Browse by Tags
-
Posted
Aug 07 2008, 11:08 PM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
After a recent yard sale foray, I needed to squeeze what I'd bought into my gift closet. My "closet" is actually a big cedar chest bought for $15 at yet another yard sale. Because I'd been tossing stuff in higgledy-piggledy, I couldn't fit the new stuff in without reorganizing the stash. When I did, I was a little surprised to find out just how much I had.
Hardbacks bought at the dollar store (yes, they're by legitimate authors and no, there wasn't a mark on them) and at yard sales, plus quality fiction picked up for as little as 40 cents from the university bookstore's clearance table. Games, coloring books and a really cool fire truck bought pennies on the dollar a few months after Christmas. Unopened book-toy combos that cost as little as 50 cents at garage sales. Washable markers that were free after a drugstore rebate. Art card sets, gorgeously scented spa items, a craft kit, picture frames, candles -- all of it cheap. I felt like a frugal Santa Claus.
Read More...
-
Posted
Jun 19 2008, 11:14 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Mike at Clever Dude has come up with a creative solution to a problem we've all probably encountered. His father-in-law made two trips from Pennsylvania to Mike's D.C.-area home to work on Mike and Stacie's floors and refuses any compensation. We have the same problem with a wonderful neighbor/friend who takes care of our dogs when we're gone, so we read Mike's post -- "Why we're donating our tax stimulus check" -- with great interest. Mike calls his method "guerilla gift-giving." We'll call it "stealth compensation."
Read More...
-
Posted
Jun 11 2008, 05:20 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller. Recently, I took my son, Gavin, to the Coinstar machine to turn the random coins he's been getting into paper money. Added to the last two years of birthday money, his total was right around $150. As he stared at that money (and lamented the fact that now all he had was paper instead of a huge jar of coins), I realized that it was time to start teaching Gavin about money.
Read More...
-
Posted
Jun 10 2008, 03:50 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
The worst commotion we've ever heard in a retail setting (other than the toddler who got his foot caught in a shopping cart) was a kid who started screaming "apple" in the produce section, and then continued for 10 minutes and was readily audible from every area of the store. (It was so bad, we almost bought the little man an apple.) Parental units, don't give in, says Ashley of Wide Open Wallet in a post called "Saying no to your kids." She has overindulged her little boy, and now she's trying to correct the problem.
Read More...
-
Posted
Jun 05 2008, 10:41 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
"That One Caveman" has been driven to an extreme approach to deal with his mother-in-law's chronic overspending, particularly when it comes to the caveman's child. Given, her behavior is distressing. She's a shopaholic who is threatening her own financial future. For instance, her daughter's old bedroom is packed with stuff she's purchased but never even taken out of the shopping bags. Now, despite being asked not to, she is showering trinkets, clothes and potentially unsafe toys on her granddaughter, and even tried to foist a $20 bill into the 17-month-old cavegirl's hand.
Read More...
-
Posted
Jun 04 2008, 05:30 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller. With Father's Day fast approaching, finding a memorable gift that doesn't break the bank can be a chore. To make things easy for you, what follows is a list of Father's Day gifts that range in cost from zero to about $25. And for those fathers reading this article, you'll be happy to know that a Father's Day tie is not on the list. Homemade greeting card. Kids love crafts, and making a card for Dad on Father's Day is a memorable time. I've kept every card my children have ever made for me, and they are worth far more than anything they could have bought for me. Here's a site with some great card ideas.
Read More...
-
Posted
Apr 08 2008, 05:02 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
If you're tired of taking the heat from your spendthrift (and obnoxious) friends who say you're cheap, Jennifer Derrick at Saving Advice has some ammunition for you -- "32 reasons to be frugal besides saving money." This post beautifully expresses what frugal people know in their hearts: Frugality is freedom from the many shackles of a consumer-based culture. Jennifer says she initially adopted a frugal lifestyle to save money, but now calls that "a nice side effect." Among the benefits of frugality: gratitude and contentment. "Frugal living makes you appreciate what you have and helps you to realize that you are blessed to have it, even if it's not the newest luxury what-not," she writes.
Read More...
-
Posted
Mar 14 2008, 06:20 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
This post is from Trent Hamm at partner blog The Simple Dollar. Recently, I had coffee with an old friend who was torn over the decision to have a child. His spouse wants a child, as do his parents, but he doesn't feel ready to take that leap. I told him I thought he should stick to his guns on the subject, and he looked at me with a mix of shock and relief. He was sure I was going to try to talk him into having a child, given the value I've found in being a parent. But I made it very clear to him that there are a lot of deep costs to being a parent, and you need to be fully sure of your choice before stepping up to the plate.
Read More...
-
Posted
Dec 20 2007, 07:02 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
This post comes from Linsey Knerl at partner blog Wise Bread. Kids may think they know what they want to get for the holidays this year, but that doesn't mean they have a clue about what they need. Use this gift-giving opportunity as a chance to invest in them and help change their financial futures. Here is a rundown of some of the best money-management gifts I have used for kids under 12. The Money Savvy Kids @ Home program by Money Savvy Generation. One of the most comprehensive financial-education packages on the market, it's designed to be used as a complete curriculum on money. Home educators will find that it is very similar to a unit study, complete with parent handbook, student workbook, CD-ROM and cool piggy bank. I've tried this program and found it to be one of the most interesting. Covering the basic money principles -- save, spend, donate, invest -- reminded me of my financial goals, and I learned some quirky facts about the history of money in the process. This is a well- thought-out program with much to offer kids ages 6 to 11.
Read More...
-
Posted
Dec 14 2007, 07:51 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
This post is from Trent Hamm at partner blog The Simple Dollar. When I started working on this article, I made a list of holiday gifts under $10 to give at family gift exchanges and as stocking stuffers. Then I realized that I actually would not like most of the stuff. If I wouldn't like these frugal gifts, why would I ever recommend them to you? I threw out the list and started over. This time, not only did the gift have to be under $10 to make the list, it had to be one I would like to receive. That being said, here are 12 great frugal gifts I'd love to see under my tree:
Read More...
More Posts Next page »
|
