Lifestyle

  • 50 Ways to Make Most of Holiday Shopping

    Holiday shopping isn’t just the usual mall scene decked with boughs of holly; it’s a whole lot crazier. With many so things to buy and so many people crowding the aisles, skill and patience are mandatory. The following 50 tips…

  • Hosting This Holiday? 18 Ways to Cut Stress and Spending

    Holiday entertaining can be stressful — and expensive. Instead of slipping down that rabbit hole, try these 18 tips for saving money, time, and sanity without detracting from the event. Here’s to throwing a budget-friendly and stress-free holiday party! PLAN…

  • 15 Ways to Cut Heating Costs This Winter

    Chilly winter weather is synonymous with cozy sweaters, hot cocoa — and steep energy bills. It’s no surprise that running the heating system on high nonstop pushes monthly costs sky high. But there’s no reason to go broke staying warm.…

  • 10 Cheap Ways to Stay Connected With Your Family

    Considering how busy families always seem to be these days, it’s a good thing to have technology to keep in touch. There’s little excuse for letting weeks go by without talking to far-flung relatives or not knowing when the school…

  • 10 Cheap Substitutions for Pricey Ingredients

    Gourmet dishes and special diets may call for some expensive ingredients, but frugal home cooks can turn to cheap alternatives that don’t skimp on flavor. These ingredients are readily available and make suitable substitutes for their high-priced counterparts. SUBSTITUTE FOR…

  • 7 Things to Do Now to Afford a Wedding Next Year

    Sure, the wedding may not be until next year, but to shave some serious money off the bottom line, now is the time to start saving and planning. Thinking long term will lead to handsome rewards and possibly a more…

  • 10 Kid-Friendly Party Games and Snacks for Halloween

    With fun costumes, spooky haunted houses, and creepy games, it’s no wonder Halloween scares up so much excitement among kids of all ages. If you’re planning festivities but don’t have…

  • 11 Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes to Make at Home

    It’s possible to create pretty much any Halloween costume by thinking outside the box (putting aside the fact that many of the ideas here start with a box). Choosing to…

  • 10 Workout Apps That Beat the Gym

    Getting to the gym isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially as the weather gets colder. Who wants to pay for a gym membership they may not be motivated…

  • 10 Ways Organized People Declutter Their Lives

    It’s tempting to spend lots of money in the pursuit of organization. Binders, boxes, entire closet systems, apps, and more are sold as the solution to messiness. But if a…

  • 10 Ways to Raise a Dog on a Budget

    Dogs are cute, friendly, and fiercely loyal. They’re also a handful, requiring dedicated upkeep and care — along with all the associated costs. The American Society for the Prevention of…

  • 10 Ways Getting Married Saves You Money

    Couples who have spent thousands on a wedding will be happy to hear there is some relief afterward. The Atlantic compared the finances of theoretical single women with their married…

  • 10 Inexpensive Ways to Celebrate Oktoberfest

    Oktoberfest is a celebration of more than just beer drinking — it encompasses rural German culture and harvest traditions, as well. The 16-day festival begins Sept. 19. Can’t afford to…

  • 11 Ways to Save on School Lunches

    By now many parents are facing the school lunch dilemma: Go to the trouble of packing lunch every day? Or give in to the easy and possibly less nutritious option…

  • 5 Ways to Celebrate Mexican Independence Day

    Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican independence day — that’s actually coming up on Sept. 16, the date commemorating the 1810 call for Mexican independence. The…

  • 11 Unexpected Trash-to-Treasure Crafts

    Every home has some old junk lying around, taking up space. Instead of sending it to the landfill, unleash your creativity and save money by turning it into something useful…

  • 10 Ways to Repurpose a Bridesmaid Dress

    All brides proclaim, “You’ll be able to wear it again.” No matter how wearable the bride may think it is, a traditional bridesmaid dress is likely to hang forlorn in…

  • 25 Ideas for Inexpensive Fall Dates

    As leaves start to turn autumnal colors, couples watching expenses need to adjust their thinking about how to spend the time. Warm weather makes frugality easy, but no longer can…