Lifestyle

  • 7 Essential Wedding Sites and Apps for Couples on a Budget

    Congratulations, you’re getting married! Now hand over the credit card. Seriously. The average couple spent nearly $30,000 on their wedding in 2013, according to a survey by The Knot, surpassing even the high mark of $28,082 in 2008, before the…

  • Get Money Back at the Grocery Store With These 11 Apps

    Anyone who has visited a grocery store lately knows that food is only getting more expensive. Fortunately, a new generation of digital grocery apps give consumers a high-tech way to save. Unlike coupons that deliver a discount at the register,…

  • 12 Cheap Winter Date Ideas to Melt Your Partner’s Heart

    The weather outside is frightful and wintertime fun can get mighty expensive in many parts of the country. A day on the ski slopes or a meal at a hot new restaurant might cost more than $100. Don’t let that…

  • 10 Ways to Save on Valentine’s Day

    Valentine’s Day is approaching, which means many Americans will be dropping dollars in the name of love. Among respondents in a recent survey by the National Retail Federation, women plan to spend an average of $96.58 to show their affection…

  • 10 Valentine’s Day Dinners to Make at Home

    Cooking dinner with a loved one or new flame on Valentine’s Day is a fun date idea with benefits: It avoids the hassle of reservations and overpriced prix-fixe menus. Even inexpensive meal ideas can make for an impressive Valentine’s Day,…

  • 10 Ways to Lower the Costs of a New Baby

    It’s no secret that a baby costs a lot in the first year (and the second, and the third …). A middle-income family welcoming a child can expect to spend about $245,000 per child from newborn to the age of…

  • 5 Best Weight-Loss Apps for 2015

    The start of the new year means resolutions, many related to healthy living and weight loss. Hitting your weight target and keeping yourself accountable for the calories you eat has…

  • 10 Top Gadgets You Can Get for Less

    Consumers have more choices than ever when it comes to gadgets, including a range of options in categories that didn’t even exist a few years ago. In 2014 we saw…

  • 12 Gadgets That Help You Save Time and Money

    Smart thermostats are all the rage these days. If you don’t want to make the large initial investment — or you’re wary of omniscient mobile apps and electronics — you…

  • Holiday Returns: What You Need to Know

    Gift giving and receiving is complicated and emotional. While the rising popularity of store gift cards and prepaid cards has lessened the worry about returns in the post-holiday frenzy, there…

  • 6 Ways to Find Free and Cheap Yoga Classes

    With all the stresses of modern life, quiet, meditative movement seems like the perfect antidote. Yoga classes and instruction have a reputation for being expensive, with drop-in rates hovering around…

  • How Grandparents Can Save New Parents Thousands Per Year

    The average cost of raising a baby during the first year is $10,000 to $15,000, which totals more than $245,000 to age 18. Once the initial sticker shock wears off,…

  • The 5 C’s of Finding a Diamond for a Christmas Proposal

    Dreaming of ringing in the holidays with a sparkling diamond? Multiple surveys show that December is the most popular month of the year to get engaged. Finding the perfect diamond…

  • 6 Stocking-Worthy Smartphone Battery Cases

    This is a top seller on Amazon, where it averages 4.5 stars. The 3,100 mAh battery can completely recharge the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 (and then some). Put another way, it…

  • New Year’s Tickets Too Pricey? Try These Alternatives

    New Year’s Eve doesn’t have to mean bidding a frantic farewell to your budget. It’s possible to send the year off with a bang and barely spend a buck. According…

  • Price Survey: Stay Away From the Biggest Drugstore Chains

    Is a chain drugstore the first place that comes to mind when you’re out of toothpaste or need to have a new prescription filled? You may be better off heading…

  • Which Smartphone Insurance Is Best?

    Opinions differ on whether extended warranties for electronics and other expensive items are worth the cost. But the peace of mind that comes with having phone insurance if your hand…

  • Should You Visit Walmart, Target, or CVS Instead of Your Doctor?

    Health problems don’t care what day of the week it is or if it’s after 5 o’clock. And yet, ailing people once had to wait it out until the doctor’s…