In today’s crazy-busy world, family dinner is especially important. Even though Susie has karate, Joey has swim lessons and Mom and Dad commute to work, you need time to connect as a family and eat a nutritious meal. Even better if that meal's a home-cooked one. The idea of cooking dinner every … [Read more...] about The secret to serving a quick, cheap family dinner every night
cut expenses
12 hacks to cut your grocery bill in half
Of course, everyone would like to cut the supermarket bill by 50% or more. For a moderate budget for a family of four, the most recent figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimate you would spend between $1,166 and $1,263.5 a month for groceries. But you don’t have to go to the … [Read more...] about 12 hacks to cut your grocery bill in half
4 phone calls that can lower your bills
Putting money back into your pocket every month by lowering your bills would be great, right? By making a few key phone calls and being a smart consumer, you can do just that. All you need to get the job done is some dedicated time to get the right person on the phone. Easier said than done, right? … [Read more...] about 4 phone calls that can lower your bills
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 beat inflation and save on almost everything
For the first time in decades, American shoppers are having to deal with inflation — the widespread, general rise in prices for goods and services. Since you're reading this post on a site called Living on the Cheap, you're probably looking for ways to stretch your dollars to cover some of that … [Read more...] about How to beat inflation and save on almost everything
How frugal are you? 25 things frugal people do
Many people choose to be frugal for different reasons. Maybe they were raised to live a frugal life, so it’s second nature to them. Perhaps they are consciously frugal and are saving to pay cash for a house, or they have a child about to head off to college. Maybe they simply don’t see any other … [Read more...] about How frugal are you? 25 things frugal people do
6 ways to save on air conditioning
As the temperature exceeds the triple digits this summer, our electric bills are spiraling unward with the heat index. Except for a hardy few, going without air conditioning is probably not a practical cost-cutting measure. Still, there are ways to save energy and cut your electric bill. Use … [Read more...] about 6 ways to save on air conditioning
Want to live without a car? Car sharing may be an option
With the prices of car ownership steadily increasing, more people are wondering if they can become a one-car family or even get rid of their personal vehicle entirely. In the past, this was only realistic in big cities with good public transportation. Nowadays, though, the "sharing economy" that … [Read more...] about Want to live without a car? Car sharing may be an option
Save money in the grocer’s bulk bin aisle
The next time you are grocery shopping, don’t skip the bulk bins aisle. Tremendous savings can be had when buying grains, beans, spices, flours or other baking or pantry staples in bulk rather than packaged in bags and jars. Whether you need two pounds or two teaspoons of an ingredient, you’ll … [Read more...] about Save money in the grocer’s bulk bin aisle
Can you get high-speed internet for $30 a month or free? Maybe.
Online classes. Working remotely. Online job applications and bill paying. High-speed internet access is as critical to the modern world as electricity, but it can also be hard to afford. But there's good news this week for people who have struggled to pay for internet access at home. As part … [Read more...] about Can you get high-speed internet for $30 a month or free? Maybe.
Ways to save money on groceries
You don't need a government statistician to tell you the inflation level when you can see the price of eggs go up every time you shop. Food prices are one of the most common ways people gauge the cost of living. Cutting your grocery bill is one of the best ways to save when money is tight, but … [Read more...] about Ways to save money on groceries
How to make your own laundry detergent and save
When you find you need to cut back on expenses, or you simply would like to live simply, there are surprising ways to pinch a few pennies. DIY laundry detergent is easy to make and works as well as the store-bought products. Make and store in recycled containers to add to the … [Read more...] about How to make your own laundry detergent and save
Credit cards to help you save money on gas
With today’s rising gas prices, it’s even more important to manage your expenses. The rising cost of groceries is made worse by the rising cost of driving to the grocery store. And as road trip season approaches, vacationers are going to need to budget a lot more for filling up their gas … [Read more...] about Credit cards to help you save money on gas
How I slashed $25,000 in credit-card debt to zero
A few years ago, my long-term partner and I were living in his home country of Canada, and I put a lot of time and money into obtaining permanent residency. But relationships sometimes don’t move forward as planned. I returned to the U.S. in the spring of 2019 with only a truck full of belongings, … [Read more...] about How I slashed $25,000 in credit-card debt to zero
How to save money on gas
Prices at the grocery store and at the gas pump are two of the most common ways people gauge the cost of living. You don't need to wait for the government to release inflation statistics when you can see the price of a single cucumber go up to 60 cents or watch the digits keep rolling past on the … [Read more...] about How to save money on gas