Lauren Weber’s father is cheap. Really cheap. He kept the thermostat at 50 degrees during the winter. When driving, he used hand signals to indicate he was turning to avoid burning out the headlight bulbs. He washed dishes in cold water to keep the hot water bill down. As a child, Lauren hated how cheap her father was. But she grew up …
Real Estate & Homes
A List of Money-Saving Lists: 422 Ways to Save in Total
When it comes to tips for saving, the more the better, right? Here’s a list of lists that’ll help you save money around the house, out at malls or restaurants, in Starbucks, at the grocery store—just about anywhere.
A Free $35K Car! (If You Buy a $2 Million Apartment)
To entice buyers, an apartment building in Brooklyn Heights is throwing in a free parking space, along with something to park there: a 2009 Audi A4. All you have to do is buy an apartment that costs over $2 million.
Fall Cleanup: The Free, Easy, and Earth-Friendly Way
Foliage season is just about upon the Northeast. The leaves will surely be pretty, and the raking, blowing, bagging, and lugging waste to the curb are sure to bring on aching backs. But is there is a better way to clean up your yard than brown-bagging it.
Compete for the Energy Efficiency Crown (and Save Money While You’re at It)
People don’t get all that excited by the idea of saving a couple bucks—or even by the noble-but-intangible ideas of conservation or saving the environment. So what will get folks motivated to become more energy-efficient? Make it a competition and give out cash prizes. Because people love to win, and they really love to win money.
Ten Ways to Get More Out of the Home You Want to Buy, Sell, or Rent
Has the real estate market hit bottom? Is it time to buy? Time to sell? Should you rent rather than buy? Should you rent the home you own instead of trying to sell it? No matter your housing needs and desires, here are some ideas that’ll help your cause.
It’s a Deal: Up to 60% Off at Crate&Barrel
Outdoor furniture, dinnerware, serving bowls, rugs, and bedding are among the items being discounted by up to 60 percent at the Crate&Barrel outlet.
He’s Not a Starchitect. He’s a Garbage Architect
What rubbish! Dan Phillips has to be the hero of everyone who has ever pulled over to pick something out of a heap waiting for garbage pickup on the side of the road. For a dozen years, the now 64-year-old Phillips has built homes in Huntsville, Texas, using license plates, old picture frames, shards of ceramic tiles, wine bottle corks, …
It’s a Deal: Kids Eat Free at IKEA This Weekend
From September 5 through September 7 at most IKEA stores, you can choose any three kids-size items to put together a customized kids meal—for free. Lower prices have been announced on dozens of household items too. More details here.
Shout-Out: Real Simple’s 19 Easy DIY Projects
A good how-to can save you time and money. With that in mind, Real Simple mag recently rounded up detailed instructions for 19 DIY projects—everything from fixing a faucet that spits water, to replacing a dead spot on the lawn, to changing a burned-out headlight bulb, to repairing a broken necklace.
IKEA: Where the Chinese Go to Hang Out, Drink Free Soda, and Take Naps
Americans know that IKEA can be a great place for a cheap date—with free babysitting included via the Smaland childcare center. At an IKEA store in Beijing, however, thousands of Chinese shoppers take the IKEA experience a step further.
It’s a Deal: Laminate Flooring from 69¢ a Square Foot
Lumber Liquidators has issued a “Buyout Alert,” with inventory of laminate floor varieties selling for less than half of comparable retail price. A couple of styles are selling at 69¢ per square foot, and a couple more are under $1 per square foot. More details here.
