With warmer weather finally here and the recent demise of my old grill, I once again find myself considering one of the great debates of all time: Is a gas or charcoal grill better?
When it comes to the question of grilling with propane or ...
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Embracing Mindful Spending
In the age of consumerism, where advertisements bombard us from every angle and the allure of instant gratification is ever-present, the concept of mindful spending emerges as a beacon of clarity amid the chaos. Beyond mere budgeting techniques, ...
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My Teenage Son, His Cell Phone, and the Bill for $1,055.20
We held out for as long as we could. We really did.
Despite an intense and relentless lobbying effort from my son, the Honeybee and I stayed strong and denied his repeated requests for a cell phone.
And, boy, were there a lot of requests.
I ...
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Why Grandma Was Smarter Than You About Money
Yes; Grandma was smarter than you about money. Is that a crazy thought? Well ... Grandma may not pay bills with a smartphone or trade stocks on her computer -- but the fact is she can teach a few lessons about saving money that you can take to the ...
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Contrarian Shopping: 20 Things I’m Willing to Pay More For
There's a lot to be said for contrarian investing. Famous investors like Warren Buffett and Jim Rogers are routinely lauded for going against the herd and purchasing unwanted stocks at bargain bin prices.
Interestingly enough, nobody ever gets ...
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A Real-Life Example of the High Cost of Convenience
We've all heard people lament the high costs of convenience. Well ... today I want to share a personal story that perfectly exemplifies this.
I was in my garage the other day when I heard a strange beeping sound coming from the optical network ...
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You Don’t Always Get What You Pay For
One of the most popular financial tips that people routinely dispense to others is, "You get what you pay for." Perhaps that's why many folks erroneously believe they can't go wrong by paying more for something -- whether it's a fancy meal, designer ...
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Need a Wedding Singer? Here are Booking Rates for 120 Famous Bands
Looking for some booking rates for famous bands? Well ... just keep in mind that, according to St. Louis Bride and Groom magazine, couples spend an average of 5.2% of their wedding budget on music. That seems about right. The Honeybee and I spent ...
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Infographic: Sneaky Tricks Retailers Use to Make You Buy Stuff
It's not just the holidays when the competition among retailers for your hard-earned dollars is fierce; they compete hard all year long. As a result, they have more than a few sneaky tricks up their sleeves to help manipulate shoppers into buying ...
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How to Trim Your Christmas Shopping List
Santa gives Christmas gifts with a "Ho, ho, ho." However, people who don't have a legion of elves to help them often feel like "Ho, ho, NO!"
If the expectations of gift-giving have become too much for your budget, consider reducing your Christmas ...
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The Handy Dandy Guide of Practical Christmas Gifts Under $25
There are plenty of presents you can give for the sake of giving gifts, but you'll get more mileage out of a practical approach. For all those hard-to-buy-for friends, relatives, and co-workers, consider this list of Christmas gifts under $25 that ...
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802 Reasons Why Cash Is More Thoughtful Than Gift Cards
Did you know that in China it's taboo to give a clock as a gift? Yep.
You should also never give your Chinese friends umbrellas or knives.
At least you shouldn't if you want to stay in their good graces.
The Chinese aren't the only ones who ...
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5 Key Points to Consider Before Signing a Contract
It's not uncommon to see offers like these on a daily basis: "Get a new iPhone for only $99; requires two-year contract," or "Get DIRECTV for only $59.99 a month for six months; requires a one-year commitment."
These teasers may sound great, but ...
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Why Thanksgiving Never Falls On November 29 or 30
In 1863, President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a day for "thanksgiving and praise." It's a tradition that managed to stay that way until 1939 when worried retailers begged President Franklin Roosevelt to make Thanksgiving a ...
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8 Ways to Make a Great Budget Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving is filled with family, friends, good food and football. But it can also be filled with expenses -- especially if you're having Thanksgiving dinner at your house. The good news is there are plenty of ways to cook and enjoy a delicious ...
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How Much Should You Spend on a New or Used Car?
It's no secret that buying a car is an important decision, largely because of just how expensive cars can be. The costs don't end once you drive off the lot, either. Maintenance, insurance, gas, repairs, and more can translate to major expenses over ...
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The 5 Worst Store Brand Grocery Products
Yes, buying store brands is a great way to save money on your grocery bill -- but the truth is, sometimes you're better off sticking with the name brand product.
Long-time readers who have been following my blog probably know that, since my first ...
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5 Ways You Can Save Money on Groceries This Week
For many people, the grocery bill is one of their largest monthly expenses. Fortunately, you can easily save money on groceries this week -- and every week after that -- with a little pre-planning and a lot of creative frugality.
Nix the ...
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The Intentional Obsolescence Scam: How It’s Robbing You Blind
This may come as a shock, but some of the most trusted brands to which you're loyal are selling you things that are designed to break or otherwise become useless after a period of time. There's a name for this shady practice -- planned or intentional ...
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The Best and Worst Dollar Store Deals
You may be surprised to learn that, when compared to other markets, not everything sold at a dollar store is a bargain. So, what are the best and worst dollar store deals? Well, to find out, I recently took a little shopping trip and compared the ...
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