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Summer is here, and with it, the muggy, unbearable heat. Fortunately, summer temperatures don’t have to equal unmanageable electric bills, because there are several ways to stay cool without breaking the bank. (more…)

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If you knew that coupon cutting could earn you $20 per hour, would you sit down on Sunday afternoons to do it? Many Americans have made this adjustment to their weekend schedules, doing what they can to pinch pennies and save help their families out. It’s official: cutting coupons is in again. (more…)

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If your water bills are rising, it’s time to follow some of these water-saving and money-saving tips from Yahoo Finance: (more…)

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While most conventional wisdom has long said you should start saving money as soon as you start earning it - because over time, it will compound and be much more valuable when you reach retirement age - there are also people who say that you’re better off not stressing too much and just saving later when your income is higher. An article at Yahoo Finance looked at both sides of the coin and came up with these points to think about: (more…)

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If you’re one of the 4 million Social Security or Supplemental Security Income recipients in the United States without a bank account, you have a new option in place for receiving your monthly payments. Instead of receiving a monthly check, the government is now prepared to disburse Social Security payments on prepaid debit cards. (more…)

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If you’re a little bit organized, a good planner and flexible, you can easily save $100 a week on your grocery shopping for a family of four. Laura Rowley’s tips focus on using (and organizing) coupons, following some key websites and doing a reasonable amount of planning ahead. Some of her most interesting tips include: (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…)