Most of us think of vegetables as just an accompaniment to meat loaf, a broiled steak, grilled fish or roast chicken. But green beans – cheap and bountiful this time of year in both supermarkets and at farmer’s markets – can be the star of the meal.Green beans, also called string beans or snap … [Read more...] about Green Beans: More than just a side dish
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Preserve food with cheap canning equipment and free recipes
This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste.Do you want to can food at home, but are put off by the cost? For around $15, you pull together most of the essential equipment by using equipment you probably already own. Below we list … [Read more...] about Preserve food with cheap canning equipment and free recipes
Free or cheap summer fun activities with kids
Involving children with cheap activities this summer will help to not only keep your kids entertained, but will also ensure they’re tired come the end of the day. But coming up with ideas that don’t cost a fortune can sometimes be a problem. Maybe this list of free/cheap summer fun … [Read more...] about Free or cheap summer fun activities with kids
5 things renters should negotiate before signing a lease
This post is by Catey Hill of Zillow.com.While many people fear negotiating with landlords, car dealers or salesmen, finding the courage to negotiate up front can save time, money and a lot of hassle down the road. For most people, housing is the largest monthly bill they pay, whether that’s … [Read more...] about 5 things renters should negotiate before signing a lease
How to find the best home inspector
Before you buy a home, it’s always a good idea to get a professional home inspection. In most cases, you can make your purchase contract contingent on a satisfactory inspection. That means if you don’t like the inspection results, you can cancel the contract, get your deposit back and walk away from … [Read more...] about How to find the best home inspector
How to get your adult child out of your basement
It’s become somewhat of a stereotype: Young adults are living in their parents’ basements, unable to secure gainful employment and unwilling to grow up. While that’s a bit of an exaggeration, 33% of 25- to 29-year-olds were residents of multi-generational households in 2016, according to a Pew … [Read more...] about How to get your adult child out of your basement
Make your Greek yogurt multitask
Greek yogurt has grown in popularity in recent years. It can be more expensive than regular yogurt, but with at least double the protein and less than half the sugar, in my opinion, the health benefits outweigh the cost. You can also save by purchasing in bulk from stores such as Costco and BJ's. … [Read more...] about Make your Greek yogurt multitask
The Coupon Insider: Double-check your receipt
After spending time organizing your shopping trip for maximum savings, your work is not quite done. The final and most important step is to review your receipt. There’s no benefit in shopping smart only to find out you did not receive a sale or promo price. (Grocery stores often express pricing … [Read more...] about The Coupon Insider: Double-check your receipt
Expert advice on teaching kids about money
Do you remember your dad asking: “Do you think money grows on trees?” or “Do you think I’m made of money?” Well, yes, as a matter of fact, we kind of did. If anything, that attitude is multiplied many times by today’s kids.The time to teach our children about money is when they’re young, so when … [Read more...] about Expert advice on teaching kids about money
How to buy your first house
Buying your first home is intimidating, and the current economy makes it even tougher. According to a recent article in Market Watch, the inventory of starter homes available to first time home buyers is dwindling. Many homes are in need of major repairs, which drives up the investment cost.But … [Read more...] about How to buy your first house
Expert advice on digging your way out of debt
When Miranda Marquit started writing about personal finance six years ago, she “was maxed out on my credit cards,” she admits. No more. And the publisher of Planting Money Seeds has a few words of hard-earned advice for anyone who has dug themselves into a debt hole so big they think they’ll never … [Read more...] about Expert advice on digging your way out of debt
Spring into summer vacation savings now
When it comes to planning a summer vacation, there are usually two types of people: Those who plan and book more than a year in advance, and those who decide to wing it and find themselves at the mercy of not being able to shop around. While last-minute travel deals are sometimes great finds, you … [Read more...] about Spring into summer vacation savings now
How to buy a house with 5% (or less) down payment
One hurdle many would-be home buyers face – or think they face — is the need to come up with a big chunk of cash to make a 20% down payment. The good news is that you don’t have to have 20% down, even in today’s tight credit environment, to buy a house.Buyers with good jobs and decent credit … [Read more...] about How to buy a house with 5% (or less) down payment
My purse has been stolen. Now what?
Quin Ryan was doing a good deed by driving her niece to daycare. Grabbing only the toddler and an umbrella, she entered the school, returning to her car in less than seven minutes to discover her driver-side window smashed and her purse, left on the seat, gone. Out of pocket: $2,500.Drugs, … [Read more...] about My purse has been stolen. Now what?
5 tips for getting your security deposit back
Move out of a rental, and you’re likely to have plans for the security deposit your landlord has been kindly holding for you. Make sure you get your hard-earned money returned when you vacate the premises by keeping the following five tips in mind.Pre-qualify your potential landlord. Before … [Read more...] about 5 tips for getting your security deposit back