Electronic Equipment for Less: Too Good to Be True?
Electronics are a blessing and a curse to us. They can help us to waste our time, but they can save time too. We're capable of sharing photos, recording television programs, and earning college credits in our living rooms, but the price for it is expressed in dollar signs.
Reporting Errors on Your Credit Card Bills
How many of us notice errors on our credit card bills? If you're like most people, you look at the total amount due, and you scan the companies that placed charges on your account.
Choosing the Best and Cheapest DVR Option
Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) can make your television viewing much more enjoyable. No more rushing home to catch the first few minutes of your program, no more phone calls that make you miss the final event in the plotline. Record your program and fear not.
As schools suffer through budget cuts, fundraisers become even more important. Yet everyone is cutting back, and purchasing wrapping paper, candy, or raffle tickets isn't in the budget.
It's not the best news that you've heard when your auto mechanic tells you to replace your car's tires. It's essential, and it's a several hundred dollars investment. Is there a way to save on the new tires?
With the growing popularity of genealogical research comes an onslaught of get rich quick salesmen. People often jump at the opportunity to own a digital copy of a map, a photo, or a letter that ties into their family history.
For those who live in a nice warm climate that doesn't shift for the seasons, the coming of winter brings significantly fewer chores. However, those who live in changing climates can save some money by completing a few pre-winter chores.
Homeopathic Care for Aged Animals
After a recent trip to the vet, we had a tough decision to make: pay exorbitant bills for pain medication for our dog, or take him home and deal with it ourselves. Our pup is well beyond his spry years and his arthritis is causing problems.
Generations ago, our grandparents threw away nothing. Only the very worn and useless items found their ways into the trash. They repurposed everything. Yet, today our things have become disposable.
The old adage "If you want it done right, do it yourself" carries significant merit in the frugal times of a frail economy. Donate some time to completing three tasks yourself, and you'll save money every time. Not enough time?
The idea of the college loan is that tuition is covered while studying, and most loans only ask for repayment after graduation. For some loans, interest isn't calculated until repayment begins, again often after graduation.
There really is no such thing as an "all-inclusive vacation", because no one could include everything. However, some vacations claim to have everything, and then sneak some charges in the package. Cruise vacations are one of them.
For the average person, selling used items is easy and generates a pleasing profit. Whether you opt to organize a yard sale, advertise in the newspaper, or sell online, you'll most likely earn enough money to go out to dinner but not enough to make a car payment.
Many claim that the "green movement" isn't as green as it claims. True, many green options rob Peter to pay Paul. Bamboo flooring is an example. While it surpasses hardwood flooring in its regeneration, the farming of bamboo is not necessarily done in the greenest of fashions.
Recycling relieves the environment of a burden, but can it ever be harmful? Is there a way to recycle wrong? It's not necessarily the recycling that can be incorrect; it's the steps leading up to the act of recycling that can cause more harm than good.
A walk down the framing aisle of a department store reinforces the known expense of designer frames. Some small but beautiful frames costs $16 or more. However, they are easily made by both adults and children for minimal prices.
I decided to conduct an experiment in gambling, and I learned a few strategies that give a green light to gambling entertainment for the less than die hard gambler.
Kids love to start collections, but these collections can get too pricey. The latest collecting fad for kids hardly has the intention of keeping a parent's wallet full. However, there are many things that children can collect that aren't pricey but are fun.
Once upon a time a parent could walk a child to a sports field and sign him up for a season of baseball without costing a penny. Like the days of $0.50 hot dogs at ballparks, it's no more. Youth sports programs today can cost parents $100 per child.
If you're not afraid of refinishing, repairing, or re-purposing battered antiques, then you have a gold mine awaiting you at the next swap meet.
With the availability of online news, why pay for it to be delivered? I was surprised at how quickly I had an answer to this question. I would pay to have it delivered because I could turn the cost around, and ultimately get the hard copies of the newspaper for free.
When purchasing a large appliance, there is often a store or manufacturer's rebate attached. What many don't realize, however, is that there are more rebates waiting to be taken.
American Express paid for my son's vacation. Seriously? Yes, the focused and frugal can manipulate credit card rewards to their benefit. Of course, without dedication and restraint you'll fall into the trap that the credit companies created.
Do I Need to Insure My Credit Cards?
Calls to a credit card company often involve a brief speech offering various services affiliated with the card. Accumulating debt is bad enough, but paying interest on the debt and then paying to insure that debt is a poor financial decision.
