All Budgeting & bargains Articles

Deflation is a word on the lips of more financial experts these days. The term refers to a fall in prices (despite no change in product quality or quantity) and is the opposite of inflation. But like inflation, deflation can have a devastating impact on individual pocketbooks and the broader economy. On the surface, deflation sounds great. Most consumers cheer when gas prices fall or Read more...

Bad news about housing is rampant -- foreclosures, upside-down home equity, falling real estate values. But there is some good news about homeownership, and it starts with the Habitat for Humanity organization. If you are looking to do some home improvements, consider this tip from our Frugal $ense winner for December, Angeline Zemba, of Mechanicsburg, Pa. Bankrate: How did you come across Read more...

It has been four months since the Wall Street meltdown and the credit crunch shook up an already unstable automobile industry. The bad news for consumers is that despite federal bailouts to banks and automakers, the buying landscape has changed and may never return to what shoppers have come to expect in the last five years. But if you need to buy a new vehicle in this environment, here's Read more...

Holiday giving can quickly burn a hole in your budget. But gifts are hardly the only expense during this season. Happy holiday extras quickly add up, whether they are gift supplies, seasonal decorations, food for parties or plane tickets to see loved ones. But trimming these holiday expenses can help fatten your bottom line. Do it right, and your holiday will be just as festive as the Read more...

For most people, wealth does not come in a windfall but instead gathers gradually as a result of years of hard work and diligence. Bankrate readers offer 16 tips for growing wealth. You'll find no winning lottery numbers or surefire stock recommendations among them, but all are sensible suggestions for savings. 1. Grow your own food I have a plot in our local community garden that I Read more...

You may be going on vacation, but your car has plenty of work to do. Make sure it is ready for the long road-trip ahead by following these pretrip maintenance tips. 1. Check the oil Check the level and condition of the car's motor oil. "Change the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or follow what's in the owner's manual," says Lauren J. Fix, a consumer auto expert and spokeswoman Read more...

Shrinking your bottom line is as easy as thickening your waist -- all it takes is the discipline to develop bad habits and consistently make the same mistakes over and over. Some basic methods for subtracting from your net worth, such as simply spending all your money, may work for most people. But advanced techniques will help even the most diligent and financially responsible people fritter Read more...

Your financial ship is taking on water from all sides: a plunging stock market, alarming spikes in food costs and a home value that's headed in the wrong direction. Now, Congress is enlisting your help to bail out Wall Street as well. Ready for some good news? Preposterous though it may seem, we have identified seven islands of relief in this dark sea of economic uncertainty. That's Read more...

It's tempting to overspend during the holiday season. While the average consumer plans to pay off holiday bills in three months, the true time frame is more like six months, reports Myvesta, a financial crisis center in Rockville, Md. Why do so many consumers fall short of their goals? For starters, it's easy to get caught up in the material trappings of the holiday season. It's a challenge Read more...

What is sure to be the most popular electronic gadget this holiday season? The computer you already own. Consumers are using the Internet to save money, time and shoe leather as they prepare for the holidays, says Ellen Davis, spokeswoman for Shop.org, the online division of the National Retail Federation. "More people are shopping online this year compared to just a year ago," Read more...

The day after Thanksgiving is known in retail circles as Black Friday, the most popular shopping day of the year. But it doesn't have to be a day where crowds wear on your nerves and not much gets accomplished. Experts recommend the following tips for shopping success: 1. Do your research Sure, sales fliers arrive with Thanksgiving Day newspapers. But you can usually find the Read more...

Tough economic times call for sound strategies to safeguard your financial future. Experts say one way to increase how much you save is to associate with people with similar goals. Belinda Fuchs, C. P. A, president of www.ownyourmoney.com, based in Boston, offers group-coaching services for that reason - so her clients can cheer each other on. "Most people feel very alone about the Read more...

Gift cards remain a popular present for the holidays, although this year, given the economic situation, sales are projected to be lower. According to an Archstone Consulting survey, Americans will spend $25 billion on gift cards, down 25 percent from 2007. Nevertheless, 55 percent of consumers told the National Retail Federation they want to receive gift cards this holiday season -- more than any Read more...

With home equity evaporating like dry ice on a hot day, many Americans no longer can rely on their homes as a source of quick cash. Likewise, credit card issuers are lowering credit limits for many consumers, imposing constraints on spending. Americans are realizing that the spending party is over and it's time to build wealth the old-fashioned way -- by saving money. Some obstacles Read more...

Is your odometer costing you money? As bizarre as that question may seem, a recent lawsuit settlement has revealed that all odometers are not created equal. Some may cause you to lose your factory or extended warranty sooner than necessary. The lawsuit involves a lawyer from Arkansas. In 2004, he noticed that the miles seemed to be clicking by faster than normal on his Honda Odyssey Read more...

As health care consumers endure higher deductibles and reduced insurance benefits, it is becoming more important to understand and even negotiate prices before receiving medical treatment. Dr. Kathryn Stewart, medical director of care management at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, believes that patients can and should be more proactive about seeking the best prices for their Read more...

When it comes to handling money, most of us aren't as rational and logical as we think. As with losing weight, we know what we need to do -- eat less (spend less) and exercise more (save more), but somehow we can't bring ourselves to do it. Or we buy a hot stock that really doesn't fit our investing needs and later wonder, "What the heck was I thinking?" You needn't beat yourself Read more...

Before you decide to ease your pain at the pump by downsizing your vehicle or even by switching to public transportation, why not change your driving habits and boost your miles per gallon by 20 percent to 40 percent? That's right -- 20 percent to 40 percent! Others have done it and you can, too -- but we're not talking here about slowing from 85 mph to 75 mph on the highway. We're talking Read more...

People everywhere are scrambling to trim the soaring costs of food and fuel to keep their budgets from bursting. However, you may find a few extra nickels and dimes in an unexpected place -- by cutting back on your phone bill. "Telephone charges, and especially long-distance charges, are a discretionary expenditure. They can be reduced to make room to save for other financial Read more...

It never hurts to review the basics, and when you're ready for more lessons in frugality, there's a wealth of other websites that can help. 'Frugal living isn't about sacrifice and deprivation," says Erin Huffstetler, an About.com site guide. "It's about living smarter, so that you can afford to live the life that you want to live-the life that you dream of living." Before Read more...