Frugal families have long been fans of the end-of-season sale. They know that when stores change out old inventory for new, they slash prices on the outgoing merchandise to sell as much as possible. But time-sensitive sales are not only limited to seasonal items. Price-conscious consumers … [Read more...] about End of the quarter is a great time for bargains
Is it ever OK to give used presents?
Frugal shoppers often wonder if they can give a used item as a gift. The answer is yes, but there are caveats: The gift must be a good value or an heirloom, and the recipient must be OK with it.I have given and received used presents. Several years ago, my husband bought me a secondhand … [Read more...] about Is it ever OK to give used presents?
Save money on gas with hypermiling techniques
Experienced drivers have all kinds of tricks for saving gas while they drive, so they can save money by not refueling as often. These run the gamut from keeping the trunk empty to turning off the engine instead of idling. If you have mastered those and want to try something more extreme to keep you … [Read more...] about Save money on gas with hypermiling techniques
How to find deals at estate sales
An estate sale, sometimes known as a tag sale, and sometimes operated as an estate auction, is the sale of everything inside a house. The sales are often held to clean out the house of someone who has died, but many sellers are simply looking to downsize from a big house or start over with new … [Read more...] about How to find deals at estate sales
Should you pay off your mortgage?
One of the more hotly debated issues in personal finance is whether you should pay off your mortgage early. As with most things, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Here are a few questions to guide you:1. Are you receiving a tax deduction? Although everyone assumes that they are getting a … [Read more...] about Should you pay off your mortgage?
How to live without a car
Whether it's to save money, reduce environmental impact, or be safe, a lot of families find themselves living with one car – or none at all. The number is likely to increase as the population ages, too. Cars are useful but costly: along with the purchase price and monthly payments, you have gas, … [Read more...] about How to live without a car
How to build an emergency fund
No matter how we may plan, stuff happens. Your glasses break. Your car needs work to pass its emissions test. The water heater goes out. Your employer announced layoffs – and you're one of the victims.Unexpected expenses seem to show up more often than windfalls. That's why you need to set aside … [Read more...] about How to build an emergency fund
How to build a new job wardrobe on the cheap
A new job usually comes with a big cost: a new wardrobe. Your first office job will call for a whole new wardrobe. Your second, third or fourth job may involve a different culture and style than your past job did. How do you dress for the job without breaking the bank?Follow your leader The … [Read more...] about How to build a new job wardrobe on the cheap
How to create a retirement plan when you’re self-employed
Whether permanently or temporarily, by choice or by circumstance, many of us are self-employed these days. We're in this gig economy, where so many of us are making our own livings with our own small businesses. That's great. Except for one thing: People who are self-employed have to provide their … [Read more...] about How to create a retirement plan when you’re self-employed
Free, cheap and high-value ways to do your taxes
If you're looking to make this tax season easier than last year's, or if your financial circumstances have changed, we have a list of resources for you to consider.Online: Filing your taxes online is easy, and it may be free if your income is low enough and your financial situation has few … [Read more...] about Free, cheap and high-value ways to do your taxes
Don’t let mutual fund fees eat up your savings
Now that taxes are out of the way, it’s time to think about paying yourself. Whether you are saving for retirement, a college education or just some random future item, you may well be using mutual funds.Mutual funds are investments that pool money from many individuals. A professional portfolio … [Read more...] about Don’t let mutual fund fees eat up your savings
Managing retirement plan rollovers
Retirement plans are supposed to be simple, but they are more complex than we'd like. That sometimes makes them seem so impossibly complicated that the best thing is just to do nothing. Doing nothing is precisely the wrong thing to do; the complexity isn't nearly as complicated as it is sometimes … [Read more...] about Managing retirement plan rollovers
How to organize an estate sale
An estate sale, estate auction or tag sale is an efficient way to break up a household. An estate liquidation company runs the sale in exchange for a percentage of the proceeds. Depending on the area of the country and the number of items in the house, the commission may range from 25% to 45% of … [Read more...] about How to organize an estate sale
Top 10 free things to do in Chicago
Chicago is the best-kept secret in the country. The miserable winters — and they can be miserable — tend to scare people away. That just leaves more fun for the rest of us. Chicago has a lot of great, free things to do, whether you live here or you visit.Among them? The Cultural Center. … [Read more...] about Top 10 free things to do in Chicago
How to handle money when traveling the world
I love to travel, and I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to do a lot of it. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of things about how to handle money abroad. If your summer plans include travel to another country or two, these tips may help your trip be a little smoother – and a little less … [Read more...] about How to handle money when traveling the world