Living on a Budget

  • College Tours: How Students Can Visit for Free

    As high school students prepare to spend the next several years and thousands of dollars earning an undergraduate degree, finding the right college is critical. The atmosphere on campus, the diversity of the student body, and the local surroundings all…

  • Narrowing a Multitude of Money-Saving Tools to 10 Essentials

    Every day, it seems, a new digital destination promises to save consumers money. But who has time to cycle through a lengthy roster of bookmarks in search of deals? The latest issue of ShopSmart magazine winnows the field to 10…

  • 7 Steps to Landing a College Scholarship

    There is such a thing as free money when it comes to paying for college — if you know where to look. Between merit-based scholarships and grants for students in financial need, there is an abundance of college scholarships available…

  • 4 Ways to Teach Your Kids About Frugality

    “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” was, at one time, the modus operandi of many families in America. Since then, we’ve become a consumer-oriented, throw-away society that is prompting some pushback. In the face…

  • Declutter Your Bills: 3 Steps to Save You Money

    Are you sitting in the midst of stacks of documents and receipts, trying to get organized before filing your income tax return? As you wade through the data, you might find yourself shocked at how much you paid for insurance,…

  • 11 Essential Rules for Negotiating a Discount

    Coupons at the grocery store, weekly sales at the clothing store, and memberships at the discount store are all routes to the best deals. But there are no coupons for a new car or repairs to your home. The only…

  • 8 Things ‘Girls’ Can Teach Fans About Frugality

    Like generations of young people before them, the cast of HBO’s Girls came to New York to make careers in the arts — writing, acting, music. In the meantime, Hannah…

  • No More Bank Fees

    The New Year is an opportunity to start fresh, and for many folks that means getting your finances in order. Perhaps it’s time to wave goodbye to your bank in…

  • College Students: Get Your Finances Square Next Semester

    For many college students, winter break is a much anticipated time to relax after the hours spent bent over books and keyboards during finals. Whether the start of the next…

  • Beware of Baggage Fees When Booking Travel

    An updated report on Cheapism.com compares airline baggage fees at 12 U.S. carriers. This is vital information for holiday travelers because heavy gifts and bulky winter clothing can undermine all…

  • Best Coupon Practices According to an Extreme Couponer

    Extreme couponing has hurt the average coupon clipper. Although finding coupons is a snap in the Internet age, new limitations prevent shoppers from replicating the savings showcased on programs like…

  • Daily Deal Apps Roundup

    Whether shopping at home or looking for a place to grab lunch, everyone loves a bargain. That’s why daily deal apps are so popular. According to a report by BIA/Kelsey,…

  • Coffee Rewards Programs: Which Perks Your Interest?

    Coffee is a big and competitive business in the United States — Statistic Brain reports that consumers spend more than 18 billion dollars a year on specialty brews alone —…

  • Coupon Crazy: An Insider Explains It All

    “I started using coupons to save money. I kept using them because it turned out to be a fun and rewarding way to shop.” If you ever wondered what motivates…

  • Online Tutorials: Where Can You Find Free (and Accurate) Guides?

    When looking for a simple answer about how to do something, look no further than free online tutorials. Maybe you’re trying to assemble a piece of furniture, tie a tie,…

  • Can Readers Save by Switching to Digital?

    Print books may not be dead yet, but ebooks are undoubtedly the future. They’re space-saving, environmentally friendly, and often cheaper than their dead-tree counterparts. Ereaders and tablets are more affordable…

  • 10 Tips on Parenting Without Consumerism

    Does raising kids always have to be so hard on the wallet? Not necessarily, as I learned after moving to Japan with my husband and young children. Here’s a smorgasbord…

  • How a Dent or Scratch Can Get You a Discount on Amazon

    Have you ever walked into an outlet store and found a deal you couldn’t refuse? Perhaps it was deeply discounted cookware with an imperceptible scratch or a laptop bag that…