Paying more than the minimum amount due on an installment loan, like an automobile loan or a mortgage, saves on interest expenses in the long run. You owe the money for less time, and hence pay less interest. There are of course lots of ways to pay down loans more quickly. There’s something for everybody … Read more
As I’ve mentioned before a couple of times, we live in an area that could likely see a lot of furlough activity. Though there is the possibility of using the furlough days to good benefit, a lot of my friends are looking for good ways to save money as they are looking unlovingly at thousands … Read more
I’ve been a member of Swagbucks for a bit, and I’ve earned over $300 in Amazon.com gift cards since then. Amazon.com gift cards are one of the best deals that Swagbucks has going on, and they’re almost as good as cash, since you can get just about anything on Amazon. I recently signed up to … Read more
Saw this story on MSN Money about a pizza delivery guy who delivered 85 pizzas, costing $1,453.95. He received a $10 tip. A friend of the driver then posts a picture of the receipt on Reddit, and the 15 minutes of fame begins. The article points out that the tip is less than 1% of … Read more
Eating out is a common budget-buster. A meal at a restaurant can cost easily several times what a meal prepared at home would cost. And don’t get me started on the 1,000%-plus markup on sodas! If dining out is killing your budget, then a simple way to begin bringing the problem under control is to … Read more
At the beginning of this month, sequestration went into effect. This means sweeping cuts of $85 billion from this fiscal year’s budget. To shore up this shortfall, many agencies are furloughing employees during this time, which effectively is a partial layoff. I live in an area with a lot of federal government employees, many of … Read more
We all have spending habits. Some spending habits are more expensive than others, but we have habits nonetheless. The spending habits we have are often the result of guilty pleasure (choose your favorite; I certainly won’t judge). They can also be related to hobbies, like music. If you’re looking to save money, though, those spending … Read more
Life can become hectic. The incessant activities of making a living, raising children, and feeding passions can strain the connections associated with married life. One piece of advice that’s often given to married couples experiencing these kinds of strains is to schedule dates — as in put it on the calendar, make reservations, get a … Read more