Today's Frugal Living Tools
Money-Saving Mix-Tape
Looking for ways to save money? Check out this play list to get inspired!
Saying 'Thanks'
How to show appreciation without insulting your friends
My Story:
Emergency Preparation
12 tips for surviving emergencies
Ancient Financial Wisdom
5 strategies from King Solomon
Cooking for Less
Using inexpensive ingredients
Low Tech Time Management
How a $2 plastic timer can help recapture lost time
The Perks of Part-Time Work
Offering more than just a paycheck
Video: Save $200 Every Month
Do you know where your money is going?
Coordinated Meal Planning
How thinking ahead save me time and money
My Story:
Decorating With Pillows
Achieve a beautiful look at a bargain price!
Video: Dining Out on a Dime
An affordable alternative to fast food
Easy Reupholstery
From thrift store draperies to "new" couch cover
Create an Outside Science Wall
A year-round learning tool in your backyard
Divorcing Your Finances
Separating financial affairs after a divorce
Owning a Duplex
Living with tenants next door
Video: Haggle for Everything
Every type of product and service is fair game
Dry Clean Only
Make fewer trips to the dry cleaner
Budget Furniture Fix-Ups
A new look for less
Girls Night In
Stronger friendships and fatter wallets
Defeating Delays
Don't let delays suck the time out of your day
Affordable Window Treatments
Get a designer look for a fraction of the cost
Marine Corps Railroad-Style BBQ Sauce
Turn a cheap cut of meat into a feast!
Negotiation Skills
5 steps to negotiating a better and smarter deal
Need Extra Money?
Cash in your old government bonds
I Want It Now!
Modeling impulse control for our children
Storing Veggies for Freshness
Reduce the waste of spoiled produce
More Frugal Living Resources
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How to Store Potatoes
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Reader's Tips
The smartest readers on the web share their frugal living ideas!
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Your Story
Do you know a way to save time and money? Then please take a moment to "Tell Us Your Story"
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Helping You Achieve Financial Independence!
last update:
Save money: Hire professionals in training
Professional services are costly. Find out where you can save money by having students do the work.
Cruise line reward card dunks cardholder
Transferring a balance to a lower-rate card can gain you protections offered by the CARD Act.
How to write off an unpaid business loan
You can use the loss to offset any capital gains you have in the year that the debt became worthless.
4 ways to save on title insurance
Homebuyers smitten with a new dream home may gloss over title insurance. But that's a mistake.
7 steps to becoming a one-income family
Whether it's forced or chosen, living on one family income will mean making difficult choices.
4 good reasons to borrow from your 401(k)
Sometimes it makes sense to tap your retirement account. Be sure to understand the tradeoffs.
Building a good credit score in college
Which is better for your credit score: paying the minimum or paying off the balance each month?
Video: Using the balance transfer calculator
Bankrate's new balance transfer calculator will help you decide if the move will pay off.
Don't lie: Your life insurance depends on it
Your medical decisions won't block a life insurance claim, but fraud's another matter. Don't do it.
College savings: 529 plan or Roth?
What is the best way to save for college? The answer differs from family to family.
How much credit do you really have?
Figuring out how much credit you are using is key to keeping your credit score high.
4 smart steps to a low car insurance quote
An affordable car insurance quote doesn't just happen. Follow these tips to find a lower premium.
Do you need a virtual wallet?
Before registering your financial data with a site like PayPal, consider these three factors.
Take a tax "break": Volunteer on vacation
If you unwind best by working, take a volunteer vacation and get tax breaks, too.
401(k) a great tool for the retiring sort
A 401(k) plan is a great vehicle for building retirement savings, but they come with rules and restrictions.
Video: Haggling for a better deal
Bargaining for a better deal can save you money.
Good tax help can yield many happy returns
You have a wealth of options when choosing a tax preparer. That means more chances to make a wrong choice.
Maximizing your capital gains exclusion
When figuring your home's adjusted basis, include its cost and any improvements to the property.
5 ways to rebuild credit after bankruptcy
It's possible to improve your credit even before the bankruptcy is off your record. Here's how.
Turn your home into an eco-chamber
Home values are soft, but a green house cuts utility bills and can boost resale value. Find out how.
Use savings in CDs to pay off house?
Depleting a savings account to pay off a mortgage could leave you vulnerable in an emergency.
Don't want the IRS to call? Call first
Many taxpayers dread contact with the IRS. But the agency actually offers a lot of free tax help.
New rule would refund some mortgage fees
The Fed may give consumers the right to cancel mortgage applications and get fee refunds.
5 ways to help avoid identity theft
ID theft can make a mess of your life. Learn how you may be accidentally giving away information.
Video: Green interior design
Save money by using green principles when you decorate your home.
Don't let your car go unfixed in a recall
There's no reason to trifle with a car recall. You don't have to pay for repairs, so why ignore it?
What's best: Repair an old car or buy new?
If you don't have the money to keep up with a new car payment, repair the old jalopy instead.
Remodel home for less with junkyard gems
Home remodeling can cost you a bundle. Here's how you can save by using reclaimed materials.
Save with 30-year mortgage rates?
Right now, 30-year mortgage rates remain near historic lows. But is this the right loan for you?
Stop saving to pay off credit card debt?
Holding some unsecured debt is not necessarily bad if you have a plan to repay it.
Ask Dr. Don
'Extension' bond ladder makes sense now
In today's low-rate environment, an extension bond ladder offers investors built-in flexibility.
Look before leaping into new CD
Depositors need to know all the particulars about a CD before funding the deposit.
Put brakes on mortgage accelerator offers
Mortgage accelerator plans promise to free you from loan payments. But are they worth the effort?
Can bank tap CD after credit card default?
Can a bank go after funds in a CD if a borrower defaults on a credit card account?
Great credit doesn't tame insurance costs
A homeowner's superb credit score wasn't enough to prevent a spike in insurance premiums.
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Frugal Living in Tough Times
5 Fast Food Facts
Live within your food budget
My Story:
15 College Money-Saving Tools
How to make being a student work for you
Homemade Nutrition Drinks
These easy recipes could save you big!
The Patient Shopper
Patience is a paid virtue
Surviving Limited Income
When you're working with a very small income
My Story:
An Un-Frugal Spouse
Some things work and others don't
Stocking Up
Knowing how much to buy when it's on sale
Dollar Stretcher Blogs
recent posts
Do men waste $3,000 on gas while lost?
Apparently the stereotypical male phobia surrounding asking for directions isn't just real, it's actually pretty expensive
Bankrate: Cars
Life insurance and retirement
Here are some cases where life insurance for retirees, or those close to retirement, can make sense
Bankrate: Retirement
Frugal? Or Deception?
Or an opportunity for kids to learn a lesson about managing money?
The Dollar Stretcher
Getting a credit card under 21
If you have high school or college-age kids, will you help them get a credit card before they turn 21?
Bankrate: Credit Cards
Clarifying Interest Rate Changes Allowed with the CARD Act
There is only way to be unaffected by rate increases
Dollar Stretcher Guest Blogger
Do you like to blog or have an idea for a blog that would interest Dollar Stretcher readers? Please email us with your blog idea and you could become a regular Dollar Stretcher blogger. We get the best ideas from our readers!
Don't be afraid of online coupon services -- they save money, too
Traditional paper coupon-clipping is fine, but as long as you steer clear of the too-nosy ones, online coupon sites have advantages, too.
Put your credit report on ice with a credit freeze
Credit freezes can be great tools for protecting yourself against identity theft, experts say, but they're not for everyone.
You're eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but should you file?
A reader who has fallen on hard times wonders if Chapter 7 bankruptcy is right for her. Her lawyer says yes. Our expert says she's not so sure.
Charge card balances won't impact a FICO credit score
Although the balances on credit cards are used in the calculation of credit scores, that isn't the case for charge card accounts.
QA with Zac Bissonnette, author of 'Debt-Free U'
Author Zac Bissonnette argues that the risks inherent in college loans far outweigh any benefit of a degree from a big-name school.
7 ways to ensure a financially successful marriage
Tying the knot? Know that finances are one of the top five reasons for divorce. Here's how to keep your money and marriage together.
Financial Calculators courtesy of Bankrate.com
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