7 Ways to Exercise Without a Gym Membership

June 22, 2014

Deciding to start an exercise routine can pay off physically, mentally, emotionally, and even financially, but sometimes it’s hard to see the financial benefit when you’re paying for a gym membership that costs $50 a month. If your budget is tight and you need to save money, there’s no reason to pay for a gym. Use these tips to get a great workout without the ongoing financial burden of a monthly membership fee. Continue reading “7 Ways to Exercise Without a Gym Membership”

Kimye Coupling Do’s and Don’ts

June 10, 2014

As much as I try, it is hard to avoid hearing or reading about the extravagant nuptials of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.  the Kimye couple reportedly spent a cool $12 million on their Italian wedding.  While this trend-setting couple had the cash to spend on a gorgeous Florence location and $500,000 JUST on her dress, most of us have a smaller budget.  With summer as the most popular season for weddings,  let’s talk about weddings and financing them. Continue reading “Kimye Coupling Do’s and Don’ts”

The 2 Big Financial Mistakes Most People Make

June 06, 2014

My daughter’s favorite animal is the koala bear and that was never more apparent than when she and I went to the San Diego Zoo and saw the koalas there.  Her reaction:  “KOOOOAAAAALLLLLAAAAASSSSS!!!!!!”  –  if I recall correctly. We talked about koalas and why they hug trees.  We had no idea, but now with this article we know the answer.   Continue reading “The 2 Big Financial Mistakes Most People Make”

3 Tips to Be a Frugal Boater

June 03, 2014

Are you a frugal boater? That may sound like an oxymoron since boating is a very expensive hobby. But if boating is in your blood, here are three ways to save money and still enjoy a nice day out on the water this summer.   Continue reading “3 Tips to Be a Frugal Boater”

How to Dress Well for Less

May 22, 2014

Now that we’re almost halfway through the year, how are those New Year’s resolutions going? If you’re like most people, you probably resolved to lose weight and pay down debt this year. But while there’s no downside to paying down debt, I’ve learned that there is a downside to losing weight. Continue reading “How to Dress Well for Less”

Memorial Day Freebies for Your Military Family Members

May 20, 2014

My stepson has served in the military for the past several years and every Memorial Day he has his list of restaurants he wants to go to for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner to get his free meals.  Top on his list this year is Hooters, which is offering 10 free wings to all active duty military and veterans. Active duty service members and veterans can also get a free All-American burger at Shoney’s and a free meal at Twin Peaks.  Continue reading “Memorial Day Freebies for Your Military Family Members”

Don’t Make the Cash Call!

May 06, 2014

I recently spoke to a young woman on the phone who was in tears due to a loan she had taken out to help bail out her (then) boyfriend from almost getting his pickup truck repo’ed. The couple had seen a late night commercial on tv for CashCall, promising quick cash for any need. Of course, the boyfriend convinced her to put the loan in her name since she had better credit than he did. Can you just imagine where this story is going? Continue reading “Don’t Make the Cash Call!”

8 Tips For Saving Money at the Airport

April 30, 2014

As many of you know, I travel a lot for work.  On one of my more recent trips, I was reminded of how expensive it can be when you are not prepared.  This summer, I will be traveling with my family across country, and that means traveling through my local international airport.  If your travel plans include a visit to your nearest international airport, consider these eight helpful money-saving tips. Continue reading “8 Tips For Saving Money at the Airport”

Is Deferred Financing a Deal or a Dud?

April 29, 2014

My kitchen stove needed replacing last weekend, so I headed to my favorite home improvement store, Home Depot, to pick out a new smoothtop electric stove. This gave me the opportunity to upgrade from the basic builder’s white model to a stainless steel version, but of course that set me back several hundred dollars. “No worries,” said the sales rep, “you can take advantage of our 6 months deferred financing deal being offered!” Continue reading “Is Deferred Financing a Deal or a Dud?”

Re-landscaping Your Way to Savings

April 23, 2014

My friend Daniel took advantage of a recent promotion sponsored by his local water department that offered homeowners $2 per square foot of grass that was removed and replaced with drought-tolerant plants and groundcover.  The promotion initially caught the attention of his wife who was tired of staring at their perpetually brown, weed-filled lawn.  After some investigation, they realized that the cost of tearing out the “lawn” and replacing it with approved groundcover was going to cost more than the $2 per square foot being offered, but when they factored in the money they would save by not having to pay a gardener ($70 a month) and by not having to use as much water on the lawn, they decided to move ahead. Continue reading “Re-landscaping Your Way to Savings”

Spring Fever? Go Wild in the Park

April 15, 2014

As the days get longer and the weather gets  warmer, get out and celebrate spring this weekend without even having to spring for your wallet.  The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation are hosting Go Wild for National Park Week April 19 – April 27 and offering free admission this weekend to any of the 133 parks that normally charge an entrance fee.  My favorite is Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, just an hour drive for me, where I can learn about the Civil War while enjoying the natural beauty of the Potomac River.  It would typically cost $10 per car to enter the park, but this coming weekend the fee is waived.  Continue reading “Spring Fever? Go Wild in the Park”

Will April Showers Bring May Flowers?

April 08, 2014

My Nandina shrubs, which had survived a dozen winters since being transplanted from my mother’s garden, were no match for this year’s polar vortex. Supposedly a hardy evergreen in zones 6 to 10, the snow, ice, and extreme cold were just too much.  My daffodils haven’t even made an appearance yet, due to the extreme weather in the Northeast.  Gardeners in the Western states weren’t spared either, having faced a severe drought followed by torrential rains.  Hopefully this year April showers will  still bring May flowers. Continue reading “Will April Showers Bring May Flowers?”

My New $200 Computer

April 03, 2014

As anyone who knows me can tell you, it takes a lot for me to buy something so it was a big deal when I decided to purchase a new computer. Up until now, I’ve basically been using my work computer for everything. That’s been fine except for when I have to take one of my many cross-country flights and the battery only lasts about halfway. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to sit bored in a plane for 3 hours, knowing that may not get much sleep that night because you still have a lot of work to do when you land but can’t do it because your battery is dead? Continue reading “My New $200 Computer”

Let Uncle Sam Pay Part Of Your 2013 Taxes

April 02, 2014

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about new tax laws that may affect higher-income households.  In the spirit of equal time, I’d like to talk about tax benefits that traditionally help those with lower incomes. Specifically, I’m talking about tax credits.  Continue reading “Let Uncle Sam Pay Part Of Your 2013 Taxes”

Simplified Rules for Calculating the Home Office Deduction

March 26, 2014

For years, the IRS has maintained a somewhat complicated method for calculating the amount of deductible expenses small business owners and work-from-home employees could claim under the Job Expenses section of Schedule A.  Starting with the 2013 tax return, the IRS now offers a simplified option for calculating this deduction.  This simplified option greatly reduces the complexity of the regular method—which requires completing a lengthy tax form (Form 8829) and making complex calculations of allocated expenses, depreciation, and carryovers of unused deductions—and is expected to save small businesses 1.6 million hours a year in paperwork and recordkeeping.  Instead, taxpayers claiming the simplified option need only complete a short worksheet.  Keep in mind that the simplified option does not change the criteria for who may claim a home office deduction—it just simplifies the calculation and recordkeeping requirements. Continue reading “Simplified Rules for Calculating the Home Office Deduction”

Spring Break Isn’t Just for College Kids

March 25, 2014

These next few weeks make up the peak time for spring break at many colleges so many of the students flock to the beaches of Florida.  But they aren’t the only ones flocking to the warm weather and beautiful beaches. There are also Blue Jays, Orioles, and Cardinals – but not the feathered type.  March brings baseball fans of all ages down to Florida to watch the Grapefruit League during spring training.  Continue reading “Spring Break Isn’t Just for College Kids”

Start Your 2014 Tax Planning Now

March 19, 2014

As you fill out your 2013 tax return this year, you may notice a few extra lines on the 1040. That’s because the Affordable Care Act created new tax provisions for higher income households. If you were not expecting them then you may have been blindsided, and while it may be a little too late to do anything about them now, you should start thinking about reducing their impact for 2014. So if your household income is $150,000 or more, pay attention. Continue reading “Start Your 2014 Tax Planning Now”

What’s Wrong With Pyramid Schemes?

March 05, 2014

As I boarded my flight to Chicago Sunday night, I noticed a rather large contingency of travelers that were in a strangely good mood. As each one got on the plane, they were greeted with smiles and high-fives as they walked down the aisle to find their seat. Inevitably, one of them sat next to me and over the course of a 90-minute flight, they proceeded to tell me what all the fuss was about. Continue reading “What’s Wrong With Pyramid Schemes?”

Hidden Benefits of a Healthy Smile

March 04, 2014

I’ve just returned from my 6 month dental check-up with a thumbs up from Dr. Tom – no cavities! Even for a dentist, Dr. Tom has the brightest, straightest smile I have ever seen. Having a healthy smile goes much deeper than just being able to flash his pearly whites though. A healthy mouth and healthy body go hand in hand. Good oral hygiene and oral health can improve your overall health, reducing the risk of serious disease and perhaps even preserving your memory in your golden years, according to WebMD.  Nice teeth can also positively affect your confidence, self-image, and self-esteem too. Continue reading “Hidden Benefits of a Healthy Smile”