Feed items

This article is by staff writer Kristin Wong.

There’s something to be said for spending more on a quality item. If frugality is about getting the most value out of something, spending more on quality can actually be thrifty. In a recent post, I admitted that I once splurged on a $200 coat. A couple of readers rightfully pointed out that an expensive purchase isn’t always a waste of money. If it is a high-quality coat that lasts years, it may be a better purchase than a cheap $50 coat you replace every season.

Still, there is a fine line between buying quality and using quality as a justification to spend more. Here are a few things I consider before I plop down a bunch of money on a so-called quality item.

This article is by staff writer Honey Smith.

In recent posts exploring job searches and the cost of jobs in general, the subject of commute came up in a number of the comments. Readers pointed out that a commute makes a huge difference in whether a job is desirable or not because it has a significant impact on quality of life. I couldn’t agree more.

When Jake and I were looking to buy a house, I wanted to be within five miles of my work. As far as I’m concerned, my commute is part of my job, only I don’t get paid for it. Oh, the humanity! #firstworldproblems

Commuting is a significant factor for many. According to the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census, approximately 86 percent of Americans commute to work by car, truck, or van. How do you determine the cost of your commute? Here are some things to take into consideration:

1. The cost of driving your vehicle.

This article is by editor Linda Vergon.

What is the last day to ship before Christmas? Well, that depends, actually. Traditionally – that is, say, prior to 2008 – the last day to ship was around the second week of December. These days, it really depends on how much you are willing to spend. FedEx offers same-day shipping on Christmas Day. Yes, the FedEx SameDay department is open seven days a week, 365 days of the year. And they deliver “door to door within hours, depending on availability” according to their website. Think something in the neighborhood of $48/pound for the SameDay City service plus any surcharges. Wow.

This article is by Suba Iyer, who currently writes for FiveCentNickel.com.

In 2009, I was all excited to start looking for a house to buy. I had been working in a well-paying job for almost five years at that point and I figured I shouldn’t be throwing money down the drain renting. Well, reality came crashing down when I finally looked at my savings. It wasn’t even enough to be a good emergency fund, let alone a down payment. In 2010, I set out to fix my finances. Month after month, I set up and revised my budget. I failed, month after month. I had the perfect budget and it should have worked. But after six months of this, I still was not saving any money. I had so many excuses for not making it work, too: If I were paid a little bit more, of course, it would be easy; I couldn’t have a life being constrained with a budget, etc.