5 Ways to Save Money If You Hate Negotiating

Negotiating is a skill that can save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. But bartering can also be a stressful, anxiety-filled experience for many people. If you hate haggling over price and just can’t bring yourself to do it, there are some ways you can save money without having to suffer through the back [...]

7 Ways to Save Money on Back to School Shopping

Back to school specials are here! It’s that time of year, and parents are dreading how much money they will spend over the next couple of weeks. The average family will spend about $600 this year on back-to-school supplies and clothes for their kids. That’s a big chunk of change, especially for a families struggling [...]

10 Hidden Holiday Costs People Overlook in Their Budget

I ran across an article on CNBC about the top 10 hidden costs associated with the holidays, and it struck a chord with me, because I often overlook these expenses during the holiday season. Here is the list from the article and my take on each of them. 1. Holiday meals/gifts for hosts/entertaining My wife [...]

Christmas Shopping and Saving Tips for a Troubled Economy

Christmas shopping and budgeting can be stressful, especially when the economy is struggling.  Here are some tips on Christmas shopping and saving from last holiday season that definitely apply in today’s tough economy: Christmas Deals How to Double Your Savings on Christmas Shopping Deals – “Looking for some deals this Christmas? Understanding the strategy behind retailer’s [...]

The Best Websites For Christmas Shopping Deals

(Updated November 2009) Here are some websites that I frequent to get great deals when shopping online.  You may want to check out these sites when doing your holiday shopping this year. Ben’s Bargain’s - It’s a deal aggregator that scours the web for the best deals on electronics, appliances, and various other products.  Many of [...]

Mobile Money – Personal Finance On Your Phone

Have you ever wanted to quickly check your account balance? Do you often find yourself wondering if you have enough money to buy something in your clothes budget? Would you like to quickly look at your most recent bank transactions? Your cell phone is now the place to do all of these! With the help [...]

Guide to Budgeting & Tracking Money For Newlyweds

Do you often wonder where you money goes? Do you struggle to save money after all of your bills are paid? The problem is your budget, or lack of a budget. Less than 5% of the households in the United States keep a consistent household budget, and that is why 95% of the nation struggles [...]

College Dorm Room Decor Ideas – How to Decorate Your Dorm on a Budget

If you’re facing the challenge of decorating your dorm room on a shoestring budget, then here are some ideas that might help. Get things for free if you can – If you need a coffee pot, a bookcase, or some plastic storage bins, ask your friends and family for them first. You may be surprised [...]

Is Microsoft Live Search Cash Back Worth Shopping on Live Search?

Live Search Cash Back is a new Microsoft initiative that is supposed to provide a rebate to consumers for items found via the Microsoft Live search functionality and purchased online. The word on the street says this is Microsoft’s attempt to compete with Google in the online search market.  The concept is that in return [...]

Money Tips for New College Graduates – Spending, Saving, & Budgeting Advice

What college student do you know that isn’t cheap?  When you’re in school every penny counts and you learn to manage your money on a very tight budget. Saving money simply becomes second nature to you. I was so cheap in college I used to: -Wear every last piece of clothing to delay paying for the [...]