One of my favorite things about summer is fresh corn so I’m fortunate to have an Amish neighbor who runs Briar Hollow Farm Market, where I can buy it within walking distance from my house. When I first met the Stoltzfus family, I was amazed at their simple way of living. We can learn a lot from the Amish way of life though. Continue reading “Financial Lessons From the Amish”
The dog days of summer are here and it’s back to school time for millions across America. To a certain degree, I actually enjoy the routine of the school schedule. Like the changing of seasons, there is a sense of familiarity despite the unknowns of what may happen along the journey. Continue reading “Personal Finance Tools for Busy Parents”
Sitting behind my office desk on many fading afternoons, I’ve often daydreamed about a grand adventure, traveling to places far away to explore areas hidden from most other people’s view. But two weeks’ vacation never seemed like enough time to do anything other than rush around and get a superficial overview of where I was going. Maybe you’ve spent similar afternoons feeling the same way. Continue reading “Are You Looking For an Adventure?”
I’ve just hung up the phone after calling my local hair salon to schedule an appointment with Michelle, my favorite stylist. Apparently, she’s not just my favorite – due to her popularity, she’s been promoted to an “elite stylist.” So what does that mean to me? Her prices have just gone up 20%. My cut, color, and highlights will now cost me $185 if I still want to work with her. Continue reading “4 Ways to Trim Your Haircut Costs”
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”
I knew I needed to have pretty good credit before I rented my home, but I never thought I’d have to check the credit of my landlord. This was a lesson I learned several years ago after losing my security deposit to a landlord that eventually filed for bankruptcy. It all started six years ago when my wife and I moved to North Carolina. We were looking to purchase a home, but with so many on the market, we didn’t want to rush to buy, so we decided to rent for a few months. 
Continue reading “Do Your Own Credit Check Before You Rent”
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?”
Have you ever been tempted by one of the many infomercials shown on TV for some electronic device or other product that claims to make our life so much easier? Whether it’s the Thigh Master , Snuggie, or MagicJack, it can be yours for a bargain price plus shipping and handling. I’ve typically resisted the temptation to buy due to that added cost of shipping and handling, but when my local department store added an “as seen on TV” section, I couldn’t pass up the chance to buy a few items I’d seen advertised over and over on TV. Continue reading “Don’t Believe Everything You See On TV”
Many financial planners (this writer included) have resorted to the cup of coffee example at least once during their careers. It usually starts with a simple question such as “how much does a cup of coffee cost these days?” The answers depend on individual tastes and how many fancy iterations of a coffee or latte people can come up with (typically $3 to $5). Continue reading “Small Changes Can Have Big Consequences”
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”
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”
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”
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”
I wrote last month about the two happiest days in a boater’s life, but for me, last Saturday was not one of those happy days. A beautiful day boating on the Chesapeake Bay took a turn for the worse when I had the duty of pulling up the anchor after a nice day of hanging out at our favorite swimming spot. As I tugged on the rope, the anchor snapped free! Anchors are expensive to replace, plus we had now added to the pollution of the bay. Continue reading “Anchor Away”
Hardcore shoppers know to be on the lookout for BOGO deals, which means you “buy one, get one” free or half price. My latest score under a BOGO deal was at the grocery store, where Purex laundry detergent was buy one, get one free and priced at $3.39. Extreme couponers can make BOGO deals even better by adding a coupon on top of the sale. It had never occurred to me that I could use two coupons, one for each bottle of detergent, even though I was getting one free – until I watched Extreme Couponing on TLC. Since I also had two $1 off coupons for Purex, the net price for TWO bottles of laundry detergent came to only $1.39! Continue reading “Do You BOGO?”
The average American household spends roughly $1,900 per year on energy, according to the Consumer Energy Center. Depending upon where you live, a good chunk of that is likely being spent during the hottest months of the year. Despite what you may think, however, you are not at the mercy of your utility company. To learn about the many measures you can take to reduce your energy expenditure this summer, read on. Continue reading “8 Ways to Reduce Home Energy Bills This Summer”
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”
Summertime is a great time to finally get to all those DIY projects you said you’d get done after New Years. The problem I have is once a project gets started, it’s not always easy to know when to quit. After months of trying to figure out how to get an ice maker to work, I finally got it done. Some projects, like replacing an automatic ice maker, are as simple as unplugging the old unit and plugging in the new one, but when it comes to more elaborate projects, like replacing the front porch stairs, I like to take a step back and count the costs before I begin. Here is a breakdown of the steps I like to take before tackling a project myself. Continue reading “When It’s Time to Bring in the Professionals”
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”
As summer heats up, my husband becomes very popular with the neighbors. He’s known as “Mr. Fix It” when it comes to their air conditioning units, and his two decades in the HVAC industry has kept both the temperature and the cost down for several of our streetmates. He’s always willing to take time to help out, even though the phone or doorbell rings just as we are getting ready to head out for our own summer fun. Here are his tips to keep your air conditioner running: Continue reading “Keep Your Temperature and A/C Costs Down This Summer”
