Donna Freedman - Surviving and Thriving

Sweating the cost of summer fun.

June 6, 2013 by Donna Freedman

Late last week I suggested we drive to the Turnagain Arm Pit BBQ for supper. It wasn’t that there wasn’t anything to eat at home. It’s that the weather was too nice to stay inside.

Sure, we could have had leftovers at a table in the back yard. In fact, DF suggested we do that rather than spending $30 or more on ribs. But I wanted to take advantage of the splendid drive along Turnagain Arm, and then sit on the patio eating fried pickles and basking in the nonstop Alaska sun.

Summer can do a number on a frugalist’s finances – especially if your friends don’t play fair. Whether it’s beer and chicken wings after a pickup softball game or al fresco lunches with pals on a sunny Saturday, the next few months could lead to all sorts of uncomfortable money situations.

Free PSA and TSH tests this weekend. Two small bits of news, too.

June 5, 2013 by Donna Freedman

Sam’s Club is at it again, offering free health testing at all stores with pharmacies. This time they’ve got something specifically for the guys.

A satisfied life.

April 8, 2019May 30, 2013 by Donna Freedman

On Sunday we went to lunch with DF’s mother and her longtime companion. The most exciting part of the meal was the very large black bear that ran around in a field behind the restaurant until employees chased it away. The most interesting part was what his mother said about flowers.

She’d gone to a local nursery and was so taken by the blooms that she bought more than she needed. In fact, it’s been a long time since she bought anything she didn’t specifically need.

“It was nice to want something,” she said. “I haven’t wanted anything in a long time.”

That’s not because she’s clinically depressed or too impoverished to dream. It’s because she’s satisfied.

Fix your finances with this LearnVest offer.

May 28, 2013May 28, 2013 by Donna Freedman

Note: This post was originally published on May 24, then removed due to a coding error. The offer is now good through June 3.

Having trouble managing your money, paying off debt or planning for the future?

Having trouble with all three of those things? LearnVest can help.

Normally there’s a one-time setup fee of $299. But for the next seven days LearnVest will waive that fee, which includes your first month’s membership.

Face it: Money choices can be bewildering, especially if you feel that you don’t earn enough of it. But you don’t have to go without in the short term to succeed in the long term — a certified financial planner will help you personalize a spending plan.

Adventures in frugal hacking.

January 18, 2019May 26, 2013 by Donna Freedman

Recently I declared that I hate shopping. Today’s kind of shopping was both fun and profitable.

This morning I noticed that the Shop and Earn feature on the Swagbucks rewards points site is offering double the points through Memorial Day weekend.

Although not much of an online shopper I took a quick look anyway – and found yet another Swagbucks hack, which morphed into several other money-savers.

Giveaway: Victoria’s Secret gift set.

May 24, 2013 by Donna Freedman

I wonder who makes up the fragrance combos for places like Victoria’s Secret? Is it the same person who writes the descriptions of these products?

Like the folks who give new names each season to basic colors of paint, fabric and cosmetics, these people have interesting imaginations.

I thought of that as I read the description of this week’s giveaway, the “Pure Daydream” gift set: Its fragrance is touted as “pearl orchid and pink currant.”

Anybody know offhand what those things smell like? Me either.

Why you should attend FinCon13.

May 24, 2013 by Donna Freedman

I just got word that I’ve been chosen once more to present a program at the third annual Financial Blogger Conference, which takes place Oct. 17-20 in St. Louis.

But that’s not the reason you should go. Not the only reason, anyway.

If you’re a writer or would like to be a writer, if you’re interested in starting a blog or already have one, or if you’re just plain intrigued by personal finance, then by all means attend FinCon13. And if you sign up by May 31, you’ll pay a lot less.

Want a chance at a $100 Amazon card? Join this Tweetchat tomorrow.

May 20, 2013May 20, 2013 by Donna Freedman

You may learn something, too, at the “Smart planning for summer travel” Tweetchat on Tuesday, May 21.

From 2 to 3 p.m. EDT, representatives from Ally Bank will offer money-saving info and solicit travel tips from savvy consumers like, well, you.

You want these macarons.

May 17, 2013 by Donna Freedman

Yes, that’s “macarons,” not “macaroons.” The macaron is a meringue-like cookie filled with a jam or cream filling. Sounds nice, right? But wait until you hear how they’re done by the Sucré Sweet Boutiques and Confection Studio, a New Orleans specialty shop that’s sponsoring this week’s giveaway.

One of you is going to get the 15-piece Signature Macaron Collection, whose flavors are almost too good to share.

Pecan, obviously — this is the South. But you’ll also get chocolate, almond, pistachio, strawberry, hazelnut, salted caramel and bananas Foster.

If you win, don’t tell anybody. They’ll just want a bite.

Is it ever too late to start saving?

October 15, 2015May 15, 2013 by Donna Freedman

Last week I participated in a Tweetchat with Liz Weston, J.D. Roth, MP Dunleavey and other personal finance geeks. One of the questions was, “I’m in my 40s and just started saving. What advice would you give beginners to make the most and try to catch up?”

A flood of 140-character advice poured in, but J.D. Roth summed it up best of all: “The best thing when starting to save late in life is to just DO it. Don’t worry about lost time. Just save.”

Easier said than done, to be sure. But necessary nonetheless.