Usually at this time of the year, everyone is quite busy developing their "resolutions" for the new year. Most of these resolutions have to do with personal development, which is a noble cause. I've got a number of goals myself, although I feel somewhat pathetic at the idea of using a date on a calendar to set them. None-the-less, one of the other things that choosymom and I like to do this time of year is to review our finances and find ways to streamline our expenses and save money.  read more »

Choosymom and I have been living with only one vehicle for almost three years now. Prior to that, I had a work-issued Ford Explorer that I would use for my interstate business travel, and we had our minivan. So far, we've managed to live with only one car with few problems. Since we live in a small town, and our current home is situated close to town, one of us can always walk or bike if necessary. Even when the car is being repaired or maintenanced, the mechanic shop is only a fifteen minute walk.  read more »

Birthday and holiday cards have gotten too expensive. I was picking up some things for a friend's birthday recently, and after a bit of searching I finally found a decent one for less than $2. I can't believe that people are willing to spend $4 or $5 on a card. While paper products across the country have gotten cheaper, cards have gotten ridiculously expensive. You would think that by now people would have staged some sort of unofficial boycott of the most expensive brands.  read more »

We're still undecided on our decision to abandon our landline. As much as I'd like to drop the $80 phone bill each month, I'm not sure if I'm ready to drop the DSL. So we're focusing on ways to try and reduce other expenses.  read more »

We hear about rising foreclosures rates all the time. Will the early 2000s be remembered as the decade of foreclosures? Or the second great depression? It's hard to say, but it seems like the economy has been flushed so far down the toilet this time that there is no single product that will serve as the "item of the day" anymore. The last one that I can think of would be the iPhone. Perhaps people will remember that, instead of the hard times that seem to be affecting all of us. Everybody thinks that our next president will save us, but I can't understand how.  read more »

One of the frustrations that I was feeling when I was on the phone with my credit card company, fearing that my rate was tripling, was that I wouldn't be able to find a better rate. Then I realized that this isn't the early 1990s anymore, and I don't need to wait for another credit card offer to appear in my mailbox before I can find a better card with a better rate. As it so happened, I didn't have to find another card since the rate change was a bit of confusion on my end regarding the term "default".  read more »