Budgeting

New report shows the price of goods purchased online has dropped

Scripps News | January 11, 2023

December marked the fourth consecutive month that items purchased online cost less, according to data released by Adobe Analytics. According to Adobe Analytics, prices for goods purchased online in December were 1.6% cheaper than in 2021. While groceries continue to see steep cost increases, purchasing electronics, toys and appliances was cheaper. The data indicated that the …

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A white bathroom with a framed mirror and patterned shower curtain.

8 ways to refresh your bathroom on a budget

Marie Rossiter | September 28, 2022

The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.You want your bathroom to go from meh to magnificent. But your budget may not have the …

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Lottery player fills out Mega Millions ticket

What should you do if you win the massive Mega Millions drawing

Scripps National Desk | July 25, 2022

Mega Millions is expected to have its third-largest jackpot ever on July 26, reaching at least $790 million. While your odds of winning might be one in over 300 million, the prospect of winning such a large jackpot might have you wondering what should you do if you win the jackpot. According to State Farm, the …

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20 ways to cut expenses quickly amid recession fears

Tricia Goss | June 16, 2022

Americans are struggling with rent hikes, increased housing costs, staggering gas prices and overall record inflation. Many people fear another recession. Whether a recession is on its way or the economy will bounce back sooner rather than later remains to be seen. However, there are many steps you can take to begin cutting costs right …

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Groceries in shopping cart; shopper in background

USDA predicts higher grocery prices by the end of 2022

Newsy | April 1, 2022

The United States Department of Agriculture released its food price outlook for 2022, which predicts the cost of groceries will continue to rise. Consumers could be spending up to 4% more for food by the end of the year. The USDA says grocery and supermarket food prices are already 8.6% higher now than they were …

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Amazon sign on building in Santa Clara, Calif.

Amazon raising prices for Prime membership

Kaitlin Gates | February 4, 2022

The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.If it seems like prices are going up everywhere right now, you’re right. From entertainment on Netflix …

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Roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain

Man pays off student loans by surviving on Six Flags meals for 7 years

Kathleen St. John | November 8, 2021

We’ve seen a lot of interesting ways to save money, but this one might be the most extreme — and potentially nauseating, from a certain point of view. A man named Dylan, an electrical engineer in Southern California, devised an ingenious scheme to pay down his student loans as quickly as possible: He signed up …

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Why used car prices are so high right now

NewsChannel5 | June 15, 2021

The chip shortage impacting new vehicles is causing used car prices to soar across the country, as well. Tom Seyfried, the owner of Genesis Auto Brokers in Brentwood, Tenn., said during the pandemic factories closed so they didn’t need chips. As people return to work, the demand for them is back. “Even if they’re making …

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Man wearing mask shopping in grocery store

USDA predicts grocery prices will continue to rise in 2021

Kaitlin Gates | June 10, 2021

If you’ve been to a grocery store lately, filled up your gas tank or tried to buy lumber for a project, you’re well aware that a lot of things are more expensive since the calendar flipped from 2020 to 2021. Even toilet paper, one of the hottest commodities people were panic buying a year ago, …

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What To Buy In October—And What To Skip

The List | October 9, 2020

Even in the time of COVID, there are deals to be had! Don’t Waste Your Money’s own John Matarese of shares everything you should buy in October, and what you should hold off on. Clothes The first thing to add to your shopping list is clothing. “October is a great time to buy fall clothing …

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What to know about the federal payroll tax deferral and what to do if you can’t opt out

Marie Rossiter | September 15, 2020

The temporary payroll tax deferral went into effect on Sept. 1, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to see more money in your paychecks this month. Some companies are opting out of the deferral because they’re worried employees will be burdened with footing double the tax bill after the first of the year to …

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Grocery shopping is more expensive due to COVID-19

Marie Rossiter | August 8, 2020

Grocery shopping has never been a favorite pastime of mine. It’s time-consuming and I usually try to keep to a strict budget. Over the past few months, I noticed our grocery bills were going up and I thought I was overreacting when I started to complain to my family about our eating habits. It turns …

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Amazon Prime members are complaining about delays during the pandemic

John Matarese | June 13, 2020

The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.If you are an Amazon Prime member, you may have noticed something different during the COVID pandemic. …

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You might notice higher prices for beef and pork during your next grocery run

John Matarese | April 24, 2020

Grocery store supplies remain tight, with items from Tylenol to chicken in short supply. And it appears beef and pork could soon be added to the list. But at the same time we are finding less on the shelves, prices keep creeping up and we are paying a lot more for less. Remember when eggs …

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Dermatologist-recommended anti-aging products you can buy on Amazon for less than $50

Tricia Goss | March 2, 2020

The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.Protecting your skin from the effects of aging is a practical, comfortable and even enjoyable way to …

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Toyota's New Prius Hybrid Cars To Go On Sale In October

These hybrid car owners are angry over new fees and taxes

John Matarese | July 22, 2019

Buying a hybrid or electric car used to get you a tax break, back in the Obama era. Now, though, it’s just the opposite in several states, where hybrids are being hit with new taxes. Across the country, states are asking them to pay new fees for road upkeep as lawmakers say these cars don’t …

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What to buy and what to skip at Aldi

John Matarese | April 29, 2019

Aldi has shaken up the grocery scene the past couple of years, moving from a small retailer of cheap no-name products to a major threat to big supermarkets. The German grocer is expanding into a 2,000-store deep discount chain across the U.S. So if one has opened near you, you may want to know the …

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Disney Announced The Details On Its Upcoming Streaming Service, Disney Plus—Including How Much It Will Cost

Augusta Statz | April 12, 2019

If you were on the fence about adding yet another subscription service to your running list of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, this news might make you think about adding one more. In a presentation that took place on the Disney lot in California, Robert A. Iger, Disney’s chief executive, unveiled Disney Plus, announcing …

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The ultimate guide to saving for college

Jessica Sillers | April 5, 2019

As a parent of a 3-year-old, I’m just trying to get through my daughter’s current tantrum phase — figuring out the best way to save for college feels all but impossible. Even though I started saving before she was a year old, it’s tough to shake the anxiety over whether I’m saving enough. So I …

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These Cute Napkin Drawings Make Complicated Financial Concepts Easy To Understand

Kate Streit | April 3, 2019

If you’re anything like me, the mere mention of complicated-sounding financial terms like “liquidity” or “internal rate of return,” and even more simple ones like “budget” or “mortgage,” make you feel intimidated. If you haven’t studied economics or feel like you’re the type of person who doesn’t have a head for numbers, it doesn’t have …

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These 5 Podcasts Will Help You Pay Off Your Debt

Brittany Anas | March 11, 2019

About eight out of 10 people in the United States have debt, whether it’s in the form of student loans, credit cards, a mortgage or unpaid bills. So while debt itself is fairly universal, varying strategies exist for how to tackle it. Take for instance the debt snowball method lauded by radio show host Dave …

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How free video games can cost hundreds of dollars

John Matarese | February 12, 2019

If you have kids between 4 and 14, it probably seems like they always want a new video game. Many times they’ll say, “But mom, it’s free!” But caution: That free game can end up very costly, because of a catch many parents don’t quite understand. The days of just driving Mario Kart, or playing …

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Why every trip to Target seems to end up costing $100 or more

John Matarese | October 17, 2018

As the holiday season approaches, many of us will be heading to Target to buy gifts. But have you ever noticed that when you go into Target to buy a couple of $10 items you end up spending $75 or more? We’ve all done it: we have walked into Target for detergent and walked out with …

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Existing Home Sales And Prices Hit Record High

Have You Been Putting Off Repairs To Your Home? You’re Not Alone, According To A New Survey

Kaitlin Gates | April 19, 2018

While buying your own home is an incredible feeling, owning it can be pretty stressful. Aside from monthly bills, the upkeep alone can be a lot of work. And we’re not just talking mowing the lawn or shoveling your driveway. Sometimes, it can feel like as soon as you fix one thing, there’s something else …

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13 Last-Ditch Ways to Avoid Being Broke in Retirement

Nerd Wallet | April 11, 2018

There’s a common anxiety dream that involves walking into a classroom to discover it’s the day of finals and you haven’t cracked a book all semester. Then there’s the waking dream a lot of Americans have — the one where you’re getting ready to retire but haven’t saved enough money to cover expenses if you …

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Trying To Get Out Of Debt? There’s A Social Network For That

Natalie Gould Tomko | April 5, 2018

Debt isn’t your typical cocktail conversation, but it’s an important conversation nonetheless. About 80 percent of Americans have some form of debt, be it credit cards, car loans, student loans or a mortgage. So with this many of us in debt, why don’t we talk about it? In a society where there’s a social network …

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66% of young people have nothing saved for retirement

CNN | March 7, 2018

Most Millennials are not on track when it comes to saving for retirement. That’s no surprise. After paying bills, rent and making student loan payments, there’s often not much leftover each month for young people, many of whom entered the workforce at a time of stagnant wages and high unemployment. But a new report shows …

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This is one family’s plan for paying off $60,000 without sacrificing their lifestyle

Marie Rossiter | February 26, 2018

How does a married couple who earns more than $100,000 a year live most of the time on a paycheck-to-paycheck basis? It sounds kind of crazy, but I can tell you from personal experience it happens more often than you think. A debt-driven lifestyle has been robbing us of our peace of mind for years. …

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How 12 Olympians Pinched Pennies to Chase Gold

Nerd Wallet | February 20, 2018

We’re used to hearing stories of triumphant Olympians overcoming all odds to achieve their dreams. But for many, staying afloat financially is a lesser-known hurdle as they ski, skate, jump, flip and twirl their way to gold. NerdWallet talked to athletes competing in the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea—and one former Olympian—about all things …

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Disney ticket prices are going up—this is how you can save money

Kaitlin Gates | February 13, 2018

If you thought a trip to Disney World was already expensive, just wait—prices have gone up at both Walt Disney World in Orlando and at Disneyland in California. According to the Associated Press, “value” days at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will now cost $109 for adults and $103 for children, which is $2 increase. During non-value days, a visit …

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Eager Retailers Greet Crowds Of Shoppers On 'Black Friday'

The average American racked up more than $1,000 of debt over the holidays

Chelsea Davis | January 2, 2018

Between buying gifts, traveling and hosting parties, the holiday season is expensive. So, it’s not surprising that many people end up putting holiday purchases on credit cards. This happens year after year, but this season collective spending on cards increased. In fact, Americans accumulated an average of $1,054 of debt this holiday season, which is around five …

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How the ‘envelope method’ can help you finally get your finances in order

Kate Streit | January 2, 2018

The products and services mentioned below were selected independent of sales and advertising. However, Don't Waste Your Money may receive a small commission from the purchase of any products or services through an affiliate link to the retailer's website.More and more these days, we rely on credit and debit cards to pay for everything. I, …

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How this man paid off his $86,000 mortgage in two years

Marie Rossiter | December 24, 2017

For those who have one, a mortgage is likely your biggest expense. What’s more, promising the bank you’ll make large monthly payments for up to 30 years is a long-term commitment. The more time we take to pay off that mortgage, the more money that comes out of our pockets, thanks to interest. Journalist and …

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Buying This One Grocery Item May Help You Stick To Your Budget Every Week

Brittany Anas | December 19, 2017

Almost every Sunday, I meal prep. And, by that, I mean I purchase a roasted chicken. If I’m feeling really ambitious, I make one of my own by following this recipe that calls for dijon mustard and thyme. Bonus: When I roast a chicken at home, the aroma fill my kitchen and my food-obsessed Boston …

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Emergency Fund Calculator: Use this tool to save

Brittany Anas | December 12, 2017

Let’s start with some good news: Nearly three-quarters of Americans have an emergency savings fund to pay for unexpected expenses, like a medical bill or day-to-day living expenses in the case of a layoff. That’s the best rate of emergency savers since 2011 when BankRate started its poll. Of those with emergency savings funds, 31 …

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Still Figuring Out Your Holiday Budget? Here’s How Much People Are Spending This Year

Jennifer Nied | December 11, 2017

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It also may be the most expensive time of the year. The latest survey on holiday spending from the National Retail Federation confirmed it. According to the survey, holiday spending in the US is expected to grow to a whopping $682 billion this year. That means consumers …

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3 copycat restaurant meals that can help you save tons of cash

Brittany Anas | December 6, 2017

Whenever I need to reign in my budget—whether that’s to save for the holidays or put aside money for a vacation—the first category of my spending that hits the proverbial chopping block is “dining out.” According to the most recent consumer expenditure report published by the the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average household spends …

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8 tips for living below your means without depriving yourself

Nerd Wallet | December 5, 2017

Spending less than you earn is one sure path to financial security. But that doesn’t have to mean a spartan lifestyle. You can still enjoy yourself while living small. Focus on the benefits. Having a financial buffer makes you the boss of your money, instead of someone who scrambles until payday. It gives you the …

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3 apps that will help you save money

CNN | December 4, 2017

If you’re like most Americans, you’re not saving enough. While there have been some improvements over the past few years in Americans’ household savings, we’re still among the worst savers in the industrialized world. Around 44 percent of adults say they could not cover an emergency expense costing $400, or would cover it by selling …

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3 tips to avoid going broke this holiday season

Nerd Wallet | December 1, 2017

The holiday season is supposed to be about joy, giving and spending time with our favorite people. But just as you might pack on a few extra pounds over the holidays, you might pack on some extra debt, too. On average, Americans who plan to buy for friends and loved ones this holiday season aim …

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4 tips to stop the overspending cycle

CNN | November 30, 2017

What is the best way to control spending? No matter what I do to control spending and pay down my credit card, I always feel like I come back to the same place where I had started with the balance. Having an authorized user is one problem but most of the expenses are just food, …

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Trader Joe's Open New Store In Miami Area

9 Secrets About Trader Joe’s You Probably Didn’t Know

Carina Wolff | October 24, 2017

Trader Joe’s is not like most regular grocery stores. In addition to their affordable produce and wide array of health-food options, they also carry their own line of unique products like their “Everything But The Bagel Seasoning” and their infamous Cookie Butter that you just can’t find anywhere else. And let’s not forget their Two …

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Suze Orman says you should retire at this age

Kate Streit | October 24, 2017

There’s a lot of advice out there about planning for retirement. You’ve probably heard that you should be saving more and begin putting away money earlier. Whether you’re just getting started in your career, or you can hardly remember a time before you were a part of the workforce, you’ve likely thought about when you …

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Costco Reports Q3 Profits Up 12.3 Percent

A new study confirms: If you’re not shopping at Costco, you’re throwing your money away

Tricia Goss | October 17, 2017

You are likely well aware of Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods. You may have also heard rumors that this merger means lower prices at the natural and organic grocery store chain. However, if you are trying to stretch your grocery shopping budget (and really, who isn’t these days?), you may want to hold off on …

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Hasbro Announces New Monopoly Playing Figure

5 Handy Lessons Monopoly Teaches Us About Money—Without Us Even Realizing It

Brittany Anas | October 17, 2017

I recently got a hefty HOA assessment. My initial thought: “Ugh, this is just like drawing a bad ‘Chance’ card in Monopoly.” Except rather than handing over pastel paper play money to the bank, I had to, you know, pay with real money. Growing up, Monopoly was one of my favorite games. Any time I …

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28 hilarious things your credit card would say if it could talk

Kate Streit | October 12, 2017

If you struggle with your spending habits and/or credit card debt, you’re certainly not alone. Whether it’s that daily latte habit, that exotic vacation we can’t quite afford or online shopping, our credit cards bear the brunt of our less-than-perfect spending habits. While getting your finances in order should be an issue you take seriously, …

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7 effortless ways to save money on Halloween costumes this year

Nerd Wallet | October 11, 2017

If the price tag on the tattered zombie costume at the Halloween store gives you a fright, it’s time to look for ways to shed some of the cost. Here’s how much shoppers are expected to spend on the Oct. 31 holiday, plus ways to trim that amount with money-saving tips. Carving Up The Cost Of Halloween …

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7 Things I Could Be Spending My Money On Instead Of My Kids

Kate Desmond | October 11, 2017

Have you ever thought about the cost of being a parent? No, not the cost to your dignity or to your body. I mean the actual monetary cost. Gasp! Kate, how could you think like that? I know, I know, and believe me, I wouldn’t trade any of the squishy hugs and tender moments with …

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These are the 6 most common majors of the world’s 100 richest people

Haley Otman | October 2, 2017

There are billionaires, and then there are the rest of us. Have you ever wondered what sets some people apart? What sends them straight to the top? What decisions they made along the way to become billionaires? You’re not alone. The folks over at Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment in the U.K. were curious, too, so they …

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