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Posted
Jul 02 2009, 06:46 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
"MoneyMate Kate" is thoroughly impressed by the frugality employed by her sister as she plans her upcoming wedding. Then why does Kate call her "Bridezilla"? That doesn't seem fair.
So far, Kate estimates that Bridezilla's clever planning has saved $8,300, compared with the average wedding expenses in the New Jersey suburbs where they grew up. If she had compared her sister's spending with the cost of weddings in Aspen, Colo., where the wedding will take place, the savings would be in the stratosphere.
To make her cost comparisons, Kate used the Cost of Wedding Web site provided by The Wedding Report, which tells you what weddings and their various components cost broken down by ZIP code.
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Posted
Jul 02 2009, 10:15 AM
by
Donna Freedman
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
A friend of mine pours leftover coffee into ice-cube trays. The caffeinated cubes make first-rate iced coffee because they chill the beverage without diluting it.
That got me thinking about other ways to use ice cube trays -- and no, Jell-O shots don't count.
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Posted
Jul 01 2009, 05:02 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
A contest by "Shadox" at Money and Such reminds us of the "your life story in six words" contest that spawned the book of tiny memoirs called "Not Quite What I Was Planning" and Lizzie Widdicombe's subsequent clever write-up in The New Yorker (as well as a post by "Madame X" that was featured here).
Shadox challenged readers to submit career advice, expressed in a mere 10 words or less. To their credit, several bloggers came in way under the limit without sacrificing content. The winner was randomly selected.
Here are some samples, categorized somewhat by us:
Job selection:
- From Julie Bestry: "Perform no task you'd be ashamed to tell your mom."
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Posted
Jul 01 2009, 09:05 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Grocery stockers, unless they're slackers, live by the FIFO rule -- first in, first out. What does that mean to you?
When new inventory comes in and it's time to refill the grocery displays, the new product is placed in the back. Thus, the grocery store has less waste because most people grab the item that's closest to them. (Smart shoppers sometimes dig a little deeper.)
Why not apply FIFO at home and do as the professionals do? It's a good way to save money on groceries, says Charlie at Pay Less for Food.
Here's how this works:
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Posted
Jul 01 2009, 06:24 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from Paul Michael at partner blog Wise Bread.
How are you doing with your money? Do you have everything under control, or are you spending a little more than you should?
Well, if you'd like to blow even more of your money, this list will help you empty your bank account in half the time you usually do. Enjoy.
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Gamble in Vegas. Sure, some people get lucky. But most of us blow a wad and leave feeling like reckless morons.
- Spend your spare time surfing the bargain sites. It doesn't matter if you don't actually need anything. You'll find something to buy.
- Shop hungry. It's amazing how much extra food you'll throw in your cart.
- Draw more money out of the ATM than you need. If you get $20, you'll spend $20. If you get $40, it will disappear just as quickly.
- Become an impulse buyer. See something in a shop window, grab it immediately and worry about the cost later.
- Pay bills late. That will eat up some serious cash in the form of late fees and interest rate hikes, and sometimes will damage your credit rating.
- Lend money to people who won't pay you back, even when they say it will be different this time.
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Posted
Jun 30 2009, 09:46 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Does vinegar kill weeds? Can you wipe them out with boiling water? Are there other low-cost steps you can take to grow a better garden or maintain a healthy lawn?
We love this stuff. The lettuces, greens, tomatoes, broccoli, eggplant, beans and yellow squash we planted are thriving (so far). But weeds in the yard persist, so bloggers' experiments to find natural and cheap weed killers are of great interest to us.
The investigation of homemade weed killers began with a post by Hanna at This Garden Is Illegal. (No, it's not what you think.) She sang the praises of:
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Posted
Jun 29 2009, 03:27 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
What's even more amazing than FiscalGeek's "12 ways to fail your job interview" is the fact that they need to be verbalized at all. But they do, he knows from personal experience as a manager involved in hiring.
Most obvious on his list is "chew gum. Constantly." One job candidate did through five interviews. "Honestly, I never thought this was necessary to mention but this was the proverbial nail in the coffin of this interview candidate," "FiscalGeek" says.
See what we mean? The others on his list aren't as obvious, but are still mind-boggling.
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Posted
Jun 29 2009, 11:03 AM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Like Kay Bell at Don't Mess With Taxes, we've never seen that show about Jon and Kate Gosselin and their eight progeny. And, like Kay, that doesn't mean we've been able to avoid the news that their marriage is in trouble.
"So," tax geek Kay writes, "it seems as good a time as any to offer some tax tips, eight to be exact in keeping with the show's title ("Jon & Kate Plus 8"), to folks who are severing their marital ties."
Here's an important one: Timing is everything.
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Posted
Jun 24 2009, 03:09 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Your cell phone, pager or iPod has fallen into the toilet bowl, swimming pool or kitchen sink full of water. You fish it out. After you've washed your hands -- depending on the circumstance -- what can you do?
FiscalGeek offers five techniques for restoring the gadget to life in a post called "Frugal fix: Revive your cell phone or electronic devices from water damage." He starts with his "go-to" method, which involves rubbing alcohol.
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Posted
Jun 24 2009, 02:03 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
When we had our hardwood floors refinished, our floor guy finished the job by cleaning with a Swiffer Sweeper, a product he heartily endorsed.
Yes, it's great -- until you have to spring for new cloths. A box of the wet pads can cost about $11.50.
Knowing we're exposing ourself to potential ridicule from Frank Curmudgeon at Bad Money Advice, who has poked fun at this and similar pursuits in a weekly post called "Frugal Friday," we've researched cheap alternatives to the very efficient but costly Swiffer cloths.
Readers of ThriftyFun came up with these suggestions:
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