Christmas is not only overly expensive but can be totally stressful too. In fact the issues usually go hand in hand. Really it’s time to end this stressful holiday nonsense and get back to holiday celebrations that actually matter and that are actually fun, don’t you think? Here are some ideas to cut your budget and your stress level this Christmas… Stay put: Holiday travel is more expensive than traveling at other times of the year and bonus, it’s hyper stressful with long lines, crowds, and layovers due to nasty winter weather. Stay put. Call your family on the holidays to say. “I love you” and all of that, but honestly, does it really matter when you see your family if you typically only see them once... [Read more]

There are more than 200 known diseases that are transmitted through food. The CDC reports that in the U.S. alone that “Foodborne diseases have been estimated to cause 6 million to 81 million illnesses and up to 9,000 deaths each year.” Many illnesses caused by food are the result of poor food handling which is likely to happen around the holidays when people are cooking new dishes they’re unfamiliar with and especially because they’re cooking large turkeys. Not only are foodborne illnesses serious from a medical standpoint, but they take time away from your family, and can create costly medical bills. This Thanksgiving, make sure your family plays it safe with the following resources… A Consumer Guide to Safely... [Read more]

Your toilet is useful for sure, but if it has issue, and you’re not a renter with a handy paid for maintenance crew, your toilet can cost you big time. Don’t let the toilet get your down. Try the following… Check for leaks: Although you hear horror stories about leaks, unless they’re insane leaks, they don’t cost you that much in cash. However, wasting water is never cool, not from a green-minded or budget minded standpoint so checking for leaks is smart. A major reason to look for leaks is because one little leak may be part of a larger, more costly issue. To check for toilet leaks… Quiet leaks are tricky. Unlike a running toilet, which you can hear and does waste a ton of water, a quiet or silent leak won’t... [Read more]

No matter how you slice it, re-gifting is always a tricky topic. Some folks are super gung-ho to re-gift when necessary, others find it terribly tacky, and some people think it’s downright evil. I however, do not think re-gifting is evil or even slightly bad. WHY hold onto something you’ll never, ever use? Why not give it to someone else who may like it. What’s evil is having all sorts of junk around your house just because you think you’ll hurt someone’s feelings or because you feel obligated to hold onto stuff. That said, one fun activity you can plan for after this holiday season is a re-gifting party. According to the book Penny Saving Household Helper, a re-gifting party in January is the perfect way to end... [Read more]

Reward clubs come in many forms from warehouse shopping clubs, to store rewards, to roadside assistance, to movie rental rewards and more. BUT they’re not always worth it. Most cost a fee, sometimes monthly, sometimes annually, and once in a while a flat join rate fee. To work out whether a reward club is worth it to you, consider the following. Are you compulsive when shopping or do you carefully consider each purchase? If you’re compulsive (be honest) warehouse shopping clubs like Costco may not be the best deal. These stores are set up to get you to buy more AND to get you to buy stuff not on your shopping list which is exactly what a compulsive shopper may do. If you’re going to buy stuff you wouldn’t normally just... [Read more]