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What is a warranty and should I buy one? A warranty is a contract that can be provided by the retailer, manufacturer or – most often – a third party company. The warranty will usually state that the provider will repair or replace a product if a fault develops. Terms and conditions vary between policies depending on what is and is not covered. It may be included for free with your purchase or you may […]
You don’t need a massive budget to enjoy the thrill of a true performance car. Today’s market is full of sharp‑looking, quick, and genuinely fun‑to‑drive models that come in well under $40k. Whether you’re drawn to the punch of classic muscle or the refined feel of European engineering, these affordable performance cars prove you can … Read more
A growing number of mortgages are being originated even as credit availability tightens, showing why rising lending activity does not necessarily mean an easier path to approval – Shutterstock Mortgage lending is picking up, yet getting a mortgage has not necessarily become easier. That contradiction sits at the center of the housing market right now. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported 404,682 new mortgages in February 2026, a 35.4% increase from a year earlier. Yet […]
A repaired crash car can look nearly flawless, so buyers should check the VIN, title, safety systems, structural repairs, and driving behavior before purchasing – Shutterstock A used car with a crash in its history can look like a bargain until one overlooked repair turns into a very expensive problem. The accident itself matters, but the quality of the repair, the title history, and the car’s current condition matter just as much. A collision does […]
Everyone has their own tricks for saving a few bucks, but some methods go far beyond clipping coupons or skipping takeout. A whole world of ultra-frugal strategies stays hidden, either because they’re a little unusual, a little quirky, or just too personal to share. Some of them get raised eyebrows. Walking over an hour to work? Tearing the stems off your vegetables? As odd as they sound, small habits like these add up. There’s frugal, and then there’s really frugal. Here are eleven extreme habits that really do put money back in your pocket. You can try them or skip them: it’s all up to you! Take Home Leftovers From Work One clever way to save on groceries? Working somewhere that gives away leftover food. In a hospital kitchen, after meals are served, the remaining food often goes unclaimed, and it’s not uncommon to be allowed to take some home. The same is true for some food establishments. With enough access, it’s possible to coast through an entire summer without spending much, if anything, on food. Every workplace has its own rules, so it never hurts to ask what happens to the extra food at the end of a shift. Walk To Work, Even if It Takes Over an Hour Commuting on foot isn’t unusual, but doing it for over an hour each way without ever mentioning the distance? That’s dedication. It’s a great way to save on gas, reduce wear on a car, and stay in shape. When you add up fuel, parking, and maintenance, the savings can be significant. Some people even find the walk becomes the best part of their day, a chance to clear their head before and after work. Tear the Stems off Your Produce Every gram counts at the grocery store, especially when produce is priced by weight. One easy (if slightly meticulous) trick is removing vegetable stems before checkout. It doesn’t seem like much, but over time, the savings add up. Think of broccoli, celery, and leafy greens. You’re only paying for the parts you’ll actually eat, and the stems often end up in the trash anyway. Reuse the Free Shopper Papers at Your Door Those free shopper papers that pile up in driveways? They’re more useful than they look. They’re great for tasks like cleaning windows, protecting surfaces during messy jobs, or scooping cat litter. The bags they come in are an added bonus. Newspaper works on glass because it doesn’t leave lint behind, and it makes a fine drop cloth for painting or a craft project. Instead of buying paper towels or plastic sheeting for these jobs, you’re using something you already have. Sew Reusable Cloth Pads DIY solutions can cut down recurring expenses. For menstrual products, sewing reusable cloth pads not only saves money but also adds a touch of personality and comfort. They’re easy to clean, fun to customize, and eliminate the need for constant repurchasing. This one isn’t for everyone, but for people who like a little sewing
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Listen to the pod According to Moneybox data, one first-time buyer every 10 minutes got the keys to a first home in 2025. Brian Byrnes, Head of Personal Finance at Moneybox, explains what it takes and what is next for the Lifetime ISA. Brian Byrnes is Head of Personal Finance at Moneybox and has given evidence to the Treasury Select Committee on the Lifetime ISA. He joins host Sammie Ellard-King on The Money Gains Podcast […]
Clearance perennials can be excellent fall bargains if healthy roots have roughly four to six weeks to establish before the ground freezes. Inspect the plant first, then let your local weather—not the markdown—decide. Anton Balashov/Shutterstock The garden center’s clearance table can become dangerously tempting in fall: that perennial you refused to pay $30 for in May is suddenly wearing an $8 sticker. Saving $22 sounds like a fantastic gardening win, but planting clearance perennials in […]
Late nitrogen can encourage tender new growth just as many perennials, roses, trees and shrubs should be hardening off for winter. Check the plant and soil before assuming a final fall feeding will help. Marina Demidiuk/Shutterstock It seems logical that giving plants one final meal before winter would help them survive the cold, but the opposite can happen when fertilizer encourages growth at exactly the wrong time. As days shorten and temperatures fall, perennial and […]
Each healthy garlic clove can potentially grow into a new bulb, making fall-planted garlic an impressive garden multiplier. For better results, choose healthy seed garlic adapted to your region instead of relying on supermarket bulbs. Ksenia Shestakova/Shutterstock A bag of garlic looks like groceries, but biologically, you’re also looking at a surprising amount of potential planting material. Each bulb separates into individual cloves, and each healthy clove can potentially grow into an entirely new bulb, […]
You read that right, we’re bringing the holiday spirit earlier this year with a discussion on how early is early … Read more
Saving money often means being smart and disciplined: cutting out luxuries, sticking to budgets, and maybe brewing your own coffee instead of grabbing a $6 latte every morning. Some frugal tips are pretty common knowledge, such as buying generic brands, shopping for things on sale, and eating at home instead of dining out. However, there are a lot of others out there that relatively few have heard about. A few of them sound a little silly when you say them out loud. Buying extra lip balm? Paying a fee to have groceries delivered? Wearing your hood indoors? They look wasteful, or just plain odd, until you see what they do for your budget. Here are nine habits that earn their spot. You don’t have to try them all. Pick the ones that fit your life, and let the rest make you smile. Buy More Than One Lip Balm This might sound wasteful, but there’s good sense behind it. How many times have you forgotten where your lip balm is and had to buy a new one? Some people get one for work, one for the car, one for the bathroom counter, and so on. The same idea works for other small things that constantly go missing, like nail clippers, phone chargers, or reading glasses. A cheap backup in the spot where you need it costs less than replacing the original over and over, and it saves you the annoyance of a last-minute store run. And if you manage to get the extras for ridiculously cheap while couponing, then all the better! Pay the Fee for Grocery Delivery Grocery delivery usually comes with an extra charge, so it might not sound very frugal. However, ordering remotely will cut down on impulsive buying and make you more likely to order just what you need, and the savings will exceed the surcharge. Think about the last time you walked into a store for milk and left with a full cart. When you shop from your phone, there are no end-cap displays, no free-sample tables, and no snacks calling your name while you’re hungry. A written list plus a delivery order is one of the easiest ways to keep your grocery total in check. Keep a Bin of “Someday” Odds and Ends Use a separate bin or cabinet for storing and organizing little things left over from previous usage that you might need in the future. An example would be a hex tool that came with a bookshelf you put together. It’s the extra cabinet knobs, the spare screws, the leftover furniture bolts, and the tiny wrench from that dresser. Most of us toss these things and then buy replacements a year later. Keeping them in one labeled spot means the next small repair costs you nothing. Add Water to Your Dish Soap and Laundry Detergent A liquid dish and laundry detergent can last a lot longer if you add water to it. It’ll still do its job most of
Rep. Ro Khanna is putting universal childcare at the center of a nearly $1 trillion, 10-year proposal as he develops a broader economic agenda and considers a potential 2028 presidential campaign. The California Democrat’s proposal comes as other prominent Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, have also pushed plans to make childcare more affordable or universally available. Read the rest
Everyone wants killer investment advice that will make them millions of dollars. The buy low, sell high strategy claims to do just that. But does … Read more