If you don’t already read the Consumerism Commentary personal finance blog, get yourself over there and register. You earn points each time you read an article and leave a comment, or share articles via social media. The points can be exchanged for FABULOUS PRIZES!
Myself, I’m skipping the personal finance books and saving up for the Amazon gift cards:
- 500 points = $20 card
- 1,000 points = $50 card
- 1,750 points = $100 card
Flexo, the owner and operator, plans to introduce other ways to participate in the community. To be crass, this means more points – but it also means a better-informed blogosphere. There’s a lot of lively commentary on his posts. Join in!
While you’re over there, check out the “Micro-saving” podcast that I did with Flexo and Tom last May. The podcast archives have a lot of good stuff. I also wrote a guest post for Flexo last year called “Eco-ergonomics: Reducing strain on your budget.”
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Scooping up free Amazon.com cards is nice, but reducing your costs is a surer way to solvency. My latest Living With Less column at MSN Money gives you some fast ways to do it.
“8 quick ways to slash your bills” suggests ways to save money (sometimes big money) in 20-minute increments. Why 20 minutes? Because if I said, “Devote half an hour three times a week to cleaning,” some people would be sure to whine “But I don’t have an extra half-hour a day.”
Believe me: I know all about overly full schedules. I also know that some people spend 20 minutes a day staring into the fridge and cupboards, wondering what to eat or drink. And don’t get me started on the Internet as a time suck.
So step away from Farmville, folks, and save hundreds or thousands of dollars by doing things as simple as:
- Shopping for better insurance rates or seeking a better credit-card rate (20 minutes once a year)
- Reading credit-card and bank statements for irregularities (20 minutes, twice a month)
- Taking a walk around your house and vehicle, looking for potential problems (20 minutes, once a week)
- Packing a lunch (5 or 10 minutes a day, every day)
- Or, yeah, firing the housecleaner and speed-cleaning (20 minutes, three or four times a week).
Understand: These are suggestions for people who need to tighten their budgets. If you’ve got the money to hire a cleaning woman or pay overdraft fees, go for it. Use the time you save to update your Facebook status or play Yahtzee with your kids.
But if times are tight? Get your financial house in order before you harvest any virtual crops or instant-message your BFF.
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I have a new post up at Get Rich Slowly. “Beyond Tupperware: Frugal food storage” has engendered quite a conversation in the comments section. A few folks think I’m nuts. But the rest are offering their own tips for re-using things like pickle jars and the bags inside cereal boxes.
I learned a new technique: Use a cookie sheet atop the lasagna pan instead of a piece of aluminum foil. So simple, yet I might never have thought of it on my own. I love frugality blogs.
For those coming in late: I recently became a staff writer at Get Rich Slowly. Here are the links to what I’ve done thus far:
- Get Rich Slowly blogger profile
- Christmas gifts that make a difference
- Getting paid to tell lies: Mystery shopping as a frugal hack
- How to feed your soul for cheap: 12 ways to enjoy high culture for less
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I was pleased to be singled out by Political Calculations in a recent post called “On the moneyed midways: The best blogs we found in 2010.” Surviving and Thriving was one of six sites chosen as “consistently excellent.”
The other five sites are Minting Nickels, Faithful With A Few, Miss Bankrupt, Fail Spectacularly and Frugal Confessions.
Here’s what the post said about Surviving and Thriving: “Donna Freedman can write. That shouldn’t be a surprise, seeing as she’s a journalist and does it professionally, but her ability to take you inside her world where living as ‘mindfully’ as possible has gone from being a necessity to a choice is something special.”
You can’t see me, but I’m blushing.
They’re right – your blog is unique in its consistent combination of high writing quality and level of insight. It’s always a pleasure to read.
Donna,
I agree wholeheartedly with the observation on Political Calculations! I love your writing.
You guys! Shucks. Thank you.
I agree as well-and I had never heard of Frugal Confessions, so now I have a new blog to read!
Your blog has great writing, keen insight and best of all great frugal hacks that work. Congratulations and I hope your ankle is feeling better.
I also agree, I subscribe to a lot of personal finance/frugality blogs….yours is my fave. Perhaps because we are both transplanted Jersey Girls? : )
@Cheryl: You can take the girl outta Jersey….
I’m from South Jersey (Cumberland County). You?
My pocketbook worships you, just a little FYI for the day.
Donna, I was honored to be included on a list with you! I’m still a little shocked by it, but I’ll take it!!!
Also, I didn’t realize you were from Jersey…I’ve been here all my life.
@Khaleef: Born and bred, but I moved away when I was 26. Where in Jersey do you live?
And thanks for your kind words.
@ Donna – Down the Shore….Ocean County, Toms River to be exact! I live in Sunny Fla now, but still go back to see family and get my Crumb Bun fix!
@Cheryl: For me it’s Tastykakes, hoagies, Herrs potato chips, cheesesteaks and soft-serve custard. I spent the month of September at my dad’s because a relative was ill, and I put on 10 pounds. I am not exaggerating. Wish I were.
Wonderful choices in political calculations. I’m a fan of all those blogs (and you!).
I didn’t sign up for Flexo’s points plan until I read your post so good job in bringing it to our attention. I already comment there, might as well earn something.
This may seem like a silly question, but when you say register, what exactly am I doing?
Enjoy your frugality. Like reading your blog.
@Judy: You don’t have to register to read the blog, but you DO have to register (fill out a form with your e-mail address and name) if you want to earn points for each visit.
Hope that helps. And thanks for your kind words.
@Donna – OMG, you called it a HOAGIE and not a sub! Bless you!
I can get my TastyKake/Herr’s fix at a local place called Philly Flava – which also serves the cheesesteak need! My hoagie needs are covered at Jersey Mike’s. Yes, after almost 30 years of jonesin’ for a REAL hoagie, Jersey Mike’s opened a franchise, in Florida, a few towns over!
Now, if only we could get a WaWa and a Surf Taco…!
I spent Thanksgiving at cousins and the TSA was eyeballing my bakery box of crumb bun……it freezes well : )