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A Frugal Mom’s Tips on How to Save Money

How do frugal people become frugal in the first place? I’ve often wondered how it happened to me. Did I learn it at home? Maybe a bit. I grew up in a solidly middle-class home and remember learning to look at sale racks and do price comparisons. Actually, I do think it became ingrained in me …

Types of Mortgage Loans: Which Is Best for You?

Inside: Learn about the most popular types of mortgage loans and decide which is the best for you. When we bought our first home, there were a few well-known mortgage loan options we were aware of such as a conventional loan and an ARM. By the time we bought our second home, pre-2008, there …

Learn How to Save Money on Laundry with These Easy Tips

Inside: Discover easy steps you can take to lower the cost of doing laundry. I’m sitting here listening to the washer and dryer running. Again. As a family of four with most of us either doing sports or other workouts, we certainly generate enough laundry. It seems obvious that we would …

Easy Fall Tips to Prepare Your Home for Winter

The rains have started again around here and there is enough of a chill in the air some days that I’ve switched our system from AC to heat. While the furnace isn’t kicking in every day, it is a reminder that fall has arrived and cooler weather is here to stay for the next few months. And to be …

How to Start Gardening on a Budget

Inside: Whether for landscaping or food, find out how to start gardening on a budget. Maybe it’s where we live with the nice climate and mild winters as everyone seems to have a garden. Whether it is small plantings, elaborate landscaping including hardscaping, or removing lawns in favor of …

The Best Ways to Save for a Down Payment on a House

Inside: Trying to save for a down payment on a house may seem intimidating. We have a plan and savings ideas to get the downpayment you need. Have you been dreaming of buying a home? You aren’t alone. As millennials enter their 30s, many are seeking to buy their first home. At the same …

Mortgage Pre-Approval: What You Need to Do

Inside: Getting a mortgage pre-approval is an important first step in buying a house. Learn what you need to get pre-approved for your home loan. You’ve been working hard, love your city and you are ready to buy a house. You think you do, anyhow. But can you afford a house? Will you …

Practical Ways to Save Money on Utilities

Have you ever opened your utility bill only to look at the total and cringe? For us, that's the water bill. It's not that we use a lot of water. Water is just plain expensive around here. We use less and pay more than friends in other parts of the country, so those high bills are frustrating. That …

10 Easy Ways to Stay Warm This Winter

It happens every year. The thermostat says the room is 72 and yet I’m chilly. And for some reason, it's only in the fall. If the room is 72 in the spring or summer, we are plenty warm. But as fall rolls around, it's a signal that it’s time to put away the tank tops and pull out the wool …

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