When trying to keep the grocery budget down, one of the first questions a lot of people ask is ‘What about produce? I buy organic for my family and it is so expensive!’ I agree that organic produce can be crazy-expensive. But there are ways to decrease your family’s pesticide exposure without buying all...
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I’ve blogged before about my love/hate relationship with coupons. (OK, I confess, in the past it has been mostly hate.) I go in cycles. Every now and then I get all hyped about the idea, and try them out for a month or two or three. Then I tire of the hassle, lose interest,...
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Looking for good sturdy swimsuits for kids? I sometimes find good ones at Costco for reasonable prices. Landsend.com has a nice selection of suits. Swimoutlet.com has an excellent selection as well. Their rash guard swimwear is a great solution if you’re looking for modest swimwear or swimwear with good sun protection for your kids. ...
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Wishing you could lower your expenses and have a little extra money in your wallet at the end of the month? In your quest to find big ways to save, don’t overlook the small things. Here are 5 small ideas that could could net you $20 of savings within a month. 1. How many...
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I got an email recently from a mom with a question: I would love to know what you do about furniture. We are currently looking at getting a new couch for our family of 7 and are considering a sectional. I’m wondering what you’ve found to work best in your family (how to arrange...
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My latest review is of the book Money & Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples. The book is designed to get young couples off to a good start financially. The book starts by discussing the way that upbringing and personality work together to influence our choices about money, and explains...
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OK, I’ve gone back and forth with this particular money-saver. Making my own soap took a bit of my time, but it worked great with my old clothes washer, and I did it off and on for years. But when we got the new front load washer that I love so much, I chickened...
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Being willing to try substitutes at the store can save you money. One easy example is generics. You may not love every generic item you try, but if even half of what you try works for your family, that’s more money in your wallet at the end of every shopping trip. I love Cream...
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According to this source, the huge storms in the south over Super Bowl weekend are expected to cause produce prices to soar in the coming weeks. I was interested to hear this news, but I wasn’t terribly alarmed. The shopping rule that saves me money every week on groceries will help me out here...
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Yesterday I was thinking about a special dinner for Valentine’s Day. If we took everyone out, dinner would be at least $50 even just for Panda Express, which kind of made me choke. But if John and I went alone, the kids would be left out. I decided to think about something yummy I...
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