Money Tips Network

Sure, you can get low hotel rates by shopping around on several websites. But if you're the type of traveler who's willing to spend a bit more time for greater savings, there are other ways to get better deals. These three hotel booking methods take some time and effort, but you'll gain access to exclusive hotel rates. (See also: How to Book an Amazing Cheap Travel Package)

Flash Sales

As the name suggests, a flash sale has a time limit, so you'll have to make up your mind quickly. Depending on the deal, the flash sale may only last for a couple of hours, although some flash sale deals remain available for a few days.

You can find flash sale hotel deals on several dedicated travel private sale websites.

When my husband and I bought our first home, I was glued to all those television DIY shows. There were so many things we wanted to do to our starter space, and the Internet hadn't yet exploded with tutorials and inspiration boards. Now? Any and every project you could ever want to do can be found with a quick search. (Related: 25 Cheap and Easy Fixes That Make Your House Look Great)

Here are some of the best home and decor improvements even novices can tackle.

One of the interesting parts of running a popular website like The Simple Dollar is that you get to see the terms that people type into Google when they’re searching for your site. So, if someone types “money management” into Google and then eventually click on my site somewhere in the results for that term, it can be seen in the site statistics.

I love looking at these terms because they often give me clues as to what people want to see on the site. I’m not so much interested in the popular terms – if 100 people type in a particular term and find The Simple Dollar, I know I’m covering it well.

What I’m interested in are the search terms that have just one or two results. Those search strings often tell a story… and they often stick right into my heart. Some examples:

in debt scared help
how do i fix finances?
need help repaying debt

This article is by staff writer William Cowie.

A short while ago, our readers were asked (talking about your personal financial journey) “What is the next step?” J.D. offered an answer in his 2009 article: the third stage is… investing.

Why?

Why invest? In life, you can get income from only two sources:

I hate awkward moments. I hate them so much that I cringe when people in a movie or a book enter into a situation that I know is going to end up awkwardly.

This loathing of all things awkward means that, for years, I didn't talk to my extended family about money. I didn't indicate to them how my kids and I were doing, when we needed money, when we didn't, and when things they did affected me financially. I just kept quiet. (See also: The Right Thing to Say in 20 Tough Situations)

Who says you need to pay a premium for designer goods? There are ways to get around the sticker price on the latest in fashion and beauty, if you know where to look. Here's a look at Wantable.

About Wantable

Wantable is a company that aims to match you up with accessories, makeup, or intimates you're sure to love. For $40 a box, or $36 for a monthly subscription, their in-house and guest stylists will select a number of designer and boutique products based on your answers to their easy-peasy style quiz. If you don't like what you get, simply return the whole box for a full refund.

Recently, I made the difficult decision to leave my primary care physician of nearly 20 years.

Finding a replacement seemed daunting. But some digital sleuthing and real-life conversations helped me with this process. At our first meeting, my newly vetted physician quickly resolved nagging problems, showing me that mutual understanding can happen even in young relationships. If you are ready for a change or have been forced by circumstances to find a new physician, here are ways to vet your doctor:

What’s inside? Here are the questions answered in today’s reader mailbag, boiled down to five word summaries. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question.
1. Parents and gifts
2. Balance transfer question
3. Best free children’s educational programs
4. Non-monthly budget items
5. Acorns?
6. Product codes
7. Mortgage strategy
8. Frustrated with sister’s family
9. Clothes overload!

This post is by staff writer Honey Smith.

Especially for those of us like me who are in the midst of the long, hard slog of debt pay-down, staying motivated can be tough. How do you keep your excitement up and your determination high when financial independence is barely visible on the horizon? Here are some methods for staying the course when your goals will take months or years (heck, even decades) to achieve.

1. Keep your goal visible.

This is one you tip with which you may be familiar. Let’s say your goal is to move someplace tropical when you “retire” (sarcastic quote marks because there are so many definitions of retirement). However, even early retirement is years or decades away. How can you keep your goal at the forefront of your mind? Turns out there are plenty of ways!