Recently, a hole wore in the sole of one of my favorite pair of shoes. The shoes weren’t terribly expensive, and I almost threw them out. But then it occurred to me: the shoes were comfortable and they filled a need in my wardrobe (which is why they wore out). Even if a new pair… [Read More]
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Money Smart Week: Making budgets
I often hear people say that budgets don’t work, just as diets don’t work. But, speaking as a middle-aged white lady, everything we have been told about diets is a lie. With a budget, you don’t have your metabolism working against you. Because my income is highly variable, I need a system to make sure… [Read More]
Money Smart Week: Earth Day and saving money
Today is Earth Day. That’s an important day for cheapskates, because saving money is almost always good for the environment – and vice-versa. It’s easy to forget that, in a world of overpriced food, toiletries, and cleaning products passing themselves off as better for the environment. Whole Paycheck, I’m looking at you. If you eat… [Read More]
Money Smart Week: Miscellaneous thoughts on my food budget
One of the things that I love about The Complete Tightwad Gazette is how Amy Dacyczyn walks readers through her tightwad life. So let me walk you through a recent round of cooking. On a recent Thursday, I was a little too brain-dead to do actual cooking. I try to avoid ordering out, so I… [Read More]
Money Smart Week starts tomorrow
Tomorrow is the official start of Money Smart Week, a program started by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago in 2002. This year, it runs from April 20 to 27 and includes events throughout the Chicago area at libraries, schools, and businesses. The goal is to teach people how to manage their money. We here… [Read More]
