Living on a Budget

  • Assortment of fresh harvested fruits and vegetables on the table. top view

    Which Fruits and Veggies Go Bad the Quickest and Which Last the Longest?

    With the pandemic’s ongoing effects on daily life, it seems like many of us are eating fewer fresh fruits and vegetables. “I’m hearing that is a struggle, yes,” says Seattle-based registered dietitian Ginger Hultin, a spokesperson for the Academy of…

  • Retro Grunge Hobo

    12 Things We Can Learn From the Great Depression

    No one really knows what the nation’s economy will look like as we emerge from 14 months of the coronavirus pandemic, but the occasional parallels with the Great Depression were certainly difficult to avoid during it — the unemployment rate…

  • Photo of father with son online shpping

    What to Buy — and What to Skip — in April

    It’s officially spring, and retailers are preparing for warm weather and hotter sales. In April, buyers will find deals on everything from spring clothes to jewelry, as well as some remaining winter items. Although the selection of last season’s goods…

  • Pittsburgh Trader Joe's

    Trader Joe’s Best Buys for Packing Your Freezer

    March is National Frozen Food Month, which means there’s no better time to check out Trader Joe’s much-buzzed-about freezer section. The quirky grocer manages to pack a staggering variety into those few all-important aisles, making it tough for newbies to…

  • buy a car

    The Best Time to Buy Almost Anything in 2021

    Timing is everything, especially for frugal consumers — even during a pandemic. Knowing when to buy something can make a big difference at the register. The best time to shop for big-ticket items usually comes just before a new model is…

  • UPS, FedEx, and USPS drop boxes

    Shipping Cost Comparison: USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx

    In This Article: Shipping Rate Comparison Table Overnight 2-Day and 3-Day Flat-Rate Ground Shipping Free Shipping Supplies Shipping Large Items Weekend Delivery Tracking and Insurance Guaranteed Delivery Additional Services The U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service (UPS), and FedEx remain…

  • iced coffee

    How to Make Your Own Cold Brew Coffee and Save

    As summertime approaches and the heat ramps up, few things taste quite as refreshing as cold-brew coffee. But it can be an expensive treat compared with iced coffee, which is…

  • list of resolutions

    Think Twice Before Making These New Year’s Resolutions for 2020

    Better Resolutions Trying or buying something new might seem like the perfect way to start the year — until you realize how much it costs. Some of the most common…

  • Jaime Vado fixes a display in the isle at a Walmart store as they prepare for Black Friday shoppers on November 24, 2015 in Miami, Florida.

    25 Walmart Holiday Gift Bargains

    It’s not too early to start tackling that gift list. Walmart — along with warehouse-club rival Costco — remains one of the best places to do it on the cheap,…

  • Airplane landing in the evening

    50 Money-Saving Tips for Holiday Travel

    Traveling here, there, and yon over the holidays need not leave you insolvent — or stress you out. There are workarounds galore that savvy travelers can use to find huge…

  • Family looking out window at airport

    12 Travel Benefits for Veterans and Service Members

    No matter the branch, whether they’re active duty, veterans, or retired personnel, military members — and in many cases, their families — enjoy a huge variety of deals, discounts, and…

  • Costco

    How to Live on $500 a Month at Costco

    There’s little doubt that food shopping at Costco saves money, and it’s convenient for stocking up in a single trip. But can a budget-conscious family eat for an entire month…

  • student carrying shopping bags

    50 Student Discounts You Don’t Want to Miss

    Money is scarce for many college students, so finding ways to save is key. Many merchants offer discounts aimed at students, whether on clothes, electronics, textbooks, or even movie tickets,…

  • happy family hiking together in the beautiful rock formations of Arches National Park

    19 Money-Saving Tips for Visiting National Parks

    America’s National Park Service is more than 100 years old. Yellowstone was the very first national park, recognized by Congress in 1872. But the agency didn’t become official until President…

  • group of school children studying in the classroom

    50 Tips for Back-to-School Savings

    Families plan to spend an average of $519 per student this year on back-to-school expenses for kindergarten through high school kids, according to an annual survey by Deloitte, and total…

  • kids lined up tp get on schoolbus

    25 Best Back-to-School Finds at Costco

    Don’t forget Costco when you’re tackling that back-to-school list: The warehouse club carries more school supplies than you might expect, with prices that are often lower than Amazon, Walmart, Target,…

  • Women holding ice cream

    45 Freebies You Should Take Advantage Of

    Freebies are everywhere. Restaurants will hurl free food at you for your birthday. Retailers will unload free samples on you just for your loyalty. Yet there are myriad everyday freebies…

  • Regal Cinema

    16 Ways to Save Money at the Movies

    Cinema chains do a land-office business in the summer, when audiences seek an escape from the heat and the humdrum of daily life. But even this hideaway isn’t the cheap…