Debt Reduction 101

I am an avowed consumer of generic and store-brands when it comes to my grocery shopping, however there are some things we don’t skimp on – my husband loves Jif peanut butter and in my forays into freezing leftovers, I have found that nothing works better than Ziploc bags. So the other day I [...]

For those of you who follow a Christian church calendar, we are now entering the season the Lent. Or we have entered it … however that works. When I was growing up, we never gave up anything for Lent. I don’t know if that was my parents, if it was my denomination, [...]

I read this article today over my lunch break and had to share it with you guys. It’s from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and documents the “back to basics” approach of Dr. James Eelkema who quit his job at a large family medicine clinic and set up his own shop. While this isn’t [...]

This article was in the January 22, 2010 edition of the New York Times: “Ready to Spend Bonuses, but Not to Boast.”
It’s bonus time for many of Wall Street’s elite and according to luxury retailers, these folks are shaking off their “frugal fatigue” and getting ready to spend their bonus money – discreetly, of [...]

I cannot lie – I have been waiting for this day for awhile. As certain as death and taxes, I knew that my (free) love affair with the New York Times online couldn’t last. And now the news is certain, starting January 2011, I will have to pay for my love of the [...]

Here’s where I tell you something slightly embarrassing about myself – I really do not have attractively smelling feet. I know that there are things that I can buy for my shoes to remedy this situation, but I usually forget that until I’m sitting at my desk and can smell my feet or I [...]

My husband and I keep our thermostat set in the low 60s. Since it’s just us, we figure that we can wear layers of clothing around the house if necessary and if we have company, we’ll inch the thermostat up for their comfort, but we try to keep our heating costs down.
So what do [...]

Thank you to everyone who chimed in with gift ideas for my nephews. I got some INCREDIBLE ideas and to be honest, I haven’t gone shopping yet to actually buy their gifts. Yes, I know that time is getting short, I also know that I might be stuck in Minnesota for part of [...]

I have very fond memories of my great-grandma. My grandma – her name was Florence … there are not enough Florences in this world – she was tiny, but I swear that her smile was as warm as the sun and that she had enough love in her heart to care for an entire [...]

Looking at my spending report, I feel compelled to post a sign on my blog that warns people before they come any closer to reading the words I write about my debt reduction journey: This blog is written by a woman who is TERRIBLE with her money!
Here’s the lowdown and dirty … I average $150 [...]