Nov 26, 2009 -
With Black Friday sales just within reach, I'll admit my shopping list of must haves is growing by the day. I love to keep an ongoing list of all the items I'm craving, but have to remind myself that I can't shop for all of them at once. So, in order to ensure that I don't go overboard this year, I'm setting a "cannot-go-over" budget, and vowing not to spend a dime more than I've promised.
- 4 Comments
Nov 24, 2009 -
Of all the year's celebrations, Thanksgiving often is the most expensive. In 2008, roughly a quarter of you said you were spending $150 or more. This year, to help you stay well within your budget, we've enlisted the help of Melissa d'Arabian, winner of the Next Food Network Star and host of Ten Dollar Dinners With Melissa d'Arabian.
- 5 Comments
Nov 20, 2009 -
Creating and sticking to a budget is hard. Period. It takes dedication, daily effort and compromise.
- 11 Comments
Nov 08, 2009 -
No one likes a Debbie Downer, but these are trying times and you need a financial backup plan. Whether you feel a strong sense of job security or have a million bucks in the bank, it's crucial that you embrace the motto of the Boy Scouts ("Be Prepared!") so you don't end up in a serious financial and personal conundrum should you draw a short stick. The calendar changes so quickly it's easy to forget your egg's nest and backup scheme amid the momentum, but follow these basic steps and suggestions to keep yourself on track.
- 0 Comments
Oct 30, 2009 -
It can be hard to find healthy foods that don't break the bank — as I've mentioned before, nutrition often comes with a high price tag. A new tool may be what consumers need to find the biggest health bang for their buck.
The Affordable Nutrition Index (ANI) is a rating system that evaluates food based on its health and price value, and over 300 foods were evaluated and given a nutrition-value-per-dollar score.
- 6 Comments
Oct 29, 2009 -
Halloween definitely isn't just for kids. They're the ones wandering around with pillowcases in the dark, but most adults love a good celebration and Halloween is the perfect excuse to do something different. If you can't afford to attend a big bash that started selling tickets back in August or pay cover charges to enter one of your city's hot events, it doesn't have to mean Halloween is a bust this year.
- 0 Comments
Oct 26, 2009 -
Hi Casa! I'm 22 and I just started my first job out of college. Unfortunately, I still live with my parents.
- 6 Comments
Oct 22, 2009 -
There are too many families who were taken by surprise when one breadwinner suddenly lost his or her job, but some couples might choose to give up an income for one reason or another. Maybe one person was offered a job in another city, leaving the other one without employment, the couple wants one parent to stay home with the kids, one half of the duo is miserable at work and wants out ASAP, etc. Before you make the choice to live on one income, you need to find out if it's a viable option by following these steps.
- 1 Comment
Oct 21, 2009 -
One of the greatest perks about being more eco-conscious, aside from saving resources and living a more sustainable life, is that doing so encourages us to cut back. Focusing on the motto of recycle, reduce and reuse can do wonders on our budgets and help save more instead of spending on things we don't need. The secret to jumping on the green bandwagon and saving more cash is simple — you just have to commit to it.
- 0 Comments
Oct 20, 2009 -
Straightforward budgets aren't always the best solution for people trying to get a handle on their money — the inflexible nature of budgeting can be a frustrating turn-off. Just because you're not one for budgets doesn't mean there isn't hope for following a plan that will get your finances on track. A spending plan is a better solution than a traditional budget for those who want a less rigid method for managing their money.
- 1 Comment