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Category Archives: Debt Reduction
Frugality: Not just for common folk
I’m going to stop short at saying that I’m obsessed, but I’m going to throw this out there: I enjoy reading stories about the British royalty. I am especially charmed by Prince William and his lovely wife Kate, erm, Catherine. (And I would love to hit a pub with Prince Harry – I’m just going to throw that out there …) Anyway – I chalk these stories up to slow news days, but I am particularly delighted when the media … Continue reading
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I want it NOW
I think that one of my biggest struggles with frugality is that when I want something, I wanted it yesterday. Patience has never been my strong suit as a person and while I’m aware of that and try to temper that in my life, it doesn’t make it easier when temptation strikes. Luckily, temptation doesn’t come in the form of new TVs for me, expensive handbags or the latest technology. No – my vice is pure and simple: Books. I’m … Continue reading
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Understanding the “Dollar Store Economy”
The New York Times Magazine ran an article the other day called “The Dollar-Store Economy” which talked about the influx of dollar stores throughout America. It’s an interesting article, because it talks a little bit about the “theory” behind these various stores are set up, the people who are shopping there and what they are going to need to do in the future to keep relevant and keep consumers’ attention. I am neither a fan or a detractor of dollar … Continue reading
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Dribs, drabs and expenses
First and foremost … wow. Where did August go? My friends on Facebook are writing posts on their walls, talking about how its their kids’ first day of school and I sit here blinking, wondering where this summer went to. Moving on! My husband is the math/computer whiz of the family and he recently cobbled up a spreadsheet showing our income, expenses, etc., stretching out into next year. And my, oh, my – those numbers are looking mighty good, but … Continue reading
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The slow transition to a cash-only existence?
I’m about to ask an obvious question: Why does it seem to be easier to save money when you finally have more of it? For most of my adult life I’ve lived paycheck to paycheck. Don’t get me wrong – this isn’t something I’m wearing like a badge of honor. It was just a fact of life. I remember a conversation I had with a coworker when I was in newspapers. Her: “I saw an article the other day about … Continue reading
Posted in Debt Reduction, Everyday Living
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DIY Iced Coffee
I’m going to admit it … I’ve spent way too much money this summer on iced coffee from Starbucks. In my mind I have justified it as such … it’s cheaper than my usual venti caramel macchiato and because it’s simply coffee and ice, it has to be better for me. Right? Righ – erm, not so much. Let’s go back to one of the things that I wrote: “Because it’s simply coffee and ice.” And there you have it … Continue reading
Alternatives to Netflix
I whined the other day about the impending price increase for Netflix. Even though I remember how much I used to spend renting movies, it’s kind of like the mindlessness of a monthly gym fee or any other monthly fees that a person has. You use it or you lose it. My husband and I know this – but we’re not entirely sure what we’re doing just yet. Here are a couple of articles I found this morning – one … Continue reading
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New frugal trick
It is dangerously hot out in Minnesota right now. Supposedly, the oppressive heat wave that the Midwest is under is supposed to let up after 1 a.m. tomorrow morning, but in the meantime there’s been no way around it. Our central air conditioning unit has been running continuously since the end of last week and although I’m not trying to recreate fall-like temperatures and we try to be reasonable about where we set our thermostat, I’m not going to lie … Continue reading
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A time to whine?
I had a surprise waiting for me in my email inbox on Tuesday. Netflix announced that it was going to boost the price of the current plan that my husband and I subscribe to – the plan where we get DVDs one-at-a-time (unlimited though, during the month) and unlimited streaming. What currently costs me about $10.00 will now jump to $16 if I still want to keep both options. Otherwise, I can just get DVDs or just stream videos – … Continue reading
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The logic for and against combining finances
Last month, I let you all know that after a handful of years cohabiting and over two years of marriage (or as my husband just informed me “two looooooong years.” Sigh.), my husband and I finally took a plunge of a different kind: We decided to combine our incomes into one checking account. It’s been about a month now and so far the transition from two bank accounts into one has been relatively uneventful. (Although, it’s always a pleasant surprise … Continue reading