Category: Entertainment

Save money on entertainment and find free or low-cost things to do

Credit, Entertainment, Travel

How to Avoid Those Annoying Fees

There’s a subject that annoys me to the core, and I’m willing to bet it’s a major source of frustration for you as well. I’m talking about those annoying fees you find these days on just about everything. Businesses are busy thinking up new and even more annoying ways to grab our money even now as I write this post.

How to Avoid Those Annoying Fees

Ordinarily, I don’t condemn anyone or any business from making money when they are providing a valuable product or service. But when it’s a blatant predatory move and often obscure charge or fee, I do draw the line. And so should you. By becoming aware of these annoying charges before they’re part of you bill, you’re taking the first step in defending your money.Continue reading“How to Avoid Those Annoying Fees”

Cars, Entertainment, Home, Shopping

Repair or Replace? Which Makes the Best Sense?

We have all been there, haven’t we? We have a new appliance or device at home and then suddenly out of nowhere, it just stops functioning. You recently spent $700 on that thing and now it doesn’t work. What should you do? It’s under a warranty, right? It should be fixed! Should you return it and get another one? Can you return it? What happens if it gets repaired? Deciding whether to repair or replace it is an expensive guessing game.

Repair or Replace? Which Makes the Best Sense?

One thing that’s important to know is that you don’t have to throw good money after bad. Repairing items isn’t always the best way to get an appliance or item to work properly again. Let’s take a look at some facts from a Consumer Reports study published in January 2014. They surveyed nearly 30,000 subscribers who own dozens of specific items of varying age to see what they did when an item needed a repair or replacement and they discovered several interesting things.Continue reading“Repair or Replace? Which Makes the Best Sense?”

Entertainment, Health, Home, Saving & Investing, Shopping

How to Cash in an Extra $5,000 in Savings This Year

Please welcome back fellow blogger Anum Yoon for today’s guest post.

We all want to save money. Unfortunately we live in a society that constantly encourages us to spend. Whether it’s the need to keep up with the Joneses or just maintain the lifestyle we’ve become used to, we all find it hard to give up the things we love.

How to Cash In an Extra $5,000 in Savings This Year

If you’re willing to make some minor concessions, you might just find ways to put back a bit of extra cash without compromising your lifestyle. Here are a few ideas to get you started.Continue reading“How to Cash in an Extra $5,000 in Savings This Year”

Entertainment, Shopping

How to Get the Most Out of Your Amazon Prime Membership

Today we have a wonderful guest post from fellow blogger Anum Yoon.

If you’ve become a convert to the convenience of shopping on Amazon this holiday season, you already know that an Amazon Prime membership can save you a ton of cash on shipping. As many as 80 million people worldwide may already be basking in the glow of free two-day shipping.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Amazon Prime Membership

As if the promise of never fighting for a parking spot at the mall again weren’t enough, Amazon Prime offers lots of other great perks for members. Are you taking full advantage of all your membership privileges? Try these extra features on for size:Continue reading“How to Get the Most Out of Your Amazon Prime Membership”

Entertainment, More, Personal Finance, Shopping

15 Money Movies That Make Great Last Minute Gifts

As we are rounding third and heading for home (excuse the baseball reference please, but I’m so deprived at this time of the year!), I thought what’s more of a holiday treat than to get a DVD of a classic movie that you love and other family members may not have seen? Classic DVD’s are usually a bargain and can even be purchased used online to save even more. (If you order from Amazon today, there’s still time to get it by Christmas with standard shipping.) Then I thought why not tie it all in and pick money movies that can entertain and teach you some great financial lessons!

15 Money Movies That Make Great Last Minute Gifts

While I haven’t gotten to see The Big Short yet (it’s not playing near me until next week), here’s my list of some of the best money movies of the past 40 years. So why not take a stroll down memory lane and give one of these to a loved one or friend? It’s a great evening at home with popcorn and an entertaining money lesson without any of the pain.Continue reading“15 Money Movies That Make Great Last Minute Gifts”

Entertainment, Food, Home

How to Save Money Hosting a Fantastic Holiday Party!

It’s getting close to the end of the year, and that usually means it’s party time again! Whether it’s a Christmas, Chanukah, Yule, or Kwanzaa celebration, or the big New Year’s bash, we’ll all probably be attending or planning some kind of special activity at work or at home with family, friends, and colleagues during the next few weeks. If hosting a party is in your plans, you may be concerned about your budget. But you can save money hosting a holiday party! Here are some really great ideas to use that will make your party a hit, without breaking the bank!

How to Save Money Hosting a Fantastic Holiday Party!Continue reading“How to Save Money Hosting a Fantastic Holiday Party!”

Cars, Entertainment, Food, Home, Personal Finance, Shopping, Travel

8 Bold Ways to Save Big Money

Writing about saving money is a feel-good way for me to share my knowledge with all of you. Since I’ve started, I’ve covered a number of ways that you can cut your grocery bill, home energy costs, shopping expenses and many more areas where we regularly spend our money. Some are smaller ways, and others help you to save big money, like shopping around for car insurance.  But I wanted to share some other ideas with you. Each of them is different and if you make them into regular habits, you can save a substantial amount.

8 Bold Ways to Save Big Money

Bold Ways to Save Big Money

1. Give Up Your Car

The cost of a car is way expensive. You may have monthly payments in the hundreds, car insurance costs through the roof (here in NJ, it’s the highest in the country), maintenance and gasoline, plus license and registration fees. Continue reading“8 Bold Ways to Save Big Money”

Entertainment, More, Personal Finance

Hidden Money Messages in 12 Popular Beatles Songs

I grew up at a perfect time to be a teenager. I was 14 in February 1964, just when the British Invasion came to America heralded by the arrival of the “Fab Four” known as the Beatles. It was their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. I don’t think there’s a teenager who saw that show who doesn’t remember that night and the exciting changes that occurred across the nation as a result. 70 million people tuned in to see John, Paul, George, and Ringo, and from that day to this one, music was just never the same.

During all my teen years, the Beatles influenced everything from fashion to politics and from culture to music trends. Some 50+ years later, you can still feel the influences. Beatlemania was unlike anything before, and I doubt it will be like anything in the future.

Hidden Money Messages in 12 Popular Beatles Songs

It occurred to me when reviewing a list of Beatles songs (there are over 200 original recordings), that many of their song titles can be interpreted as encrypted messages about financial fitness and personal development. I may be taking some liberties here (alright, a LOT of liberties), but I looked through the many titles and came up with the top 12 songs that I have twisted into interpreted as money matter themes. I admit it’s a bit of a stretch, but I wouldn’t put it past them if there were actual hidden money messages for us all! Continue reading“Hidden Money Messages in 12 Popular Beatles Songs”