Category: Everyday Cheapskate

Is It Just Me or Is It Cold in Here?

The news isn’t good, but better we know so we can get ready for what’s coming rather than to be caught unaware. Due to worldwide events, the U.S. government says it expects households to see their heating bills jump as much as 54 percent compared with last winter. What if I told you there are…


Clever Ways to Use This for That to Save Money and Simplify, Too

One day, as I was hurriedly putting groceries away, the fruit bowl was not within reach, so I put the fruit into the colander. It worked so well that I’ve been using the colander in that way ever since. And when I need a colander, no problem. I turn the fruit onto the counter, drain…


Tiny, Mighty Cleaning Brushes, Natural Ant Repellant, and More Great Reader Tips

Planting a backyard vegetable garden is a terrific idea, but it can be a pricey—and time-consuming. Today’s first reader has a great tip: Let the master gardeners foot the bill and do all the work while you have a laid-back summer. Then show up to get in on the harvest. It’s all perfectly legal, and…


Parents: Stop Taking out Parent Loans for Your Kids’ College

As a parent, you are responsible for taking care of your child, but you are also responsible for taking care of yourself. Taking out loans so that your child can enroll in the college of her dreams may sink your dreams of ever retiring. Contrary to the advice you will get from many financial aid…


Get Organized to Put Money in Your Pocket and a Smile on Your Face

Has this ever happened to you? While searching for the Valentine’s Day centerpiece, you stumble across the Christmas wrap you bought at the half-off-after-holiday sale two years ago. You still don’t know where the centerpiece is. Or you discover six partially full peanut butter jars in the pantry while putting away the new one you…


5 15-Minute Projects to Slash Your Utility Bills

Don’t assume there’s nothing you can do to stop spending so much of your hard-earned money on utility bills! Check out these five projects that can be completed in 15 minutes or less and require no advanced skills or special equipment. Soon you’ll be keeping more of your hard-earned money in your pocket—not your utility…


Frugal Laundry Tips That Will Save You a Fortune

If you’ve ever suffered the heartbreak of stains or other kinds of annoying laundry issues, you’re going to love this! These laundry hacks will elevate you to laundry genius in no time. Dried-On Latex Paint Getting any kind of paint on clothes or other items you care about is awful. Even if latex paint is…


The Best Space Heaters to Keep Heating Costs Under Control

Even though winter is still weeks away, we need to brace now for a rude surprise coming soon. I’m talking about winter heating bills. Natural gas and heating fuel prices are surging. The most efficient and easiest way to keep your home’s winter heating bills under control is to set the main source of heat…


Why We Need to Start Planning for Christmas Now

Brisk mornings, fall colors, pumpkin pie, and apple cider. Autumn is just the best time of year, right? While we’re thinking toward Halloween and Thanksgiving, consider this a strong nudge to put Christmas high on the list. Start planning now and you’ll benefit in so many ways come December. Before I find myself dealing with…


How to Get $1,000 Into Your Emergency Fund Painlessly

The most important thing you can do to make your personal economy strong is to have an umbrella—an emergency fund with enough money in it to pay all your bills for six months. And it needs to be safe and secure in a bank account. You read that right—half a year’s income! Wait. You can’t…