Search results for cheap
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Posted
Sep 24 2009, 01:09 PM
by
Teresa Mears
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
We're the first to admit that shopping as a form of entertainment isn't exactly unheard of in the United States.
Still, Ikea browsers in China may have taken the idea of shopping center as entertainment to a whole new level. The Ikea store in Beijing has become an entertainment destination for Chinese who have no intention of buying anything more than lunch.
The Los Angeles Times, reporting on this phenomenon, interviewed Zhang Xin, who took his wife, son and mother to Ikea for lunch and a break from the smog.
"We just came here for fun," the 34-year-old office manager told The Times. "I suppose we could have gone somewhere else, but it wouldn't have been a complete experience."
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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
Aug 25 2009, 01:55 PM
by
Karen Datko
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
What's the line between being frugal and doing something that's unethical or downright illegal to save money?
That question surfaces from time to time at personal-finance blogs. Here's an oldie but goodie example from Penelope Pince at Pecuniarities:
In a forum Penelope reads, a woman wrote that she'd neglected to use half of the jars of pasta sauce she purchased at a buy-one-get-one sale, and the date stamped on the jars was quickly approaching. She returned them to the store, said she'd lost the receipt, and got a $10 store credit.
"She knew that what she had done was dishonest but said that she thought it had been worth it," Penelope wrote.
What do you think about that? And while you're mulling it over, here are a few more examples:
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Posted
Aug 25 2009, 01:46 PM
by
Teresa Mears
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
When we were growing up, no one ever called a handyman. If anything needed fixing, you fixed it yourself. Our father, who was an ad man (but not like the ones in "Mad Men"), built a bedroom and bathroom in the basement following instructions in books he got at the library. We got a toolbox to take to college.
Doing your own home repairs is a great way to save money. Not only can you check out books at the library, but you can look up nearly any home repair project online and get detailed directions and watch instructional videos. Plus, keeping up with regular home maintenance is one way to avoid expensive problems later.
As The New York Times reported earlier this week, Home Depot and Lowe's have reported an increase in homeowners doing their own repairs. The stores say they have responded by increasing staff in popular DIY departments, a move we definitely support. We've found great help and no help in past visits.
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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
Jul 23 2009, 06:06 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from Trent Hamm at partner blog The Simple Dollar.
The things that stick in your head after reading a book are often interesting. For example, recently I posted a detailed review of "Miserly Moms" that outlined a ton of useful tips for cutting domestic spending.
Yet, the thing that stuck in my head for days after reading the book was an offhand comment author Jonni McCoy made about buying garbage bags. She pointed out that one could easily switch to generic for this item because low-cost garbage bags are a great way to save money.
My response to that? Not in my world, they aren't.
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Posted
May 27 2009, 04:38 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
This post comes from Linsey Knerl at partner blog Wise Bread.
For most people, frugality is a lifestyle choice born out of necessity. A lost job, increase in expenses, or a battle with debt has forced them to take extreme measures to balance their budget. Sometimes, however, frugal choices can hinder you beyond the benefit of the dollar saved.
Here are five telltale signs that you've done yourself no favors in your quest to cut costs:
You spend more than you save. Unless you are investing for the future in a specialty item, there is usually no justification for spending more money via "frugal" methods than if you'd just done your normal shopping. This happens often with coupons, for example. I applaud those who've mastered the art of getting stuff for less (or even free), but I'm personally aware that using coupons most likely leaves me buying unnecessary things and ultimately increasing my shopping bill by at least 20% more than if I'd stuck to a list and didn't entertain extra "deals."
Buying something on clearance (even at 90% off) isn't a great buy if you didn't have the money to begin with, or you didn't need the thing you just bought.
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Posted
Apr 20 2009, 06:36 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Frugal vs. cheap is a debate we never tire of because it comes in so many permutations. (See below.) Take the frugal (or cheap?) way of getting a Big Mac taste without paying Big Mac prices.
Canadian blogger "mfd" at My Findependence Day orders a $1.39 double cheeseburger and asks them to "dress it like a Mac," which costs an additional 30 cents. A Big Mac is about $3.50. (Note: Our local McDonald's doesn't offer this option.)
Reader "Daveking" replied, "No offense, but this is getting on the borderline of cheap." Dave said it reminds him of people who order a small coffee at Starbucks in a medium cup and fill the rest with milk. Or people who order two kid's hot chocolates for themselves for about $2 total -- the same amount but a dollar less than the regular size.
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Posted
Apr 17 2009, 10:28 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
There's frugal and there's cheap. And then there's the older brother of Canadian blogger "Fabulously Broke." He takes cheap to an entirely different level. "FB" says he's a cheap opportunist.
She explains, "He will spend thousands of dollars on a new gaming or computer system, buy the best clothes, shoes and everything that he thinks is a good deal and good quality -- but only if it's for him."
She has treated him to dinner numerous times, and he has never, ever offered to pay for her meal.
That is, until their showdown in a Tony Roma's on a recent night.
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Posted
Apr 07 2009, 05:28 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Money Blog: Smart Spending Blog - MSN Money
Office potlucks, we're told, are intended to unify and build morale. "Shtinkykat" cuts through the blather.
The generous people end up subsidizing the cheapskates at these events, she says. You know it's true.
She adds that "what's especially aggravating are those peeps who think it's appropriate to run to the signup sheet immediately after it is posted to write down ‘chips' or ‘veggie sticks.' And the SAME people do it over and over and over." (These aren't the lowest-paid people in the office, by the way.)
Here's what happened when she finally reached her limit and emphatically declined to participate.
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