6 Extremely Simple Ways to Save Money in the Laundry Room

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Recently we had a small fire in our basement… not the kind you make on purpose to toast marshmallows or to drink wine in front of while Barry White music is playing… a real 911 moment.  Not to worry; the only real casualties were the hot water heater, the washing machine and water damage to the carpet and walls from the sprinklers.  Now I know why having them reduces my home owners insurance bill.

However, because of this, for the first time in my life I had to go shopping for a new washing machine.  They have really changed in the past ten years or so, and now there are high efficiency models and front-loading machines that, according to the spec. sheets, are very good at saving energy, which also means saving money.  But do you have to go out and buy a new $1000 machine to save money?  No, that would be a little rash, but the good news is that they all seem to be going in that direction so when it finally comes time to replace your machine, chances are any that you get will be more energy efficient than the one you currently have.  But what can you do in the meantime?  Here are some extremely simple suggestions. continue reading →

Rent a Car for $1 a Day

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Usually when I see offers that seem too good to be true, it’s usually a bait-and-switch.  Places advertise goods or services for a buck or something and then when you get there, they say, “sorry, all those deals are sold out, but here’s something much more expensive that you might like…”

That’s what I thought when I was shopping for a rental car one day and stumbled upon this deal.  What surprised me more was that lots of rental car companies were offering similar type deals.  Of course there has to be a catch, right? continue reading →

Money Tips for College Students: Credit Cards 101, Part 4

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This is the final part of an article on credit cards, which is a topic in an ongoing series of money tips for college students.  In the previous articles we discussed some of the basics and how to go about getting one.  Next we will discuss the responsibilities and tips on managing credit card use.  If you’ve never had credit before, going in unprepared could cost you not only in actual money but also in peace of mind. continue reading →

Money Tips for College Students: Credit Cards 101, Part 2

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This is part two of an article on credit cards, which is a topic in an ongoing series of money tips for college students.  Whew… how deep does this rabbit hole go?  In the first part we talked about the basics of how credit cards work from what they are, how the credit card companies make money, and the user’s responsibilities.  Next we will tackle the more nuanced aspects of credit cards and terms you may or may not be familiar with.  continue reading →