Karen Datko, lead blogger, is a veteran journalist in small-town Montana, where her mortgage is $310 a month.
Teresa Mears is a veteran writer in Florida. She doesn't clip coupons, but she does shop at Goodwill.
Donna Freedman, our "Living With Less" columnist, is a student, freelance writer and handywoman in Washington.
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These guidelines will help, but it's really about how much you can afford.
This post comes from Jim Wang at partner blog Bargaineering.
The holidays are about spending time with family and friends, being thankful for the things we’ve accomplished and the lives we’ve led, and showing appreciation to everyone who has made the year possible. Sometimes the year ends on a high note, as we celebrate the achievements. Sometimes we simply want to turn the page on a difficult 12 months.
- Bing: Cheap celebrity tippers
For many, this year will seem more like the latter, but it’s important to remember that as difficult as it was for you, chances are many were facing much tougher challenges.
It’s on this more somber note that I present to you the 2009 Holiday Tipping Guide, which hopefully will give you an idea of what is considered customary when it comes to showing appreciation to those in the services industry who have gone above and beyond. These are merely guidelines; it’s up to you to decide what makes sense for both your area and your own finances.
Blogger excoriates women who expect men to pay for everything.
The following story set off a thoughtful rant by “Fabulously Broke”: A judge this year granted alimony to a jobless woman despite the fact that she and her husband had waived any claim to alimony when they divorced 27 years ago.
This turn of events is one of the anecdotes in an excellent Wall Street Journal story about why some lawmakers think alimony laws are sorely in need of an update. (It appears that the economy is prompting more people to seek support from spouses they divorced years ago. We should also note that a large majority of alimony payers are men.)
Here’s the core of the WSJ piece:
Overcooked the pasta or charred the steak? It's not the end of the world.
This post comes from Tisha Tolar at partner blog Wise Bread.
We've all likely burned a pot of something in our lifetime, but sometimes a ruined dinner may not be so ruined after all. Learn a few tricks of the trade and save yourself some time and money.
- Bing: Best turkey recipes
As more and more families go back to basics and choose to stay home to eat, there is big interest in the recipe industry and cooking shows. Catching a few episodes of those shows or investing in a new cookbook can certainly help to keep meals at home fresh and interesting. If you make a mistake during your experimentation, don't throw out the food. Use these five quick fixes to salvage a good meal.
Pasta's hardly al dente? Overcooking your pasta noodles is easy to do, especially when you have other things going on around the kitchen. Fear not. Simply run the pasta through cold water to halt the cooking process. Add tomato sauce and reheat. The acid in the sauce will help bring back a firm noodle.
The retail behemoth appears intent to dominate Amazon.com.
Psst! Want a great deal on an Easy-Bake Oven? Go to Walmart.com, where it’s on sale. No, wait. Check out Amazon.com, which just reduced its price. Hold on. Wal-Mart still has the better price.
- Video: Score a deal on Black Friday
Prices have fallen faster than Marines battling the Alien Queen as these two retail giants duke it out. What started as a competition over who can sell a handful of best-selling book titles for less has spread to a wider assortment of stuff --DVDs, video games and consoles, cell phones and, yes, Easy-Bake Ovens.
Cybercriminals are gearing up to take advantage of the holiday season.
This post comes from James Limbach at partner site ConsumerAffairs.com.
As cybercriminals begin to take advantage of the holiday season, McAfee Inc. is warning consumers about the "12 Scams of Christmas" -- the 12 most dangerous online scams that computer users should be cautious of.
According to Consumer Reports’ 2009 State of the Net Survey, cybercriminals have bilked $8 billion from consumers in the past two years.
- Bing: Worst ID theft cases
"Cybercriminals use their best schemes during the holidays to steal people's money, credit card information, Social Security number and identity," said Jeff Green, senior vice president of McAfee Labs. "These thieves follow seasonal trends and create holiday-related Web sites, scams and other convincing e-mails that can trick even the most cautious users."
The 12 Scams of Christmas are:
Saving money -- you can do it
Strategies for saving more and spending less. Here's how to build a rich nest egg one paycheck at a time.
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