Last time I was at the dentist for a teeth cleaning, the dental hygienist handed me a toothpaste sample on my way out of the office. Because it was small in size, I took the sample with me when we traveled to look for housing before our move last fall. I really liked its flavor, so I went to add some to my cart last time I needed toothpaste. … [Read more...] about Are Expensive Toothpastes More Effective?
Managing Finances
11 Tips for a Successful Garage Sale
We had a garage sale earlier this spring. The sale was more successful than I imagined it would be! We started with a driveway full of furniture items, clothing, toys, housewares, etc. and ended with a single box of items that didn’t sell. We owe a lot of our success to my parents. We strategically planned to have the sale while they … [Read more...] about 11 Tips for a Successful Garage Sale
10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Electric Bill
After writing last week’s post about saving money by using appliances other than the oven to prepare meals, I decided to explore some additional ways to reduce electricity consumption and the high bills that come with it. Given our current electricity rates and how often our AC has been running because of the heat, I’m quite concerned … [Read more...] about 10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Electric Bill
Save Money on Your Electric Bill by Avoiding the Oven
I try to avoid using the oven to prepare dinner during the summer months. This is because the whole kitchen gets hot when I use the oven. We’ve been having 100°F temperatures, so our air conditioner is working hard enough without me adding heat from the oven! Electric ovens require a lot of electricity to create this heat, so keeping the … [Read more...] about Save Money on Your Electric Bill by Avoiding the Oven
All the Merry for Less Moolah: How to Save Money on Christmas
According to the National Retail Federation, the average American spends about $1,000 on Christmas each year (source). Gifts, treats, decorations, and travel are great, but many of us don’t have a grand sitting around with which to pay for them. Thankfully, the most wonderful time of the year doesn’t have to also be the priciest time of … [Read more...] about All the Merry for Less Moolah: How to Save Money on Christmas
Does Having a Deep Freezer Save You Money?
Last week I shared some tips on how to save money as grocery prices skyrocket. One of the tips was to buy things now for use later. In other words, if you know you will use something next week or next month and it is on sale at a great price today, then go ahead and grab it before the price goes back up. This is a great strategy, but it can be … [Read more...] about Does Having a Deep Freezer Save You Money?
5 Ways to Save Money as Grocery Prices Skyrocket
I don’t know about you, but we’ve been experiencing some sticker shock while grocery shopping. It seems like every time I grocery shop, the items I need cost more than they did the last time I shopped. Unfortunately, it’s not my imagination; prices have been steadily increasing. Last year, the average cost of bacon in the U.S. was $4.72 … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Save Money as Grocery Prices Skyrocket
When to Find the Best Prices on a Variety of Items
Seven years ago I published a Month-by-Month Buying Guide that detailed when stores typically have particular items available on sale or at their lowest prices of the year. Sometimes items are at low prices because of tradition (for example, January “white sales”) and other times they are at low prices for practical reasons (for example, … [Read more...] about When to Find the Best Prices on a Variety of Items
