I just read a post by Laura over at No More Spending called Never reaching my emergency fund goal. Like many people, I’ve struggled with putting together an adequate emergency fund. The decision often centers around a choice between paying off debt and saving for an emergency fund. The argument I’ve experienced and seen shared most often is that it’s hard to keep money in your bank account knowing that you have debt out there accumulating interest. So instead of building up your emergency fund, most people just continue to pay off the debt.
The problem with this approach is that if you do have an emergency – and you will, we all do – you will have to rely on your credit to cover the emergency costs. So if your refrigerator breaks or your car dies, you’re left with no other options and will end up paying interest on those emergency expenses.
So why not try a different approach. This worked for me and may do the trick to get you over the emergency fund hump as well. (Click to Continue…)
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One of the biggest monthly categories of spending that most people deal with is healthcare costs. Health insurance, prescriptions, medications, doctor’s visits – it all adds up. When you’re trying to pay off debt and save on expenses, it may seem like there are very few options for saving on healthcare costs. But I bet that you’re overlooking two of the most obvious ways that you can cut your healthcare costs without sacrificing your health in the process.
(Click to Continue…)
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Bryan over at Frugal-Logic has a great post on why you should consider cutting soda from your diet. Besides the fact that a soda habit, and it IS a habit. Soda’s not cheap! And soft drinks aren’t the healthiest option either.
I loved soda! Like most of us, I used to drink it all the time. (Click to Continue…)
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Several blogs are running compilations of the best financial posts of 2008. There’s a lot of reading here and a ton of great ideas an insights. One of the things I like best about compilations like this is that they come from a wide range of authors who have different points of view on similar topics. The first blog running a nice list is Green Panda Treehouse. Take a look through their 2008 Best Personal Finance Posts and see what peaks your interest.
The second blog running a similar list is Money Smart Life. They’re took a different angle in The Best Money Posts of the Year and asked personal finance bloggers to submit their best posts of 2008 and more importantly tell everyone why they thought is was their best. Again, you’ll find lots of great info so grab a pen and paper and start taking some notes!
What’s was the best post you read this year? What tip sticks out in your mind and will help you save some money going into 2009?
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Did you book that $250 a plate New Year’s Eve gala yet? No? Me neither. New Year’s Eve can be one of the most expensive nights of the year. Lavish parties and pricey dinners are the norm, but they don’t have to be. So if you’re like me and you’re looking for some cheap and fun alternatives to ring in the New Year, I’ve got a few ideas to share that may save you an expensive dinner and a baby sitter. (Click to Continue…)
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This is a guest post by Chris Turner a friend and contributor to The Thrifty Life.
You remember a lot of important things: The first time you saw Star Wars on the big screen. The first time someone looked at you in that that way. The first time you realized that childhood was over. I remember all those things too, plus other bits of detritus floating around in my long-term memory file. Like the first time I ever heard the word “thrift.” (Click to Continue…)
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When you make small changes in the way you spend or save, most of the time you can expect small results. There’s nothing wrong with small results, because after all, with time they add up and can have a big impact. But sometimes you need more than a small change to kick you in the butt and get your moving in the right path. Here are four BIG changes that can give you a huge boost and get you moving in the right direction.
(Click to Continue…)
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Right now, this very minute you can stop what you can read this and act. Don’t procrastinate, don’t let the opportunity to change something right now slide by. You can save more of your hard-earned cash, and you can do it now. I’ll bet that you’ll easily be able to do at least two of the things in the list below. If not, either you’re lying to yourself and you really don’t want to save money, or you’re already on the path. Here are ten tips you can put into action right the moment you finish reading this. (Click to Continue…)
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At the end of October, Ramit Sethi at I Will Teach You To Be Rich started a series of posts called the Save $1000 in 30 Days Challenge. I’m always looking for new ideas to save money so I’ve been following along through the month. The first few are often some of the first things that come to mind when you start to think about quick ways to save money:
- Bring lunch with you instead of buying lunch
- Turn your thermostat down 3 degrees(or more!)
- Sell something on eBay(or anywhere for that matter)
- (Scroll down to read all of his suggestions here)
The other items on the list, the more difficult items, are the ones that interested me the most.
(Click to Continue…)
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Ready to put some money back in your bank account? You've come to the right place.
