Hot Today

Wise Bread articles that are hot today.

The ultimate frugal vacation

Summer is coming up, and it is a great time to take a little break from work and relax. The recession may have put a damper on many people's vacation plans, but there is a way you

Why Women Don't Negotiate

Women aren't as good as men at negotiating salaries, and that costs us. But there's a reason for it, and it's not just because we're scared to ask.

The Pros and Cons of Refinancing an Auto Loan

Before you refinance your auto loan, here's what you need to know.

The new normal economy

The economy is way short of full employment, so naturally, consumer spending is down. Sooner or later employment, I think, will return to normal levels. Consumer spending will re

Frugality, Simplicity, and Sustainability

Are strategies like dumpster diving sustainable?

‘Secret’ Attraction

I finally buckled under the pressure to remain in the loop with Oprah and I rented 'The Secret.' Now, before you think I’m going to offer a movie review, I’ll simply say that it fe

How to be happy

A lot of happiness (and unhappiness) comes from within. But there are other things that matter a lot: relationships, doing important work, living your life according to your valu

Being Happier Through...Botox?

At age 33, I've had Botox injected between my eyebrows to eliminate an annoying frown line. It turns out that it makes me happier, and there is science behind it.

The College Freshman Budget

College can be where you get your first taste of independence...including financial independence. Make sure you enjoy it without blowing all your cash.

The Great Whitening Hype

The home teeth whitening market is expected to grow 30% in the next decade. While this isn’t surprising in itself, I am shocked at the number o

Things wear out

I have a pair of shoes that are about to wear out. This sucks because they're shoes I wear pretty often (which is no doubt why they're wearing out). I'll probably have to replace

How to Get Paid to Take Online Surveys

Get tips for finding legitimate online paid surveys plus a ranking of the best survey sites that really pay.

Plan for expensive fuel

Does your budget include a contingency for fuel to get much more expensive? Because it ought to. I learned about the need for contingencies early. [more]

Trying Out CVS Madness

I've heard about the frugal shoppers storming CVS for free merchandise from KY Jelly to glucose monitors. Was this a penny-enny game for grandmothers with too much time on thei

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts

The Coverdell Education Savings Account (also known as the Coverdell ESA) is a college savings option that allows you to save money towards your child's college expenses with tax a

Frugal travel with Esperanto

Travel presents the classic conundrum: If you have the money you don't have the time, and if you have the time you don't have the money. You can travel on the cheap if you have friends or re [more]

Stop dissing Spam!

Is it me, or are most people a bunch of Spam snobs? I admit it’s not filet mignon or a piece of finely seared Ahi Tuna, but come on people! It’s not that bad. In fact, I love it, a

Book review: Happier

Here are two ideas you already know: You won't achieve maximum happiness by always doing the most pleasurable thing you can think of at each moment, but neither will you find it b

There is no Tomorrow.

Are you waiting for tomorrow for things to be different? To make changes, or refocus? I've got news for you...

Creating a Memorable Christmas

Money isn't what makes a memorable Christmas. Follow these suggestions to help enjoy the holiday, not the stuff associated with it.