Search Results for: blog things i wont do to be frugal

Does Uncle Sam Owe You Money?

Wouldn’t it be great if you found out that the US Government owed you hundreds or even thousands of dollars? Wow, that would be a great way to start the holiday season, wouldn’t it? Imagine getting a check that could cover all of your holiday expenses and then some. Sound too good to be true? Well, for 100,000 people, it is reality, and you could be one of them. That is because Uncle Sam owes all of those Americans a refund, to the tune of more than $153 million. That is right. It is all because of problems with mailing … Continue reading →

Birth Order and Your Frugal Style

Numerous studies have determined that the order in which you are born into your family can affect your personality. While there have to be some exceptions, these typical personality traits can affect your frugal style. One personality type might be really good at saving with coupons, while another is better off negotiating for goods and services to save money. Where do you fall? Only Child I’m going to start with this one, since that is who I am. Only children tend to be big perfectionists and very responsible. They also get along well with people who are older than they … Continue reading →

Do you let your kids drive with friends?

When I was a teenager in the 9th grade, a car full of neighbor kids were in a terrible accident. The group was going into The Bronx from Yonkers NY to treat the birthday girl to White Castle hamburgers. She had just turned 13 years old. She never made it home. A truck jackknifed in front to them, and several of them died instantly. Others were injured. Our community lost a 13 year old girl, a 15 year old boy (my classmate’s brother), and the 18 year old driver. An 18 year old passenger lost his arm (that he had … Continue reading →

Do they have to eat EVERYTHING?

I picked up my daughter from drama/dance camp yesterday afternoon and as she complained about being hungry all the way home (the complaining got louder when we passed McDonalds), I decided to make dinner early. I took two huge chicken breasts (totaling about a pound) out of the refrigerator and painstakingly cut them into paper thin slivers. I seasoned the meat and sauteed it in olive oil, then made my daughter a nice sandwich on a hamburger roll that she topped with barbecue sauce. She asked for more when she was done and I gave her more meat, but said … Continue reading →

Seven Frugal Holiday Activities

Don’t get caught up in the chaos of holiday spending. It even extends into activities, with Christmas shows, holiday photos with Santa, ice skating at the rink, etc. Instead, vow to spend zero on Christmas activities, here is how. 1.Check your local area for free Christmas events. Just looking at one website and one local paper, I’ve seen more than 40 free family holiday events, from a tree lighting that include free snacks and hot chocolate, to a living manger show, to free Christmas crafts for the kids to free holiday pops concerts. 2. Organize a Christmas carol with your … Continue reading →

Frugal Month in Review: November 2008

November to be is the beginning of two things. The holiday season starts with Thanksgiving, and then there is winter. Despite the fact that winter doesn’t officially start until next month, the fall seems to give way to the winter in November anyway. We had a day of snow already. Here is looking ahead to December and the end of the year! November 1st Frugal Month in Review: October 2008 “Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” – George Eliot. November 2 … Continue reading →

7 Frugal Reasons I Won’t Be Going Shopping on Black Friday (2)

In yesterday’s post, I shared two of the major reasons why shopping on Black Friday isn’t very frugal for me. If you missed that post, you can click here: 7 Frugal Reasons I Won’t Be Going Shopping on Black Friday Now. I’ll share some more reasons that the Black Friday craze could actually cost me money not save me money. 3. The danger of overbuying things on Black Friday is high. We can all get caught up on snagging the deals and “winning” the bargains before everyone else gets a chance. But saving $100 off of a high-end-computer is still … Continue reading →

Organizing For Tax Time

There is never a more important time to be organized than tax season. It’s so important to know where all of your important paperwork is so that you can maximize your refund, or at least reduce your liability. If you are running around looking for receipts and other important papers, now is the time to get organized for next year. Start a file right now for 2012 taxes. Put everything in there, if you are unsure if something is deductible, throw it in there any way and you can sort it out when the time comes. I use a file … Continue reading →

Another Reason to Clear Out Clutter: Save on Taxes

Every little bit helps, and if you want to get a bigger tax return than you anticipated, it is time to up your deductions. Charitable contributions, including those made as household donations to goodwill or another charity count against the income that you made this year. So, go through your home and get that car filled with stuff that you can claim. You’ll have to get it donated by the end of the year in order for it to count on your 2011 taxes. The first thing that you need to know about donating items to a charity and benefiting … Continue reading →

Retailers Given Safety Tips For Black Friday

Serious shoppers see Black Friday as a super exciting time to grab big deals. Insurers, however, see the potential dangers that could cause problems on Black Friday. One insurer has given retailers a list of safety tips, that could help them to avoid problems. It remains to be seen if the stores will choose to follow that advice. Chubb Group of Insurance Companies has warned retailers that they need to put extra effort into security measures this Black Friday. Chubb is one of the insurers who sell policies to retailers, so it is understandable that the insurer wants to find … Continue reading →