Living from one paycheck to another can be very trying. You may feel you’re tapping in one place, unable to make any sort of financial progress, all the while struggling to maintain your dignity and live a normal life. If you work hard and can still barely make ends meet, try some of these six ways to manage your income and your spending, to finally advance. Lose your debt Owing money to a bank is easy. There’s nobody you have to look in the eye and nobody to call you and ask when you’ll be able to…
Airbnb is an online marketplace and hospitality service that connects people who want to rent their homes with people who are looking for accommodation. Therefore, Airbnb users are both hosts and travelers. Hosts list their unused spaces and travelers search for and book accommodations. It is as simple as that. Airbnb does not own any lodging – they are rather a middleman because they receive percentage service fees from travelers and hosts in conjunction with every booking. Airbnb offers its services in 191 countries with over 3,000,000 lodging listings in 65,000 cities. Airbnb has become an alternative…
Ironic, coincidence, or just the inevitable star crossed event – September is National Coupon Month and the month The Frugal Diva was born. How appropriate that my birthday falls in the month for celebrating savings. Coupon usage continues to rise and as a nation we are very interested in keeping more of our hard earned paychecks. When economists tell us to spend more they never tell us where to get the money. For those who are not trust fund babies, lottery winners, or living off the grid, coupons and budgeting help keep us ahead of higher prices and able to…
Today we have a guest post from Jeffrey O’Brien who blogs about food and entertainment. When he is not writing about the latest and greatest, he is hiking or fishing in Howard County, Iowa. Americans have a love affair with their pets. So much so that in 2011 they were willing to drop over $50 billion on pet needs. Almost two-thirds of the spending was on basics: food and medical bills. Services for pets made up almost $4 billion of the splurging. The other third went to toys, accessories, and beds. Why not let them sleep on…
Email this guest post to your new grad. Graduating college is an exciting moment, right? Maybe not. Total student debt has topped $1 trillion this year and the average college graduate owes more than $33,000 in outstanding payments upon commencement. So, it’s understandable why young adults are filled with more fear than joy about earning their diploma and entering the real world. While finding a good job is paramount, learning how to budget and discovering ways to save on everyday expenses offers the best chance to surviving life after college. If you or a recent grad in…
It has been a long time since the Frugal Diva toted around the Entertainment Book. I had lost touch with the great savings that could be had by buying a membership. Everything from dining to car washes to hotels are available at a discount. The best news is that they have moved into the digital age with a user friendly app. If you are traveling to the East Coast, receive the 2014 book now for only $5 and they will send your 2015 Greater New York City & North Jersey Entertainment® Book next year for $5 off the retail price…
When did the Super Bowl become a national holiday? It seems like you must be either attending a party or throwing a party to not be considered a total social reject. Here are some great ideas for savings. Super Bowl tips from coupon site BeFrugal.com founder Jon Lal: If you are throwing a party: o Use an online service like Eventrbrite for free invitations & tickets. o Go with a potluck style party – where attendees each bring a dish – to reduce the expense of throwing a party. o Purchase supplies like decorations and paper plates in advance. Plan ahead…