Donna Freedman - Surviving and Thriving

Blog roundup: Cartesian dualism edition.

July 24, 2011 by Donna Freedman

You’ve got to love a blogger who can work the phrase “Cartesian dualism” into a post. In this case the blogger is my daughter, Abigail Perry, and the article is about us both. (But mostly her.)

Don’t let the title “Glorifying my mom (who’s glorifying me)” fool you. It’s not an exercise in mutual admiration, although I do admire the hell out of her. The post is about her re-reading “You can’t even tell perfect bodies apart,” a post I wrote about Abby’s near-fatal illness, and then reflecting on who she was then and who she is now.

Giveaway: “Debt-Free For Life”

July 22, 2011 by Donna Freedman

“Getting out of debt fast is the most important financial move you can make in today’s economy,” according to author/PF guru David Bach.

He wrote the book on it, so to speak. This week I’m giving that book away.

Are you your parents’ ATM?

January 24, 2016July 21, 2011 by Donna Freedman

Often we hear about boomerang kids, or middle-aged “children” who keep asking their parents to subsidize them. But what happens when Mom and Dad hit you up for a loan?

Goal-oriented groceries.

June 13, 2022July 20, 2011 by Donna Freedman

Yesterday I filmed my first “Ask A Money Expert” video for MSN Money. I’d done several videos for MSN in the past, but this is a different format: Readers post questions on Facebook, to be answered by people like Jim Jubak and Liz Pulliam Weston. And now by me too, also (as the cat from Mutts would say).

The challenge was giving good information succinctly, since I had just 3½ minutes to answer a trio of questions. I’ll post the link once the finished product is available. In the meantime, I want to talk about one of the responses I gave.

A frugal egg-speriment.

January 24, 2016July 17, 2011 by Donna Freedman

When I was about to leave for my house-sitting/visiting trip to Alaska in mid-May, I had part of a carton of eggs in the fridge. Since I would be gone for two months, I decided to try something I’d only read about: freezing eggs.

Today I sampled the results.

Dumpster wading.

July 6, 2011 by Donna Freedman

While house-sitting here in Anchorage I took my friend’s recyclables over to the transfer station. It’s a small way for me to help her out.

Turns out it’s a good way to shop, too.

Racing in the Tour de Personal Finance.

July 5, 2011 by Donna Freedman

Jacob over at My Personal Finance Journey is running something called the Tour de Personal Finance. I’m one of four “racers” in Stage 4, hoping to move on to the next leg.

That’s where you come in.

A found-coin moment.

July 5, 2011 by Donna Freedman

Late one recent evening I stopped at a nearly deserted supermarket. One tired-looking cashier leaned against her counter, and a customer service agent yawned mightily as he kept an eye on the self-checkout area.

No one was anywhere near the coin-counting machine. As is my wont, I glanced into its returned-coin bin as I passed by.

Did I hit the jackpot.

Want to go to the movies?

July 1, 2011 by Donna Freedman

I went to “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” today. It was loud. And long. And loud. The final battle scene was interminable. Did I mention the volume?

Surely there’s something a little less grueling to see if you win this week’s giveaway.

Big rigs and big weenies.

January 24, 2016July 1, 2011 by Donna Freedman

Here’s how we have frugal fun in Anchorage: a Dixieland band, reindeer hot dogs, Ice Road Truckers (and one of their trucks), door prizes and really cheap ramen.