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At almost 50, I’m never doing a gut remodel again. Everyone who has survived one has the same thousand-yard stare. It’s the look of someone who spent two years arguing about grout color and waiting on inspectors who never show up when they say they will. Remodeling might be the most unpleasant thing you can […] The post Buy The Finished Home, Skip The Remodeling Misery appeared first on Financial Samurai.
I love Christmas, but honestly, have you seen how much some Christmas decorations cost these days? By the time you’ve bought a few baubles, some lights and a wreath for the front door, you’ve spent a small fortune. The thing is, you really don’t need to spend loads to make your house look lovely for Christmas. There are so many places to pick up cheap decorations, and some of the best bargains aren’t even in […]
If you’ve ever been caught washing a zip bag at the sink, you know the look. A raised eyebrow, a little smirk, maybe a “Really?” But here’s the thing. The habits that get the most eye rolls are often the ones that save the most money over time. They look silly in the moment, and then a few months later, your budget has a little more breathing room. Here are ten frugal habits that sound a bit over the top but really do pay off! Have you tried any of these? Let us know in the A Dime Saved Community. Washing and Reusing Zip Bags A box of zip bags isn’t expensive, but if you use a few a week, the cost adds up over a year. Rinse them, let them dry, and reuse them for dry snacks, sandwiches, and storage. Just retire any that held raw meat. Cutting Dryer Sheets in Half One sheet usually has more than enough softening power for a load. Cutting each one in half doubles the box. Some people skip them altogether and use wool dryer balls, which last for years. Diluting Soap and Cleaning Products You can mix hand soap, dish soap, and many all-purpose cleaners with water in a refillable bottle and still get the job done. This stretches each purchase much further and means fewer trips to restock. You can make so many DIY cleaning supplies to save money! Eating Before You Go Grocery Shopping It sounds almost too simple, but shopping hungry makes everything look like a good idea. Eat a snack before you go shopping to keep impulse buys out of your cart and your bill closer to your list. Buying Day-Old Bread and Bakery Items Bakery markdowns are a hidden frugal hack. Day-old bread tastes the same, freezes beautifully, and costs a fraction of the fresh price. Slice it and freeze it so you can toast what you need. Packing a Cooler for Road Trips and Outings Gas station snacks and drive-through meals can drain your budget. A cooler with sandwiches, fruit, and drinks keeps your family fed for a few dollars, and you won’t have to wait in line. Unplugging Devices You Aren’t Using Many electronics keep drawing power even when they’re off. A power strip you can switch off at night makes unplugging easy, and over a year, the savings on your electric bill can be noticeable. Keeping a Change Jar It feels old-fashioned, but loose change adds up really nicely. After all, a dime saved is a dime earned! Toss it in a jar and, when it’s full, cash it in or deposit it. Many people are surprised to find $100 or more waiting for them at year’s end. Keeping a Price Book Jot down the prices of the items you buy most often, along with the store and the date. After a few weeks, you’ll know what a truly good deal looks like, so you can stock up when something hits its lowest price.
This composite case is built from patterns I see repeatedly in practice. Names and numbers are fictional. I show every calculation so you can check it and reuse the method. This is Part 2 of a four-part case study. Read Part 1 here: Retirement Planning Case Study Part 1. Read Part 2 here: Retirement Planning… The post 2 Crores in FDs, Single, 42, Wants to Retire at 50 – Retirement Planning Case Study Part 3 […]
Most people let it renew. In KFF’s analysis of the 2022 open enrollment, 69% of Medicare beneficiaries didn’t compare their coverage with any other Medicare option. Skipping the comparison is risky because plans can change their terms every year, whether… Source
For this past year and the upcoming year I have been researching what to look for, and what questions to ask when investigating potential facilities. In 2028 we will begin the exploration and consider being placed on waiting lists. (I am an over preparer and researcher) I have read a short book entitled CCRCs: Find the Right Continuing Care Retirement Community for Yourself or a Loved One. I have also been receiving excellent emails on […]
I track all of our family’s expenses and make plans for all of our spending every month. I’ve been faithfully budgeting and living frugally for thirteen years. You might not think that doing a budget audit would yield very many opportunities for saving when our family is already locked into budgeting and frugality. I’m excited to surprise you! We are in the middle of a tight financial season right now due to multiple reasons. I […]
I track all of our family’s expenses and make plans for all of our spending every month. I’ve been faithfully budgeting and living frugally for thirteen years. You might not think that doing a budget audit would yield very many opportunities for saving when our family is already locked into budgeting and frugality. I’m excited to surprise you! We are in the middle of a tight financial season right now due to multiple reasons. I […]
The scariest thing on a physician’s desk this October is the fourth-quarter estimated tax worksheet, propped against a 403(b) statement … Read more
One objective of tax planning is to limit income taxes paid during one’s lifetime. To my mind, it is exceedingly difficult to present an entire adult lifetime tax arc in a single projection or spreadsheet. This is for many reasons, including the fact that we don’t know the date of death. What I think has […]
Firstly, thank you to everybody who purchased the new book Household Cybersecurity over this last week! If you have any questions about the material, feel free to ask, as you’re probably not the only person with that same question. If you found the book to be helpful, please consider leaving a review on Amazon (or Goodreads), as that’s the best way to help others find the book. Other Recommended Reading 4 Practical Uses of TIPS […]
As Benjamin Franklin famously put it in a Constitution Center letter from 1789: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” these two things, death and taxes, are certainties … Read more
Being frugal is not the same as being cheap. For me being frugal means being intentional rather than wasteful with your resources. It’s a mindset that isn’t just about money, though there are often financial implications. Everyone’s frugal looks different. Have you ever looked at the way someone else is being frugal and thought, “I would/could never do that!” I know I have! I’ll even share a few examples if you promise not to get […]