Hot Today

Wise Bread articles that are hot today.

Debasing not just the currency

I eat lunch at a local fast-food place occasionally. My usual order runs to just over $4, so I was annoyed when I realized while walking over there yesterday that I'd forgotten to

Control Your Debt With an Annual Clean Sweep

Do you use credit to manage cash flow fluctuations or to live beyond your means? Here's a simple, practical test for keeping your debt under control.

The Benefits of a Walkable Neighborhood

Are you able to walk to your daily necessities from where you live? Or do you drive everywhere? Discover how walkable your neighborhood is and see if you can use your car less.

Recalled Dog Food Companies May Pay for Damages

It has only been a year or so since the dog food scare that left pet owners frustrated, scared, and in some cases, heartbroken. The contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein foun

Lessons in Simple Living From Extreme Minimalists

You don't have to forsake your worldly possessions to find bliss, but we can all live more frugally — and more elegantly — by learning from those who have.

Important Habits of Very Frugal People

We've all read about (or heard about) the habits of highly effective people — but what about the habits of the fantastically frugal?

Are you sane?

Back in the days before science and modern medicine made their contributions to the field of mental health, sanity was a pretty arbitrary thing. Even in those dark days, though, i

6 Smart Ways to Make It Rain Today

If your emergency fund has seen better days, get creative about bringing it back to health. You can do this!

10 Allergy-Free Snacks That Are Safe for Almost Everybody

Schools are wisening up to common food allergens, but these safe snacks are easy to share with kids and adults alike.

Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Extended Warranties?

Tell us whether you buy extended warranties and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

How to Live Alone Without Going Broke

Having a roommate can definitely save you money — but living alone doesn't have to be expensive. Follow these tips to be frugal while living solo.

The Fed Raised Rates — Then Something Weird Happened

The Fed raised its benchmark rate last December and — almost nothing changed? Now, just why, exactly?

The Only 6 Rules of Frugal Living You Need to Know

Being frugal isn't a fad, it's a way of life — and a simple one at that. Cut through the clutter to the rules at the heart of frugal living.

What your house is really worth

There are several things you can do with a house that you own. During the housing boom, most of the attention was focused on two of those things: You could sell it, or you could

Rewriting the Definition of Retirement

Your life map is so clearly laid out in front of you; yet the last piece of the puzzle – retirement – is a fuzzy and often incomprehensible anomaly. With people living longer and s

Ask the Readers: What Is Your Favorite Last-Minute Costume Idea?

Tell us about your favorite last-minute costume idea and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Supermarket Shopping for Savers: 6 Ways to Avoid Their Tricky Traps

Going to the supermarket and sticking to a list is an exercise in discipline and requires fortitude and resilience of epic proportions. Employing tips like “don’t shop when you’re

Inflation is going away for a while

For a decade, starting in the mid-1990s, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates too low and expanded the money supply too quickly. Their theory was that, as long as consumer pric

7 Important Things You Should Know About Balance Transfer Cards

If you plan to pay down high interest credit card debt with a new zero-interest card, make sure you understand the potential downsides.

11 Smart Ways to Get Some Sleep at the Airport

Airport hotels can be expensive. Here's how to take a serious snooze between flights.