Buy used cars, used furniture, used clothes and anything you can used because any money we can avoid spending is money that can go either into debt reduction or directly into savings. Continue Reading

By Kevin M There’s a “stealth expense” that chews through budgets and often leaves us with an empty bank account or even a little deeper in debt each month; its called entertainment expense, and at least part of the problem may lay in the fact that we’re usually reluctant to even view… Continue Reading

By Kevin M Companies are always trying to get us to take their bundle plans, neat packages that promise a veritable one-stop shopping trip for all of our communication needs. Cable TV, internet, land lines, cell phones—they’ll load them all into a pretty little bundle for us and provide a… Continue Reading

Action needs to precede acquisition in the quest for health and fitness By Kevin M Maybe it’s a cultural thing here in America that when ever we need to strike out in a new direction we impulsively believe that it requires spending money to make it happen (see the National Debt for tang… Continue Reading

By Paul Williams Budget. It's a four-letter word to many people. We hate the restriction, the deprivation, and tracking all the little details. But personal finance experts continue to tell us we need a budget. Don't get me wrong. Budgets are very useful tools. I think everyone should try… Continue Reading

By Kevin M If you have teenagers who play musical instruments or if you’re into instruments yourself, your wallet will love a company called Musician’s Friend. My son got into playing drums when he was ten years old, not just through the school music program, but as a personal hobby an… Continue Reading

If you normally average $200 per week on groceries, and you can cut that by 20%, or $40, you can save over $2000 per year. That can make a difference! Continue Reading

Tickets, fines and penalties cost real money By Kevin M An article this week from USA Today (Speeding 'cushion' may dwindle due to recession) reports that the 5-10-mph speeding "cushion" we’ve been enjoying most of our lives may be disappearing as cities and states work to close budget gap… Continue Reading

Newsflash: You can’t get out of debt until you stop being broke! By Kevin M Some argue that if you’re in debt the priority needs to be to payoff your debts before attempting to build a savings account. Many call for the establishment of a small emergency fund—typically $1000—to handle… Continue Reading

The Local Watering Hole as a Financial Bottomless Pit Kevin M At the risk of personal safety I’m going to take aim today at an “expense” that may be sacrosanct for some, but that’s exactly why it needs to be discussed. Jimmy Buffet’s 1977 sentimental favorite Margaritaville tells… Continue Reading