Before we know it, Christmas will be upon us.  For those of you hardcore frugal-ers, you might be already armed with coupons, a gift stash and a budget tailored down to the last penny for your holiday shopping.   Some frugal folks don’t advocate for buying on a budget, they might not be buying at all!  So, could you handle a gift-less Christmas?

To save money in the past, I have gifted homemade knitted wares, hand baked goodies and purchased pre-made edibles that are cost effective and cover more gift-giving ground.  This year I wondered-  what if we just don’t give gifts at all?

My problem is- I love giving gifts but as costs rise and travel eats up most of my budget, how can I afford to make the holiday special and give a meaningful gift to everyone I love without going into credit card debt?  

Going gift-less doesn’t have to be horrible, but dedicate some brain space to whipping up creative ways on transforming your holiday season into “memories” not just “things.”   The holiday season is notoriously an out of control spending orgy that leaves too many of us paying off credit cards well into springtime- don’t let that be you!  

 I’ve done some pondering and have come up with a way to make going gift-less suck-less!

Read more →

What to do with your dog when on a trip?    If they’re small enough, do you take them with you?  What will it cost to have them cared for in your absence?

I’m going to be travelling a bit this month and was a bit worried about what to do with my pug, Ralph while away- and of course, how much it would cost for good care.  What’s a frugal pet lover to do? 

Read more →

Personally, I think 13 is a LUCKY number…it means you have no fear.  You’re say “bah,” to superstition and take a step out in faith!

 

 Below are 13 tips you can do RIGHT NOW to kicks start your brain and your life to a frugal future!

Read more →

If you’re cutting out extra expenses to get out of debt or finally start putting money aside for your future- GO YOU!  But…you might be feeling a bit frazzled though about the process, and probably a bit agitated that you’re going to have scraggly cuticles and rough heels if your regular trips to the salon didn’t make the cut, but alas, there’s hope!

This is where the frugal gets beautiful since I have  perfected the at-home mani/pedi so you can save some dough without having to tromp around in your strappys like a pachyderm.  For an initial start up cost of $80 (or even less if you borrow/thrift or have supplies on hand) you can save money without sacrificing the spa quality tootsies you LOVE.

I’ll provide you with how to get spa-quality mani/pedis at home so cheap you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner!  Read on!

Read more →

This stunning infographic paints a startling picture of the net worth of your AVERAGE American Family, and once you’ve seen it, you’ll either shrug or get totally scared!

Read more →