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Clean Out Your Closet and Upgrade Your Look

There is a statistic about wardrobes that is generally accepted; we only wear 20% of what we own. I think this is an average since closet sizes vary so significantly. For instance, I used to live in a very large house with a walk-in closet, and now I have a very small reach in one. To fit my clothes into my current closet, I had…

7 Ways to Treat Yourself Even When Your Budget Says No

It’s summertime and the living is easy, or so they say. If you have been looking at your budget lately and wishing you could do something nice that is free or cheap, I have a few ideas. It is far easier to stick to a budget if you don’t feel like you are being deprived. Cook Something Are you craving a fancy meal out?…

Summer Shopping Tips by Month

Are you ready for summer yet? I’m ready, but I’ve noticed that some of my stuff isn’t. This means I probably have some shopping in my future. To maximize my budget, I have done some research on the best times to buy various items. The Retail Cycle I worked in retail for many years and was amazed at how consistent the cycle of sales…

Frugal Moms are Smart

I think we can all agree that being frugal in general is smart, but I think it’s especially smart for moms. I grew up with a mom who was frugal by necessity; the phrase “wait till payday” came up more times than I can count. As a tail-end baby boomer, I grew up in an era with very few credit cards, so cash was king…

The Holidays Don’t Have to be Expensive!

Why Do We Celebrate? As you look around this Holiday Season, you’ll see all the advertising that says we must spend money on gifts. I think we are losing sight of the real point. Christmas, Hanukah and all the other winter holidays are family time, and I’d love to get back to focusing on that. Budgets Are to Protect Our Future It’s mid-December, and…

Budgeting 101, The Next Steps

Tuning Up Your Budget Remember back in January when I explained how to make a budget from scratch? No? Here is that post, and in it, I said we’d need to revisit your budget and tweak it. Here are a few ideas to get you started on making adjustments. Did Your Income Increase? The first reason you might need to change your budget is…

4th of July Budget Barbecue Tips

If Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, then the Fourth of July must be the first official party weekend. And summer means barbecue season, so here are some budget tips to enjoy the holiday weekend. Grilling, Am I Right? Outdoor summer fun starts with a meal cooked outside, so you’re going to need a grill. They are on sale now so that…

What to Buy in June & July

June just started, and it’s time to talk about the best shopping deals for June and July. The retail cycle is very predictable, so it’s easy to save money on specific things. It’s also smart to buy produce that is in season, it tastes better, and is cheapest when it is most plentiful. June Bargains With Father’s Day approaching, watch for tools to be…

Smart Tips for Coupon Use

Last month I talked about apps to help save money, and briefly touched on couponing through some of them. That got me curious about the history and rise of coupons and their use. So, I have found some tips on coupons and how to save with them. I confess to forgetting to use them myself. Some of the things I read made me think I…

Smart Money Moves for Your Raise or Bonus

Congratulations on that raise you just got! I bet you are excited to start spending it, right? Well, before you do that, here are some smart money moves to make now. Check your Tax Bracket Look at past taxes to see what tax bracket you are in. If your income has increased enough, you might need to adjust your withholding so that you don’t…