Prosperity

Don't Think Lack!

jbloustein — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:32:11 -0500

My father, Norman Vincent Peale, might have been a minister, but he cared a lot about how people managed financially.

After all, he, as the son of a preacher himself, didn’t grow up rich, and he and Mother lived through the Great Depression. He would be the first to tell you how much the Bible says about money, and one of his frequent themes as a preacher was God’s abundance.

Thrifty Wedding Gifts

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:50:00 -0500

Summer is the season for weddings, and you've gotten enough invitations to prove it. What to wear? How to get there? Most importantly, how to afford all those gifts? Here are some ideas for giving thoughtfully yet thriftily:

Together is better
Pool resources with other invitees. Great group gifts: a big-ticket registry item, a couples' spa treatment, a bed-and-breakfast gift certificate applicable at more than 1,500 inns (visit bnbfinder.com).

Go Green, Save Green

jbloustein — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:21:10 -0600

Green may be the new black, but it doesn’t have to leave you in the red.

And while I can’t promise that you’ll be able to get cartloads of organic food free every week, it’s still possible to trim your costs…

First, Understand What You’re Buying
The USDA defines organic foods as those free of antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, irradiation, and bioengineering.

Shop Right

jbloustein — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:46:31 -0500

Are you someone who wants to save money and give to the needy? I constantly seek ways to cut my grocery bill—in half.

Those of you familiar with my website, couponmom.com, know I save thousands of dollars a year mostly with coupons. It has helped my family weather hard times. Just as important, it frees up cash so we can continue to give to our church and to charity. There is no excuse to be wasteful when so many need help. My advice:

Put what’s on sale on your menu.

17 Top Secret Garage Sale Tips

admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:18:00 -0500

If you don't go overboard, buying items at garage sales can be a great way to stretch the family budget and have fun as well.

Whether you're buying books, children's clothes, baby items, toys, kitchenware, videos, sporting goods, decorator items, furniture, tools, antiques, collectibles or small appliances, here are 17 insider tips.

1. Set a budget.
Decide what you plan to spend before you go out. Can you spare $10 or $25 in mad money?

Smart Choices

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:16:00 -0500

People write to me all the time with questions about how to stretch their dollars. As America's "favorite cheapskate," I help all I can in my newsletter and on my website, cheapskatemonthly.com.

Do the Shuffle

admin — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:34:00 -0600

Could you use a little extra cash for something you've been meaning to do? Consider reallocating $50 this (or every) month.

You might be so used to looking at the same dollar amounts in your budget that it's hard to see there's room for a change. See what a difference moving $50 from one column to another makes.

How to Find the $50

1. Drop the dry cleaning.
Many items will do just as well washed by hand or in your machine's delicate or permanent press cycle.

Top Tips from the Coupon Mom

admin — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 11:20:00 -0600

I wasn't born with insider knowledge of strategic shopping. Through trial and error, I learned how to save thousands of dollars on grocery expenses.

Ready to start? Here are the three basic principles that will change your life:

1. Know your prices.
To cut your spending, you need to know the prices of the items you buy, prices of alternative brands and which items have the greatest impact on your grocery bill. It's worth it to comparison shop.

Daddy's Dollar

jbloustein — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:28:00 -0500

The minute I saw the “For Sale” sign go up at the house on the corner, I knew we had to have it.

Four bedrooms, an extra bathroom, a spacious garage, a lovely garden…. Perfect!

I would finally get to have my own office instead of working on my laptop at the dining room table, and we could have a guest room for my widowed mother.

“We’ve got to move,” I told my husband, Giorgio, later that evening. “I just saw the perfect place for sale.”

Fun and Frugal Family Night

admin — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 09:55:00 -0600

Dinner and a movie with the kids? Not unless it's payday. Going out for a meal and a movie can run a family of four right up near the $100 mark. Here are some ideas for doing family time on a dime.

1. Got games?
Board games and cards develop strategic thinking and encourage interaction. Give prizes—like "Get out of room-cleaning free" or "Dad makes pancakes" coupons. Host another family for a night of kids versus parents or have the kids teach you a video game.