Part of a solid strategy for saving money is knowing when to find a good deal. And if you’re anything like my dear mother, you love a good deal. She excelled at Action Step #4: Smart Purchasing. Most of the time, people flock to the stores to buy new items. But what about getting [...]

We’ve been talking a lot about how to get in great financial shape for the New Year. And yes, Action Step #4: Smart Purchasing plays a part. But what about those big-ticket items? The good news is that there are some months when you can get a better deal than at other times. [...]

Here’s a good joke I recently heard: One day, a kindergarten teacher said that the word for the day was “frugal.” She explained “frugal” had to do with saving, and a frugal person is one who saves. She then asked the class to come up with a sentence for the word. [...]

Recently I saw this funny meme on Facebook: Italians are the biggest recyclers of plastic bags. So if you see a turtle choking on a plastic bag, don't look at us. All our bags are in the drawer under the sink. Good one! If you want to get into great financial [...]

One of the funnier moments in the film, “Robin Hood: Men In Tights,” is when Blinkin, Robin’s blind former servant, is perched high in a tree looking for strangers trying to enter their camp. Robin Hood shouts, “Blinkin! What are you doing?” Blinkin replies, “I’m... guessing? I guess no one’s coming?” When it [...]

My aunt decided to trim her household budget, so instead of sending her favorite dress to the dry cleaners, she washed it by hand. She proudly said to her husband, “Look... we’re seven dollars richer because I washed this dress by hand!” Her husband replied, “Good. Wash it again!” It would [...]

Isn’t it funny that a popular New Year’s resolution is to get thin— yet we’d also like to “fatten up” our bank accounts? If your checking account looks a little scrawny, you’re not alone. Spending less and saving more is one of the “Top Ten” New Year’s resolutions every year. After [...]

After the holiday season, you might have over-indulged when it came to food and drink. January brings with it a flurry of resolutions to tighten up that belt... straighten up, and fly right. But what about your finances? Did you overspend? Buy stuff that you discovered was cheaper elsewhere? According to [...]

We’re now safely into the New Year… and one question I’m sure you’re either getting asked or asking yourself is this: “How are you doing on those New Year’s resolutions?” I won’t pry. Instead, I thought I share a few pithy quotes on the subject of our annual ritual of self-improvement.  Enjoy: [...]

What’s every child’s favorite two words in Winter? “SNOW DAY!” There’s nothing better when you’re a kid to get the happy news of the unexpected gift of a day off from school. It meant a day free from pencils, books, dirty looks, and instead offered cartoons, games, and snowball fights in [...]