The number one New Year’s resolution is to lose weight. The first few weeks of January are past and a lot of people are sticking to that resolution. I’m on a double diet. I’m trying to lose weight and control spending. It’s turning into a real challenge. For many, dieting is synonymous with eating healthier [...]
There are a lot of ways that you can save significant amounts of money by prudently marshalling your resources and spending wisely. Many of our topics suggest ways that savvy consumers can save tremendous amounts of money over time, whether by going without certain products or services, or by cutting back on certain purchases. Although [...]
The people around me are struggling with cut hours and layoffs, and cutting back on finances is only part of the effect. My friends are suddenly finding themselves with less to do. More time with the kids is good, but when the kids are in school — watching TV only has so much interest, until [...]
Over the years I have used many techniques to keep my finances in order and work toward my goals. Some methods have worked better than others, but I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and I’m willing to try anything that sounds reasonable. About two years ago, I tried financial journaling for the first [...]
Romance doesn’t come wrapped in red foil and stuffed in a heart – shaped box. Chocolate is nice but not the best idea for someone watching their weight. And while we’re on that subject; one size does not fit all, so be careful buying clothes for your loved one. When it comes to making a [...]
It has happened again. Because of the ailing economy, my local television news is reporting another story on how to save money. Very helpful, yes, but what got my ire up was the tone of the broadcast. This particular story detailed the local rise in people shopping at thrift stores. The report left me with [...]
[Disclaimer: Yes, I know that the characters in books and on TV are fictitious. In this article I'm not trying to say that these people are "real" in any way. I'm merely using them as an example to make a point. So no, I'm not nuts enough to really believe that these people live real [...]
My most recent “real” job was working for a large publishing company. My employer’s total annual sales exceeded $6 billion. Needless to say, that gave my employer a great deal of clout when it came to negotiating contracts for employee benefits. For example, we had a great health insurance program, generous dental insurance and very [...]
One of the truths of getting older is that it takes a lot more work to maintain one’s fitness as compared to when we were younger. Not only do you need to be serious about watching what you eat, but what you eat is more likely to stick to unwanted places. Thus, began my search [...]
I wrote earlier how to minimize shipping costs of by purchasing a digital scale, skipping the post office, avoiding Stamps.com’s printable stamps, buying old stamps from eBay, and using free online tools. Here are six more ways to keep your shipping costs down. Take advantage of free USPS supplies: If you’re sending items via USPS [...]
