Frugal Wizard's Blog : Frugal Living For All of Us

Tips for Smart Banking

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:16:00 +0000

Tips To Avoid High Bank Fees

Everyone's experienced it: the multiple overdraft charges or late fees. It's heart-sinking and budget-busting at the same time. However, many people don't realize that these are just a symptom of a larger problem of excessive fees being charged by the banks. You are charged a fee when you are late for a bill, and sometimes you can avoid that by finding a payday lender to cover the gap. However, you are also charged other fees by your bank that are more difficult to avoid like withdrawal fees, transaction fees, and monthly service charges. Shopping around for a bank or system that keeps these fees at a minimum can literally save hundreds a year.

Smaller Banks Are Better

Larger banks tend to charge more fees than smaller banks. Credit unions also either don't have as many fees or their fees are less. Shopping around for a bank that will have reduce fees and give better service is a great way to get a handle on your budget and avoid nasty, surprise, fees on your account. If you do have fees show up, negotiate with your bank to have them removed if you are a new customer. Often, you can get this done as a courtesy for a short while.

Going Cash Only

Another way to work with a budget can be to sidestep the bank and it's overdraft protection program all together. Instead, you can get a secured debit or credit card and put your money there. If the money runs out, the overdraft doesn't kick it because there isn't one. You don't need a checking account anymore to pay most bills, it's all done electronically. You have no overdraft fees, but no overdraft protection either. It's sort of the electronic way of going cash only, in such a manner that you can still use the debit card to make payments electronically to your service providers. Just watch for any withdrawal fees that might be incurred by the secured debit or credit card provider too.

Seeking Debt Help

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:38:00 +0000

As I stated in my previous post, I am attempting to get totally out of debt. I prefer the snowball method of paying from the lowest to highest until they are all paid of. This works for me because I have enough income to make the payments.

There are some people who have got over their heads in debt and the ends do not meet between income and expenses. These people may need to seek debt help to manage and pay off their debt. The key to seeking any kind of help is to do the most research you can to avoid problems with companies who are out to scam you.

Typically, one of the most common form of debt management is to get a debt consolidation loan. This is not always easy to do but some lenders are willing to deal with you if you have a solid plan to repay all debt. Do not attempt a consumer debt consolidation if you do not have the funds to pay the monthly payments. Basically, you are just shifting the debt with no hope of repaying. This will only cause future problems. The idea is to be debt free; not to avoid paying.

One key point is that you borrowed the money and it is important that you pay it back. If a consolidation is out of the question, there are other ways such as credit counseling. These organizations will work with you and your creditors to reduce your interest and payments to achieve a payable plan over a span of up to five years. Be careful to make sure the organization is legit before signing any papers.

There are other ways to seek debt help but these are the only two methods I recommend short of filing bankruptcy. Bankruptcy should be a last resort and only in the extreme case if you really have no possible way at all to pay your debt.

No matter how you decide to pay your debt, it is an important issue for all people and you should address it sooner then later. Even if you are able to make the payments on time, you need to consider some plan to be debt free and start paying all that money to yourself.

Debt Be Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:32:00 +0000

There are many people willing to give advice on how to get out of debt. There are also many so called professionals who will offer expensive services to manage your money. Here is a news flash for you; you are in charge of your own money and debt.

I have been working on the best plan to remove all debt from my families life. I have listened to the likes of Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey to get some good ideas. I have to say, of all the plans out there, Dave Ramsey offers the best most common sense plan.

His plan is basically you save up $1000 for any emergency needs. You then attack the debt with all the money you can throw at it until it is gone. This is done by starting with the smallest debt and paying that off and moving on. Dave calls it the Debt Snowball.

He is the first to admit that this is nothing new and he stole all his ideas from the past generation who did not believe in debt living.

Here is a copy of Dave Ramsey's Seven Baby Steps:

$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund
Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
Three to six months of expenses in savings
Invest 15 percent of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
College funding for children
Pay off home early
Build wealth and give! Invest in mutual funds and real estate

This is plain to the point. He has loads of other advice on his website but this is the core of all his beliefs. I do not follow everything to a tee but one thing I learned by reading and listening to Dave is that you need a solid budget accounting for every dollar you bring it and what you are going to do with it.

This is my plan for getting debt free and I hope you will consider getting your debt under control too.

HSBC charges a fortune for Rate Matcher

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:56:00 +0000

For many months there have been grave concerns for the many homeowners that took out cheap fixed rate mortgages two or three years ago, and were due to come off the special deals. This is because a combination of interest rate hikes over the past two years, coupled with the effects of the global credit crunch and tighter lending conditions, meant that many would end up with a far higher interest rates and far higher repayments, and many would have found this impossible to afford. This could then lead to an increase in the level of repossessions.

However, in April the HSBC launched what looked to be a tempting offer aimed at these homeowners, where the bank offered to match the rate that they were currently on enabling them to continue with their affordable repayments. There were eligibility conditions that had to be met, and borrowers were asked to pay an arrangement fee of up to £5000 depending on how much they were borrowing and the rate of interest being charged on the loan.

However, it has now emerged that HSBC has hiked up these fees further. The Rate Matcher mortgage loan was only supposed to be offered on a short term basis, but the popularity and demand resulted in the bank extending the offer. However, the fees have now rocketed, and those taking out a £250,000 mortgage at 4.79% will now pay nearly £8000 by way of an arrangement fee rather than the previous £5000. Some other customers could even end up paying up to £10,000.

An official from the bank said: 'We were left with a choice of pulling the offer or increasing fees.' In the meantime Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, has been warning banks to stop ripping customers off with hefty arrangement fees, and is in talks with the Financial Services Authority with regards to coming to a figure that can be classed as a fair fee.

Getting Rid of Debt

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:47:00 +0000

This is a follow-up to my article on Debt Relief. Debt is a problem that is caused when you spend more than you have and use credit to pay for the things you need. It is easy to say "charge"; however, it is much harder to fix the problem later. The smartest way to avoid debt is to consider all your purchases prior to buying anything. However, this article is for helping those who are already past that point.

The first thing you want to do when in debt is to get rid of the debt. To do this, start a list of all the creditors you have including loans, credit cards, mortgages, and store accounts. Once you have the list with the amount owed, interest rates, and monthly payments, see how it compares to your income. If you can afford the debt and pay more than you are paying now, formulate a plan by paying extra on the largest interest rate and working your way down the line.

Set a fixed amount to pay each month for all debt and pay that amount each month until all debt is gone. This means when you pay off the highest interest account, apply all that payment amount to the next highest interest account and continue to the next and the next until all debt is paid off.

If your income is not equal to what your payments are every month, it may be time to contact a Debt Company. There are many companies out there that specialize in helping people get out of debt. Most of these work only with your unsecured debt. These companies operate in two forms, as a for profit company or a non profit. Be sure to research what each offer and read and understand what you are getting into before signing anything.

If you use one of these companies, they can offer you a plan that does what I recommended above except they will negotiate a lower interest and lower payment consolidated into one monthly payment that you pay until the debt is paid off.

Some debt companies offer to negotiate with your companies to pay off you debt for a lower set amount. They see the best debt settlement possible. This is normally possible when you have gotten way behind on a loan and the creditor is just trying to get something out of you. It is a solution but I caution that you do your research and make sure that it is both legal and the company is reliable. Above all, get everything in writing!

You caused your own debt! Take ownership of it and work as hard as you can to get out of debt. I have included some links to some good resources that will further help you achieve this goal. Good luck and be sure to come back and leave a comment when you take control of your debt.

Finding Good Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:25:00 +0000

There are many reasons to have insurance. One is it may be required by law. Another reason is that it is just plain smart. Recently I found out how smart it really is when during a huge storm, huge trees fell on my house. I would not have been able to afford the repairs without good house insurance.

Having insurance does not mean you have to pay through the nose. Part of being frugal is finding ways to get the best for less. For example, to find the best auto insurance quotes, one should search the Internet and seek the best rates you can find for your needs.

Finding Cheap Home Insurance is also possible. There are many companies available who are just as good as the big name companies but spend a lot less money advertising. Who do you think pays for all those fancy commercials? That's right; it is you the customer, you pay with higher rates.

Be sure when looking for new insurance or to replace your old policy, you fulfill your family's needs without overdoing it. One example is in the deductible. The higher your deductible, the lower the premium will be. However, if you have a claim make sure you will be able to afford the deductible.

There are many factors to consider when buying insurance. I could write a book on insurance but the key is that there are cheaper more frugal companies and doing your research will provide the best coverage at the best possible rates.

Debt Relief Solutions

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:20:00 +0000

The number one thing that many people struggle with is debt. This is a struggle for even the best of us. It is easy to get into debt but hard to get out.

Basically, the best way to get out of debt is to pay off your bills as quick as possible and in the shortest time. However, this is sometimes easier to say than to do. What if you payments are more than what you make? This is the time to seek help to get relieve your debt.

Debt Relief comes in many forms.The first possibility is to see if it is feasible to get a lower interest. Consolidation Loans help you reduce your monthly payment and get lower interest if your other debts have high interest rates. This is OK if you have excellent credit and have not got behind on your credit.

The next possibility is to see a debt counselor who can help you negotiate lower interest rates and lower payment. This could reduce your interest and save large amounts of money. This may also consolidate into one set monthly payment until all your debt is paid off. These types of services are only available for unsecured debt.

The final step, if the other possibilities fail, is bankruptcy. This is never a choice I would recommend; however, there are times when you have no other choice. Do your research and make sure you have exhausted all other avenues before doing this.

Getting out of debt is never easy. However, following my recommendations will get you on the right path to being debt free.

Borrowing Money

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:36:00 +0000

There are times when we all have a need to borrow money. This could be to buy a new car, buy a new house, or just to pay for a major expense. When borrowing money, one must be smart and do the research.

There are many kinds of Loans and it is important to do your research to find the best deal on the loan you need. Years ago the best way to get a loan was to visit your local bank. With the advances of the Internet, now we all have the convenience to search for the best deal right in the comfort of our own home.

When getting a loan there are many things to consider. First, are there any fees beyond the interest? Most loans do not have added fees, however, when getting a house loan. Mortgages can have points or origination fees which could increase the cost of the loan. Some of these could be required upfront. Some are added when repaying the loan. For instance, if a loan says the points are one percent, you will pay an additional $400 on a $40,000 loan.

The other thing to consider is how much the interest is. When borrowing money, the cheaper the interest, the better off you are. Also get the loan for the shortest period of time or term you can afford. This will result in lower amounts of interest that you repay.

Finally, read the fine print. Know what you are signing and check for clauses such as prepayment penalties. Some loans have a penalty if you pay off the loan too soon. Check for late fee penalties and grace periods. It is not wise to be late on a payment but there are times when it does happen. You want to know up front what you will pay for this or how many days after your payment due date you have to pay without a late fee.

Borrowing money does not have to be a nightmare if you are smart and do your research to find the cheapest loan you can find.

Love and Romance Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:55:00 +0000

If you are living in Louisville and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Louisville. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Louisville, KY and buy your fresh flowers. Louisville local florists include Uniquely Yours Floral & Gifts, Pathelen Flower & Gift Shop Inc, Hobby Lobby Creative Centers, Wildflowers Florist, Ben Franklin Crafts, Hedman's Suburban Florist, Baskets by Rebecca LLC, Interiors by Herbal Accents, His Creations Florist & Gifts, Becker's Florist & Gifts, Colonial Designs, Simply Flowers, Dreisbach Wholesale Florist, Doozie's Floral Creations, Greenery, Passafiume's Florist, Harpring Florist, Belmar Flower Shop Inc, Susan's Florist, Hill Floral Products CO, Schmitt's Florist, Dragonfly Floral Events Inc, Mills & Young Florists, Mathis Florist LLC, Sharon's Wedding Alterations, Gaslight Florist Inc, Sears Roebuck and CO, Sandy's Florist & Bridal, Lloyd's Florist, Dixie Florist, Freda's Fancy Florists & Antiques, D & N Surprise Florist Gifts and Services, Panache-Flowers & Gifts, Smith's Florals & Gifts, Bouquet Flowers by BEV, Parkway Florist Inc, Carolyn's Florist & Gifts, Wilson's Florist, NANZ & Kraft Florists, D & W Silks Inc, Huber Decor Inc, Don Pinotti's Broadway Florist Inc, Fairdale Florist & Gift Shop, Jeffersontown Tam's Florist, Shively Florist & Catering, Central Florist, Roy Houff, Madelines Flowers & Things, Uncle Franks Plants, Barbara's Florist, Iroquois Florist & Gifts, Garden Gate Florist & Gifts, Walther Emil, Engel Wholesale, Garden Ridge, Cindy's Florist, Blossom Shop Florist, Hettinger's Florist, Home Interiors & Gifts, Flowers for all Occasions, Link J F & Son Wholesale Florist, Schulz Florist, Gerbi.Biz, H S Florist Distributors, A Rose Petal Florist, Berry's Flowers Inc, Country Squire Florists Inc, Flowers by Juliet, Julianne's Florist, Old Louisville Florist.

If you are living in Los Angeles and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Los Angeles. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Los Angeles, CA and buy your fresh flowers. Los Angeles local florists include Cathay Florist, Chinese-American Trading CO, Jean's Flowers, Myopp.Com/30330, Flower DEC, American Best Craft Supply Inc, Olgas Flowers, Olympic Flowers, B & B World Corporation, Flower Village, Stems Florist, Medina's Flowers & Gifts, Popurri Flowers, Micaela's Flowers & Gift Shop, G M Floral CO, Edmunds Wholesale Flowers, Adamian Oil CO Inc, Universal City Flowers, Secret Garden LLC, Bloomies Flowers, Paul's Unique Creations, Carrillo's Discount & Party Supplies, Judy Anne Flowers, A RUIZ Wholesale Florist, Hays Silk Flowers, JJ Blooms Floral Wholeseller & Flower Shop, Amtacs Imports & Exports, East West Florist, Betty Jane Florist, Carnation Florist & Gifts, Baizabal Maria, Fantasy Flowers, Luna Gardens, Lopez Flowers, Oxford Flowers, Anna's Flowers, Four Seasons Flowers & Gifts, Vermont Bridal & Tuxedos, Les Sculptures Vivantes, Elegant Kid 2000 Inc, Valle Whsle Flowers, Floral Fashion Design Center, Flowers 4 Less Inc, Stars Flowers & Gifts, Excel Silk Flowers Inc., George's Flowers, Flower Network, Vons, Carmen's Flowers, Fairy Tale Flowers, Hidden Garden, Flower Mansion, Rosa Salvaje Flowers and Gift Shop, Al's Florist by Odessa, Hollywood Flowers Wholesale CO, Floreria Michelle, Magic Touch Flowers & Balloons, Ezekiel Flower Shop, Jasmine's Garden, Best Flowers, Flowers by Dolores, Stamis Dan, Flourish & Garlande, Austin Brad Ornamental Horticulture, West Flower Growers, Graceful Flower, All Occasion Flower & Gifts, Jacki's Flower Shop, The Secret Garden, Fancifull Gift Baskets, Robinson's Flower Shop, Laurels Custom Florist, Hollywood Miki's Florist, Exquisite Flowers, Beverly Fraiche Inc.

If you are living in Madison and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Madison. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Madison, WI and buy your fresh flowers. Madison local florists include Madison Wholesale Florist, Unique Arts, Floral Designs by Paul, Copps Food Centers - Madison, Copps Food Centers - Shorewood Hills, Studio Bloom, Felly's Garden Center, Sentry Food Stores, Gatherings, Lori's Flower Shoppe, Bill Doran CO, Basketree Gifts Inc, East Side Floral Shop, Plantscapes, Flowerama of America, Shizen Floral, Felly's Flowers, Abundance Acres Wedding Flowers, Klein's Floral & Greenhouses Inc, George's Flowers Inc, Flower Gallery, Copps Food Centers - Fitchburg, LA Palomita Mercado, Capitol Chordsman Chorus, Johannsen's Greenhouses & Gifts, Kinney J Florist, Rose Petals, Creative Expressions, Sentry Floral Shops, A New Leaf of Wi LLC, Buffo Floral & Gifts, Floral Studio at 301, Copps Food Centers, Choles Flowers, Rose Cottage.

If you are living in Charleston and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to Charleston. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in Charleston, WV and buy your fresh flowers. Charleston local florists include Cook Floral Center of Marmet, Food Among the Flowers, Dreisbach Wholesale Florist Inc, Sissonville Flower & Gift Shop, Secret Gardens Floral, Cross Lanes Floral, Dynamic Displays Inc, Winter Floral Of Kanawha City, Cleveland Plant & Flower CO - Wholesale, Morris Floral, The Body Shop, Flowers & More, Walkers' Fine Flowers, Country Blossoms, Maccorkle Avenue Florist, Details Floral.

If you are living in New Orleans and need to buy fresh flowers, or you want to send flowers to New Orleans. You can check various online florists’ websites or you can go to local florists in New Orleans, LA and buy your fresh flowers. New Orleans local florists include Key Florals, Pike's Peak of New Orleans, Madder Rose, Evergreen Etc On Prytania, Ball Clint Florals, David John Flowers, Jackson's Flower Shoppe, Barbara's Florist, A Florist In The Usa, Uptown Flowers, House of Flowers, Candy Bouquet and Crafters Corner, Enchanted Floral Designs & Gifts, Carmen's Special Touch Florist, Mailan Flowers Inc, Eastside Westside Flowers Inc, Garden Trellis the Plnts, St James Floral, Dollar Castle, Monas Accents, Urban Earth A Floral Design Studio, Flowers by John Kent, Mitch's Flowers, Flight Academy of New Orleans, Perfect Petals, Dunn & Sonnier Flowers, Allegro City Flowers, Federico's Family Florist, Carrollton Flower Market & Antiques, Harkins the Florist Inc, Pelitire's Flowers LLC, Greenleaf Wholesale Florists Inc, Thoughts N Flowers by Laura, Lejardiniere, Beauty Rose Florist, Adrian's Christian Flowers and Balloons, Aurora Creations, Lakeview Florist, Dewey's First Florist, Big Easy Flowers, Thibodeauxs Flowers & Gifts, Floral Designs, Tommy's Flower Shop, Flora Savage, Audubon Flower Shop, Pelitire's Flowers, C & J'S Gifts & Balloons, Perfect Presentations, Adrian's Christian Flowers, Estate Assurance CO, Gerard's Downtown, French Quarter Florist.

You can check online florist, it has loads of florists’ business listings that you can visit to order your online flowers. Or you check one of the online yellow pages websites.

Finding Free Advertising

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:33:00 +0000

You all know I am all about free and frugal. When I recently decided to sell some stuff I had lying around the house, I went looking for great ways to advertise them.

One way was to run Classified Ads on the Internet. This is a great way to get exposure from much more people than running an ad just in the newspaper. The great thing is, unlike the newspaper, Post a Free Classified Ad. This saves tons of money and allows you to sell your product for a lower price because you are not paying to sell it.

These types of ads are also great ways to find deals and bargains on certain things you are looking for. My neighbor was looking for a certain kind of cat. She asked around all over and no one knew where to find one. I told her about the free classified ad site called Stumble Here that I used. She went on and searched through the Kittens and found the one she wanted. She was so excited that she baked me a cake. Not only did I save my money by running a free ad. I got desert for free for dinner. Now that to me is being truly frugal!

I threw up some links to the ad site I used, if you find it useful, please send me a cake! Just kidding, but please leave a comment and let me know it was useful.

Credit Card Debt – How To Reduce it

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:54:00 +0000

Many people who go into debt at some point in their life often have difficulty in recovering from their problems. One of the most common problems an individual person faces is the problem of debt. More and more people are getting into debt because of factors beyond their control or some are in debt because of an addiction to something, I.e. gambling or alcohol. This article explores the different ways you can control your debt and how you can prevent it from having an affect on your life in the near future.

One of the main problems people face in their daily life is spending money. Some people spend far too much money on “useless items” and therefore, this can lead to problems. For example, if someone wants to gamble on the Internet or have some form of addiction to gambling then this can lead to long-term stress and problems as gambling can make people lose all of their money and the effects are severe. Furthermore, other problems such as alcohol can also lead to long-term affects and can lead to people using all of their finances on things that they can usually spend on something else.

One of the best ways to reduce and control debt is to always save your money in the bank or a money safe. This can prevent you from spending too much money. Another way to reduce your debt is to spend less on everyday items and cut down on spending too much on luxurious products. This can help you not only in the long-term but can help you reduce other problems in your life, I.e. a breakdown in your marriage etc.

Finally, the best way to reduce your debt is to save everyday without spending!

Buying Sinks

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:47:00 +0000

When doing a remodeling project, saving money is important. It is also important to plan for all elements of the project right down to the smallest detail. When we remodel things like the kitchen, we often times look at the bigger stuff like cabinets and appliances and forget many key elements such as kitchen sinks.

The sink is one of the most important parts of a kitchen but often times get the least attention. When doing my own kitchen project, I looked at other peoples kitchens to get ideas. I found many beautiful kitchens with very ugly sinks. They bought the generic sinks found at local super hardware stores. This was not the way I wanted to go.

Being frugal, I decided that special orders from local stores were too expensive. I decided to see if I could find what I wanted on the Internet. I have a large counter space and we are planning to do a lot of home canning so I decided to look for the best deal on triple bowl sinks. I thought this would be much more efficient when Karen and I work together. I found a great deal online with the exact model I wanted and it even included free shipping. Karen wanted a prep bar for making salads and stuff so we also found a great deal when looking for bar sinks.

It is ok to expect and want quality; however, even then, you should use your frugal instincts to find the best deal you can. We are very pleased to have found what we wanted. We found premium quality sinks for a huge savings off what we would have paid at other stores. If you are in the process of remodeling, I have included some links to where we found the great deals on sinks. Hope this helps and good luck on your project!

Grocery Store Economics

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:53:00 +0000

With the price of gas rising faster than a speeding bullet, this has now more than every become an important factor when you do your shopping. To save money, you need to start shopping all in one place and all at one time. To do this, you need to compare overall prices of the different stores not just what is on sale.

In the past, it may have been cost effective to drive to all the stores that had great sales but now it is a little too costly to do so. If you find a good sales ad and it included everything you are looking for, shop that store. Otherwise, you need to find the overall cheapest store.

For us, it seems to be the super Walmart. There are times that an item or two is cheaper else where but overall, we save more at Walmart.

Many stores try to suck you in with what is called a lost leader. Let's say they offer 12 packs of soda for $1.50. That is a killer price compares to Walmart's $3.99. However, since I only need one 12 pack of soda my savings would be $2.49. However, it will cost me a gallon of gas to get there at $3.77. Did I save anything? When gas was $1.00 a gallon, yes I would make the special trip but not now.

Consider all factors when running store to store. Always ask yourself what you are really saving when all factors are considered. Many people fail to think of the external cost when looking for a bargain.

Frugal living is about being smart not just finding the best sale.

Baby Chicks Video

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:55:00 +0000

I just posted my video of the new baby chicks that were hatched on Monday. They are so cute. This video was taken the day they were born. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. We have another batch started that will be ready in about three weeks.

Cousin Darlene's Frugal Living

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:25:00 +0000

Karen and I have a cousin who is all about frugal living. She does gardening, canning, raising chickens, bakes, and does homemade crafts. She was a stay at home wife and did what it took to help support her and her husband while he was at work. Now her husband is retired so they do the gardens and the chickens together.

They are in the midst of hatching out some spring chicks right now. If you want to see them, check out my other blog to see the Baby Chicks. They have hatched one batch and just started another batch.

Darlene has many talents in crafts and her house is an example of what you can do with a little imagination. She has bird feeders made of old coffee cans, Easter bunnies made from gloves, and many other cool crafty ideas. She also loves to share and is always dropping off something like a jar of pickles or a loaf of bread.

Here is a small video of what her basement storage area looks like. She spends a lot of time canning and I wanted to share it with my frugal friends.

Easter Savings

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:44:00 +0000

As with all holidays, Easter can get expensive. It is important to remember that it doesn't have to be expensive to be fun for the family. After all, it is really just another reason to spend time with those you love and to be grateful for the things you have in your life.

In our family, we do almost every holiday as a shared event. This helps in so many ways. No matter who chooses to host the meal at their house, everyone brings something to share. It makes it less expensive for the host or hostess and also much less work. We also have been known to do some pretty non-traditional holiday meals. What's wrong with a cookout for Easter if the weather is good? People love to get outdoors and throwing hamburgers on the grill with some salads, chips, and a light dessert is certainly less expensive than a big, fancy dinner.

What about those Easter baskets for the kids? Well, kids are going to be excited if we are excited. There are many recipes online for homemade goodies including some non-edible things like clay or jewelry. These things cost less and are often appreciated more than material goods. How about a photo of the child with someone special in their life? Another thing that children tend to enjoy are coupon books that will allow them to have a friend over or stay up late on a special night. These are easy to create and a note from the Easter Bunny can assure them that he has checked it out with mom and dad and the coupons will be valid.

Whatever you decide to do this Easter, keep in mind that it isn't how much you spend, rather how much heart goes into the holiday. Be creative, have fun, and most importantly, set a good financial example for those around you. Happy Easter !!

Privacy Policy

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:11:00 +0000

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Great Party Game For Adults

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:09:00 +0000

Remember your college days? Well if you are in college or just looking for a fun time with your adult friends. One of the many games that can be played is beer pong. It is a fun game that can spice up any party and you can have loads of fun.

First thing you need is some beer. This can also be played with non-alcoholic drinks if you and your friends or families do not drink. The second thing you need is some cups to toss the ping pong ball in. The final thing you need is a Beer Pong Table. You need a good professional table because a regular table is not made to keep the cups from slipping and tipping over. You want a Beer Pong Table Design that will prevent these things from happening and you want it to look like a nice game table not a kitchen table. Of course you will need some friends.

This game is great for parties and can keep your friends interested and coming back. You can choice from a variety of Custom Beer Pong Tables to suit your needs and fit your personality. It is a game that all adults can enjoy and as stated earlier, you can include younger members if you use a non-alcoholic drink. This game is great for college students but it also can bring back the youth of older adults who not ready to give up the fun life.

The nice thing about beer pong is that once you purchase the table, the expense is quite low for all the fun you will have. Remember that you need to enjoy life and do what you can to laugh and have fun and beer pong is a game to do all that.

Discount and Coupons for the UK

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:13:00 +0000

As you all know from reading this blog, I am all about saving money and finding the right deal. I love the Internet for the reason that we can always find the right deals if we just take the time to look. I recently had one of my many UK readers email me and ask why I do not include more stuff for my overseas friends. Well my next few posts will be for them.

I always look for Discount Codes when I go to buy anything on the Internet. There are always coupons and codes if you take the time to look. I spent a little while on the Internet yesterday and found so many that my eyes hurt. I was looking for codes for the more popular stores in the UK. I ran across Waterstones Promotional Codes which offers a great discount for the online bookstore. They look like the equivalent to Barnes and Noble here in the United States.

When shopping on the Internet, be sure to shop around, unlike driving around store to store, you do not need to waste fuel to find the best prices. I have also included a link to some of the best discount codes for UK shopping above and I would check out that link before searching because they have hundreds of links for many different products.

I also recommend that when shopping online, you make sure you are dealing with a reputable company and that you are using a secured connection before giving out your personal information. Part of being frugal is being smart and using the Internet for your shopping needs is not only smart it will save you the additional expense and time of driving around and wasting fuel.

Frugal living is my passion and in the times like now when we are all in a slumping economy, we need to find the best deal for the best price to keep our families plugging along.

Kitchen Remodeling

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:00:00 +0000

This is my third post dedicated to my friends in the United Kingdom but it applies to anyone when remodeling a kitchen.

I mentioned before in previous posts that I was remodeling my kitchen. It is a tough job and can be very expensive. I have used the Internet to shop for many of the products I need. I am still working on getting the rest of the appliances I need.

When looking for White Goods, it is important to look for the one you want the first time. The right appliance could last years and you do not want to pick one out that you do not think will last you for years. If you pay a little more now and it last longer, you will save in the long run. Shopping the Internet, you can compare what they are selling for all over the country and settle for the product that is right for you and your budget.

I look around online to see what I would buy for stoves if I lived in the UK. I saw the Beko Gas Cooker which is quite nice and fits my need. It has all the features I need and has a fair price. There are many bargains online even in the UK. You do not have to live in the United States to find a bargain. A little searching in your country will find you similar deals to the ones I mention here on my blog.

When conquering any remodeling project, like I am doing with the kitchen, remember your frugal living rules.

Do your research to find the best deal.
Pay the best price possible but don’t risk quality just to be cheap.
Buy the best you can honestly afford the first time.
Buy only what you need.
Do as much of the work as you can yourself if you have the skills.

If you have any other tips, please leave a comment for others.

Mothers Day is Special

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:35:00 +0000

The time is fast approaching for Mothers Day in the UK. It is a time for great celebration and to honor your mothers. We here in the United States do the same thing but we celebrate Mothers Day in May. For the UK the date is March 2nd. It is a time for families to honor the matriarch of the family.

I believe in being frugal but I do not believe that you do not do nice things for your family on the holidays. Mothers Day Flowers will put a smile on your mom’s face and honor her in a special way. I always try to buy my mom some yellow carnations or yellow roses because they are her favorite.

If your mother is not fond of flowers, there are many other present ideas to help you show your mother how much you care. Most mothers would love anything their child gives them but it is a time to honor her with a nice gift to show your appreciation for all that she has done for you. Remember mothers are special and you only have one. Some have lost their mother and if yours is still alive, do not forget to honor her on Mothers Day.

Frugal living is about saving money but not about being plain cheap. Remember to always honor your family with nice things. You do not have to spend a fortune but you should always buy a gift when approiate.

Give your mother a special hug and tell her it is from the Frugal Wizard!

Importance of Long Term Care Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:34:00 +0000

One important consideration for many families is how to protect your family from future problems. We all know the basics like auto insurance, home insurance, health insurance and life insurance. These are all ways to protect our families if something bad happens.

The one thing that many people ignore when protecting their family is long term care insurance. If something major happens like a family member comes down with a major illness or injury, you will need this type of insurance. Nursing homes, homecare nursing, and many other costs that are long term are not covered under traditional health insurance. This is why it important to take care of this now before the need arises and you will no longer able to get the insurance.

Long Term Care Rate Increases over time that is why it is so important to get it why you are healthy and can afford it. We recently learned this lesson when one of our family members got sick and will need long tern care. Many things are not covered and to get any government help, the family will have to give up many of their assets first. This can totally wipe out a families hard earned savings and assets.

I strongly urge all of you to look into long term care insurance now to protect your family in the future. The cost may seem a waste right now but it could save you much more in the future. I hope you family will never need it, however, it is best to be prepared than to be caught unprepared like my family members did.

Web Design Advice for Your Company Website

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:15:00 +0000

I have talked in the past about how to start a website cheaply. It takes a lot of work to put together a website and sometimes you are limited in what you have the skills to do. If you need a professional website, you may need to spend a little money to get the result you want.

Part of being frugal is saving wherever you can but knowing when doing cheap is not the smartest way. When you need a website to attract clients for you business or just need a website that is original, it is time to call in a professional to handle your needs.

Riverside Web Designers is a good example of a web design company that can give you a professional website no matter what you are looking for. When you look for a web design company, you want one that will provide all the services under one roof so you do not have to deal with several different people.

Depending on your ability, you can do some of the stuff yourself. However, if you are a small business, you may not have the time or the skills to keep up with the month to month management of your website. A good web design company will offer these services to you.

Putting together a blog or very basic website is easy and most people can figure out how. However, if you want a quality site to promote yourself or your company, the smart thing to do is spend a little now to save you time, money and headaches in the future. If you are selling a product or service, having a quality looking site will increase your sales and let your customers know that you are a professional.

Being frugal is not always being cheap, it also about doing what is right to help you be the best you can be. Do what is right now, and you will earn more and build a better company in the future. Cut corners on the small stuff but do not skimp on something as important as your company website.

Drivers Education For Your Teen

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:57:00 +0000

As you all know by now, I am not only into being frugal, I am also into making life easier while saving money. I am always looking Online for a deal or a way to save money over doing something locally. When the need arises to save money for a teen driver, searching the Internet could help with that too.

When your teen first starts driving, it is a scary thought for most parents. Are they prepared, how am I going to keep them safe, how much money is insurance going to cost? These are all questions that run through the mind of most parents. One way to prepare your child for the new adventure in their life is to send them to a driver education course. This can be expensive and can often times be inconvenient due to trying to get your child back and forth.

While searching on the Internet, I did find a convenient and frugal way to prepare your child for his or her upcoming drivers permit and license. I found a DMV approved California drivers ed course that can be taken at home on the Internet. It is a course that you can work with your child and can be done at his or her own pace.

Since the course is approved by the state, you save money on your teen child’s insurance and they can receive their permit easily after taking the course. Once the course is completed, your child will receive a certificate to show to the insurance company to receive a discount.

It was nice when all schools offered a drivers education course for free. However, those days are gone and as a frugal parent, you need to find the best deal you can when it comes to educating your child. I suggest checking out the site I provided and start preparing your teen for life long safe driving.

Frugal but Smart when Replacing the Kitchen Sinks

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:58:00 +0000

I am always talking about being frugal. To many people, frugal means that you need to find the cheapest product no matter what. Well it is always best to find savings where you can but being frugal is do the best with what you have and that includes spending your money in the best way to benefit you and your family.

One lesson of frugality came to me as I am on the middle of remodeling my house. I learned that sometimes it is much better to buy a quality product to begin with to save time and money in the future. I skimped on doing one of my bathrooms when I first bought the house and now I have to replace the sink because I purchased a inferior product at the local hardware store.

My next major project is redoing the kitchen. Saving money and getting a superior product is my main goal after the problems with the bathroom. I decided to look on the Internet for stainless steel kitchen sinks to replace my worn out ceramic coated sink I now have in the kitchen. I have read a lot about sinks and these are much easier to care for and last for years. Another thing I hate about my current sink is the fact that grim builds up around the edges. I have caulked many times but it still happens.

My solution to the problem and to save me hassle in the future, I have decided to look into undermount sinks. These, unlike drop in sinks are mounted from the bottom and have fewer problems with all the nasty stuff getting around the edges. I find the look to be very impressive also. Though they tend to run a little higher than the drop in sinks, it will save me money and time in the future. I also have found Sinks USA, a company that sells to the public at wholesale prices. I am getting the product I want and saving a couple of hundred off the local retail prices.

While redoing the kitchen, we have decided to replace our center island with a full working salad and juice bar and it to will have its own prep sink. This will be nice when we entertain and have dinner parties. As we said, we are frugal but we do enjoy living well. What we spend on a quality product now will save us tons of money because we can offer the eating out experience for our guest for a fraction of the cost of a fancy restaurant.

Frugal living does not mean you have to give up quality. It simply means you find the best deal on the product you need without giving up quality. Using the Internet as a source, you can find the best bang for your buck and this even includes the kitchen sink. Do not feel guilty about wanting quality products; just use your frugal skills to get the best deal on the product.

I hope the links I provided have helped you also if you are looking to redo your kitchen sinks. Until next time, be safe, be smart, and be frugal.