Smart Spending

An Energy Saving Light Bulb That Lasts 45.6 Years

August 31, 2011

Consumer Reports just released its ratings of CFL and LED bulbs. I’ve always been a fan of these energy saving light bulbs. In my 99 Painless Ways to Save Serious Money eBook (free to subscribers of our newsletter!), replacing incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs is high on the list. These eco-friendly bulbs reduce our [...]

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The True Cost of a Car Over Its Lifetime

August 29, 2011

Car shoppers are normally all about getting the best deal: the smallest amount of money down, the most flexible lease terms and lowest finance charges. What some car buyers fail to calculate is not only the up-front costs associated with buying a car, but the costs to maintain a car over its lifetime, i.e., the [...]

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When Does Frugality Turn Into Cheapness?

August 23, 2011

Imagine you’re walking down an abandoned street with no-one in sight.  Enjoying the beautiful and peaceful day, you spot a penny on the ground.  Would you bend down, pick up the penny and put it in your pocket?  What if that penny was a nickel, a dime, a quarter … and so on, all the [...]

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Which Family Cell Phone Plan Comes Out on Top?

August 19, 2011

With so many cell phone plans to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming. Choosing the family plan that maximizes the money you spend while getting solid coverage and other perks is very important. Today, we will aim to make that task a bit easier for you. Let’s take a look at four of [...]

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Which Netflix Plan is the Best Netflix Plan?

July 13, 2011

Netflix currently runs the online DVD rental business with more than 23 million active subscribers.  With Blockbuster struggling to keep it’s doors open after bankruptcy, Netflix continues to develop new streaming technology that allows the company to produce higher than expected earnings each and every quarter.  However, Netflix has recently decided to increase the cost [...]

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Can You Put a Price on Safety?

June 22, 2011

When I lived in an apartment in Boston, my apartment was broken into while I was at work.  I came home to a front door that was lifted off its hinges and carefully placed in the hallway next to where I left it (closed and locked) that morning.  The place was ransacked and all my [...]

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What is a Flexible Spending Account?

June 9, 2011

Graduating from college in 2006, I’ve really never had the opportunity to take advantage of some of the benefits that larger corporations and employers have to offer.  Before working from home, I was employed at a small-time online company that didn’t have things like retirement plans, flexible spending accounts, or even health insurance!  I guess [...]

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Avoid Overspending During the Holidays

May 31, 2011

With Memorial Day wrapped up, Americans are getting ready to head back to work.  For many, the next day to look forward to is Independence Day, which happens to also fall on a Monday this year.  A few years ago, when I was working the nine-to-five lifestyle, I used to mark my calendar with all [...]

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20 Great Father’s Day Gift Ideas Under $100

May 16, 2011

This year, Father’s Day falls on June 19th, which means you have just over one month to find Dad a gift he will love.  You might be surprised to learn that Father’s Day wasn’t an official holiday until 1972, when President Richard M. Nixon signed it into law. Father’s Day can be dated back to [...]

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