When people are beating the rugs hunting for little ways to improve their financial statements, cable TV is generally considered untouchable. Why?
Budgeting
Self Mag Tells You How to ‘Save $656 This Month (At Least)’
A story in this month’s issue of the magazine lists ten tiny, very manageable strategies—some are obvious, some a little peculiar, all with the potential to save you some money.
How to Cook a Month’s Worth of Meals for Your Family in Just One Day
A mother of five swears that she’s able to save a ton of time and money by cooking an entire month’s worth of dinners with only one day in the kitchen. She swears she can teach you to do it too. How? For one thing, a freezer is involved—ideally, a really big freezer.
Black Friday Shopping Tips
Here’s one sure-fire way to save during the holiday shopping blitz—but one that a lot of folks probably don’t want to hear: Don’t buy stuff for yourself.
In the Land of Opportunity, Not as Much Opportunity as You Might Think
Is a combination of hard work, intelligence, and talent a guarantee of success? Or has the American Dream become just a dream?
Does this Recession Make Me Look Fat?
In light of the economic downturn, consumers have been scaling back—on food that’s actually good for them. Sales of potato chips and other quick-payoff snacks are way up, and even though people are cooking at home rather than dining out to save money, what they’re preparing in the kitchen is more likely than ever to involve a microwave oven.
40-Year-Old Deadbeat
At least partly because of the recession, more and more fully-grown people—ones you’d probably refer to as “Sir” or “Madam,” or at least as “adults”—are financially dependent on their parents.
Bank Fee Horror Stories
There’s no shortage of anecdotes about banks hitting their customers with odd fees. For example, many banks offer free checking accounts for customers who use direct deposit. One teacher says that her bank gives her fee-free checking during the months her salary is direct deposited—but because she gets paid only ten months of the year …
Sans Cell Phone: Could It Actually Be Possible to Live Without One?
A stubborn, shrinking-but-still-substantial group of consumers refuses to buy cell phones. Why? Among other reasons, they like to control their availability rather than being “on call” 24/7—and they like the idea of not having $95 monthly bills, which is what the average iPhone user pays.
Ten Bizarre Theories on Saving and Spending
Poker teaches important lessons about saving and investing. Foreclosures are better than mortgage modification programs. Debit card overdraft fees are good for consumers. PMS is responsible for impulse purchases. There is no shortage of strange theories out there—and some of them are actually plausible.
No More Real Estate Agent Fees. No More Dry Cleaning Bills. No More Charges for Pest Exterminators.
Among a certain group of consumers, it’s becoming a DIY world. To save money, they’re reevaluating many of the services the rest of the world has grown accustomed to paying.
Smartphone Apps that Help You Avoid Bank Fees
One of the frustrations of modern life is that often, you must spend money simply to get your money. I speak of the $3 fee for using an ATM not affiliated with your bank. Now, there are apps for the iPhone and other smartphones to help you avoid ATM fees, as well as other charges, including the ever-annoying overdraft.