Re-landscaping Your Way to Savings

April 23, 2014

My friend Daniel took advantage of a recent promotion sponsored by his local water department that offered homeowners $2 per square foot of grass that was removed and replaced with drought-tolerant plants and groundcover.  The promotion initially caught the attention of his wife who was tired of staring at their perpetually brown, weed-filled lawn.  After some investigation, they realized that the cost of tearing out the “lawn” and replacing it with approved groundcover was going to cost more than the $2 per square foot being offered, but when they factored in the money they would save by not having to pay a gardener ($70 a month) and by not having to use as much water on the lawn, they decided to move ahead. Continue reading “Re-landscaping Your Way to Savings”

Spring Break Isn’t Just for College Kids

March 25, 2014

These next few weeks make up the peak time for spring break at many colleges so many of the students flock to the beaches of Florida.  But they aren’t the only ones flocking to the warm weather and beautiful beaches. There are also Blue Jays, Orioles, and Cardinals – but not the feathered type.  March brings baseball fans of all ages down to Florida to watch the Grapefruit League during spring training.  Continue reading “Spring Break Isn’t Just for College Kids”

Hidden Benefits of a Healthy Smile

March 04, 2014

I’ve just returned from my 6 month dental check-up with a thumbs up from Dr. Tom – no cavities! Even for a dentist, Dr. Tom has the brightest, straightest smile I have ever seen. Having a healthy smile goes much deeper than just being able to flash his pearly whites though. A healthy mouth and healthy body go hand in hand. Good oral hygiene and oral health can improve your overall health, reducing the risk of serious disease and perhaps even preserving your memory in your golden years, according to WebMD.  Nice teeth can also positively affect your confidence, self-image, and self-esteem too. Continue reading “Hidden Benefits of a Healthy Smile”

What A Concert Festival Can Teach About Your Budget

February 21, 2014

One of the things that makes me happier than anything in the world are the relationships I have with my children. As a proud dad, I’d like to believe that I have three absolutely amazing kids. And, I’ve been told by many people over the last 18 years that my view is fairly close to reality.   Continue reading “What A Concert Festival Can Teach About Your Budget”

And I Thought I Was Living a Low Cost Lifestyle…

February 07, 2014

One of the things that gives me a little bit of a smile is knowing that I can make a dollar stretch pretty far. I’m pretty good at either saying NO to myself and not spending money or finding great bargains and saving a lot of money. That translates into me being able to live on not a whole lot of money. At least I thought so… Continue reading “And I Thought I Was Living a Low Cost Lifestyle…”

Cold Days Put the Heat on Energy Costs

February 04, 2014

Old man winter must not have gotten the memo about global warming since we’ve seen the coldest month of the century this January. Many cities saw recordbreaking subzero temperatures and as the temperature dropped outside, propane gas prices were rising, in some cases rising by 50%.  For families that rely on propane for their home heating, this blast of cold air has burned a hole in their budget.  Continue reading “Cold Days Put the Heat on Energy Costs”

Go Simple. Go Small. Go Now.

February 03, 2014

A lot of people have asked me how my wife and I are able to live together and travel around on a small, simple boat only 25 feet long. It’s true that it’s not a lot of space and doesn’t have many creature comforts. And when it comes to boats, there’s always something bigger and fancier with more complex systems to tempt you.   Continue reading “Go Simple. Go Small. Go Now.”

New Year’s Eve Traditions Can Be Costly

December 31, 2013

Have you ever dreamed of spending New Year’s Eve watching the ball drop in Times Square? Well, you’d be ringing in the new year as you empty out your wallet.  A Times Square Official NYE Party Pass will set you back over $250 and the few hours you’ll spend in your hotel room will cost a bare minimum of $329 according to hotels.com . Continue reading “New Year’s Eve Traditions Can Be Costly”

A Dream Wedding or Tax Nightmare?

October 11, 2013

I recently had the opportunity to speak with a wonderful young lady who considered herself very lucky to have won a “Dream Wedding” from a bridal magazine contest. Having a daughter in college, it sometimes crosses my mind that I’ve seen her go from preschool through entering college and her next milestones could be getting her first job in the “real world,” getting married (hopefully not any time soon!) and becoming a mother (hopefully VERY far down the road….). So when talking with this “bride to be” and hearing that she won a $100,000 dream wedding, I was incredibly happy for her.  Continue reading “A Dream Wedding or Tax Nightmare?”

It Never Hurts to Ask: How to Negotiate a Better Deal

September 11, 2013

About a year ago, I wrote a blog post on the importance of being assertive when it comes to managing your finances. People’s unwillingness to simply ask for more —financially speaking— has always been a pet peeve of mine.  Whether it’s buying a car or bargaining at a garage sale, it never hurts to ask for a lower price or for a better deal, yet somehow as consumers we have been conditioned to just accept the price set by merchants without question; something that gets financial talk-show host Dave Ramsey up in arms. Continue reading “It Never Hurts to Ask: How to Negotiate a Better Deal”

5 Savvy Ways to Save on Back to School Supplies

August 16, 2013

As summer winds to a close every year, I dig deep into my money-saving strategies to help keep those pesky back-to-school supplies affordable, and this year I decided to dig even deeper to try and uncover a few new strategies. Where I live in Georgia, school is already back in session and after having tracked my savings to date, I’ve purchased roughly $275 worth of school supplies for an approximate out-of-pocket cost of $38. To educate yourself on how to take a big bite out of what’s typically a costly expense, read on. Continue reading “5 Savvy Ways to Save on Back to School Supplies”

Cabo for $399?

August 13, 2013

I got a call from a friend this weekend who wanted me to join her for a Mexican vacation.  She’d just booked a deal that was a one day only special so I’d need to act fast! For just $399, my husband and I could stay at a luxury resort in Cabo San Lucas for 5 nights.  Even better, it was all inclusive with food, drinks, and entertainment for BOTH of us at that one low price. But there’s just one small catch – I’d have to take a timeshare tour.  Continue reading “Cabo for $399?”

The Case Against “Moderation”

August 01, 2013

In this blog post, Michael makes the argument for a moderate middle ground between a couple he knows that are living well beyond their means and another couple he read about in this article that managed to pay off their mortgage in less than 5  years. While paying off your mortgage early may seem like a great thing, Michael worries that the couple may look back on this time of their lives with regret at all the things they didn’t do with that money. I don’t and here’s why. Continue reading “The Case Against “Moderation””

Don’t Let a Loss of Income Be a Loss of Hope

July 31, 2013

Every once in a while, we receive a phone call from a person that is in real dire straits when it comes to their financial circumstances. Recently, I experienced just such a call. Frank is a plumber that is temporarily out of work because of injury, and the loss of income was proving to be too much for his household.  The bills were beginning to pile up, and it wouldn’t be long before services would be lost and creditors would start calling. Continue reading “Don’t Let a Loss of Income Be a Loss of Hope”

Pack Your Bags For a Destination Wedding

July 30, 2013

Instead of leaving your wedding guests behind at the reception hall as you head to the airport for your honeymoon with cans dragging behind the limo,  consider dragging your guests along to your honeymoon destination with you. Take a cue from my niece and start your honeymoon early by having your wedding where you’d like to vacation. This month, 85 of us will all be traveling to Virginia Beach to witness her marriage on the sand.  Continue reading “Pack Your Bags For a Destination Wedding”

In All Things, Moderation

July 26, 2013

To borrow a line from Dickens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…” The title of A Tale Of Two Cities really hit me as I read this article about a couple who paid off their mortgage in less than 5 years.  They made a lot of changes/sacrifices in their financial life in order to pay off their mortgage and be totally debt free in a short period of time. They are being very frugal, looking for ways to trim their cost of living and putting off instant gratification and some “fun” right now in favor of getting totally out of debt and putting into place a lifestyle that would require only minimal incomes to sustain.  This is a family that is taking financial independence and financial security VERY seriously.  Continue reading “In All Things, Moderation”

The Dog Days of Summer: Don’t Let Boredom Get in the Way of Your Budget

July 26, 2013

After a week off, I’m officially back in the office, sitting at my desk and staring at a checking account that looks a lot different than it did before I left for summer vacation. What I mean to say is … the numbers I’m looking at are much smaller. Given that I’m no longer in school, summer vacation is essentially over for me, and the “dog days of summer” – and the sweltery boredom that often coincides with the end of the season – are officially beginning to set in….Augh. Continue reading “The Dog Days of Summer: Don’t Let Boredom Get in the Way of Your Budget”

How to Really Reward Yourself for Hard Work

July 07, 2013
While at the bus stop this morning, I overheard a woman talking about how whenever she gets a paycheck, she makes sure to pay herself first. I was intrigued since I’ve often heard that “paying yourself first” means putting some money from your paycheck into savings before you’re tempted to spend it all and not have anything left  As she continued however, she explained that to her, paying herself first meant immediately using a portion of every paycheck to buy herself things.  “You see, you gotta reward yourself,” she concluded, for going to work. Continue reading “How to Really Reward Yourself for Hard Work”

We All Make Mistakes

July 05, 2013

My daughter and I took a trip together and I let her be our DJ and choose all of the music while we were in the car together. Well, almost all of the music. There are a few songs I had to ask to skip, I just couldn’t stand them!  Continue reading “We All Make Mistakes”

5 Ideas for a Frugal Summer Vacation

June 28, 2013

Now that summer has officially begun, it’s time to start thinking about your summer vacation. If a week at Disney World or a jaunt to a classy beach resort is on your radar, you’re probably looking at a serious expenditure so unless your finances are in tip-top shape, you may be better off exploring some less expensive options. By putting in some research and getting just a little creative, you can uncover plenty of great summer vacation options that won’t crush your bank account. Start with these five helpful tips: Continue reading “5 Ideas for a Frugal Summer Vacation”