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6 Steps to a Simple, Nonmaterialistic Life

Six easy steps you can take, starting today, to live a more simple and debt-free life  Live Below Your Means Did you know that the average American spends $1.25 for each dollar he or she actually earns? Scary isn’ it? We live in a culture where living above your means is so normal, so casual, that we don’t even realize it. Create a budget and aim to live below your means, not above. Value Usefulness Over Status The clothes we choose, the cars we drive, the homes we live in and the electronics we carry sometimes are often purchased for … Continue reading →

Frugal Is as Frugal Does

Life may be a like a box of chocolates, but for the really frugal minded, those chocolates were half price and purchased with a coupon. Pick a random group of 25 people and ask them what it means to be frugal and how they make choices to be good stewards of their money. Chances are that you will get a lot of different answers all across the board concerning frugality and saving money. It tends to mean different things to different people. I recently read an article in a national women’s magazine about a family that decided to be frugal, … Continue reading →

The Spending Diet Game Plan

Lose the extra weight from your budget by putting your spending habits on a diet. At the end of the month, you’ll have extra money that you can use to pay off some outstanding debt, and your budget will be slim and trim. Keep it up for six months or more, and your budget will be healthier than it has ever been. When you diet to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in if you want to be successful. A spending diet is similar, although in this case, you must take in more money than you … Continue reading →

Stress-Free Savings

There isn’t a soul out there who doesn’t relish saving cash. However, many people don’t take advantage of money-saving opportunities because they feel it takes up too much time or energy. For example, my dad refuses to cut coupons as he feels it is a waste of his precious time. What he doesn’t realize is that he could potentially save hundreds of dollars per month by simply sitting in his recliner and working a pair of scissors for a few minutes each week. If coupon cutting or rebate programs are not your cup of tea, then consider modifying your lifestyle … Continue reading →

Spending is Up, but Not Earning

Industry experts are reporting that Americans are tapping into their savings accounts and using credit cards in an increased account of spending in what they are calling a spring shopping spree. It is bringing a little boost to the economy, but these analysts warn that it might not last long, since earning is not keeping up with spending. People are buying everything from new cars to average consumer goods. This in spite of the fact that gasoline prices are way up and the job market is still very tight. In fact, it is predicted that gas prices will go up … Continue reading →

Losing Money from Identity Theft

Here’s something many people don’t know about me: I was the victim of identity theft. It happened less than a decade ago by a guy I worked with. The FBI, as well as local police got involved because the incident crossed state lines. The guy’s motives were beyond sick and he ended up being tried and convicted. Fortunately, I didn’t lose too much financially, though I can’t say the same for the emotional toll it took, especially since I feared for my safety nearly every day after he was caught, arrested, and then freed on bail. According to an identity … Continue reading →

Last-Minute Holiday Money Savers

This is it. With just a few hours left until Christmas morning, there is not much time left to procrastinate. If you’ve been holding out on shopping for gifts because you planned to take advantage of last-minute doorbusters, you may be in for a big surprise. Money experts warn that while some stores claim their last-minute deals are major money savers, in most cases they aren’t. In fact, financial wizards are quick to point out that retailers prey on procrastinators and the amazing deals you think you are scoring are in fact not much bigger than those advertised at any … Continue reading →

Christmas Free-dom

Cheap is good, but free is better. If you are one of the millions of Americans suffering during these tough economic times, Christmas can seem more like a curse than a gift, especially if you don’t have enough money to buy presents for all of your family members and friends. As we enter the last few hours leading up to the big day, don’t allow yourself to be sucked into the abyss of commercialism that overshadows the true meaning of Christmas. Who says holiday presents have to be shiny and expensive? Often, the most treasured gifts are the ones that … Continue reading →

Sorry Junior, the Economy is Hurting

According to a recent report by Bankrate, 49 percent of parents say that they will be spending less on Christmas gifts than they did last year. With fewer bottom basement bargains available this Black Friday (which was really creeping into Black Thursday) and parents who will be spending less this holiday, does this mean that kids will be disappointed on Christmas morning? It is easy to feel guilty or sad if you can’t get your kids certain items on their list. After all, we get the message everywhere that we go. Our kids must have the latest and greatest, or … Continue reading →

Is Layaway Your Way to a Debt Free Holiday?

It is Halloween, and it seems as if holiday merchandise has been creeping its way onto store shelves for about a month now. In fact, today we received a toy catalog from Kmart with images of Christmas trees and jingle bells all over it. The next two months are not only a busy time of year, but they can be expensive too. I have noticed lately that stores like Wal Mart, Kmart, and others are advertising that they now offer layaway. When I was younger (back in the 80’s) I remember seeing signs in the stores for layaway. I do … Continue reading →