How Rewarding Are Your Rewards?

February 28, 2014

I read this article about Delta Airlines’ changes to their frequent flyer program. Actually, it’s no longer accurate to call airline rewards programs “frequent flyer” programs.  The trend in the airline industry is moving away from rewarding people for number of flights and/or miles flown in favor of rewarding travelers for dollars spent. In essence, they are morphing into “expensive flyer” programs.  As someone who flies a lot for work, this article resonated with me.  Continue reading “How Rewarding Are Your Rewards?”

5 Bright Ideas To Save Money On Your Electricity

February 26, 2014

A few weeks ago, I was at a friend’s house when I noticed a box of CFL light bulbs on his dining room table.  I asked my friend what a box of brand-new light bulbs was doing on his table, and he told me that the box was waiting for him on his doorstep when he moved in a few weeks earlier.  Another friend of mine who was standing nearby chimed in to tell me that he had heard that the local utility company was giving away free CFL light bulbs as part of a larger effort to make North Carolina a cleaner, more energy efficient state. Continue reading “5 Bright Ideas To Save Money On Your Electricity”

Don’t Overlook These Commonly Missed Tax Breaks

February 25, 2014

You’ve probably seen the commercial with pallets of money being dropped from above, representing a billion dollars of missed tax deductions and credits from taxpayers who do their own taxes.  You don’t have to go to a tax pro to get your fair share, however.  Just make sure you don’t overlook some of the following items that could increase your tax refund: Continue reading “Don’t Overlook These Commonly Missed Tax Breaks”

Are You Doing the 52 Week Savings Challenge?

February 24, 2014

Have you heard about the 52 week savings challenge? Apparently this challenge has been pretty popular on social media sites and there are some pretty creative money jars out there on Pinterest and Facebook.  It wasn’t until a recent financial planning consultation that I’d ever talked to someone actually using this approach and it came up again in multiple sessions with others just last week.  Continue reading “Are You Doing the 52 Week Savings Challenge?”

What A Concert Festival Can Teach About Your Budget

February 21, 2014

One of the things that makes me happier than anything in the world are the relationships I have with my children. As a proud dad, I’d like to believe that I have three absolutely amazing kids. And, I’ve been told by many people over the last 18 years that my view is fairly close to reality.   Continue reading “What A Concert Festival Can Teach About Your Budget”

5 Ways to Impact Your Healthcare Expenses

February 17, 2014

Although the Affordable Care Act may not have immediately impacted your healthcare expenses, the insurance landscape is still uncertain and providers may eventually increase rates for coverage. Even if your expenses are already low, it’s still a good idea to try and decrease what you pay for healthcare in order to offset any potential price hikes that may be around the corner. Here’s a look at five ways to keep your medical costs low this year. Continue reading “5 Ways to Impact Your Healthcare Expenses”

Personal Finance Tool Review: CreditKarma

February 17, 2014

Do we place too much emphasis on credit scores in America? Probably, but most of us aren’t completely debt-free. I’ve mentioned before that credit scores are not the “be all and end all” of your financial situation – but your credit score can help you lower the cost of borrowing money.  A higher credit score could save you thousands of dollars if you are in the market for a new home or refinancing because scores over 760 typically help you qualify for more competitive interest rates for a mortgage.  It is also important to note that routinely checking your credit report can help identify potential risks related to identify theft. It can even be difficult to obtain a job in some careers without a good credit report. Continue reading “Personal Finance Tool Review: CreditKarma”

How Better Internet Service Can Pay For Itself

February 12, 2014

In my last blog post, I talked about how I was able to save money by upgrading my Internet service.  It’s not usual that you can actually get better service for less money, but even if upgrading your Internet service doesn’t yield a lower monthly bill, it can still save you money.  Here’s how: Continue reading “How Better Internet Service Can Pay For Itself”

The 5th C When Buying an Engagement Ring

February 11, 2014

With Valentine’s Day this Friday, jewelry stores will be “ringing” up the sales on diamond engagement rings and other bling rings. Most jewelers talk about the four “Cs” of diamond shopping. They are carat weight, clarity, color, and the cut: Continue reading “The 5th C When Buying an Engagement Ring”

And I Thought I Was Living a Low Cost Lifestyle…

February 07, 2014

One of the things that gives me a little bit of a smile is knowing that I can make a dollar stretch pretty far. I’m pretty good at either saying NO to myself and not spending money or finding great bargains and saving a lot of money. That translates into me being able to live on not a whole lot of money. At least I thought so… Continue reading “And I Thought I Was Living a Low Cost Lifestyle…”

When It Comes to Better Service And/Or a Lower Price, “And” Is Better

February 05, 2014

It started last summer.  I’d be sitting on the couch streaming my favorite TV show when suddenly the video feed would stop. After a minute or two, it would start streaming again, only to be interrupted a few moments later.  This would happen on and off for several months and I started to wonder what was happening. Continue reading “When It Comes to Better Service And/Or a Lower Price, “And” Is Better”

Cold Days Put the Heat on Energy Costs

February 04, 2014

Old man winter must not have gotten the memo about global warming since we’ve seen the coldest month of the century this January. Many cities saw recordbreaking subzero temperatures and as the temperature dropped outside, propane gas prices were rising, in some cases rising by 50%.  For families that rely on propane for their home heating, this blast of cold air has burned a hole in their budget.  Continue reading “Cold Days Put the Heat on Energy Costs”

The Benefits of Healthy Living

January 29, 2014

Is it just me or does it seem like people are trying to eat better and exercise more these days? I see more people jogging up and down my street. I’ve noticed more “healthy” snack options at the grocery store. Continue reading “The Benefits of Healthy Living”

Is Home Swapping For You?

January 28, 2014

With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, I was thinking about booking a romantic weekend away with my husband but the practical side of me didn’t want to spend too much on our getaway.  As I searched for an inexpensive log cabin or condo in the Pocono mountains, I came across an offer to swap my own home in exchange for a mountain chalet in a Pocono ski resort.  After a thorough cleaning of my house and a low annual membership fee, I could stay in someone else’s home in exchange for providing them with the key to my own. Continue reading “Is Home Swapping For You?”

Do You Qualify for Free File?

January 21, 2014

It’s that time of year again. The IRS will begin accepting electronically filed federal returns on January 31st, kicking off the 2013 tax filing season. But instead of paying hundreds of dollars to have  your taxes professionally prepared, you may be eligible for free tax preparation and e-filing through the IRS Free File program, a public-private partnership between the IRS and commercial tax software companies. Continue reading “Do You Qualify for Free File?”

Save Money With This Quick Two-Minute Drill

January 13, 2014

It is playoff time in the NFL and just four teams are left with a shot at the Super Bowl. (That’s Denver, New England, San Francisco or Seattle just in case you aren’t a fan of pro football or have managed to avoid the fanatics in your life that do care about the proverbial pigskin.) In the spirit of playoff season, I thought that I would accept a challenge from a colleague to put today’s blog post on the clock.  Continue reading “Save Money With This Quick Two-Minute Drill”

New Year’s Eve Traditions Can Be Costly

December 31, 2013

Have you ever dreamed of spending New Year’s Eve watching the ball drop in Times Square? Well, you’d be ringing in the new year as you empty out your wallet.  A Times Square Official NYE Party Pass will set you back over $250 and the few hours you’ll spend in your hotel room will cost a bare minimum of $329 according to hotels.com . Continue reading “New Year’s Eve Traditions Can Be Costly”

Targeted on Christmas Eve

December 24, 2013

It’s Christmas Eve, and not a creature is stirring, except the thieves who stole credit card information from Target – they are probably  busy doing some last minute Christmas shopping with YOUR credit card information.  If you shopped at Target between November 27 and December 15, you could be one of the estimated 40 million credit and debit card accounts that may have been exposed to this breach.  (Only in-store purchases are at risk, so if you bought something online from Target over the past several weeks you were not impacted.)  Continue reading “Targeted on Christmas Eve”

6 Ways to Save on Holiday Get Togethers

December 20, 2013

The holiday season invariably presents a variety of ways to separate your money from your wallet. There’s entertainment like shows and concerts, gift giving for friends and loved ones, and let’s not forget about tipping and gratuity – you can’t forget your child’s teacher, your dry cleaner, or even your postman. Although you never want to look cheap, it is important to save money during the holidays wherever you can.  Continue reading “6 Ways to Save on Holiday Get Togethers”