Frugal Living

This post is from staff writer Kristin Wong. Over the weekend, a friend and I were enjoying a couple of beers in my neighborhood. As we sat outside people watching, he drooled over every fancy car that drove by. “That’s a whatever-whatever,” he would tell me. “It costs $100,000.” I live in Los Angeles, where [...]

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I write about frugality, and I try to follow my own advice, but I am by no means a minimalist. My kitchen is bursting with gadgets and appliances, my drawers with clothes, and my shelves with books. I haul in plenty of art and nick nacks and other pretty things, too. I'm no hoarder, but I have lots of things I use, that I might use, or even that I like to look at. It's all that stuff that makes my house feel like my home. That said, I am fascinated by people who are able to pare down to almost nothing and live quite happily that way. Don't they ever need another chair for a guest? An extra layer of clothing? Some old books to flip through on a Sunday afternoon? A few so-called creature comforts? (See also: Confessions of a Minimalist: 9 Reasons I Miss My Stuff) Apparently, those aren't things everyone craves. And that got me wondering: Just how minimalist are people willing to get? The answer, of course, is pretty minimal. Here are a few examples from the far reaches of minimalism....

When people learn how much I travel, and how little I pay, they typically want to get in on the deal. And while everyone recognizes that earning points and miles is a challenge, few realize that learning the best way to spend them is at least as important. So when I redeem any of my airline, hotel, or credit card rewards, the first thing I want to know is how many cents per point or mile am I getting. I need to know this in order to ensure that I am getting the most value from my points and miles, as well as my reward credit cards. (See also: The Travel Hacking Cartel: Fly Around the World For Almost Free) How do you know how much value you are getting when you redeem an award? Ask yourself a few questions. 1. What Does the Product or Service Cost? This is the easiest question to answer, and most people stop there. But there is a lot more to determining the value miles and points than getting a quote for the cash price. 2. What Do I Have to Give Up to Redeem the Points? With most...

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on money saving tips for seniors, avoiding online rental scams, and getting out of debt. Top 5 Articles Money Saving Tips for Seniors — To save money, seniors can take advantage of senior discounts and check into lowering their taxes. [MoneyNing] 5 Online Rental Scams and How to Avoid Them — Avoid the online rental scam of fake rentals by not filling out forms and checking the address listed in the ad. [Money Talks News] How to Get Out of Debt — If you want to get out of debt, shopping around for everything can help you achieve your goal. [Free Money Finance] What a new grad actually needs — Paying the premium for a month of auto insurance is a great gift for a new grad. [MSN Money] How to Prepare When Making a Career Change - 4 Money Moves — If you plan on making a career change, it's a good idea to start living within your means. [Money Crashers] Other Essential Reading 4 Rules to Follow When...

Want to save more? Keep it simple. Conventional wisdom holds that people should spread savings across different accounts, and the typical American has multiple checking and savings and other types of financial accounts. However, they're more likely to save more with just one savings account, according to a new study by a University of Kansas researcher. (See also: Zen and the Art of Hiding Money) People save more if they have just one account compared to multiple checking and savings accounts, according to Kansas University assistant professor Promothesh Chatterjee. "Nowadays, the average American has multiple liquid accounts, typically a combination of checking and savings accounts," he said in a press release. "But our research finds this is the wrong strategy to encourage saving. We find that individuals are more likely to save if they have only one primary account, rather than many accounts." Banking Implications His research has implications for accepted banking practices and...

The post Hydroponic gardening kits in your living room via Home Lohas appeared first on The Cheap Vegetable Gardener. Here are some awesome modular hydroponics setups by Home Lohas.  Pretty much a supersized version of an Aerogarden, they use timers and proprietary selection of nutrient solutions to provide produce without soil and advertised in harvest times with 30% less time. They use a full spectrum LED light system to provide adequate light without running [...]

The post We have zucchini appeared first on The Cheap Vegetable Gardener. This is definitely very early for zucchini for this part of the country but I am not complaining.  We just need a couple more to make zucchini bread (wife and kids favorite use) but for now I will be making zucchini noodles with this one  The great/bad thing about zucchini is once it gets rolling [...]

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At some point in your life, someone is going to do something that adversely impacts you, whether your employer skips you over for a promotion or your landlord tries to keep your entire security deposit. You're going to have to fight back and prove that you're in the right. And to do that, you're going to need evidence. (See also: Organizing Your Financial Paperwork) The average organization (or individual) doesn't set out to make your life hard. They just work from the assumption that they must be right, at least until shown otherwise. That means that you need documentation of the circumstances in order to win fights. And, since it's tough to tell when someone is going to do something wrong in advance, it's a good idea to build a habit of keeping good documentation. Get It in Writing I can't count the number of times that someone has promised me one thing on the phone and forgotten all about it the moment he's hung up. Unless you have a recording of the phone call (which can actually...

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some stellar articles on money tips dads should teach kids, saving money by cutting food wste, and interview preparation. Top 5 Articles 9 Important Money Tips Every Dad Should Teach His Kids — Every dad should take the time to teach his kids that the harder they work, the luckier they will get. [Len Penzo dot Com] Save money by cutting food waste — To make your food last longer and cut food waste, store your food smartly. [Get Rich Slowly] Interview Preparation -- In Advance — When preparing for an interview, remember to come in with questions for the person who is interviewing you. [Free Money Finance] Stay-at-Home Dads Talk Breadwinner Wives, Leaving the Workforce — Did you know that 40% of households with children under the age of 18 have mothers who are the sole or primary income provider for the family? [PopSugar Smart Living] Maximum 401K Contribution for 2013 — This year you can contribute up to $17,500 into your...

Freshening a thrift store find can feel like a daunting project, especially if you feel you have to sand, strip, and repaint or refinish every single home and garden purchase you make. By shifting your focus from exposed wood grain to a simple finish achieved with bargain spray paint, you can give your flea market finds a fresh face for less money and effort. Better yet, it's a look that goes with anything from loft-style decorating to traditional looks to modern bachelor pads. Here are some ideas to get you started. (See also: Repurpose Towel Rods for Cheap, Beautiful Storage) Knobs and Handles When wanting to avoid a full gourmet kitchen remodel, one of the cheapest ways to go is the repainting of cabinets, doorknobs, handles, and drawer pulls. For a modern or masculine look, consider using textured black spray paint for knobs and handles, paired with a bold color. It's a great way to make a cheap decorating strategy look more expensive than it really is. Portable Fire Pit These...

The post Building Your Own Pond appeared first on The Cheap Vegetable Gardener. So you want to build a pond in your garden? There is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. First, you have to pick the area in your yard that will be a good fit. In order to do that, you have to know where all of the underground utility pipes [...]

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Many years ago, a friend and I were planning a three-week vacation to South Africa. "Ooh! I'd love to see the gorillas in Rwanda. Ooh! and Victoria Falls (in Zimbabwe) too," she said enthusiastically of this continent we'd never visited. I pulled out a map. None of those places were remotely near to one another, but they all shared one commonality — they were all very far from home, and we weren't sure we'd ever get a chance to return to Africa (in general), so we wanted to make the most of the trip. (See also: 10 Painless Ways to Save for Vacation) I started to envision our three weeks. In criss-crossing the continent, I saw endless airports, slow bumpy car rides, and unforeseeable delays that would almost certainly happen. I saw the trip passing us by, and I became exhausted just thinking about it. "But, what about South Africa?" I said. "Don't you want to see the country we initially planned on visiting?" We decided that instead of trying to "conquer Africa" in our relatively short...

This year, millions of students across the country will finish their high school careers, and countless family members and friends will attend graduation ceremonies to watch the senior class receive their diplomas. Giving cards and/or gifts to new grads isn't mandatory, though the act of gift-giving is a traditional way of congratulating graduates. For some, a simple card will suffice, but others may want to give the graduate something useful for college. (See also: 5 Ways to Give Cash as a Gift) Gift Cards Unless the parents are paying for every college-related expense, most graduates would agree that gift cards or cash are the best gifts. The "broke college student" stereotype definitely exists, and living on ramen diets is not unheard of for students who don't want to take out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans to pay for college. Restaurant and grocery store gift cards will help ward off the dreaded "freshman 15," Amazon or bookstore gift cards can help them save money...

The pressure cooker is a cooking appliance that intimidates almost everyone who steps into a kitchen. It's not hard to see why — the pressure cooker isn't typically found in most home kitchens, and the way it cooks is rather unconventional. However, when used properly, a pressure cooker can easily simulate lengthy and difficult cooking methods, saving you both time and energy. What Is a Pressure Cooker? A pressure cooker is a device that cooks food within a sealed vessel. By sealing the container, steam pressure from boiling liquid builds, thus raising the temperature of the water vapor and cooking food faster. A stew that could normally take several hours in a conventional pot could take as little as 30 minutes. Pressure cookers come in two basic types: stovetop and electric. Stovetop pressure cookers typically reach and maintain pressure faster than electric ones; however, electric pressure cookers are typically easier to use for those new to pressure cookers. Best 5 Pressure...

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on don'ts for online networking, retirement savings in your 40s, and ways to earn passive income. Top 5 Articles Be a LinkedIn Whiz: 5 Don'ts For Online Networking — When networking on LinkedIn, don't reach out to someone without reading their profile first. [PopSugar Smart Living] How to Start Retirement Savings in Your 40s — To start saving for retirement in your 40s, avoid risk by diversifying your investments. [NarrowBridge Finance] 10 Surefire Ways to Earn Passive Income — Earn passive income by building websites or writing a book. [Moolanomy] 7 Ways Your Time Management Is Putting You At Risk — If your time management skills are lacking, your relationships and money may be suffering. [Time Management Ninja] 15 Behavioral Interview Questions and Answers — When asked about an obstacle you overcame during an interview, demonstrate how your positive attributes and skills related to the position you...

Join our Tweetchat this Thursday at 12:00 pm Pacific for lively conversation and a chance to win prizes! Use #WBChat to participate. This week's topic: Having a Frugal Father's Day! Learn about frugal gift giving and Father's Day celebrations! Tell us about what you plan on giving your dad this year and let us know your #1 money saving Father's Day tip! For an easy way to keep track of the conversation, try using our special Tweetchat Chatroom. Anyone can participate, but you must be following @WiseBread and RSVP below to win our prize! To make it easier for us to keep track of attendees and pick our winners, please RSVP below with your twitter ID (put that in the "Link Title" field), email address, and your twitter URL (put that in the "URL" field, do not put your blog's url in there). Winners will be selected at random from RSVPs. If a winner is chosen who RSVPed but did not attend a 2nd winner will be chosen. New Parenting Chat Immediately Before #WBChat Our sister blog Parenting...

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I've always thought it absurd that the U.S. doesn't require some sort of basic financial literacy course before students can graduate from high school. Sending unprepared young adults into the world of mortgages, credit, car loans, payday lenders, and student debt is a bit like sending lambs to the slaughter. For those just starting in the world of independent money management, there are few essential lessons that will help avert the worst disasters. (See also: 21 Personal Finance Lessons From Harry Potter) The list below is by no means comprehensive, but it's a good roadmap for young people to begin their financial trek. Learn, Learn, and Learn Learning how to manage money, save, and invest isn't the dark art that most experts would have us believe. So much good information is available from reputable sources both online and offline. Learn good savings strategies from sites like this one or the basics of investing from Wise Bread, The Motley Fool, or Kiplinger. Understand your risk...

Networking makes landing a job, starting a business, and just about everything else in life a little bit easier — provided you network well. If you connect with people in such a way that you irritate them or show a poor side of yourself, your networking efforts can actually hurt you. (See also: Networking Basics for Regular People) It's crucial to avoid networking mistakes as much as possible. The list below is not exhaustive — there will always be a new way to trip up out there — but if you can at least avoid these mistakes, you'll be well on your way to improving your networking efforts. 1. Connecting With the Wrong People Just because someone is available doesn't mean they can help with the particular project you're working on. Asking a freelancer, for instance, with help landing a full-time job is just going to confuse that freelancer — she's just not going to be as familiar with the question as a hiring manager. 2. Networking in a Rush Some people wait until they desperately need...

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on DIY gifts for dads, meaningful and unique wedding gifts, and how to save on running shoes, gear, and events. Top 5 Articles Dad Will Love These Easy DIY Gifts — This Father's Day, make your dad a beer cake or a man-cave sign. [PopSugar Smart Living] 5 Meaningful and Unique Wedding Gifts — If you are in need of a wedding gift, frame the invitation for the happy couple. [PT Money] How to Save on Running Shoes, Gear, and Events — Purchasing last year's model of running shoes can help you save money. [Free From Broke] 13 Ways to Get Out of a Rut — To get out of a rut, get lost in a book or pick flowers. [And Then We Saved] Dipping into Your Retirement Fund Is O.K. -- Sometimes — It may be ok to dip into your retirement fund if you need money to pay for your medical bills. [MainStreet] Other Essential Reading The Car Diet — Carpooling and staying out of traffic can help reduce your gas consumption and...

In this low-rate environment, many savers are looking for ways to get a little more bang for their savings buck. While you aren't going to see dramatic returns from any cash product, one way to boost your yield a little bit is to use a money market account. (See also: Why Savings Account Interest Rates Are So Low) What Is a Money Market Bank Account? A money market bank account is a deposit account. The yield is based on the current money market rates, which are set in the "money markets," where super-safe investments such as government or corporate bonds are traded. As a result, the interest rate is usually little higher than what you would find with a "regular" savings account. Your money market account is considered a savings account (even if your account comes with check writing privileges), so it is subject to all the same rules associated with savings accounts. The Federal Reserve's Regulation D sets forth the rules for withdrawing from accounts that are considered...

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Frugal shoppers often spend a lot of effort looking for discounts worth a few dollars off of the goods they normally purchase. But what I have learned is that far greater bargains are available to those who get serious about earning travel rewards. And while some might consider the world of frequent flier miles and hotel points to be for those who purchase the most travel, I earn and spend hundreds of thousands of points and miles each year, and I hardly pay anything for my vacations. (See also: Perform a Credit Card Rewards Annual Review) It took me years to learn everything I know about reward travel with points and miles, but my goal is to help you get started today with four simple steps. Step 1: Organize Your Points and Miles If you use a reward credit card, or have ever traveled anywhere, you probably have more than a few accounts with points and miles. But do you know how many accounts do you have, what their balances are, and when or if they expire? If this sounds overwhelming...