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Besides being delicious (sorry, vegetarians and vegans), meat, fish and poultry are important sources of protein in our diet. Unfortunately, they can often be quite expensive, and too much meat can negatively impact your health.

Luckily, there other ways to get protein, and many of them are healthier and far less expensive. Read More …

Here comes a new season and with it some terrific travel opportunities.  As kids head back to school, the number of people traveling declines. That's great news for those that want to take a little or big trip, because you'll pay less for your vacation. Start looking for special savings at most travel sites for autumn travel. Read More …

Buying natural aluminum free deodorant can be pricey.  In the past, I've purchased Tom's of Maine deodorant and it runs at least $5 for one stick.  I have found that I can save money and eliminate chemicals that are introduced into my body by making my own deodorant with my deodorant recipe.  It contains all natural ingredients (in fact, you could eat it it's so pure!) and smells wonderful when you use it.  I have friends that are runners that use it and love it.  Read More …

Summer is coming to an end and most of you are prepping your kids for back to school. I can't believe it's already mid-August! Sure, there are lots of back to school sales, but don't forget to make sure your kids' immunizations are up to date. Keeping and maintaining their health is of utmost importance. So, when and what shots do your kids need? I'll break it down for you. Read More …

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This week Comcast announced plans to roll out a $10 per month Internet service for low income families. But don't be too quick to celebrate--this service is limited to families with children who receive free lunches through the National School Lunch Program. You could be as broke as can be, but if you're childless, you're out of luck. Read More …

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Have you ever thought about how you prioritize vacation expenses? Do you spend hour after hour searching for the cheapest airfare? Do you choose the early-morning flight and leave long before you're usually awake because it's $20 less than the mid-morning flight? Do you shove everything into carry-on bags to save on checked baggage fees?

Many of us can answer yes to all of the above; however, as soon as we arrive at our destinations, we make a beeline to the nearest restaurant. "I've earned this expense," we say--and it's true. Vacations are so rare that we need a chance to relax and not worry about money. Sure, our eyes may widen for half a second when the bill comes, but hey, we saved $30 on the luggage fee. This food is worth the extra bucks!

However, when you buy meal after expensive meal, the expenditures add up quickly, and suddenly you're hundreds of dollars over your vacation budget. Read More …

We've all bought something that we think we're going to love, but just ends up in the back of our makeup drawers or in the trash. If you're a beauty junkie, you're probably always buying, re-arranging, and tossing out products. One way to stretch out your beauty budget is to make the things you buy go a long way.

Here are some alternative uses for your old or unwanted beauty products: Read More …

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At the grocery store, we often pay extra for convenience when it may be just as easy to do it for ourselves at home. Here are just a few simple cost-saving projects to consider before heading out to the store. Read More …

Caring for pets can be an added expense many families can't handle.  We have two Labrador retrievers and sometimes when I think about how much money they cost us it depresses me.  Then I realize how much joy they bring into our lives, and I realize for us the cost is worth it.  We do try to make our pet owning expenses as small and as eco-friendly as possible. 

Here are some things we do to help reduce their environmental impact and keep our pet budget under control: Read More …

A recent update of the USDA dietary guidelines showed that healthy eating costs $380 more a year per person--or $7.28 more per week. According to the new nutritional guidelines, aptly named My Plate,  Americans are being asked to consume more potassium, fiber, vitamin D and calcium. Last week I wrote about five easy and frugal ways to increase your dietary fiber intake--and really, it's not that hard. Eating healthy does not have to be expensive. If you think about, you can cut out junk food and replace it with healthier fresh foods and you really wouldn't be upping your grocery bill by that much. Read More …

We know, we know. It's hard enough to cook for yourself, and now you're supposed to cook for Fido, too? But just as with making your own food for you, there are many benefits to switching over to homemade treats for your dog. You'll save money, control the ingredients your dog eats, and be able to customize them for your dog's size. Plus, it can be a lot of fun! Read More …

Ever have that sneaking suspicion that you're paying too much for the products and services you need to make your life more efficient and comfortable? You're like millions of us who feel that there are bargains out there if you can only find them--but who has the time? Maybe during your lunch hour you call your credit card company, for example, to ask for a better rate, but if they say "no," then what? Your schedule is so packed that you aren't able to sift through every credit card plan to find what works best for you. You wouldn't even know where to start!

It's impossible--or is it? Read More …