Black Friday Is so Tempting!

Every year, I have this little inner struggle with myself. Do I go shopping on Black Friday or not? I haven’t quite mastered the strategy of going in to buy one movie and not coming out with a HDTV. Black Friday is a real temptation. Take for example last evening. My sister-in-law mentioned a certain new Disney movie that my daughter has been asking and asking for. Normally, this movie sells for $30, but with Black Friday prices, I may be able to have it for $3.99. So, this morning, after I left everyone else asleep in their turkey comas … Continue reading

Insurance For Black Friday

Are you ready for the shopping frenzy known as “Black Friday”? Don’t let the excitement make you confuse the store warranties with actual insurance coverage. Make sure you are calm before you drive, so you won’t get into an accident. Problems on Black Friday could result in insurance claims. It certainly feels as though Black Friday came early this year. Many retailers started revealing their Black Friday deals shortly after the trick-or-treaters returned home this Halloween. Since then, it seems like there have been extra, “early”, sales going on each and every weekend. Retailers are trying very hard to push … Continue reading

Three Ways to Control Impulse Buying at Christmas

The shiny decorations, the pretty lights, the wonderful smells, the bustle of shoppers, the increase in commercials, and the demanding kids all combine at Christmas to raise the risk of impulse buying. Many debt services report that the number of phone calls they get for help really drops off in December, as people put aside the idea of debt and just go ahead and spend. Of course, the calls in January are another story. These agencies often see their highest traffic then, as people find themselves in debt crisis. Don’t let this happen to you. Control your impulse buying at … Continue reading

Unconventional Leftovers

Sure, you can slap some turkey on bread and call it a sandwich, but after a few days of leftovers, you have to get creative. I give you full permission (not that you need it) to eat an entire bowl of nothing but mashed potatoes if you like. Sometimes in the midst of the stress of the holidays, it is good to have a little comfort food. As for turkey sandwiches, you can use up more than one leftover by getting creative. Use the leftover dinner rolls for bread, slicing them if need be. Then layer mayo, cranberry sauce, stuffing … Continue reading

Gimmie that Fish!

Like millions of others around the world, my 5-year-old is hooked on McDonald’s catchy commercial for its Filet-o-Fish sandwich. Unless you’ve been living under the sea, then you’ve probably seen the ad, which features Big Mouth Billy Bass belting out: Gimme back that Filet-O-Fish. Gimme that fish! Gimme back that Filet-O-Fish. Gimme me that fish! What if it were you hanging up on this wall? If it were you in that sandwich, you wouldn’t be laughing at all! So give me back that Filet-O-Fish, give me that fish! Yes, nothing says, “Welcome to Lent,” more effectively than a stuffed fish … Continue reading

Frugal Living Week in Review: November 26th Through December 2nd

It is finally December. I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone by. It has been a year now, since I first started blogging here at Families.com in the Frugal Living Blog. A lot has happened in the world and in my own life. I continue to be in awe of anyone who practices a frugal lifestyle, and I have learned many different ways to save money. I can’t wait to learn even more. I hope that we can help each other in our efforts to save money and provide for our family. And now, here is the Frugal … Continue reading

Home Week in Review: Oct. 29 – Nov. 4

This week, Mary Ann finished up her great series on common mistakes people make when attempting do-it-yourself home improvement projects, giving us the final two installments number 6 and last but not least 7 Common DIY Mistakes (7). These are recommended reading for anyone with an interest in DIY projects. There are also several other do it yourself and home improvement articles, as well as articles on nearly any other home and garden topic you can think of Home Blog, including holidays and holiday decorating (different writers have contributed over the years, so don’t forget to check out some of … Continue reading