Living on a Budget

  • Christmas tree in a mall

    What to Buy in December

    Holiday shopping is gearing up to the point of frenzy — even if things look a bit different this year thanks to the pandemic — and just about everything appears to be on sale. While this might tempt some shoppers to…

  • 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…

  • A Walmart employee pushes a cart through a Walmart store

    Why Some People Will Never Shop at Walmart

    Walmart often has the best deals when it comes to price. Yet some people refuse to shop at the chain retailer, choosing Target even when prices are higher. While Walmart is the country’s biggest employer with 1.5 million employees in…

  • 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 simply strong coffee poured over what many people — including…

  • 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 New Year’s resolutions are some of the most expensive. Here…

  • people shop at Macy's department store on 'Black Friday'

    112 Best Black Friday Deals Still Available

    Black Friday is going, going, gone, but that doesn’t mean every great deal has disappeared, either. Here are some picks ranging from great gifts to popular electronics and much more. Get your credit card ready — this time of year,…

  • 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…

  • couple paying bills together online

    7 Steps to Creating a Monthly Budget

    Maybe you’ve shelled out lots of money in account overdraft fees, you have debt that cries out for repayment, or you’re just stressed about making ends meet every month. Regardless,…

  • rainbow over Hawaii

    20 Tips for Visiting Hawaii on a Budget

    The Hawaiian Islands aren’t exactly known as a budget destination. But that doesn’t mean visiting America’s 50th state has to cost a fortune. Like any other destination around the world,…

  • Easy Money

    43 Ways to Save Without Sacrificing in the New Year

    Did you see those end-of-year bank statements — or more importantly, the credit card tallies? Make 2019 the year you finally wise up. There are countless simple, tried-and-true ways to…