Be Your Own Consumer Advocate

I’ve never been a fan of getting things you don’t deserve, whether by deception or stealing. But when I purchase a product and it doesn’t live up to my standards, I make it a point to let the company know.

Crappy ways of getting “free” stuff include lying about poor service at a restaurant, returning […]

Save Money on Formula

Our little puddin'

Hello, faithful readers! I’ve been on hiatus, and for good reason: Our little miracle baby arrived five weeks early, on Groundhog Day! Baby Saver didn’t want to wait and impatiently entered the world weighing 4 lbs., 8 oz. and measuring 17 ¾ inches long.

Because of her prematurity, our pediatrician had […]

Balancing Frugality and Fun

When you’re trying to live frugally, it’s hard to get any pleasure out of spending money, since the action goes completely against the grain of your lifestyle. Trust me, I know this from firsthand experience. It pained me to buy maternity clothes (although I was lucky I didn’t have to spend TOO much, as generous […]

Planning for Retirement Requires Sacrifice

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

It’s never too early to plan for your retirement, and sometimes that planning involves sacrifice. Sure, you can spend your money now and enjoy it, but is it really worth it if you’re destitute in the golden years of your life?

Most people who live to a ripe old age […]

When to Refinance Your Mortgage

Mortgage rates continue to be at record lows — as of this writing, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed home mortgage is 4.26% — so many homeowners are probably thinking about refinancing their home mortgages. Is it worth it? Sure, you’ll see an immediate savings on your monthly mortgage payment, but you have […]

Take Control of Your Finances — Today!

Yes, you can take control of your finances. No matter how out of control your debt has spiraled, or how high your interest rates are, or how much you still owe on your school loans. It IS possible. But you have to take the first step and actually do something about it.

The personal finance […]

The Pros and Cons of Online Savings Accounts

This post was written by PT, who blogs about things like savings accounts and the best cash-back credit cards on his blog, PT Money.

I’m a big fan of using online savings accounts to help you save for emergencies or any short-term needs you might have. On the surface, they appear to be just like […]

Adjusting to a New Mortgage Payment

When you buy your first house, there are many expenses to consider when making your budget: fluctuating utility bills and emergency repairs are likely the first things you think of. But something I haven’t considered since we bought our home last year is the increase in the escrow portion of our mortgage due to increasing […]

Being Frugal 100% of the Time Isn’t For Me

I will never be someone who makes her own deodorant like Matt at DIYnatural, or who composts like Mrs. Money at Ultimate Money Blog. That means I won’t even attempt to create sunscreen from scratch. And forget about growing vegetables — the flowers I planted last week are already on their last legs thanks to […]

Freak or Frugalista?

Last night, while washing the crud off the trays from our outdoor grill in the kitchen sink, I accidentally whacked our paper towel holder into the warm, soapy water. It was a brand-new roll of paper towels.

“Shit! Damn it!” I yelled.

Mr. Saver asked what happened, and I told him. He laughed at me […]