Category: Frugality

Learn about a variety of ways to save money

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Winterizing Your Home: Prepare Now and Save

We all hear the news about climate change as well as the weird and sometimes disastrous weather patterns that seem to happen almost every day in some part of the world. It used to be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. That’s not always the case anymore and the temperatures here in New Jersey sometimes seem like they’re 60-something degrees almost all year round. I may be exaggerating, slightly, but the weather has changed. When I hear some weather guy reporting that the temperatures in September were the warmest ever recorded for the month, and that they’ve broken the record now seven out of the last seven years, we have to admit that global warming is having an effect, don’t we? But sometime that effect is bad winter storms, and you need to prepare by winterizing your home.

The seasons are changing and winterizing your home should be on your to do list. This checklist will help you prepare your home and help save you money.

That’s one reason I finally opened my wallet a few years ago and got the ball rolling on getting a new front door along with a storm door! I was finally ready (after freezing my rear end off for several years) to pull the cord and fix it. It has paid off in keeping us warmer and saving on our heating bill, enough to make me feel really foolish that I didn’t do it sooner.

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Health

What You Need to Know About Healthcare Open Enrollment Crunch Time

It’s that “happy” time again right now, healthcare open enrollment time. It’s a subject we don’t like to think about. If you are very, very lucky, you can avoid serious health problems now and maybe for years to come and not need health insurance. But seriously, back here on planet earth…that’s just not a good idea to go without it. Depending on how you obtain your healthcare, the enrollment period is now and officially ends in early December, so there’s no time to lose.

Healthcare open enrollment is here for most of us and it's time to select our coverage for 2021. Make sure you know what you need to select the best plan.

Healthcare coverage is critical to your finances as well as your health. Even if you are healthy now, an accident or sudden health issue could put both your well-being and your finances in jeopardy. That’s why right now is healthcare crunch time!

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Shopping

Why and How Black Friday 2020 Is Different

Officially, Black Friday 2020 arrives on Friday, November 27th this year. Unofficially, it’s happening right now, and throughout the month of November. For example, Amazon continues to run early deals on Echo devices, many of them matching last month’s Prime Day prices. Things like Echo Show 8 for $65 is a spectacular deal right now!

With the coronavirus pandemic raging on, Black Friday 2020 may look a bit different than previous years. Check out the details you need to know.

But while great sale prices aren’t going to be changing when it comes to Black Friday, 2020’s version is shaping up to be a very different kind of shopping experience than any holiday shopping weekend in recent memory. So exactly how and why is Black Friday 2020 going to be different?

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Health

What You Need to Do to Fight Outrageous Medical Bills

As you might know, my wife and I have had serious medical problems for years and years. Over the last ten years, our medical costs have exceeded 30% of our gross income. That’s about four times what the average person has to deal with based on numbers from 2017. So we’ve seen our share of outrageous medical bills.

Outrageous medical bills are all too common. Here's what you need to do in order to fight for your rights so they don't take advantage of you.

Unfortunately, it’s something we have to live with and it is one of the main reasons why we are so careful when it comes to saving money. You see, without being so aware of how to save, we would have even more difficulty managing to get through life and the cost of medical care would simply overwhelm us. We aren’t alone and I am not going to whine about it here anymore that I have to do it in order to make my important point:

There are things you can do to fight your outrageous medical bills.

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Budgeting, Shopping

Plan Right Now to Save Your Holiday Finances

It’s become so common for people to rack up huge amounts of debt during the holiday season, especially when they whip out the old credit card and throw caution to the wind! Between travel, parties, gifts, and décor, the amount you spend in December alone could result in an uncomfortably large credit card balance. Holiday finances can be tough to deal with.

It's not too late to plan your holiday finances. But the holidays are coming right around the corner, so now is the time to get organized.

You probably have fallen victim to it just as most of us have including me too as an impetuous youth. I lived to regret it and fortunately I learned my lesson and never did it again. So I ask this question of you now: Are you ready to plan right now to save your holiday finances?

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Debt, Home

Is Mortgage Refinancing Now Really a No-Brainer?

Congratulations to me! (…and Mrs. Super Saving Tips, too). After seeing and hearing a year’s worth of promotions about mortgage refinancing and the all-time low interest rates, we finally took the plunge.

Mortgage refinancing rates are at near all-time lows, but is it the right time for you to refinance? Here's what you need to consider.

When homeowners are bombarded with news about “record low rates”, they often have one thought on their mind: “Is this the time to refinance?” I guess that I have asked myself that question many times over my lifetime and each time I wavier and hesitate until it becomes really crystal clear to me. This time is one of those times! Right now, I have to say that refinancing for almost everyone is on paper at least, really a no-brainer!

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Health, More, Personal Finance

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise Are Not a Package Deal

Forever I have heard the saying of one of my favorites Ben Franklin that includes the phrase “healthy, wealthy, and wise”. OK, if going to bed early could really simply foster those things wouldn’t we all be heading to dreamland around 8 PM and basking in great health and wealth when we woke up each day?

For those seeking to be healthy, wealthy, and wise, the path isn't always easy. Here are some thoughts on getting there and current events.

But let’s be real for a second. First of all, almost all of us don’t go to bed early simply because we enjoy doing all the things that you can do in the evening like dining out, watching television, and, well, just doing the things we can’t do in the daytime because of work. So strike one right there. The days of going to bed at dusk ended when being a farmer was no longer the number one job anyone could have. No offense intended Ben, but health and wealth and wisdom don’t just come to those gentle souls automatically!

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Food

10 Do’s and Don’ts to Save Money on Groceries

My guess is that one of the best ways to save your hard-earned money every week is to save money on groceries! With good planning, and learning to follow and never deviate from that plan, saving on your grocery bill almost becomes a way of life.

While good planning is the key to save money on groceries, there are still things you can do to limit your spending while you're shopping at the store.

Because it is something you do so often, every week, it is a keystone to your budget. And you already know that it is so easy to blow it completely up if and when you stop paying attention to it. That’s the reason I want to highlight for you the do’s and don’ts that are really easy ways to limit your spending while you’re shopping at the store. Whether it’s avoiding the influence of the supermarket as they try to coax you into spending more, or by simply asking for what you want, these ways to save actually work!

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