Superbowl Party Trays: Can You Save Money By Making Your Own?

When it comes to the Superbowl what I look forward to the most are the commercials, the socializing, and the food. I get a little choked up at the singing of the national anthem, and I can’t help but smile when seeing the players hit the field in all their glory. But my true enjoyment [...]

Frugal Confessions Fridays – Frugal Living

Hello Frugal Confessions Readers! Here is my frugal confession of the week: Ever since my early twenties I have turned to acupuncture for overall health and stress reduction. Acupuncture can be semi-expensive, but the benefits for many people are wonderful. Fortunately for me, a friend of a friend found a great resource here in Houston: [...]

Filing Your Taxes for Free and Finding Free Tax Return Help

According to the 2011-2012 National Society of Accountants (NSA) survey on tax preparation fees, the average tax preparation fee for an itemized Form 1040 with Schedule A and a state tax return was $233 for the 2011 tax season. For non-itemizing taxpayers, the average cost for Form 1040 with Schedule A and a state tax [...]

Pawnshops in the History of Short Term Loans

This is a sponsored post written by me. A few streets over from where I live there is a payday lender. Every morning I drive past it in the early twilight hours, the Las Vegas-type fluorescent lights reflecting promises of convenience, expediency, and ‘no credit checks’ onto my windshield. Some mornings there are even a [...]

Double Tax Benefits for Mid to Low Income Households Who Contribute to Retirement Accounts

When you think about retirement, are you stuck in disillusionment somewhere between your dreams and the reality of an empty retirement account? Perhaps this is because you are currently (and have been) living paycheck to paycheck and any extra savings you squeeze out of the month goes towards putting out last month’s fires. All of [...]

How to Save Money on Dieting

Comparing diet program costs is one way to maximize the amount of money you have to spend on dieting (or to make you run the other way with your hard earned money). But there are many other ways to still get the results that you want without signing onto or at least without paying full [...]

Comparing Diet Program Costs: Which Program is Most and Least Expensive?

It’s the beginning of a new year and the television waves are gluttonous with meal-delivery diet commercials. Each company is trying to outdo the competition by showing slim, smiling models eating calorie and fat-laden foods like pizza, cheese curls, pasta, muffins, French fries and even burgers (probably sprayed with a zero-calorie lube to make them [...]

Frugal Confessions Friday – Frugal Living

Hello Frugal Confessions Readers! Here is our frugal confession of the week: I mentioned briefly a few weeks ago that we are taking a cruise to Alaska this year. So exciting! We were not planning on purchasing the cruise tickets until several months into the new year, but my mother found a wonderful sale on [...]

Health Insurance Companies Give Financial Incentives for Good Habits

Since I discussed a “stick” approach my health insurance company began on January 1, 2012 by charging a higher premium for smokers than for non-smokers, I’d like to take the time to discuss a “carrot” incentive sponsored by them: a reward points program. And reward points mean free stuff! I am with Blue Cross Blue [...]

Healthcare Disincentives for Bad Behaviors Could Cost You Money

Beginning on January 1, 2012 there was a change to my healthcare plan at work. Plan participants who used tobacco 5 or more times in the 90 days leading up to the first of the year are now subject to an additional health insurance premium cost of between $30 to $90 per month. The amount [...]

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