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 …
Continue reading "Man pays off student loans by surviving on Six Flags meals for 7 years"
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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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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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 …
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 …
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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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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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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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 …
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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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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Continue reading "These Cute Napkin Drawings Make Complicated Financial Concepts Easy To Understand"
Are you looking to save some money and simplify your life? You’re not alone: There’s a reason that the TV show “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo,” which teaches viewers how to declutter and downsize our lives, is hugely popular on Netflix. Thanks to Kondo, a Japanese organization expert, people are embracing “less is more” in …
Continue reading "What You Need To Know About The ‘No Buy Challenge’ To Save Money"
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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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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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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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 …
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 …
Continue reading "13 Last-Ditch Ways to Avoid Being Broke in Retirement"
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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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 …
Continue reading "66% of young people have nothing saved for retirement"
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. …
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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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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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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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, …
Continue reading "How the ‘envelope method’ can help you finally get your finances in order"
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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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 …
Continue reading "Buying This One Grocery Item May Help You Stick To Your Budget Every Week"
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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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 …
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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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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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 …
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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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, …
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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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 …
Continue reading "Suze Orman says you should retire at this age"
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 …
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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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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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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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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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 …
Continue reading "These are the 6 most common majors of the world’s 100 richest people"
I was working as a newspaper reporter, earning $38,000 a year when I became dead set on purchasing my very first home. At the time, rent in my bachelorette pad had been going up every year, to the tune of $50 to $125 per month. Meanwhile, my dishwasher was a prop that didn’t actually work …
Continue reading "Exactly how I saved $40,000 for a down payment while earning a $38,000 salary"
For those of you who are still not over the fact that summer is gone for good, we’re right there with you. You can barely wrap your head around drinking a pumpkin spice latte—much less booking a Thanksgiving flight, right? We hate to break it to you, but the sooner you prepare for the upcoming …
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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.It’s hard to give a blanket statement on how to save money, as everyone has different habits, …
Continue reading "17 ways for introverts to make and save money"
How how much should you have saved for retirement today, based on your age? How much should you be saving for retirement each month? Do you have the best credit cards in your wallet, in terms of APR, transfer fees and rewards? Can you or should you pay off your student loan faster? What do …
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income in the United States in 2016 was $59,039. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in the same year, annual expenses averaged $57,311 for American households. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of wiggle room for emergency or other unexpected expenses. If you live in …
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Spending $5 here, $10 there or $20 on an impulse buy or frequent purchase won’t bust your budget—or will it? Seemingly small splurges don’t hurt your financial well-being by themselves, but when you add them up over the course of a year, they can be devastating to your personal finances. If you can find 10 …
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