Money

  • 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, or figure out what a roux is (a flour and…

  • What’s the MPG of Your Fridge?

    Saving money on energy costs and/or reducing a household’s environmental footprint are important to many consumers. We identified several ways to achieve these ends. The first is with Enervee, a website that rank orders the energy use of appliances and…

  • Track Your Student Loans — For Free

    On July 31st the U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure that links interest rates for federal student loans to the yield on 10-year Treasury notes. This is a welcome turnabout for current undergraduates who will now pay 3.86 percent…

  • How to Avoid Overdraft Fees

    Bank customers who overdraw their accounts pay an average of $225 per year in fees, according to a recent government report. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has released findings from an inquiry into overdraft protection programs, which allow transactions to…

  • Privacy or Money: Which Do You Prefer?

    Have you ever searched for a way to make money online or wondered about how to find a new passive income stream? The Internet is filled with get-rich-quick schemes but most only get the instigator rich. The idea of passive…

  • 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 than ever. So, is it time for budget-conscious consumers to…

  • The 5 Must-Dos of Apartment Hunting

    Renting an apartment can be daunting, not to mention anxiety-inducing. So start with the most fundamental apartment-hunting question: What should I be looking for? Friends, family, and coworkers all have…

  • 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…

  • How Hedging Your Bets With Airbnb Could Cost You

    Considering moving in with your significant other to save money? The prospect can certainly be tempting, particularly if you live in a city as notoriously pricey as New York or…

  • How to Get a Summer Job as a College Student

    Spring break recently ended and finals are a few weeks away. In other words, this is the moment to find a summer job or internship. Knowing how to get a…

  • Do You Have a Car Care Plan?

    National Car Care Month kicked off with a rumble the other day. The designation helps remind drivers to adopt a car care plan and take preemptive measures to maintain their…

  • What to Buy in Bulk

    We’ve all been there – tempted to buy anything and everything in bulk. At the time it seems like a good idea to take advantage of lower per item costs…

  • Frugal Month Challenge Results: See How Much We Saved

    This February we invited readers to take the Frugal Month Challenge and commit to what some have called a “no-buy month.” My family of three embarked on this cheap challenge…

  • Job Hunting on the Cheap: How to Get Cheap Interview Clothes

    Is a new career or job looming on the horizon? Just remember that landing a job typically requires an in-person interview, and that requires proper attire. But job interview clothes…

  • Offsetting the 2013 Tax Increase

    It may be old news, but the end of the payroll tax holiday is an ongoing reality that affects everyone’s paycheck. For an individual earning $50,000 a year, the two…

  • Where to Create Business Cards on the Cheap

    Did you resolve to find a job or ramp up your efforts to attract new business in the new year? You may want to brush up that elevator pitch but…

  • Job Hunting on the Cheap: DIY Resume and Cover Letter Tips

    New year, maybe new job? If you’re on the hunt for a job, you need a resume. Perhaps you’re wondering how to improve one that already exists. Perhaps you don’t…