Search Results for: blog turn off the television to get out of debt

Crazy for Cards

I remember when I got my first set of business cards.  I was elected as a member of the Hawaii State Board of Education and scored a box of fancy schmancy cards featuring a border of gold foil. I was 17 years old, though the cards made me feel at least 27. Since then, I’ve subsequently obtained more than a dozen other business cards from the myriad of companies which I’ve been gainfully employed. Whether you are a Fortune 500 CEO or running a small home business, having an official card to hand out to present and future clients is vital. … Continue reading →

Dump the Storage Unit and Get Out of Debt

According to the New York Times, the number of self-storage units in the United States is on the rise. Unfortunately, most people really don’t need self-storage units. They are usually a waste of money and can contribute to debt. Dumping the storage unit can offer you instant savings. There are very few smart reasons to have a storage unit, and the majority of these require only temporary storage. For example, if a family is moving to a new home and is temporarily renting a furnished apartment while they wait to close on the new house. Renting a self-storage unit year … Continue reading →

How I Got Frugally Motivated This Week

After a month of moaning about how we should be able to afford certain activities that our beyond our means, I knew that I needed to get out of my funk and back into being actively frugal. Instead of focusing on what we couldn’t afford, I needed to start focusing on our financial goals of having a healthy emergency fund and paying down our debt. So, with a little extra time this month, I set off to focus on our house, our kids and what little remains of summer. First, we made a list of some fun and frugal things … Continue reading →

Understanding How You Got Into Debt

For most of us, debt comes softly. Bills sort of sneak up until you are left wondering what happened. Understanding how you go into debt is very important. This understanding will not only help you to get back out of debt, but it will also help prevent you from getting back into it. Try to trace back to a time when you weren’t in debt. What was different? Have you always been in debt? What did you learn about handling money from your parents? Common causes of debt include spending more than you make, or overspending, a sudden or unexpected … Continue reading →

Turn off the Television to Get Out of Debt

Did you know that simply turning off the television, or watching less of it can lead to more savings? I’m not just talking about the savings you will get from foregoing the $200 cable bill or the electricity it takes to run your television. I’m talking about the other hidden benefits, the secret savings that will kick in. Less Need to Buy Where do we usually find out about things that we absolutely need to have (although we never knew about them before)? Why the television, of course. It is still the number one way that we get our advertising. … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Month in Review: July 2008

July went by so quickly for us! There were so many fun and frugal activities and events for us to explore, from a science camp to free movies and sand sculpting. I hope your July was equally fun and frugal. Summer is a busy time, I know. Did you miss any frugal articles last month? If so, here is an opportunity to catch up on what you missed. There are new ways to save money on food, clothing, kids, gas and more. Feel free to leave a comment on any frugal post. I read all of the comments myself, no … Continue reading →

Frugal Contentment Thieves 2

When we last left off, we were talking about how a comfortable neighbor can rob you of your frugal contentment. Now, let’s see what to do about it, as well as how to face two other potential thieves. The best way around this is to realize that your frugal living is a choice that you have made. You might be able to have some of the things that your neighbor does, but you might also have the debt, the second or third job or the stress that goes with it. And isn’t it better to enjoy a simple life free … Continue reading →

Trump Stirs Up More Controversy

With Rosie O’Donnell recently announcing her departure from ABC’s “The View” you had to know that her rival Donald Trump would not remain silent for long. (I think it took him about 2.16 seconds to issue a statement after the news of her leaving was broadcast.) I’ll get to their ongoing battle in a bit, but first I wanted to clear up rumors about Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent appearance on Trump’s TV show “The Apprentice: Los Angeles.” For some reason I allow myself to get sucked into “The Apprentice,” season after season (this year was no different). On the March … Continue reading →

Holiday Stress: Managing the Spending This Holiday Season

We’ve talked about the problems that financial stress can have on a marriage and during the holiday season, arguments over money and how you are spending it on presents for the kids and more can seem inevitable. Making the right decisions on how to spend your money can be hard most of the year, but when it comes to Christmas shopping and looking for the right presents for your kids and more – it can a great deal more difficult. The Past Affects the Present For years, my husband and I both made a decent income with extra disposable cash … Continue reading →