Hot Today

Wise Bread articles that are hot today.

Ordering Online Versus Calling it In: Which is Better?

Somewhere between the eight ball and the brick wall behind you, you find yourself stuck. Do you place your order for that product or service online, or through a customer service a

Easy weekend business: sell used books

When I started blogging I wrote an article about saving money in college. In this article I wrote that I made money by selling used books. Some people were curious as to how I co

Book review: The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It

In the days when self-sufficiency was simply the normal way of things, you'd learn the necessary knowledge and skills from your parents. (And from your grandparents, aunts and

Turn smugness into a positive virtue

Various times here in my posts I've admitted to an unfortunate tendency toward smugness. It's really a negative character trait, and one that I struggle against. There are ways,

My Budget Challenge 2016: How to Live Frugally When You Have No Time

Sure, saving money takes time and effort. When it comes to living frugally, if you make the time, you'll find the money.

9 Thrifty, Meaningful Gifts for Mom

You can't put a monetary value on how much you love your mom, so this Mother's Day, show her how much you care with these inexpensive-but-meaningful gifts.

The Secret Really Does Have A Secret (or Ten Tenets for Arranging Your Rich - Part 3)

The third installment in my ten-part series (which has taken me much longer to write than planned), I decided to take a look at the Law of Attraction since the concept has hung aro

Can't Afford a Home Alarm System? You Probably Already Have One

Home alarm systems can be expensive. A basic alarm system can be hundreds of dollars, but chances are you already own a pretty good alternative.

Close-to-Home Outdoor Adventure Basics

I know many people would like to spend more time outdoors, but may not know where to start. Here are some of my favorite modes of outdoor exploration that doesn't require too much

Best Money Tips: El Nino is Coming

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup! This edition features Bank of America policy whistleblowers, credit freezes, getting enough sleep, the weather forecast for the

Why You Need a Plain Text Resume to Apply for Jobs Online

There are countless products out there that help job seekers format and lay out resumes to look beautiful and readable on paper. I believe that the appearance of a resume is defini

Tips and Tricks for Dealing with a Recalcitrant HMO

Most of us will, at one time or another, have to struggle with our insurance company over payment approval, referral approval, or any one of a myriad of other common issues. Here a

28 Ways to Have Cheap Halloween Fun

Halloween spending has come to rival the Christmas shopping season -- a boon to retailers but not so much to debt-strapped consumers. Here are some ideas for skipping Halloween exp

19 Tips to Cut Costs by Using Your Oven Efficiently

The oven is not the most energy-efficient way to prepare your food. 19 tips to help you maximize your oven’s energy-efficiency, as well as to cut your cooking costs.

Skip the Holiday Hype: 10 Non-Shopping Activities

Don't be a package of nerves. Just have fun. Here's a list of frugal activities that don’t involve shopping and could save money.

5 Painless Ways to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

Dial in to these smart bill-lowering tactics, and watch your cell phone bill get a whole lot smaller.

When It's Time to Destroy Debt, Start With a Goal

I'm doing a 90-day series on air and online to help people destroy debt. My first installment concerns the single most important thing you can do: establish goals. Read and watch f

5 Reasons Tax Prep Software May Be Right for You

I’ve been doing my own taxes for about 5 years now. Even as my needs have changed (I’ve gone from a simple 1040EZ to a more complex small business partnership structure), I’ve fou

How to Use Up Remaining Balances on Prepaid Gift Cards

Looking in my wallet, there are no less than 5 prepaid debit or gift cards hiding at any one time.

Best Money Tips: Tax Day Freebies

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips roundup. Today, we give you some tax-time freebies to