Extra bang for your discounted gift card buck
Some ways of saving money may be more trouble than they’re worth. There is always a tradeoff between time and money and in the end it’s not always a good idea to squeeze every last cent out of every...
View ArticleBargains and customer service: Where’s the line?
I’m sure you’ve heard the expression: “You get what you pay for.” Usually there’s a very good reason that something is so inexpensive. It’s essentially disposable, it tastes awful, or will fail...
View ArticleWhy is failure a bargain?
I was a high-school salutatorian. More often than I’d care to admit, I translate that word as “first loser.” (I married a high-school valedictorian.) Most people don’t like to fail. They especially...
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You counting down the days until Christmas yet?
Retailers are. A Facebook friend snapped a picture from his local Walmart. The sign read “Days Until Christmas: 47.” When I was young, I made an advent chain out of red and green construction paper....
View ArticleShould you cheapen a vacation?
A friend recently took her family to Walt Disney World over the holiday break, as many families do. (She gave me permission to write about this, by the way.) Hurricane season is over, and, well, it’s...
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Cheap and free Microsoft Office products
Software as a product is a strangely complex beast. Freeware, commercial software, open-source, closed source, crippleware, nagware, bloatware, software as a service, tiered usage, service contracts,...
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Rule number one of comparison shopping
Comparison shopping has gotten much easier to do with search engines and other price alert services. Retailers have to be more competitive now that pricing information is everywhere. A friend I’ve had...
View ArticleFar better to get some discount than none
A few weekends ago, we went to a community yard sale at the YMCA. One of the tables there had a number of children’s books from the 19th century that were in excellent shape. Our nine-year-old...
View ArticleA killer Amazon Subscribe and Save tactic
We really, really like us some Amazon. For convenience, time savings, speed — and most of all cost — Amazon has a ton to offer. Some of the groceries we get are a bit pricey because common ingredients...
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Being a dental cripple is expensive
At a dental checkup about ten years ago, the dentist lectured me as if I were in second grade after looking at my x-rays. No, really. Something like: “Well, well, well, boys and girls. Someone...
View ArticleExtra bang for your discounted gift card buck
Some ways of saving money may be more trouble than they’re worth. There is always a tradeoff between time and money and in the end it’s not always a good idea to squeeze every last cent out of every...
View ArticleBargains and baselines
A colleague whom I respect a great deal talked with me at the end of last week. He has a way of breaking complex things down into very simple, but profound, terms. He was explaining how a particular...
View ArticleSomeone’s “dumb deal” is another’s false economy
Personal finance, and the difference between good and bad deals, are always a matter of context. What could be a great deal in one context could be a lousy deal in another. Sometimes spending more...
View ArticleWant a used washer? Budget some time
A washer and dryer are mainstays in many households. They are in our household, for sure. We bought a used washer and dryer set four and a half years ago. Over the past couple of weeks, the washer...
View ArticleFive ways to save $5 in five minutes
The pillar of responsible personal finance is to spend less than you earn. If you’ve heard that once, you’ve heard it thousands of times. There are three ways to work towards spending less than you...
View ArticleUse money analogies to gain context
Personal finance boils down to recognizing, and acting on, good deals in their proper context. What’s a wise finance decision for one person could easily be a foolish decision for another. In deciding...
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Buy wholesale with a personal supplier network
Economies of scale are a wonderful thing. The more you’re willing to buy from a particular vendor, the better the unit price they’re inclined to give you. Selling a thousand items a hundred times is...
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Six hacks to get things cheap or free
Are you a money-saving tip collector? Then you can always use more, right? Here are six hacks that you can add to your bag of tricks to get things cheap, or even free: Turn on the charm. I know...
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Cheap school supplies aren’t just for school!
Our local Walmart stores really bring down prices for school supplies in the last weeks of summer. Maybe yours do too. Take advantage of this. A few days ago our family was playing Boggle. (This...
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Discounted gift cards for doggie treats
Discounted gift cards can be used to buy everything from groceries to clothing … to doggie treats! The adult female in the house (aka my wife) left this weekend for an emotional and spiritual recharge...
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