I recently had the pleasure of seeing a documentary called Playing with FIRE. FIRE is an acronym for Financial Independence Retire Early. We as a society work hard every day and many times feel that we have nothing to show for it. We’d love to spend our time doing more meaningful and fulfilling things that…
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How to save money at restaurants
Earlier this week, my husband received an email from one of our favorite restaurants. They were having a 50% off deal on their lasagna and he couldn’t resist. So he picked up the lasagna along with some free bread sticks on his way home and I made a salad to go with it. When we…
The best ways to reduce your bills
No one can escape bills, they are a part of every day adult life. But when was the last time you really analyzed each of your bills and tried to get them reduced or eliminated? Most people tend to think the fees are set, and sometimes they are. But more times than not they can…
How to survive the holiday without going broke
Christmas time is one of the most expensive times of the year for most of us. If we’re blessed with a big family and a lot of friends we find ourselves spending a small fortune on gifts, food, parties, and activities. It’s enough to set anyone back on their budget, but it doesn’t have to…
Our trip to Victoria – cost breakdown, frugal tips, and lessons learned
Last month my family went on a much needed vacation. You see we spent thirteen months being as frugal as possible so that we could meet a specific savings goal. And once we met that goal we wanted to reward ourselves by cash flowing a trip to Victoria, Canada. Cash flowing means paying for something…
6 must have bank accounts that will keep your money organized
Lumping all your money together in one bank account is kind of like putting all your books on a bookshelf in no particular order. Sure, all the books are on the shelf where they belong, but the next time you’re looking for a specific book you’ll probably have a hard time finding it. It’s better…
8 ways to save money on groceries
Before I started living frugally and doing a monthly budget I had no idea how much money I was spending on groceries each month for my family of three. I was completely oblivious to the fact that I was wasting both food and money because I wasn’t meal planning, cooking on a consistent basis, and…
How to save money on medical bills
You never know when you or a family member will end up in the emergency room or find out that an expensive procedure is necessary. And while you’re busy worrying about these health issues, you will most likely have the added stress of medical bills coming your way, adding insult to injury. I know this…
How to know if a checking account buffer is right for you
Does a safety net make you feel more secure or does it increase your chances of falling because you know it’s there to catch you? That is what you need to consider when deciding whether or not you should have a checking account buffer. A checking account buffer is an extra dollar amount your keep…
The top 4 things you should cut from your budget
Let’s face it – there are some things we spend money on pretty regularly that are wants, not needs. While paying off debt or building up savings, it’s important to look over your monthly budget and figure out where you can cut expenses. You can always find categories to cut out entirely or at least…