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Escaping the Trap of Eating Out Every Night
If you live in a city and have a busy schedule, it is really easy to fall into a cycle of eating out almost every night.
This used to be me. I worked in a city, but I actually lived in a small town that was a good dozen miles away. In the evenings, many of my social events were in the city, so I would often find reasons to just stay in the city. That meant eating out for dinner between the end of work and the start of my social events. I’d get off work at four and intend to go to an event at six, so instead of driving almost half an hour to get home, making supper, eating it, spending maybe half an hour at home, and then driving back, I’d just go out to eat.
Five Family Vacation Spots on Sale for Winter Break
Clift San Francisco, near Union Square, is offering discounted rooms through Jan. 10. Photo: Union Square Ice Rink
The holidays are rarely the cheapest time to travel, as airlines hike fares to make the most of increased demand and space sells out quickly to hordes of travelers visiting relatives or taking advantage of school vacation.
In fact, between an improving economy, lower gas prices, and some quirks of the calendar, this holiday travel season is set to be the busiest on record, says auto-club giant AAA, which projects that almost 99 million Americans will venture 50 miles or more from home during 2014’s year-end holidays.
That’s the highest travel volume since AAA started tracking such trends in 2001.
How to Make Money Selling Crafts on Etsy
Whether you can sew a handbag, make a picture frame, or just have an eye for vintage style, there’s a niche for you on Etsy, the eBay of handmade and vintage goods. Photo: Katrina Rodabaugh
Have you ever knitted a scarf, made jewelry, or sewn clothes for your kids? Can you build a bench, take intriguing photos, or make a picture frame from scrap wood? Or do you have a good eye for vintage styles and know where to find them at a bargain?
If you’re at all crafty, chances are you’ve used Etsy.com, the online craft marketplace — sometimes called the eBay of handmade goods. And if you’re any good at your craft, you might be able to earn some extra money from your hobby — by opening your own Etsy shop.
The Ultimate Guide to Cutting the Cable Cord
Cable television is expensive, not just in terms of money but also in terms of time. The service costs money, as does the electricity that powers your cable box and television, plus there’s the time spent watching television. It’s an expense that can drain both your finances and your opportunities.
For us, cable television is one of the bigger bones of financial contention in our marriage. I’m an advocate for completely cutting the cord, while Sarah is in favor of keeping the service. Of course, Sarah uses it more than I do as she often watches it while taking care of professional busywork in the evenings.
If I were single, I’d drop cable in a heartbeat. Here, in detail, are the reasons why, along with details on how exactly to cut that cable if you’re convinced by those reasons.
College Financial Guide: Filling Out the FAFSA
Let’s spell this out: If you want financial aid for college, you need to fill out the FAFSA. Photo: Simon Cunningham
There usually isn’t a conversation about college without the topic of money coming up.
And rightfully so. College is expensive. CollegeData.com estimates that an in-state public college will cost you, on average, $22,826 per year; a moderate private school will cost nearly double that at $44,750 per year. Tack on changing majors, attending graduate school, transferring colleges, and dropping a class here and there, and that amount will grow fast.
Best Home Equity Loan Rates for 2014
You can borrow against your home’s value, but there’s a lot to keep in mind. Photo: David
Home equity loans hold undeniable appeal for many homeowners. They’re a convenient way to unlock some cash by tapping the value built up in your home — money you otherwise won’t see unless you sell your home for a profit. Though you can use a home equity loan for almost anything, they’re especially appropriate for home improvements. Many others use home equity loans to consolidate their debts.
Wealthfront Review
As I explained in a previous post, I’m on a quest to find the best retirement plan to roll over my old 401(k). I’m going to conduct the most thorough research I can — publicly — and then put my money where my mouth is, literally rolling over my old 401(k), worth approximately $85,000, into the best plan I can find.
This week’s online financial advisor review is Wealthfront. In my last post, I reviewed Betterment. These two seem very comparable as frontrunners to win my $85,000 401(k) rollover!
Are You Spending Too Much on Groceries?
How much does the average family spend on groceries? It all depends, but here’s how you can spend less regardless. Photo: Rain0975
If there is such a thing as an average family of four, there’s nothing average about how much that family spends on groceries.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a family of four with two kids under age 11 spends anywhere from $654.20 to $1,302.20 per month on food. Why the huge disparity?
How to Find the Best Thrift Stores in Your Area
I have had a lot of success buying things at thrift stores, secondhand stores, and consignment shops. Here are just a few examples of things I’ve found.
Several years ago at a secondhand clothes store in the Ames, Iowa area, I found a new – meaning it still had the tags on it – replica Chicago Cubs jersey that would fit my oldest son. It was stuffed into a $2 rack of children’s clothing. At a jersey store, you would expect to pay something close to $100 for it.
Several years ago at a secondhand clothes store in the Chicago area, I found a Gucci dress for my daughter mixed in with a bunch of other dresses for $12. It looked as if it had never been worn. These often sell for hundreds of dollars.
Easy Ways to Fulfill a Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus
Meeting requirements for a card’s sign-up bonus shouldn’t become a game of “beat the clock.” Photo: Kalyan
Most credit card rewards deals ask you to spend a specific amount of money on your card within a clearly defined time frame. If you complete the task and play by the rules, you can often earn a tidy sum of cash back, airline miles, or hotel loyalty points. Sounds easy, right?
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