Money Tips Network

6 Little Stressors You Can Easily Eliminate Today

Stress is how we respond to life's challenges. And since life always throws us curveballs (especially if you're a Baltimore Oriole gunning for a World Series title… I'll get over the shutout eventually), a completely stress-free life might never happen.

Ask the Readers: Have you tried the Get Rich Slowly Forum?

This article is by editor Linda Vergon.

There’s a tab up at the far right of the Get Rich Slowly website called “Forums.” I wonder if you’ve had a chance to visit. It’s where you (and a lot of other people) can join in with a crowd of like-minded and dedicated individuals to ask a question about your own personal financial situation and get an actual answer back.

Who moderates the Forum?

JerichoHill, kombat, and bpgui have been involved in the day-to-day business of the forum for many years, and they respond to many of the entries personally. They are each very knowledgeable about personal finance – but, interestingly, they come to the subject of personal finance from three different disciplines: JerichoHill is an economist, kombat is a computer programmer, and bpgui is an attorney.

What’s happening at the Forum?

7 Things the Craziest Christmas Fanatics Do

For many of us, Christmas is a time of joy, laughter, and making merry. It's Christmas decorations, festive foods, cards, presents, and family time. But some people just want more. They cannot get enough of the season of giving, and go out of their way to go way above and beyond.

A better metric for comparing products on Amazon

A few weeks ago, my PC of a number of years began warning me to replace my hard disk drive soon. That in itself is pretty cool. (Not that my disk drive was failing, but that the operating system warned me before it actually did!)

Rather than replace the hard drive, I opted for an updated computer.  I have a daughter entering her teen years faster than I’d like, and I want to postpone her passing me with the tech as long as possible.

Customer Reviews:  More than meets the eye

As with most things on Amazon, there are choices.  Boy are there choices!  After doing a small bit of research based on what I had hoped to use the computer for, a gaming machine seemed to be a good compromise between cost and performance.  (My main use for the machine isn’t gaming, actually!)

5 Ways to Keep Your Credit Cards Safe During the Holidays

The hack at Target that stole credit and debit card information from 40 million Americans happened just a year ago. If you want to avoid having your information stolen by hackers or garden variety thieves while shopping online, there are some smart steps you can take.

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.

DIY Distressed Wood Mantel – Get The Rustic Look For Less

I am a huge fan of DIY projects – especially DIY projects that save me money.  Brian from the The Wildman Project youtube channel created this awesome DIY Distressed Wood Mantel and it looks great.

He was able to create the look of distressed wood, with just a few tools and some lumber from a big-box store.  Awesome.

If you are interested in tackling a similar project, I have included links and a materials list below the video.

Brian uses a belt sander in the video.  I don’t have one of those – so I used a random orbital sander.  I simply held it at a slight angle to the surface of the wood, to create the dips that you see in the video.  If you have the patience – sandpaper wrapped around a piece of scrap wood would work just fine.

Best Deals for Thursday 12/18/14

Link for teaser title: 

http://www.wisebread.com/bestdeals/today

eBay Last Minute Gifts Sale: Up to 93% off, JCPenney Holiday Huge Sale: Up to 80% off, Maidenform Women's Bras at...

10 Things in Your Pantry That Don't Last as Long as You Think

There's kind of a general assumption that "non-perishable" food means that it'll last forever.

Naked With Cash: Brian, 2014 Wrapup

Naked With Cash is an ongoing series at Consumerism Commentary in which readers share their households’ finances with other readers. These participants benefit from the accountability that comes from tracking their finances publicly and the feedback of the four expert Certified Financial Planners (CFPs).

For more information, read this introduction.

Mick Jagger Rarely Buys New and 4 Other Smart Money Lessons From Thrifty Musicians

If you listen to entertainment gossip, you'd believe that most musicians don't know what they're doing with their money.

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.

10 Financial Moves You Can Make During Your Commute

Let's be honest: commuting stinks. I spend more than an hour each way into work every day, and I often feel like it's a waste of time. But I've also learned that the time can be very valuable, if I use it smartly.

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.

5 Signs You Were Raised by Parents With Bad Social Skills

Do you have bad social skills? Chances are you inherited your habits from your parents. I'm speaking from personal experience here, as my mom and dad will tell you they aren't the most socially gifted in the bunch.

7 Overpriced Holiday Gifts You Should Skip

Even the most frugal of shoppers can become very loose with their hard-earned money when it comes to getting gifts for loved ones around the holidays. But, just because they've asked for it, it doesn't mean you should throw down a ton of money to get it.

What is the last day to ship before Christmas?

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.

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.

A Plan To Increase Our Savings Account Balance

At one time – after getting out of debt and before we purchased our new home – we had enough cash in our savings account for six months’ worth of expenses.  We dipped into our savings account when we purchased our home, to purchase new appliances and some furniture.

The time has come to rebuild our savings account balance.  We have created the following plan to increase our savings:

We set a goal.

Our goal is to stash six months’ worth of expenses in our savings account.  We took a look at our budget, removed any obvious unnecessary categories, and then used that amount to calculate our savings goal.