Wayan Vota / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Fitness on a budget – How to create your own free home workout plan and exercise routine. (MoneyCrashers)
Wasting money – Ten things you do to save money that end up costing you more. (Wisebread)
Debt reduction – The Silicon Valley Blogger shares three do it yourself debt reduction programs to beat debt. (The Digerati Life)
Money resolutions – Here are five ways to make your money resolutions stick. (Mainstreet)
Movie ticket price hike – The movie business didn’t fare well last year. Experts are predicting movie theaters will charge more for admission. (Time Moneyland)
Fix broken powder make up – A blogger discovers how to “fix” powder makeup that has broken into pieces. Pretty nifty trick!
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catd_mitchell / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Seems like every year we make resolutions only to break them, but could it be that in the end we are saving money by not sticking to them? Below I calculate the amount of money spent on meeting New Year’s resolutions and share tips to getting them done on a budget.
robleto / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
In the beginning of the year I shared three financial resolutions that I was going to tackle for the new year. Now that we are more than half way through the year, I want to share my progress along with tips that have helped me save money, pay down debt and stop using plastic.
Goal No. 1 – Save more money
I had to cut down my entertainment budget this year from $40 to
dieselbug2007 / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
The Supreme Court put the breaks on a job discrimination lawsuit against Walmart. Find out how this decision will impact private employers and YOU. (CNN)
Want to even out your electricity bills throughout the year? Consider these 10 budget billing disadvantages before changing your payment plan with your electrical company. (Compare Electricity Rates)
Borders plans to sell itself by July 1. Have any Borders gift cards? Use them before it’s too late. (The Detroit News)
Why are you in debt? Learn to control these four problem behaviors to stop spending money. (The Digerati Life)
Is Extreme Couponing hurting shoppers’ self esteem? Those who use coupons can’t realistically keep up with the savings. (Suddenly Frugal)
I got so caught up last week with the “I BRAKE FOR BARGAINS” bumper sticker giveaway, that I forgot to pick a winner of Natalie McNeals’ The Frugalista Files. If you missed my book review, Natalie chronicles her desperate attempt to escape debt while still living a fabulous life. She keeps herself accountable by listing her total debt at the beginning of each month. Learning Natalie’s secrets to paying down her $21,000 of debt by about $500 a month are fun to read and very entertaining.
The winner is announced below. Honorable mentions go to Marcia, who shows (more…)
Full disclosure: I have never met author Natalie McNeal but I consider her a frugal blog friend.
When I received Natalie McNeal’s The Frugalista Files: How One Woman Got Out of Debt Without Giving Up the Fabulous Life
Lucky me, because there are so many funny and true moments in this book that I can share them and you’ll know how much this book deserves your $8.56 (on Amazon.com, anyway). Incidentally, I read the entire 179-page book on a flight from Providence, RI to Phoenix with time to spare. The Frugalista Files is fun.
On changing her life: “Being a spending slut is ruining my life. (more…)
Identity Photogr@phy / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Coming up with resolutions for the new year was difficult. I easily added the No. 1 resolution to lose weight onto my list, but when it came time to think of my financial future, I was paralyzed. While I’ve always saved my pennies, this year is different. In the spring I’ll be graduating into a less than idea economy and assuming the adult reality of earning, managing, and spending money wisely. I would be lying if I said I was not anxious about my future.
My three financial goals, which may be similar to yours, are simple so I can stick to them.
3. Save more money – I’ve been putting aside 20 percent of all my earnings and will start putting away (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
HikingArtist.com/Flickr
I have just 25 minutes to speak about budgets at an upcoming conference – such a short period of time. As I started to prepare my talk I realized staying on budget and out of debt has only five key points.
1. You have to want it. No seminar, book or popular online money management software will help you to stay on budget unless you really want to. It’s like quitting smoking cigarettes. You must make a firm and true decision to DO IT!
2. Spend less than you make. Oh so easy to say but that is the bottom line. Somehow you have to increase your income and/or decrease your outgo until you are spending less than you make. It’s simple math.
3. You have to spend time looking at actual numbers. Our finances have become so automated that you can get paid, buy your food, pay your bills and transfer money to your significant other’s account without ever having to actually confront your economic condition. I spend at least one day a month going over my finances with a fine tooth comb. I examine all the receipts and evaluate where we are spending money. I balance every month’s statement and earmark money for upcoming expenses (like my daughter’s birthday or a new mattress.) I do most of my accounting with pen and paper. Bargain Babe has a 15-minute budget that is fairly simple.
4. Spending should not be an emotional decision. I don’t buy something (like a $750 leather jacket) because I “just HAVE to have it” or I “can’t live without it.” If I want it so badly, I should plan for it. Most often, all the items you buy on impulse won’t stand the test of time. Of course, I have a slush fund built into my budget that allows me the luxury of buying a little something (like a pretty hair clip) for myself when I see it – IF I really want it.
5. Ensure that the entire family understands and agrees with the above four items. It is vital that everyone is on the same page when it comes to budgeting. If necessary, have family meetings to go over these points until you have agreement. It just won’t work if everyone isn’t on board.
I’d love to hear any of your budgeting tips.
