, but I must admit that I am getting very discouraged by the current state of my hair. Any tips, suggestions, or encouragement??

  • Travel and Money: Using Your Debit Card on the Road   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Alos, check with your bank to see if your debit card is a smart card, the kind uou 'wave' instead of swiping. The info on the magnetic strip can be 'stolen' by an electronic pickpocket with a common RFID reader.

  • CitiMortgage Told Me to Default on My Loan   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Why is only the homeowner who has to play by the rules and loose money on their homes because of unemployment caused mostly by our countries bad economic shape after the housing bubble. If the homeowners are not getting bailed out, then why should the banks get a pass and get bail out with those same homeowners tax monies? We couldn't make our payments after a year+ unemployment. We couldn't sell our house because no one was buying. We put 50% down on our house. We have loss 50% on the value of our house. The only winner here would be the bank if they foreclosure or short sale. We are still waiting on modification from the taxpayer bailout bank.

  • 5 Expenses to Ditch After Age 30   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Good article but, of course, it just skims the "tip of the iceberg" for the 30-somthing crowd. Still, each age group needs to start somewhere.

    Patti, Author
    Frugal Matters

  • The 25 Best Things to Buy on Craigslist   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Craigslist, the anarchic classifieds website, has developed a reputation for hosting some of the oddest adverts ...

    So why am I listing in for free?

  • When to drop collision coverage on your car   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Accident claims are generally paid on an actual cash value basis. That means, the insurance company takes the (local) market value less your deductible. They also factor any depreciation or appreciation on a case by case basis.

    When it comes to claims, most insurance companies rarely use NADA, BLUE BOOK, or BLACK BOOKS. You get a better idea of your vehicle's value by going to an auto trader like website and getting the value for the same make and model in your area.

  • How to Answer 23 of the Most Common Interview Questions   14 years 38 weeks ago

    There's this great iPhone app for 600 interview questions in a flash card my friends and I have used to prep. I actually created it because I started getting frustrated with paper flash cards... It's pretty easy to use and it's the most comprehensive set of Questions and Answers I've seen to date...

    Thought I would let you guys know about it - check it out:

    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/interview-questions-pro/id467952153?mt=8

  • The Best and Worst Things to Buy in December   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Please note: If you are going to buy a blu-ray movie as a gift, you better make dang sure the recipient has a blu-ray player. They cannot be played on a regular dvd player.

  • Extreme Couponing? 5 Reasons Why I’ll Pass.   14 years 38 weeks ago

    Those people are crazy, if you don't use the item it was not a savings. I do like the episodes where people donate the products, but as for the mini-mart in the garage, I don't get it. I save ton's just by watching out for clearance items at Target, no coupon required. My kids always have nice new cloths that I get for 75% off. I shop after Christmas clearance for all the birthdays, the toys go for pennies on the dollar.
    After watching episodes of hoarders the only difference with the extreme couponing is that they are just really organized hoarders.

  • Ask the Readers: How Do You Save on Winter Clothes?   14 years 38 weeks ago

    I wear a lot of layered clothing at work - turtlenecks and sweaters in various colors. Every couple of years I either buy a couple new sweaters or ask for them as Christmas gifts. Then I take care of them so they last 10 years or more.