Shoppers, you are in charge! Before you get too anxious, remember being in charge doesn’t necessarily mean that you really want to go out and begin a shopping spree. This means that you can get a good deal if you were planning to buy something. Though you may be able to save a lot of money if you weren’t going to buy anything in the first place or can’t really afford to buy something then don’t. You may see a quality item at a great price but how much will it cost you in the long run. For a... Read Full Story

Look around your home.  You, like most people probably have some things that could be classified as junk.Don’t worry, you are not alone.These are not items that you collect and care about, even if you don’t have a fancy display case for them. Instead you may have some items that you “rescued” from somewhere because you though that you would want to use them at some point in your life. Admit you didn’t use the things you saved or rescued. Even worse, you may have bought some of the items... Read Full Story

Demand for gasoline is down. If the price for gasoline stays down it means that gas prices will decrease. Though if they decrease too much then people will stop doing what they are doing now - driving slower, taking public transportation, driving less or carpooling. When demand is high, prices increase. When demand decreases, the prices go down. A prime example of this is 35MM film. Five years ago if you went on vacation you would probably buy a lot of film to capture your vacation memories... Read Full Story

When you need cash for something make a wise choice. If you choose to use an ATM make sure it is one in your bank’s network so you don’t have to accrue extra fees. Another tactic is to use your credit card and pay off the amount in full when the bill comes. If you have to pay a fee for using a bank outside of your network the fees could run as high as $5 for your transaction. Do you really need cash that badly? If you only need a small amount of cash, ask a friend who is with you to spot you... Read Full Story

Is living within your means getting you down? Don’t let it. If you weren’t raised that way or haven’t changed your mind set about your finances then spending less than you take in or can reasonably afford. I was thinking about this over the weekend because I would like to have my kitchen remodeled and buy a credenza to replace another piece in my living room. I could just charge all of these items and worry about the payments later. Getting the most for my money is important and since I am... Read Full Story

Who says that taking your own lunch has to be boring? Of course there are always people who have an extra piece or slice or pizza for lunch but what about being creative? I don’t really like a lot of different sandwich toppings. I like meat and bread on a sandwich sometimes with some spices put on the bread like dill, wasabi, or green goddess dressing. Making your own lunch can be a feast. Leftovers may make it into a container for a portable lunch, along with some fruit. Chips and salsa... Read Full Story

Don’t let the heat get you down. Here are some inexpensive tips on how to stay cool in the summer. If you are going to be outside for a long period of time, wearing a hat can reduce your exposure to the sun and provide you with a little shade. Going to the beach - try taking your own umbrella or go into the shade for short periods of time if possible. No shade to be found? Soak a wash cloth in cool water, put it in a resealable plastic bag, then put it in the freezer for a few minutes or in... Read Full Story

What is out of the question for cutting back or cutting down on? Are there certain things that you wouldn’t or couldn’t go without? If you have a favorite soap or perfume you may splurge but what happens when you see that there are certain things that you can’t give up altogether and go cold turkey? Cutting back on driving or going out is one way of cutting down but what about a haircut, manicure or spa treatment? If you never spent a considerable amount of money on those things, then what... Read Full Story

Now is the time to reorganize your closet. Back to College organizing supplies that will work for small spaces are on sale and available in a variety of colors and prices. Before you make a decision about what you want, look in an organizational magazine to see what is available. Also, assess your individual needs. You may have craft supplies or out of season clothes to store. Just because an item says that it is a 10-pair shoe storage unit, doesn’t mean that you can’t store T-shirts... Read Full Story

School may not start for several more weeks depending on where you live. If you have a list of required school supplies then search the sales for various items that are needed. For items that you know will be used often such as paper and pencils stock up on those. Even if you aren’t a parent of a school-aged child but you work with them as a public school teacher, youth group leader or Sunday School teacher, now is the time to stock up on things that you can use for those craft projects like... Read Full Story