Coupons, Freebies, and Tips to Save Money Every Day
Chatting with a friend this week, she told me her and her husband have separate checking and savings bank accounts. She pays the bills each month, including the mortgage of the house they own together, and he writes her a check for his half. She says, “It’s just easier for us”. I was really surprised at hearing this, as I grew up in a family
If you are part of the 54 percent of Americans who are making financial resolutions in 2014, you are in good company. We start off with good intentions but before we know it, it’s April Fool’s Day, you just blew $20 on saran wrap for “the most epic prank ever” and your goals are long forgotten. Not this year, my people. We here at Bargain
Awhile back my husband and I redid our monthly budget, updating it with his salary raise, our new life insurance policy, and the money we’re putting into our various savings and retirement accounts. We discovered we were saving 26% of our take home income! Are we saving too much?
I’m scared to think about how much we spent on Christmas this year. I’ve avoided looking at our credit card bill, which we’ve been capping at $2,000 each month, because I knew we were going to go over. Way over. I tried to save money on Christmas gifts this year – but with a new baby in tow, and a lot of family coming to
I didn’t take my first airplane ride until I was a sophomore in high school, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t travel. During the summer or holiday season, we’d pack up the minivan with games, snacks and books and hit the road – these trips are some of my greatest memories. According to the US Travel Association, about 80 percent of Americans journey by car,
A few weeks ago, MSN had an interesting article on how to cut the cost of raising kids in half. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child in 2013 is $241,080, not including the cost of pregnancy or college. That number is staggering, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We’ve rehashed the best tips from the article,
I recently came across “The 10 ‘Never-Break’ Rules of Good Credit” in the Kane County Chronicle, which listed how to maintain good credit, derived from the formula that credit bureaus and lenders use to calculate your lending score. Some of the tips are not new, but I found it a great reminder worth sharing, plus some “In My Opinion” reactions. The 10 rules of good
There are many periods in my life where I have been self-employed. While that may sound carefree and glamorous to some, there are disadvantages, including being responsible for your own health care premiums. Buying health insurance if you’re self-employed can seem complicated and expensive, but not to worry – Bargain Babe’s got you covered. Here are 6 ways to find health insurance if you are
TV shows often depict wealthy families, but not always. Even TV families with money face financial dilemmas. Writer Ruser Saldana shares three money lessons he picked up from popular TV shows. Ruser is auditioning for a staff writer position on BargainBabe.com! Missed the audition announcement? Here it is. This is the last audition post. Look for a wrap up tomorrow! Did this post help you
If a child repeatedly makes the same mistake, should you make them pay for it with their own money? That’s what writer Heather Stephens is contemplating. Heather is auditioning for a staff writer position on BargainBabe.com! Missed the audition announcement? Here it is. We are running the best audition posts this week and next. Did this post help you save money? While I will make
A friend of mine lives under the shadow of a huge amount of debt. Six figures, I’m talking. All from graduate school. She makes a decent living now, but her monthly payments on her multiple loans suck nearly all her paycheck. Here are 11 things she does to live with debt – and survive.
I’ve had no fewer than 18 jobs in my lifetime – and I’m only in my 30s! I’ve earned money as a babysitter, garden-waterer, dog sitter, cat sitter, lawyer’s assistant, restaurant milk shake maker, research assistant, sales associate, restaurant reviewer, music critic, music writer, musician, reporter, columnist, blogger, freelance writer, event organizer, and social media consultant. One of these jobs I abhorred. Two of them
We’re considering upgrading to LED light bulbs in our home, but at the store we choked. LEDs cost a pretty penny! However, I’m told that LED light bulbs last so long they are worth the significant upfront cost. Being the Bargain Babe, I decided to crunch the numbers to prove – or disprove it. Are LED light bulbs worth the money?
Hubs and I are considering buying a Chevy Volt to replace our Mini Cooper, partly because he can charge it for free at work. THAT MEANS FEWER GAS BILLS! It’s a big decision and one I am still hashing through, so of course I want your opinion. Should we buy a Chevy Volt?
A friend tipped me off to SwapALease, where you can take over another person’s car lease, often for a discount. I haven’t personally used the site, but I interviewed a SwapALease rep and if you are considering leasing a car, it can often save you money on the cost of a car. Note: When comparing prices between SwapALease and a dealer, make sure to account
