It’s nearing the time when I’ll have to buy a new car, so I’ve been comparing fuel economy ratings on various cars. Some of the estimates are much lower from the original mileage estimates for my current car, which seemed odd. Then I remembered that the EPA issued new gas mileage ratings. I looked into …
Surprise! Your Car Gets Worse Gas Mileage Than You Thought Read More »
It’s been almost three months since I transplanted my tomato seedlings into the garden. The plants are still growing. Two are four feet tall and still growing. The third is also tall, but I suspect it has a virus and I’m going to have to pull it. Harvesting My First Tomato I have my first striped Roman …
The Tomato Project: Part 3 – I Have Achieved Tomato! Read More »
This year we’ve all vowed to cut back on Christmas. Stores have quietly changed their stock from super-expensive whirly-gigs to the more traditional gifts and decorations (with some tackiness remaining.) These same stores are expecting lower traffic, and more people are looking for ways to share the joy without opening their wallets. Pare Down the …
Tradition dictates that you must have a glass of bubbly in your hand when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. However, that bubbly doesn’t necessarily have to be true champagne. Instead, you can be a friend to your budget and find some affordable options that will still taste good. We’ll start with a …
This week we’re offering a special deal: three blog carnivals for the price of one admission. There’s no need to choose, your ticket is good for all of them. First up, the Carnival of Personal Finance #139. In addition to my post on saving money on books , you’ll enjoy BeingFrugal.net’s post on Seven Things Women Wish Men Knew …
If we learn anything from the Haiti disaster, it’s that they can happen anywhere, anytime. According to NPR, most Haitians didn’t realize they lived in an earthquake zone. Given the poverty of the country, there probably isn’t anything the people could have done to prevent the destruction even if they had known. We can’t always …
This week, the Carnival of Personal Finance and the Festival of Frugality are facing off in the mother of all battles: the Superbowl of Personal Finance. We have two great teams fighting it out. On one side: Carnival of Personal Finance #138 at I’ve Paid for This Twice Already. I’m a secondary on the defensive line. On …
I hate shopping. I hate it any time of year, but I especially hate it at Christmas. The stores are crowded, everyone’s in a frenzy, parking’s a hassle, and it’s hard to find anything. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have to shop. To save time and my sanity, I came up with a few …
Save Time and Your Sanity with 12 Christmas Shopping Tips Read More »
A decade ago, sample sales were known only to fashion insiders and were a great way to score amazing deals on last season’s clothing. Now that the sales are announced far and wide on the internet, they’re not such a great deal anymore, although it is still possible to find good deals if you know …
It started slowly with concerns about rising food and energy costs. Next came the mortgage meltdown. Finally, news coverage reported that more than half of Americans plan to use their rebate checks to pay down debt or boost savings. Now, I’m seeing car commercials that encourage people to pay off their credit cards. Is frugality …
