Buying fresh fruits and vegetables shouldn’t have to take up half your grocery budget. But if you’ve been paying attention to produce prices lately, you know how quickly things add up. A few apples, a container of strawberries, some lettuce, and a couple of peppers can cost more than you expected. And it’s frustrating when you spend that money only to have some of your produce go bad before you get around to eating it. […]

If you listen to personal finance podcasts in Fall of 2026, you know annuities are having their moment in the sun. I believe that prior to considering an annuity, one must consider seven problems presented by that path. When assessing annuities, it is valuable to consider them against their lowest cost, least restrictive, and most […]

Houseplants brought indoors for winter can carry hidden pests such as spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs. Inspecting and isolating returning plants for several weeks can help prevent infestations from spreading to your indoor collection. Fuss Sergey/Shutterstock Your houseplants have spent the summer thriving on the patio, growing lush leaves and enjoying the warm sunshine. Now that nighttime temperatures are dropping, you’re ready to bring them indoors before the first frost. You carry your favorite plants […]

On a $100,000 gross household income in Canada, the classic affordability rule allows $2,667 a month for housing — and after $500 a month for property tax and heating, that leaves $2,167 for a mortgage payment. At the stress-test qualifying rate used in the worked example below, that payment supports a mortgage of about $339,000, or a purchase price of about $423,000 with 20% down. The second number in the headline matters just as much: […]

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Fine hair can look smooth and polished with a hair straightener, but it also needs careful handling. Because individual strands are smaller in diameter, excessive heat and repeated styling can leave fine hair feeling dry, looking flat, or becoming more prone to breakage. The key is not to avoid straightening altogether, but to choose the […] The post How to Protect Fine Hair When Using a Hair Straightener appeared first on The Thrifty Issue.

Navigating money in today’s financial landscape can feel overwhelming. Advisors, experts, and blogs offer different views on how to handle it, leaving many people confused about where to start. However, a few non-negotiables apply across the board, and they’re worth building into your financial life. Whether you’re just starting out or fine-tuning your current strategy, solid money rules give you something to lean on. Here are 15 fundamentals that can help you make informed decisions, reach your goals, and build a stable future.   Spend Less Than You Earn Spending less than you earn is the only way to save for rainy days and retirement. It’s also the only way to avoid bad debt. Your expenses should take up only a portion of your income, with the rest going toward savings and investments. Start by listing your fixed expenses, such as rent, and estimating your variable ones. Use that to build a budget and find places to cut. Most people start with variable costs like groceries and transportation, which is a good move. Just don’t overlook recurring expenses like rent. Downsizing or moving somewhere cheaper can make a big difference. Create a Budget and Stick To It The best way to take control of your finances is to create a realistic budget and follow it. Without one, it’s easy to overspend without realizing it. Your budget should reflect both your short-term and long-term goals. When you stick with it, you can see your progress and spot the areas that need work. Feeling overwhelmed by your finances? This simple, printable budget planner makes it easy to track where every dollar goes. Download it free now!   Pay Yourself First (Save and Invest Before Spending) When your paycheck lands, save before you spend on anything else. Many people do it the other way around and end up saving nothing. When money sits in your checking account, it’s hard to resist shopping impulsively. Pick a percentage of your income to save, move it to your savings account right away, and budget your expenses around what’s left. The easiest way to do this is to automate it. You’ll reach your goals sooner and build financial discipline along the way. Avoid High-Interest Debt High-interest debt means you’ll pay far more over time than you borrowed. When you need a loan, compare lenders, read the terms, and choose the best rate. Also, steer clear of payday loans. Their rates are steep, and they can trap you in a cycle of debt that keeps financial independence out of reach. Build an Emergency Fund Many financial advisors recommend an emergency fund that covers three months of expenses. A 2022 Bankrate survey found that only 48% of American adults had one. We all hope for smooth sailing, but life can catch us off guard. You could get sick, lose your job, or watch your business fall apart. Nobody wants that, but it happens. An emergency fund keeps you from reaching for high-interest loans just to

Never thought I would use those two words in the same sentence: filing taxes and scrapbooking. While we were in a waiting game for my brother’s autopsy to be complete, his body to be released, and the service to be planned, I needed something to occupy my time. Sitting in a hotel room. Couldn’t concentrate on too much those first few days. Too many questions. Too many tears. My hotel desk covered in scrapbook supplies Thankfully, I had planned for lots of downtime on this trip. Dad was to be visiting friends and family. And I’d be waiting. So I brought two things along to occupy my time outside of work hours and dog walks. I brought all the tax docs to complete filing his back taxes. And I brought a bag full of scrapbooking supplies to document my trip to Branson, Vegas, California, and back to Texas this past April and May. What you see pictured is what I had with me. A few pens, some washi tape, and so paper glue, along with some sticker sets (in the pink plastic thing under the light). I’ve begun junk journaling this year. Essentially keeping scraps of wherever I go – ticket stubs, paper bags with logos on it, pamphlets you pick up for free. And, of course, I always take pics with my phone. Walmart+ gets me 20 free prints a month, so I print the pics in batches. FREE. Eating peanut butter sandwiches, string cheese, snacks that I packed. A few meals with old friends. Several dog walks a day around the hotel. I’ve not left my hotel room unless required. I couldn’t focus on the taxes, so I’ve just filled out the form basics. When my eyes stay dry a little bit longer. And I get a bit more distance from this. I’ll go back to those. Now more than ever…I am grateful for my scrapbooks and all my pics. The post Filing Taxes and Scrapbooking appeared first on Blogging Away Debt.