You don't have to be earning less than $30k per year to find that it's tough making ends meet. Money Magazine tells the story of a family that struggles even though their household income is more than $150,000 - well above the average for most American households.

How do you earn $150k and still struggle with money? This is bad, very bad.

So how does America's Cheapest Family do it on less than a combined $35k annual income?

Firstly, they don't have any debt. No credit cards. No mortgage (although they did have but it only took them 9 years to pay it off) and no car loans. This goes against the very fabric of western society. Just take a quick glance at Everybody Loves Your Money's recent post citing that the US National savings rate has hit a negative 1%.

Secondly, they spend minimally. They shop once a month and buy up big - well, as big as you can get for less than $400, even though they're feeding a family of six. They keep a large freezer to store much of their shopping and buy unbranded products.

They don't care much for extravagant labels buying predominantly from thrift stores and find extreme ways to save their money.

Could you do it?

I attend a camp that happens each year where students are given a set budget and have to navigate their way around the city over 3 days. The aim is to achieve a set of tasks but also spend the least amount of money. It's incredible how creative these 16 year olds become when they're faced with this challenge.

Part of being frugal is limiting yourself. Live within your means and rid yourself of any form of debt as quick as possible so that you can start going forward again.

Link

Posted by Stuart at 7:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

America's cheapest family, the Economide's, are back in the spotlight after their rise to international stardom due to their extreme frugal lifestyle. The seven-member family is set to distribute their new book America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right On the Money that will hit the shelves on Jan 16.

This amazing family has remained debt-free despite raising 5 children and living in an era where debt is easy to get than a Big Mac without pickles.

The book has many family stories with personal advice tips coming from both Steve and Annette but their children also chip in at the end of each chapter with their own anecdotes and opinions.

For a family wanting to start the New Year off with a sound financial approach this book should prove excellent reading.

Source: Frugal family back with more advice

Posted by Stuart at 6:17 AM | Permalink

Anyone on the road to financial success - whether that's financial independence, becoming a billionaire or being debt-free - will have to tighten their financial belt at some stage. So, to make the process a little easier here are nine tips for the road ahead...

1. Know where you stand - The old adage of "You can't move forward until you know where you are" is still very true today. Unless you completely understand your financial position including incoming incomes, bank account balances, and outstanding debts trying to move forward will seem hard work at best.

Here's some items worth checking;

Income

• Wages/ Salary


• Government Payments


• Bank Interest


• Dividends


• Annuities


• Property rentals


• Board

Debts

• Store Credit Cards


• Outstanding Bills


• Credit Cards


• Hire Purchase Loans


• Mortgage


• Investment Loans

2. Make a plan - Start to envision where you want to be financially in the next 6, 12 and 24 months. Then take it out further to 5 and 10 years. Once you get a picture of what your are trying to achieve it's very easy to start setting some financial goals and making a plan.

As you set about putting the plan into practice you will notice either goals will be achieved earlier than expected or take much longer than you thought. So, build in some key times when you will sit down and readjust your plan accordingly.

3. Communicate with your creditors - If there is one thing that creditors hate it's being kept in the dark on how you're going to pay them back. Once you have a plan arrange a time to meet with them and explain what you're trying to achieve. Creditors will more likely be accommodating if they're informed than if they're trying to guess whether they will see their money from you or not.

4. Find areas to cut back - Tightening your financial belt whether it's because you have succumbed to some financial crisis through over committing yourself in debt, or changing employment or starting a new business is never an easy process.

Choices need to be made to live within your means. The weekly dinner outing with friends may need to go on the backburner for a time. No-Name brands may begin to adorn your kitchen pantry and you may have cancel that subscription to Cleo. Whatever it is, remember that it is only temporary until you get back on your feet again.

Continue reading "Nine tips to tighten your financial belt" »

Posted by Stuart at 5:06 AM | Permalink

In your kitchen scales add one part per volume of "Experience" and one part per volume of "Product". Step back from the counter and evaluate the balancing act that ensues.

My dilemma, it seems, occurred when Little Britain advertised a show for March next year. Debating the pros and cons in my mind the decision was eventually concreted when I discovered the price - $130 for average seat holders.

$130 for a show that I enjoy, but find distasteful in parts, knowing full-well that I won't be able to pick and choose what I encounter. Or, I could spend $40.95 on each of the 3 series on DVD. Roughly, we've come up with the same price.

The difference? One is the experience. Memories of a show that can be reminisced with friends. Jokes retold; skits re-enacted; and lots of "remember..."

The other is a consumerist product that can be viewed ad nauseum, and probably will be. Fast forwarded; rewinded; paused for toilet and munchie breaks.

Is there a measure? I guess not. We need both in our worlds - the experiences and the valued possessions.

So I've decided to see the concert AND buy the series.

Posted by Stuart at 7:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

There's only ___ days until Christmas!

Try and imagine coming out the other side of Christmas not having anything else to pay for. The meal was great, your friends and family loved your gifts and there was more than enough cheer to behold. Yet, there are no credit card statements reminding you that you probably enjoyed yourself a little too much.

Or, you can do it the same as last year and still be paying off your credit card in June.

The reason most of us - yes, we've all been there - find that Christmas ends up on the card is due to a lack of preparation. We put Christmas off in our minds hoping that a). It will go away, b). We might win the lottery and then splash out to our hearts content, c). Relegate ourselves to "Christmas = Credit Card", or d) All of the above. And before we know it, it's Christmas Eve and I still haven't bought anybody a present.

Abraham Lincoln said,

If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first hour sharpening the axe.

So, it's time to sharpen the axe. I've listed a heap of links to help get your creative juices inspired and leave your credt card in your wallet - for emergencies (not bad planning!).

Continue reading "Christmas without a credit card" »

Posted by Stuart at 6:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I wrote previously on the cost of raising children but didn't really touch on the cost of raising teenagers. And as the family grows so it seems does the expenses, seemingly disproportionate to your income levels.

But it can be done on a tight budget, apparently. Nigel Lane gives 7 tips for raising teens in our current consumerist society and it's all based on being open and honest with them, especially about the limited family budget.

Lane states;

The way to control some or all of these costs is to train and teach your son/daughter to see things from your point of view and help them understand. Often they also need to be aware that owning ‘things’ and conforming to everyone else’s worldview [that, for example, brand names are best] are not the driving forces behind our choices.

Armed with information, teenagers will be in a better position to understand the pressure upon the family should their demands be met. And this is a great way to help them be more considerate of others and the choices that they make.

Posted by Stuart at 8:11 AM | Permalink

I love it when the average Joe can beat manufacturers at their own game by producing a similar product for much cheaper. This was the case for Shaunna Privratsky who found that bought odour-free kitty litter could be made for much cheaper than the price being retailed.

She bought the cheapest home-brand cat litter and added a box of baking soda to it, which is basically all the manufacturer was doing anyway. The difference was that her mix cost less than $6 while the shop bought item was $14.

But the story doesn't end here. Shaunna's not a one-hit frugal wonder. She's had to skimp and save ever since her husband suffered brain-damage and has now found incredible ways to keep the family going.

Posted by Stuart at 8:14 AM | Permalink

A County Down man has found a way of keeping down the growing costs of funerals - by making his own coffin.

Michael O'Shea, 73, said he did not want to burden his sons with the costs of burial when he dies. Funerals can cost many thousands of pounds. Michael, from the coastal town of Ardglass, has been planning his very "frugal funeral" for some time.

Mr O'Shea said he hoped it would be a few years yet before he goes into the family plot. However, when his time comes, he wants to keep the cost of his funeral down.

'Two sheets of plywood'

"My sons have no money. I am not going to die and leave them with debts they cannot afford - so I have made my own coffin," he said.

The coffin was built across the street from his home in his garden shed. "I designed it myself. I drew up the plans and went in and bought two sheets of plywood - 8ft by 4ft. "I cut it, glued and screwed it together. The total cost was £75.

"I fitted a half-inch nylon rope to allow six men to lift 50 kilos-plus. My main problem was bending the sides... It was a very difficult job."

Mr O'Shea said people may think the whole enterprise is "ghoulish". "But to me, it is only common sense. I am 73, I am going to die fairly shortly - maybe in another dozen years or more - but it is a simple matter of economic and personal necessity."

Story from BBC NEWS

Posted by Stuart at 8:32 AM | Permalink

Matt Goss from the New York Times has been circling the globe in a bid to show travellers that it can be done on the cheap. (If you're after some logistical details of the 90 day trip check out his FAQ's page).

Matt's assignment was to travel the world in 90 days as any traveller could do. There have been no perks or freebies accepted by him as a result of being a "Times reporter". Instead, he's chosen to tour the globe the same way anybody could.

In the end, I decided to buy only the first and last segments of the trip — Newark-Lisbon on May 11, which I purchased for $547 through TAP Portugal's Web site, and Beijing-San Francisco on Aug. 11, for $898.67. To get from Point A to Point A, I would hopscotch the globe using low-cost carriers, buses, trains, ferries and serendipity. Or at least that's the plan.

Matt set off mid-May and is due to complete his journey shortly. Even though he's spent time in remote locations he's managed to submit his articles every Wednesday and taken tips from his readers as to where to go and what to do as he's traversed the globe.

As any traveller prepares, the daily budget is a major item. Matt decided on US$100 for nightly accomodation and 30 Euros for his daily food requirements. This is where the fun begins as his first meal in Bolgna set him back 25 Euros. How do you stay frugal when you've blown more than 80% of your daily budget on one meal? Fortunately Matt skimps and saves in other areas and makes up for the shortfall as he tries to stay on track.

There's some great reading in his articles and his full trip, including the updated map, can be sourced here. [Note: It does require a free subscription to avail yourself of these].

Posted by Stuart at 7:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Many couples are now deferring becomeing parents and instead opt for getting a mortgage, travelling and preparing a nest egg before junior arrives. The reason: the economic cost of passing up double wages and living on one income.

How do you do it?

Well, if you're reading this for the first time scratching your head and pondering this very question understand that you're not the first. And you most certainly won't be the last couple to face this dilemma. It's a big decision and you are probably already adding up all the creature comforts (the daily latte, magazine subscriptions, 2-door coupe) that are going to be side-lined.

But it doesn't have to be all bad! Reducing the working hours of one partner can free up some more lifestyle choices as well. Holidays are easier to juggle (albeit harder to pay for), socialising time is freed up and odd jobs around the house can be accomplished without spending weekends rushing around.

If you planning on living on one income in the near future you might want to peruse the 5 point Survival Kit.

Continue reading "5 point survival kit for living on one income" »

Posted by Stuart at 10:04 AM | Permalink

This weekend marks the end of term and the beginning of school holidays (I can hear the cheers in the background). And while the kids are excited and enthused with the prospect of having a couple weeks off, many parents start to bite their nails terrified of what the holidays will cost the budget.

If your family has decided to stay home over the holidays and save some money then to spend a heap of it entertaining the children seems counterproductive. Yet once the common "I'm bored" comment begins to surface we can easily shelve our money-saving ideals for the sake of some peace and quiet.

So what can children do to keep them entertained without costing a small fortune. Firstly, it depends on what age your children are and secondly what time of the year the school holidays fall in. Let's start with the first variant.

Continue reading "Frugal school holiday money saving tips" »

Posted by Stuart at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

It seems that every new piece of technology that arrives on the scene has the enhanced ability to save us money. We can buy an iPod and download tunes at cheaper prices than buying the CD replacement equivalent (which BTW replaced our now defunct audio tape collection, which also superseded our LP and EP collections).

Continuing the example, the iPod can store anywhere between 1000 and 5000 songs depending on the size of the hard-drive, which of course depends on how much you're willing to spend. But, will an iPod be all that I need 5-10 years from now.

As a teenager, the SONY Walkman was the biggest thing since sliced bread and every teen hankered after it. Today you can pick them up for less than $5 at a garage sale and the audio tapes they played will probably be included in the deal.

Technology is moving at such a fast rate with every consumer chasing the next big item that will change the comfort levels of their own lives. It wasn't that long ago that the 5¼in. storage disk was replaced by the 3½in. disks. My new computer doesn't even have a slot for the 3½'s.

Which brings me to the dilemma facing some students in the web report, "High Schoolers Pick Web Yearbook". Teenagers are turning to the web to store their yearbook photos and therefore hopefully save $70. Makes a great amount of sense but what if the technology has changed so much when they hold their 25-year school reunion the pictures are no longer accessible.

It's possible. Why do you think so many companies are now popping up offering to convert your VHS movies onto DVD. It wasn't that long ago those VHS movies were being created from Super 8 reels.

And what do you think the cost of all this transferring to the next form of technology is costing?

Continue reading "Will technology actually save us money?" »

Posted by Stuart at 7:20 AM | Permalink

According to Marco at mysharetrading.com, Warren Buffett's set to donate a vast portion or his fortune, $54 billion to be exact, to charity.

I may have been a little hasty a while ago when I posted this article accusing the man of being a tight-fisted twat but if his frugality has a purpose far greater than his own needs and influence then Mr Buffett you need a big pat on the back.

I am intrigued though that the two richest men in the world, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have decided to step away from their companies and begin to help those in need. Why is this? Have they just become aware of the world's disenfranchised nations or are they sensing that there is more to life than power and money?

Whatever the reason, it's a great outcome for those living in the poorest nations and should be celebrated and embraced by other world powers. Let's look after those who can't look after themselves.

Posted by Stuart at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I am still yet to ascertain the wisdom in saving mobs of money only to bestow it on others after your death, however I'm sure that if I were a recipient I wouldn't be making too many waves about it. Two women on opposite sides of the globe have performed such an action in the past few months.

The first frugal endowment came from an 96 year old English woman who shocked her family when she bequeathed nearly £11million to her nieces and nephews. She had lived a very simple life and her only luxury possesions were a £2500 jewellery collection and a Picasso etching worth £2000.

Her friends and family were staggered that she had horded that amount of money without spending it on herself or tothers during her lifetime. The reason; she didn't want to be treated differently.

The second bequest came from a 90 year old public school teacher who gave more than $1million dollars to a Milwaukee college and established a $440,000 scholarship fund at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a fund at the West Allis Public Library.

Marian Breskvar had amassed her fortune through frugal investing and had not lived life of luxury either.

It astounds me that some people are like this. While I wouldn't need to have a Porsche in the driveway to feel content with life, I would probably consider it if I had these ladies wealth. While being frugal should be a quality that is taught and respected, hording wealth should not.

These women's money had been tied up for such a long time, both of them were 90+, and could have done more good in the community earlier than saving for the final exit. Each to their own, but that's my view...

Posted by Stuart at 8:01 AM | Permalink

Taking a vacation is paramount to your wellbeing whether it be a trip overseas or just lounging around your favourite summer retreat. Downtime for humans is just as important as it is for machinery.

I once read a fable about two woodcutters. One wouldn't sharpen his axe as it became unusably blunt the more he chopped with it while the other would regularly stop for breaks and rehone his blade. At the end of the day, the woodcutter who stopped regularly to maintain his axe had cut considerably more wood then the one who just kept going.

We can often think it's easier to just keep going but downtime is valuable as it helps us reset our focus and gives us more motivation to do the things we do.

Deb and I plan to take a month of and walk, or cycle, our way around Italy (this won't happen until the family is off our hands - long-term goal!). While it's a way off I still like to dream and think how this vacation could work and what are the resources we will need to achieve it.

So I figured that if it could be done on the cheap then we should try and calculate ways to do it now. I read this article at About.com where the author, James Martin, presented a list of 12 frugal tips for vacationing around Europe. These are all good tips but I thought there were a few more that could be made so I've included his 12 and added a few of my own.

Continue reading "Taking a frugal European Vacation" »

Posted by Stuart at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Unless you've been residing in a cave of late, or you've just crawled out from beneath a rock, chances are you will have noticed that fuel prices have been increasing. While you have no control over the price at the bowser you do have some control over how you use it. This energy source is only going to increase so without taking the drastic step of converting to a hybrid vehicle and putting yourself under some more financial pressure there are ways to be frugal with fuel.

Continue reading "Frugal fuel tips" »

Posted by Stuart at 9:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I hope you read the fine print.

In many of today's credit card application contracts there is reference to a set of terms should you default on a payment. You may start out on a low interest rate but find, by missing a payment, you will end up converting to the default interest rate - usually 20-30% higher than you were initially paying. There's nothing new about this practice yet there are still many credit card users who are unaware of this policy because they don't read the fine print carefully.

However, this little nuance is minor compared to what is being defined as the Universal Default clause. This clause states that if you miss making a payment to ANYONE that reports on your credit history your interest rate will immediately convert to the default rate.

Take this in for a moment.

You could have faithfully used your credit card, making payments as and when they fall due yet you miss a payment on your telephone bill that is reported to the credit reporting agencies and immediately your credit card institution hikes the interest rate. And they're well within their rights to do so.

For anyone who is looking to accept a really low interest rate for a new credit card make sure you read through the contract and understand all the fine print.

Source: Bill Burt "'Universal default': Lenders gang up on late payment"

Posted by Stuart at 7:25 AM | Permalink

Imagine paying a $20,000 debt in 5 years with only a $22,000 annual income. Apparently this is what Tawra Kellam did after seeing her mother raise two children as a single parent on less than $500 per month.

These two frugal champions have now published a book "Dining on a Dime Cook Book" and operate a highly regarded website www.livingonadime.com.

In this article, "Think thrifty: save yourself from spending" the writer explains some of their great tips on saving. Wise advice such as reducing the amount of drinks the families buy to cleaning up the kitchen in the morning which prevents your psyche from wimping out and ordering take-away at dinner. They're not coupon pushers and actually advise that these methods don't actually save your family money.

They recommend implementing one change at a time and being successful with that change before introducing another. These great tips could help your family back on the road to financial recovery.

Posted by Stuart at 7:21 AM | Permalink

Is there anyone...anyone at all who is also more than mildly disturbed by rising fuel costs? Why is it that every time I drive past the service station the price for fuel has escalated quicker than my Adsense earnings. It is getting tougher and tougher to keep my car on the road and yet it seems that alternatives to the oil crisis are not being sourced. Why? Do I need to stop driving my car?

This article in the Patriot News highlighted the depth of the dilemma society is now facing.

Americans [Australians too] have begun to make lifestyle changes in order to maintain some sanity. Saving energy is one thing but to be forced to carpool/vanpool, walk to work or practice frugal driving habits because we can't afford gas is ridiculous.

I've thought about ways to beat rising fuel costs like cycling to work, car pooling with friends and I've even contemplated buying a scooter. But I can't help thinking that there's more that could be done by the power's that be.

One example is that in Australia our fuel is heavily taxed. I have no qualms with the excise going to fund better roads but I'm concerned that with the rising oil price these taxes will fund better surpluses instead.

I also wonder about mining companies who tap oil and leave it to sit. They do this to control supply therefore controlling prices as well. Rising fuel costs are not a problem to them, in fact it's what they are after.

So, while us humble day-to-day people struggle to fill our cars with fuel those who could do something about it won't. Why? Because they're greedy.

Posted by Stuart at 5:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The King of Bling Bling, rapper LL Cool J is urging fans to be financially responsible.

The platinum-selling rap star spoke Saturday at the Hip Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment. It mixed stars with financial experts to offer advice on home ownership and personal finance.

"The biggest misconception probably comes from the hip-hop community that the money lasts forever," LL Cool J said. "You have to do the right thing with it."

Fellow chart-topping rapper Nas said it was important to teach young fans about financial responsibility. "We've got to think about growing old in this game."

Reposted from Rappers recommend being frugal

Posted by Stuart at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Every year the ball (prom) rolls around and thousands of teenagers try to outdo each other on the one night that seems to make more sense than cramming for end of year exams. Some will hire the expensive tuxedo's and spend a small fortune on a gown (destined to spend years kept in moth balls) and they'll arrive in a standard stretch limousine.

Then there are the funky new generation prom-goers who are stepping out in inexpensive style. And they've got money left in the bank. These frugal hipsters are finding alternative ways to shine on the night of nights without racking up loans or robbing their piggy banks.

Saving money and still going to the ball as a standout is not a hard exercise. Teenagers are now willing to have friends sew up a funky new dress for a fraction of the cost. The guys are happy to shop at recycled clothing stores searching for an inexpensive "Napoleon Dynamite" suit and are saving a ton of moolah as well. Even accessorising has become more fun and frugal and dressing them up cheaply.

What's more, these teenagers are bypassing the traditional limo by arriving in friends hotted up cars, custom designed trailers sporting blaring stereos and smoke machines, and even the odd restored fire engine. In fact, teens are putting more effort into their entrance than they do with their clothing.

If only they would save their money rather than spending it on alcohol for the after parties, it would end up as a very inexpensive event.

Check out this article that inspired the post.

Posted by Stuart at 8:12 AM | Permalink

Being frugal is all about saving your resources. Not just money, but time and also the use (and abuse) of your own equipment and resources. Is it not?

I was bumbling my way through a few random feeds looking for something I could maliciously devour where possibly common sense may have flown south for the winter. When I'm in one those moods, it seems that nothing is sacred and everything lends itself to a satirical slaughter. Not to disappoint, I find myself tempted by the headline Frugal Sunburn Remedies.

Now what's a guy who's looking for a quick laugh to do with a heading like that?

I've always found that salt rubbed in with a little vinegar has been a great remedy for sunburn - unless of course the person with sunburn is me. Then I try more comforting ways of reducing the pain and obvious self-affliction. Solutions like; sitting in front of the rear-projection large screen TV on a bed of sliced cucumbers wearing only the thong you received as a joke from your last staff Christmas party, works well.

If your mother's visiting for the week you might consider something a little more tasteful. Try swapping the cucumber for cold roasted eggplant.

Okay. Enough already. I don't have any real frugal ideas for sunburn apart form this one. DONT' GET SUNBURNT!!!

Posted by Stuart at 11:14 PM | Permalink

Is personal finance an issue that can be taught or do you just pick it up along the journey of life? The 'school-of-hard-knocks" is where many seem to sharpen their teeth on fiscal matters but is that the right playground for our society to be maintaining?

I've just read another article Back to personal-finance basics on a school system hoping to influence young students in money matters. I'm bouyed by the optimism but I struggle with the pressures that you can't teach kids that will inevitably inch their way into their lives.

For instance, here's a big one: Will they teach them that staying together in a relationship and working hard at it to make it successful makes better financial sense that separating years down the track? What about those ridiculous purchasing terms of "Pay nothing now - 4 years interest free" - how do you teach kids when they're mates all have the latest Plasma that delayed gratification is a better deal?

I'm all for education, but education taught as theory only seems to me to be the biggest waste of time. You would never train a doctor purely from manuals and tutorials. They need experience with the tools of their trade - bodies and scalpels. The same needs to happen with teaching kids about personal financial skills. They need to somehow deal with the pressures of this world in a simulated environment that's as close to real as possible.

Where can this happen? Where it should happen - in the home.

Posted by Stuart at 6:24 AM | Permalink

Have plastic - will shop! Tired of seeing those credit card statements roll in each month and find that you're kicking yourself for some of the purchases you made on that list. Then there's the usual discussion with your spouse concerning the relevance of such transactions like "I don't remember ordering anything from Danoz this month?", "A Mars bar, you put a Mars bar on the card?"

They say hindsight is the greatest teacher you just don't want to have to use it at the end of every month. So, rub some ointment into those bruises, lift your head up from the ground and let's apply some strategy to next month's purchases.

Continue reading "9 tips to curb you credit card spending" »

Posted by Stuart at 6:50 AM | Permalink

Sprite coined the phrase in their marketing campaign in 2001 starring the NBA's Grant Hill and seemingly it's been the reality for a generation, or two.

We base image as the number one advertisement of who we are and what we mean to society. If you're making a lot of money it's unlikely that you're still driving that Datsun 120Y you had when you started out at college or university. Datsun 120Y's scream "Poverty-stricken-teenager-that-can-hardly-afford-the-fuel." This is not a great image if you're a real estate agent or financial planner trying to woo your next client.

So, is "Image" everything? Could I honestly look at my last 5 purchases and say they had nothing to do with forming and reiterating who I think I am?

Continue reading "Image is Everything: Obey Your Thirst" »

Posted by Stuart at 3:25 PM | Permalink

If you can save money on anything, insurance would have to be at the top of the list. If you don't have it - you'll find you probably needed it. If you do - you'll probably never use it. For most consumers insurance is money that could be better spent elsewhere so if you can save in this area you're doing you budget a huge favour.

This article outlined 4 great ways to save some more on your car insurance premiums.

Continue reading "4 tips for reducing your car insurance premiums" »

Posted by Stuart at 6:48 AM | Permalink

My wife gave me a home brew kit for Christmas, which is what I've wanted for some time. I've made two batches, a Cooper's Lager and some non-al ginger beer for the kids, and both were successful. And while I've drunk more beer in the last month or two than I have in my whole lifetime, I love the fact that you can enjoy the process and save money.

At a $1.19 per bottle (cheaper if I used my own malt recipes) how could you save money and drink bought beer. And the taste? As good as, if not better, than it's marketed counterpart.

Posted by Stuart at 6:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Most people know to buy tickets well ahead of their planned trip as the price skyrockets closer to the date they need to fly. So what does the average Joe do when they need tickets in a hurry but they don't want to pay full-fare?

Imagine your mother, who happens to live interstate, has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness and has been given days to live. Or a business opportunity has just sprung up and requires you to travel to another part of the world.

Saving money on spontaneous air-travel seems ludicrous to most but is possible. The door opens....and in steps the consolidator...

Posted by Stuart at 5:56 AM | Permalink