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Saving Money

How to Save Money as a Student Without Working

There’s no dispute - college is costly! A recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that a whopping 44.7 million Americans still have outstanding student debt. And it’s no surprise why: college tuition and rent cost a lot of money. To top that off, it’s hard to take up a job when you’re a student. Sure you could wait tables for minimum wage, but…
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Cars Insurance

What is Multi-Car Insurance and Do You Need It?

If you've been looking into car insurance policies lately and trying to figure out what kind of coverage you need for the best protection, then you might have found yourself considering the benefits of multi-car insurance. Multi-car insurance is one of the most common insurance options in the UK today, and it offers protection for up to five cars on the same policy. Most of the time, a…
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Groceries and Food

Avoid Wasting Milk with These Substitions

I don’t drink milk or eat cereal, and neither does my husband, so it’s tough for us to use up milk before it goes bad. We do now buy a half-gallon every other week, but it’s used entirely for yogurt, leaving none for other purposes. That’s fine with me. Over the years, I’ve found several milk substitutes that are great for cooking and baking. Lactose-Free Milk I used…
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Debt and Loans

What Happens if You Default on Student Loans

In addition to some people opting to walk away from their mortgages, the temptation to default on student loans is growing. Unfortunately, defaulting on student loans can have even worse consequences than defaulting on a mortgage. So, let’s go over what will happen if you default, and options for avoiding default. What Qualifies as Default? The government gives you many chances to keep up on your student loans. You only…
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Taxes

What to Do with a Tax Refund

Tax refunds have started rolling in. Although the IRS told us not to expect our until mid-April, they actually sent it already. I quickly transferred that baby to our savings account where it will earn a few pennies until we start buying furniture. This year’s refund is expected to average $3036. So what should you do with it? Here are a few tips: Pay Off Debt If you…
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Saving Money

Unfrugality of the Week – I Got a Droid

So, it finally happened. I committed the most unfrugal act of getting a smartphone. However, I still managed to squeeze a bit of frugality into it, even though it’s a big budget change. Not only did I buy a smartphone, but I had to break my current contract and pay a $70 termination fee to do it! However, buying my husband a replacement phone for four months would…
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That Makes Me Stabby

That Makes Me Stabby: The Handbag as Investment

When the economy was humming along, fashion magazines liked to tout high-priced accessories like shoes and handbags, or even whole outfits, as “investment pieces.” I don’t care how rare or expensive a piece of clothing is, it’s not an investment. It will likely not increase in value over time. The mere suggestion that it will makes me stabby. What makes me even more stabby is that some designers are…
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Groceries and Food

No Garden? Try a Community Garden

Yesterday I talked about setting up a garden share day, for you home gardeners. But what if you don’t have a home? Condo and apartment dwellers can still enjoy the gardening experience. You just need to join a community garden. True, you won’t be able to plant some of the larger items like fruit trees, but you can grow flowers, berries, and vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes in your very…
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Credit Cards

Get a Free Credit Report if the Bank Cancels Your Credit Card

Last week I got a letter from Chase informing me that they were canceling my former Washington Mutual card. The result? A free credit report! The Initial Shock of Having a Card Canceled I’ve had several credit cards canceled due to inactivity over the last year or two. I didn’t find out about the gas card or several of the store cards until I tried to update my address when…
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