In a recent article by the Los Angeles Times, a survey showed that healthcare costs are rising while benefits are shrinking. Health premiums have risen 153.5% since 2002 which is five times the inflation rate in California. And on top of that, employers offering health insurance has dropped to 63% from 73%. In fact, 46.3 million Americans under the age of 65 do NOT have health insurance. These are scary statistics, but there are ways you can go about managing your health care without health insurance.
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Want to eat healthier? Lose weight? Save money? Get rid of those annoying pests around the house by living cleaner?

Okay, that last one probably isn't on the resolution list for most people, but by concentrating on just one thing, you can come closer to accomplishing all of these goals. If it wasn't obvious from the title, I'm talking about working on making your pantry better by taking just a few simple steps. Read More …

All great explorers need a few key essentials when traversing rough terrain or exploring hidden pockets of remote nature. The same is true for any avid video game fanatic diving headfirst into the waters of a new year that promises to be a big one for gaming worldwide. Here now are the tips you'll need to not lose your wallet or your cool when deciding what games to escape into this coming year.
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If you're into saving money, chances are you opted for a small living space to keep your rent low. Unfortunately, that also means you have little extra storage space. Those confined to tiny efficiencies or studios have an even greater challenge. However, a number of products and strategies will help you to maximize storage space. Read More …

Happy New Year! Each year, millions of Americans make New Year resolutions to lose weight, stop smoking, and end bad habits. Many of these resolutions go by the wayside before we even celebrate Valentine's Day. For 2012 make some resolutions that are easier to stick to, and will benefit your personal style all year long! Read More …

I read the news this fall about the floods in Thailand with about the same level of interest that I suspect you all gave it. Natural disasters always make me sad for the victims, but unless I knew someone in the area it usually slips from my brain pretty quickly afterward. The thing that I failed to realize was that Thailand is a major manufacturing center for a lot of products that come straight here to the US to be sold. Read More …

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to ramp up for the other big celebration: New Year's Eve. We know that restaurants and bars take advantage of this holiday by raising prices on dinners and drinks and calling them "package deals" Some people can afford it and are willing to go all out on December 31st, but others are looking for something low-key and low-cost.

If you're in the latter group, I've got some ways that you can celebrate NYE without breaking the bank. Read More …

Outlet shopping can save you a lot of money, especially if you have your eye on a designer piece that is priced out of your budget at a boutique. Despite the potential for savings, however, there are also pitfalls to outlet shopping that you need to watch out for.

Here are seven tips to make the most of your outlet shopping experience. Read More …

So it's my third wedding anniversary tonight. We got married just two days after Christmas in a lovely snow covered little chapel in New England. It was beautiful, but now we are stuck celebrating our anniversary every year after already blowing our money on presents for everyone else. And so we usually have very little to spend on each other.
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Booking an escape can be just a click away--for most---when choosing which airline will carry them to their destination (though some admittedly will still opt to phone in a reservation). Whatever route you prefer to secure a seat on the airline of choice, knowing which carrier offers the cheapest fees can amount to being a great money saver. Today, airlines tack on fees unbeknownst to many flyers. What can at first appear to be a cheap ticket, when fees are attached, can prove to be a pricey purchase. Read More …

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This is my favorite time of year!  December is a busy month full of time spent with family and friends.  People go out of their way to spread a little extra holiday cheer.  And homes are decorated beautifully.  There are so many beautiful trees and lights.

And while some people are sad to see Christmas end, I'm always excited about the thought of the new year.  2012 is just around the corner.  It's a time for fresh beginnings and new starts!  It's a time to turn your dreams into realities.

This week, my husband and I will sit down and create our budget for 2012.  We'll assess 2011, figure out what worked, what didn't work, and what we can do better.  One of the items that is now a must in our budget is our home decor/home improvement budget.

This is one of the areas that people often overlook in their budget, especially when they have limited funds.  Amazingly enough, it's one of those areas where a little money can go a long way.  By setting aside a little money each month, you can transform your home into a place you love to be.

Here are some great ways to make your home look a little fresher without spending a ton of money. Read More …

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We've all made them; New Year's resolutions can be a good way to refocus, recommit and restructure our lives. Unfortunately, they can also be a spending trap, embraced by companies to sell you something you may or may not need. Before you determine that there is something about yourself that you need to fix--and a product that will help you get there faster--examine the truth about your personal resolutions. Read More …