Smart Spending


Financial freedom at its core is about spending less than you make. It's as simple as that. In this section of the Dough Roller, you will find tips, tricks and resources to make the most of your money. From saving money on utilities to paying less at the pump, we look for creative ways to shop and spend wisely without making you feel like a pauper.

Ways to Save Money

Money Saving Tools

Smart Spending

Best Digital Camera Bargains for 2011

December 6, 2011

I have a love-hate relationship with digital cameras. Having owned several, including my current Nikon D-70 that I got for Father’s Day a few years ago, I speak from experience when I say that when it comes to getting that critical family shot, what can go wrong, will go wrong. Just this week I messed [...]

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15 Ways to Slash Your Cell Phone Bill

November 28, 2011
Thumbnail image for 15 Ways to Slash Your Cell Phone Bill

Photo: Guwashi999 One of the all time best ways to save money is to cut your cell phone bill. With a family of four, our cell phone plan now costs us close to $200 a month, including data and texting packages. The cost has gotten out of hand, so I’ve been in search of ways [...]

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30 Christmas Gift Ideas Under $10

November 10, 2011

With Christmas a full month away, now is the time to get your holiday shopping done.  With each day that passes, the stress of crossing off names on your buying list will only increase so this year, instead of waiting until the last minute to buy a ton of gifts, get it done early and [...]

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List of Daily Deal Sites

September 22, 2011

Over the past year or so “daily deal” sites have proliferated. Perhaps the most newsworthy daily deal site is Groupon, which Google tried to purchase last year for $6 billion. Groupon declined. These deal sites typically fall into one of four categories: Local Deals: Sites like Groupon and Living Social offer daily deals from local [...]

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I Need a Cheap Car Rental!

September 12, 2011

Later today, I’m going to be taking in my automobile to have the transmission looked at.  While I don’t expect this to be a big problem, I am prepared if it is.  After I drop my car off to have it carefully diagnosed, I’ve decided to rent a car so that if the repairs do [...]

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Should You Loan Money To Family and Friends?

September 7, 2011

Let’s pretend were in a down economy. (Hard to imagine, I know) Now, assume that you are fortunate, despite that poor economy, to still have a secure, well-paying job. And, since you’re a frequent reader of Dough Roller, you know how to stretch your dollars as far as the eye can see. You also have [...]

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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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