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Posted
Jan 14 2008, 12:28 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Our partner blogger J.D. Roth at Get Rich Slowly recently asked his readers to share accounts of downright cheapness they had witnessed, and readers responded with gusto. Some of the stories are grotesque. Jens Dalsgaard wrote about an elderly aunt who had received a box of chocolates. During a visit, Jens munched from a bowl of hazelnuts on the table. His aunt had a piece of chocolate. "My aunt took one bite of the chocolate and took out the hazelnut inside and placed it in the bowl. 'I don't like hazelnuts, but it would be a waste just to throw them out,'" she said.
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Posted
Jan 11 2008, 09:17 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
The "locavore" concept is that we should try to eat only foods grown within 100 miles of our homes. I'd like to suggest a new challenge: the "frugalvore" movement, which suggests that we eat whatever is on sale that week.
This isn't really a new idea, of course. Your parents likely shopped that way, by looking at the food ads and planning menus around what was cheapest.
You may already do this, if only occasionally. Ever gone shopping for ground beef but changed your mind when you saw a startling deal on whole fryers? If so, you're on your way to being a frugalvore.
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Posted
Sep 18 2009, 09:14 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
I know I'm late to the dance here, but I finally understand why people love The Freecycle Network so much. You can give or get, de-cluttering your life or filling some basic needs at no cost.
No matter how odd the item, you can probably unload it. Earlier this week I gave away a half-pint of keys.
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Posted
Nov 12 2008, 06:03 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Here are today's hot deals from dealnews.com: Star Wars Clone Wars Ultimate Light Saber for $19.99. Pad your order over $25 to qualify for free shipping; otherwise, shipping starts at about $6. Even with shipping, it's the lowest total price we could find by $20. Adidas Originals men's Comptown ST Sneakers for $19.49. Shipping adds about $5, but orders over $5 qualify for free shipping. Even with shipping, it's the lowest total price we could find by $24.
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Posted
Jul 27 2009, 06:03 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from J.D. Roth at partner blog Get Rich Slowly.
Previously in my semi-regular Extreme Personal Finance series, I've highlighted:
Recently, my friend Castle sent me the story of a man who makes these other folks look like spendthrifts.
The man without money
Writing for Details magazine, Christopher Ketcham profiles Daniel Suelo, the man who lives without money. From the article:
Nine years ago, in the autumn of 2000, Suelo decided to stop using money. He just quit it, like a bad drug habit. His dwelling, hidden high in a canyon lined with waterfalls, is an hour by foot from the desert town of Moab, Utah, where people who know him are of two minds: He's either a latter-day prophet or an irredeemable hobo.
Suelo lives in a small cave. Much like those in the freegan movement, he generally consumes wasted food from restaurants, grocery stores, etc. Suelo supplements his diet by foraging for plants, mushrooms -- and fresh road kill.
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Posted
Mar 17 2008, 07:36 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
The price of a Seattle bus ride just went up a quarter, the first increase in seven years. The price of a gallon of gas changes almost daily, and it's rarely in our favor. I wasn't surprised to read that ridership of King County Metro went up 7% last year.
I was part of that increase in "boardings," because a three-month Metro pass is just $44 for students. Since it currently costs $40 to fill my 2001 Chevy Cavalier, and about $14 a week to park on campus, I think $44 is a steal. Also, the less I drive the more I save on auto insurance.
I won't give up my car, for work and family reasons. But I sure love leaving it at home.
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Posted
May 29 2008, 03:48 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Here's a super deal to keep kids entertained during summer months: Raising4Boys has provided a list of free or discount movie specials available at theater chains this summer. "Dad" (aka "Nickel" at FiveCentNickel) says, "In case you're not aware, theaters often have special summer promos where they show G or PG films on weekday mornings for free, or nearly so."
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Posted
May 07 2008, 10:56 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Water bills getting you down? "Katurah82" favors a multipronged approach to keeping usage in check. She takes three "navy showers" a week, i.e., water turned off while she lathers up. The rest of the time she heats a few gallons of water on the stove and pours it into the bathtub. "I use way less water."
Katurah82 learned to wash dishes in a gallon of hot water while camping. Why not do them that way at home? Oh, and about that water: Most heaters are set way too high, she says, so turn yours down. (A setting of 120 degrees should work fine, and could save you $20 to $50 in utility bills according to this article.)
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Posted
Nov 30 2007, 08:55 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
A tenant knocked last Saturday to tell me she'd broken off her key in the door. If this ever happens to you, try doing what I did: Insert a spare key until it touches the broken piece, then turn very gently.
After a few tries, the lock opened. Since I couldn't pry out the broken piece, I installed a replacement deadbolt. Just another day in the life of Super Resident Manager, saving the building owners an expensive weekend locksmith call.
My point? This was not a tough fix. Lock replacement is one of many repairs that can be done by the most amateur of handyfolks.
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Posted
Nov 09 2008, 10:57 PM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Last week the Boston Gal's Open Wallet personal-finance blog mentioned a Wall Street journal piece about American shopping habits. The newspaper article reported a new consumer trend: buying smaller packages of toilet paper right before payday.
In her short post, Boston Gal gave her opinion of the economic turmoil: that when people need to pinch pennies just to able to buy toilet paper, "this really is a recession with shades of a depression."
I don't know about that. But I'm thankful for the post because it shows that I'm not the only one obsessing over TP.
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