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Save Money

Ways to save money, take advantage of discounts, live a frugal lifestyle and be budget friendly. Using online tools and apps to make the most of your checking and savings. Budgeting tools to save money on groceries, utilities and day-to-day living expenses.

9 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays Without Buying Gifts

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Shopping for the Holidays

It’s the holiday season.

Are you done shopping for gifts? Have you even STARTED shopping yet??

Orrrr…….

Will you be shopping for gifts at all??

*Dun dun dunnnnn …….*
(dramatic sound effect)

Would I be a total Scrooge if I suggested you not buy any gifts at all this year?

Lately I’ve been contemplating the things I LOVE about Christmas, aaand the things I hate don’t like quite as much about Christmas.

Things to love:  

  • Memories from when I was a kid
  • The season’s first snowflakes making landfall
  • My two dogs playing in the snow
  • Christmas carols
  • The smell of a real Christmas tree
  • Driving through the neighborhood looking at all the festive holiday lights

Things I could do without:  

  • Pushy, inconsiderate people at the mall
  • Long lines at the grocery store
  • Crowded parking lots
  • Coworkers pushing deadlines onto you at the last minute so they can leave for Christmas vacation
  • Traffic jams
  • People who don’t sneeze into their sleeves
  • Post-Christmas credit card hangover

Now some of the things above cannot be avoided.

You can’t exactly tell your coworker to take their work assignment and shove it up their *ahem* chimney.

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13 Lessons Classic Horror Movies Teach Us About Personal Finance

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13 Finance Lessons Learned from Horror Movies

I grew up watching horror movies. Which is a bit comical, since I’m pretty much a big chicken.

No joke. If someone jumps out at me from around the corner yelling “Boo!”, I’m gone.

You’ll find me two miles down the road, without a thought of returning until the whole house has been purged of evil spirits.

I don’t know why I consented to watch all of these films. Maybe it was a sign of the times.

Because it seems like the 80’s was the decade of scary movies. Or that could just be my warped recollection.

But family fun night — let’s watch Friday the 13th!

Teenage sleepover — of course, Sleepaway Camp!

And for the annual Halloween party — well, I’d expect nothing less than gathering together to watch our favorite silent masked villain — no, not that one, the other one. Michael Myers, of course.

Watching horror movies was a legit rite of passage when I was a kid.

And it went hand-in-hand with checking under my bed, sleeping with the lights on, and asking my dad to check for monsters in the closet.

And yes, as a full grown adult, I am still afraid of the dark.

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Life is Better at the Beach

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OBX sunset - Life is Better at the Beach
Life is Better at the Beach

By the Sea, Sure

I’m sitting here on the beach, writing a blog post.

Well, technically not on the beach — But we’re pretty darn close.

I can hear the waves crashing right outside the window where I’m sitting. And I can see the surf breaking, all white-capped and angry, in a hypnotic swirl of repetition.

It’s my family’s annual beach vacation. And right now, it’s raining in the Outer Banks. But from my current perspective, that is totally okay. Because I’m away from work, surrounded by almost all who matter most to me, and am able to relax for a few days.

And I’m writing a blog post.

Why, might you ask, am I blogging while on vacation??

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Looking for Free Stuff? Be Careful — Sometimes Free Isn’t Really Free

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sweet bunny rabbits family
Who Doesn’t Love Free Stuff?

 

Everybody Loves Free Stuff

I was scrolling through Facebook the other morning, when something caught my eye.

It was brown and furry, with big feet, a pink button nose, and long floppy ears. OMG someone was giving away bunnies!!! 

Immediately, I was in love.

And I started going over all these plans in my mind. Plans of how I might bring this little puff ball into my life.

Because it would be as easy as stopping by the local farm, picking out a rabbit, and bringing him home. Easy peasy.

In my town, there are several large farms. These farms sell fresh produce, flowers, eggs, baked goods, various crafts, and are just altogether fun to go visit. Lots of times they’ll support a charity event by selling their wares, and also include a petting zoo to entertain the kids. Or me — cuz, like, I’m just a big kid at heart.

One of the events going on that very day was not terribly far from my house. They were having all of the cool stuff above, plus goats, chickens, and a bunch of other fun activities.

But the part that totally had me lingering on the post was about the bunnies. Apparently the farm was partnering with a local rescue organization to rehome these bunnies for adoption.

And their pictures were sooo cute — big fluffy squishy puffalumps, sitting on the laps of volunteers. They looked so happy, so content, and so cuddly! And they were FREE!!!!

OMG, how could we NOT get a bunny??

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