Budget Snob

Frugal Habits that may actually Cost You in the Long Run

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Here’s a riddle for you; When is a money saving habit not a good habit? Answer: When it actually cost you more money than it saves you. All right, we admit that our riddle possibly wasn’t the most original or even fun riddle ever but it does apply to a lot of consumers. While most of us know that if you buy something cheap it’s probably going to break and need to be replaced quicker, there are some frugal habits that people have that actually aren’t all that frugal or all that good for your finances.

With that in mind we put together a little blog today that explores a number of frugal habits that people have that, for the most part, are not actually saving them money but costing them money.… Read the rest

How You Can Save on a Rental Car

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The average traveler is under the very false impression that car rental prices and car rental companies are pretty much all the same. With that false pretense they also believe that shopping around is not only unnecessary but also a waste of time.

That couldn’t be further from the truth however as rates can vary greatly from 1 company to the next depending on where you rent and where you’re going. If a rental car looms in your future then read on as we take a look at some excellent tips for saving money on your next rental.

One thing to keep in mind; generally speaking, car rental companies reward people who make it easy for them as far as the renting procedure is concerned and definitely make it hard for people that don’t.… Read the rest

3 Excellent Behaviors you need to Stay on your Budget

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When it comes to Budgets most people have few problems making a budget.  The problem comes when it is time to maintain that budget, and that’s where most fail miserably.  Like most things in life a person starts on their budget with great intentions and positive thoughts but, like a diet plan or a gym membership, those plans can sometimes quickly go out the window.

If you don’t want that to happen to you there are three behaviors that you need to possess to stay on track of your budget.  Read below to find out what they are and, if you don’t have them, how to get them. … Read the rest

Buy the Da*n Latte

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If you haven’t already heard of the “Latte Factor”, it was popularized by David Bach in his now bestselling The Automatic Millionaire.

The basic idea is that you find an insignificant, daily expense, in this case your morning latte, and either cut it out completely or cut way back. Of course it could be the morning paper, the everyday lunch date, the salon, etc.

U.S. News recently put this statement to task, stating that “it might be based on faulty math.” Well, a penny saved is a penny earned, right? Not so fast.

His [Bach’s] so-called “Latte Factor” includes all kinds of expenses, such as manicures, massages, restaurant meals, and premium cable.

… Read the rest

Pay for a Wedding – with Cans?

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Andrea and Peter wanted a nice, modest wedding for their 150 person guest list. Nothing grand. In fact, their $3,800 budget was light years below the $19,581 average wedding cost for U.S. couples. How did they pay for it? With cans of course:

“From the start, we knew we wanted a simple wedding, an event that was more a celebration of the friends and family that made us who we are and are a part of our lives. Basically, get an awesome space large enough to hold everyone, and have a party — with a small ceremony held somewhere in the middle of it all”, Andrea said.

… Read the rest