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Christmas Debt

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is out and about trying to get their shopping done for the holidays. Some of you may have even braved the Black Friday sales last week. As a single parent money is always tight. Most of us are living paycheck to paycheck. There’s barely enough money to provide the essentials, let alone everything else. There is rarely any money left over at the end of the month as it is. The thought of having to find a way to finance Christmas on top of that can be more than a little daunting for … Continue reading →

K.I.S.S. Guide to Savings

Keep It Simple, Stupid or K.I.S.S. is a principle that can be applied to a variety of subjects, including saving money. Basically, the K.I.S.S. guide to preserving your household budget is to avoid overcomplicating matters. Instead, stick to basic concepts that are easy to execute, such as: Forget about brand loyalty: Sticking with a certain brands is not the best strategy if you are looking to line your pocketbook with extra cash. Consider experimenting with cheaper alternatives. NBC’s Today show recently did a test on the best dishwasher soaps and Wal-Mart’s generic brand scored as well as name brand Cascade. … Continue reading →

Scrappy Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

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Valentine’s Day is all about showing the ones you love how much you care. What better way to do that then by using your scrapbooking supplies to make something for your Valentine? Here are a few ideas to help you get your inner cupid going. * Create a Fairytale mini scrapbook about how you met your significant other. Write it in a way, where it reads like a fairytale. Once upon a time…. Include pictures of the two of you together during the dating years, and make it all about how you met and fell in love. Don’t forget to … Continue reading →

Eating Out Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

Eating out is a way of life for many Americans. The busier families are with work and other activities, the more they seem to resort to restaurant meals as a way of getting dinner on the table. These days going to a restaurant is not just for weekends and special occasions; it’s an everyday occurrence. In addition to being convenient, restaurant meals can be huge budget busters as well. It’s not unusual for my family of four (two adults and two teenagers) to spend a ton of money even at a modest restaurant. Fortunately, there are several ways to save … Continue reading →

Finding Winter Deals

Timing is everything. Knowing when to buy something can save you a significant amount of money especially when you purchase more expensive, larger or higher-end items. Finding winter deals sometimes takes a little extra work, but it can be well worth it. The trick is pretty simple, though. Purchase items that are not in demand, and stores will reduce the price. In the winter, after the holidays, think of those items that you need or want but are against the crowd. Sometimes you can easily purchase those type of items, and sometimes you have to be a bit more aggressive … Continue reading →

Baby Registry Problems

My wife and I have been having problems with our baby registry at a certain national retail chain of baby related goods that will remain unnamed. If you’ve been reading this blog you know that I am currently a doctoral student in the arts, particularly theatre, but what I haven’t said before is that I have an undergraduate business degree. I worked for a number of years as a lead teller at another national bank before the questionable ethical behavior (at least at those lower levels) made me too uncomfortable to continue cashing in in the business world and I … Continue reading →

How to Store Your Ornaments without Buying Anything

Doesn’t it break your heart when you dig out your Christmas ornaments only to find that some of them have broken while in storage? Or perhaps you just cant locate that favorite ornament from your childhood or early marriage, despite turning everything upside down. This year, when I opened up our ornament box, we found a couple of little toys that my youngest must have thrown in sometime during the packing up process last year. It is just chaos. This year, I resolve to be more organized in storing ornaments. I might be tempted to go out and purchase some … Continue reading →

Fitness Myths: Setting the Record Straight

Now that we know sit ups won’t melt away body fat and building muscle doesn’t necessarily translate into a speedier metabolism, let’s debunk a few more popular fitness myths: Myth: Lifting Weights Makes You Look Bulky If you are a woman, who is concerned that lifting weights is going to make you look like Popeye, you can stop worrying. According to experts, women can’t develop muscles like men. However, if you are still not convinced, then workout with lighter weights, or complete exercises that use your own bodyweight for resistance. Bottom line: The average woman doesn’t produce enough testosterone to … Continue reading →

The Gift or Blessing In Each Day

One of the joys of my life has always been reading. While my arm was in plaster it gave me the perfect excuse to sit down at times and read. Added incentive was a new library to explore which is always exciting. Libraries are one of my favorite haunts. One of the great books I read was ‘Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven’ by Fannie Flagg, author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. I love this author’s distinctive voice. I’m not a person who laughs out loud often when reading, but the antics of her characters and … Continue reading →

Will You Be Disappointed This Valentine’s Day? Survey Says…

Have you ever spent Valentine’s Day hoping for a diamond tennis bracelet only to be gifted a can of tennis balls? Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and I guarantee there are some people out there who could care less. Their what’s-the-fuss-all-about attitude is in direct contrast to those who are putting the final touches on special gifts to show their soul mates just how much they love them. What are you expecting from your loved one tomorrow? Hallmark magazine recently conducted a survey of what women want versus what they actually get. I found the results to be quite surprising, especially … Continue reading →