Living on a Budget

  • Closeup shot of a young woman holding a pile of folded laundry at home

    Foods That Stain Clothing the Most — and How to Get Them Out

    There you are, enjoying your first meal with friends or family in forever when you look down and spot a spot. Or spots. Food stains can ruin a favorite shirt, blouse, or pair of pants in the blink of an…

  • Homemade Cheesy Tuna Casserole with Peas and Egg Noodles

    Thrifty Redditors Share Their ‘Go-To’ Frugal Family Meals and Hacks

    Feeding a ravenous family after a long day is hard work, especially if you’re simultaneously stressing about the grocery bill. That’s why one thrifty parent took to Reddit for advice: What’re some affordable go-to meals that’ll satisfy “huge” teenage boys?…

  • Caviar

    The Best Splurges at Costco and Sam’s Club

    People tend to join Costco or Sam’s Club to save money on bulk sizes of products they would buy anyway. But many warehouse club shoppers find themselves splurging on something out of the ordinary even on their first visit to the…

  • Wrapping Presents

    Frugal Redditors Share Their Favorite ‘Cheap Gift’ Ideas

    Persistent inflation is changing the way Americans think about holiday shopping, according to a recent Bankrate survey. But belt-tightening doesn’t mean you have to give up on gifts altogether. Ahead of the holiday season, Reddit’s thriftiest members shared how they…

  • Shopper at Kroger

    Walmart, Kroger, and Other Grocery Rewards Programs That Will Save You Money

    Loyalty programs — almost a given at major supermarkets — are a win-win: Customers get access to special deals and discounts, while stores keep them spending in one place and gain access to an ever-growing mountain of data on their…

  • Breakfast served on a hotel bed

    26 Reasons Why Staying at a Hotel Beats a Vacation Rental

    Whether you’re Camp Hotel or Camp Airbnb/Vrbo, there are pros and cons when booking either option for your vacation or business trip. For some, hotels have been priced out of their budget, hence the preference for value-for-money, short-term vacation rentals.…

  • 2008 Scion tC parked by the East Hoquiam River on a rainy autumn day.

    11 Affordable Used Cars Most Buyers Overlook

    After a global microchip shortage led to fewer new cars and higher prices, buyers poured into the pre-owned market looking for deals. That perfect storm led to an inflated used…

  • Sydney, Australia - 2020-10-17 Amazon prime boxes and envelopes delivered to a front door of residential building.

    I Stopped Shopping on Amazon and This Is What Happened

    It took some time to recognize it, but … I’m an Amazonaholic. I had an addiction to clicking “Buy Now” in my spare moments. For many of us, the pandemic…

  • Gas Shortage Sign in Connecticut

    A Look Back at the 1970s Energy Crisis

    While Americans struggle to pay for necessities like food and gas, oil companies are raking it in. Exxon Mobil reportedly made a $17.85 billion profit for the second quarter, and Chevron…

  • Mother and daughter preparing veggies in kitchen

    12 Healthy Meal Plans for Less Than $10 a Day

    Eating well can be a challenge. Between work, family, and social functions, it’s hard to maintain a cheap, healthy diet while avoiding those tasty indulgences loaded with empty calories. Some…

  • Washing machines, refrigerators and other home related appliance or equipment in the retail store showroom

    30 Cheap Choices That Can Cost You in the Long Run

    We are a society that loves being cheap. Walmart built an empire on being cheap. Outlets including Amazon, Overstock, and eBay wooed U.S. consumers out of stores and online by…

  • View from below, many people walking along a crosswalk in a city downtown, slight blur, sunlight is coming through buildings in the distance and making lines on the road

    22 Cities Where You Can Live Car-Free

    There are a lot of benefits to owning a car, not the least of which is being able to travel whenever and wherever you want. But that freedom ain’t free,…

  • Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven

    30 Products That Are Worth Spending More On

    We don’t always advocate buying things on the cheap, especially something you’ll use daily or potentially have for years. There are plenty of companies with products that their owners say…

  • Chicago skyline aerial drone view from above, lake Michigan and city of Chicago downtown skyscrapers cityscape, Illinois, USA

    12 Free or Cheap Things You Must Do in Chicago

    Exploring a new city these days isn’t cheap: There are vacation rentals to pay for, restaurants to explore, and museum fees to fork over. But every city — including Chicago — offers…

  • Concept of market downturn

    50 Ways to Prepare for a Recession

    These 50 recession tips offer practical ways to cut costs, save more, and strengthen your finances so you’re ready for any economic downturn.

  • Costco

    12 Ways to Save This Summer at Costco, Sam’s, and BJ’s

    When shoppers think of the savings found at Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s Wholesale Club, food and paper goods likely spring to mind. But the warehouse clubs offer deals on…

  • Positive feedback. Close up of young woman leaving comment at web store site after receiving parcel with goods purchased. Smiling millennial female order consumer products delivery online using phone

    Ways to Become a Product Tester and Get Free Stuff

    Free samples have evolved from freebies in supermarket aisles to items that arrived with a newspaper or magazine subscriptions to free perks for influencers and loyal customers. Free samples are…

  • pile of credit cards

    Credit Horror Stories That Will Keep You Up at Night

    Your credit isn’t your life, but it affects much of it. Your credit score determines not only your credit card limits, but how worthy you are to rent or buy…