In response to my life insurance post, a reader emailed to ask whether I’d recommend life insurance for children. In general, no. When my husband was a baby, his mom bought a Gerber children’s life insurance plan to cover funeral expenses if he died. He continued to pay for this $10,000 coverage well into his …
Yesterday, Good Morning America featured a story explaining how you buy a house for half price. They kept touting it as half-off or 50% off. Except it wasn’t. At one point they did explain that the homes were 50% from their last sold price at the real estate peak. But that doesn’t mean the house …
That Makes Me Stabby: These Houses are NOT Half-Off Read More »
My husband and I have received several thousand dollars in windfalls during the last few months and expect a few more in the coming months. While it may seem like we’re extraordinarily lucky, the truth is we created situations that made them possible, and then did our best to ensure we received them. Here’s what …
How to Invite Financial Windfalls into Your Life Read More »
Summer has officially been over for two weeks. In some areas, fall is in full force. In others, winter is getting ready to make itself known. Now is a great time to perform five home maintenance tasks, and save yourself potential trouble this winter. Check Weatherstripping on Windows and Door Frames Check the weatherstripping around …
We’re in the home stretch for the emergency preparedness documents series. The second to last items you need to prepare your financial backups and tax forms. These are relatively easy to prepare and store. Financial Records Backup You should backup your important financial documents at least once a month. Statements are easy to order if …
The Documents You Need: Financial Back-Ups and Tax Forms Read More »
I’ve written many, many posts on affordable holidays and holiday shopping. Why I even compiled an entire e-book on the topic. But, if you’re revving up for a big shop, here are my five quick tips for keeping your holiday shopping affordable. Carry Your List with You at ALL Times Put your Christmas gift list in your wallet or …
Shoppers Start Your Engines: 5 Quick Holiday Shopping Tips Read More »
As you know, my husband and I are looking for our first house. Right now is a tricky time to buy, especially in the Los Angeles market. If you’re in the market or thinking about it, it’s not a bad time to buy. Just be prepared for the frustrations, and probably to get a little …
Unless you grow all your own food, you’ve probably noticed that our groceries are shrinking, but the prices aren’t. I’m not thrilled by this development. What’s the cause of this phenomenon and what can you do about it? The Shrinking Groceries Phenomenon Products have shrunk in the past. I noticed that Starkist tuna shrank from …
Two years ago, I posted my top 5 budget busters. Now my life has changed a lot, so I’ve got a mostly new set of budget busters. House Want to blow your budget fast? Buy a house. On top of the tens of thousands we spent buying the house (in the form of the down payment), we’ve …
Aren’t frugal bargains the best kind? And no, not all bargains are frugal. If you don’t need the item, then the bargain is a waste of money. For this and other lessons, please turn to this week’s blog carnival roundup. First, the Carnival of Personal Finance #201 hosted by Mighty Bargain Hunter. In addition to my post …
Frugal Bargains for Earth Day – at the Carnivals Read More »
