photo credit: Darren Hester

With food, gas, and other prices on the rise, families across the country, and the world, have taken creative steps to lighten their financial load. It can be a challenge, at times, to reduce the budget while keeping the fun factor high, but many families have made the switch, and their experiences can help us all to be a bit more frugal. (more…)

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Does the idea of afternoon picnics, barefoot walks through the park, museum visits, lazy mornings spent in bed, and refreshing swimming fit the bill for your next family vacation? But does the thought of how much it’ll cost make you want to run and hide? If so, reconsider your vacation plans, and take a “staycation,” a vacation where you stay at home. (more…)

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These days it’s getting to be that every cent you can save on gas is a blessing. But one way to help your wallet feel a little better in the midst of skyrocketing gas prices is to adopt a few more fuel-efficient driving habits, like these: (more…)

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You’ve probably heard someone from an older generation say “We didn’t need to spend all that money in my day”. The annoying thing is that they’re probably right, and we’ve dug our own financial hole by turning new luxuries into “necessities” in modern life. A Yahoo finance story recently listed a dozen items that have become essential to the lives of many Americans, but definitely fit the bill of things that weren’t needed at all a few decades ago. (more…)

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If you’re trying to save money, stop for a second and add up how much you have spent on dining out in the last month. Most people are shocked when they start adding up restaurant and take-away bills, but eating out is an easy habit to get into - it’s quick, easy and delicious. But it’s also expensive, so if you’re on a budget and want to save some extra cash, you really need to get into the habit of cooking your own meals at least most of the time. (more…)

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As food prices soar to unmanageable levels, one of your best friends should be weekly coupons and, even more often, websites aimed at saving you food money. Instead of spending the American average of $3,240 yearly, spending a bit of time each week researching grocery deals could save you a significant amount. (more…)

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Money isn’t everything. Most of us can grasp this concept, although we might have difficulty applying it in real life, where money seems pretty important to make sure we have a roof over our head, food to eat … and lots of gadgets and gizmos to play with. A recent article at Yahoo Finance reinforces the idea that money doesn’t buy happiness. And there are a few interesting reasons why this is the case: (more…)

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Of course, you have to spend money on getting to and from work, or you won’t end up earning your income, right? That’s true, but there are many ways that you can try to reduce this necessary expense. Here are a few tips: (more…)

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Global warming, eco-products, and Earth Day are familiar to all of us, but many times, we don’t know where to start. But the truth is, we can each start small — very small — and make a dent in our own gas and energy bills at the same time. (more…)