Hobbies bring a lot of benefit to the daily lives of many people. They give people an opportunity to learn new things, to feel pride at their accomplishments, and to share their hobby with others. For all of their benefits, hobbies can also wreak havoc on a budget. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to try to keep your hobby costs in check. 1. Stock up ...

We spent the emergency fund this week. Not the whole thing, but boy did it feel like it! The first expenditure was actually planned. We needed a new timing belt on our van, to the tune of $600+. Big repairs like that hurt, but it’s better than buying a new car, which is the alternative. Then Monday night, my son needed to go to the emergency room for stitches, ...

Over the last year I’ve realized that not all banks are created equal. I’ve heard from readers and have personally experienced the headaches in dealing with large national banks. I’m sure they’re not all bad, but sometimes it’s just easier to deal with a bank whose top officials are local. I made the switch from Chase to South Valley Bank and Trust last fall, and I haven’t looked back. ...

Many people enjoy gardening for a variety of reasons. Gardening can help you stay active and relieve stress. Spending a part of each day outside in your garden will also allow you to enjoy a little sunshine. And you know you’ll love showering your friends and family with fresh produce or flowers from your garden. We are gearing up for our garden. We’ve been tossing around ideas of what ...

Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching. My kids have made handmade Valentine’s for their friends and we always bake a special dinner in honor of this holiday. I enjoy reading all the money saving tips that others have shared for how they celebrate Valentine’s day. Below, I’ve listed my favorite articles from fellow bloggers who share their thoughts and tips on celebrating the day: Out of Debt Christian Shares some ...

February is a month of birthdays in my family, and I have gifts on the brain. Unfortunately, just a month and a half after Christmas, money is usually tight when all the birthdays hit. I’m always on the lookout for frugal gift ideas, and yesterday a friend and regular reader, Angelsong, reminded me of a wonderful, inexpensive gift: A Personalized Recipe Book! I received one such recipe book from ...

It's way to easy to get mired down in credit card problems. Plenty of people are now ending up in bankruptcy before they're even 25 thanks to credit cards. The allure of easy, invisible cash is strong and the temptation to buy is even stronger. We all want to "keep up with the Joneses", so to speak, and so want all the cool, high tech gadgets that we see on ...

Debt is a word that sends a chill down the spine of many a human being. It's very easy to incur debt but it is very difficult to repay it on time every time. When debts overtake your income and you falter on payments, tension mounts and creditors fall in line to nag you. Only then do you realize the importance of financial planning and proper debt management.When planning fails ...

A Super Bowl Party is great fun for everyone. Two great teams slug it out on the football field. You and your friends get to visit and enjoy each other. And don’t forget the great commercials; sometimes, I think they’re the best part of the whole show. What isn’t so great about hosting a Super Bowl party, however, is the cost. If you go crazy, you could spend a ...

If debt has somehow ruined your peace of mind, and has almost taken over your life, it is high time you do something about it. You need to manage your debt issues before they cause any further harm. The best way to do so is to face it head on instead of ignoring it. If you keep on ignoring your debt problems, they will become even more serious.Therefore, the first ...