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Diary of a Fiscal Fast

Posted on 01/17/2012 by | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & Savings | Your LifeGo for a week without spending ANY money?!  It’s spending detox, what I call a “fiscal fast.”  Give it a try a couple of times a year.  You’ll save a few bucks, use up stuff you have around the house, and gain a new understanding of how you spend – and probably waste – money in a normal week.  It’s a challenge, but it’s also kind of fun. My wife and I just did a fiscal fast last week, and …

Avoid Through the Roof Costs on Home Repairs

Posted on 09/8/2011 by | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & SavingsWe have a rather eclectic “California contemporary” style home built in the 1940s. Some visitors say it reminds them of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in western Pennsylvania. I don’t know about that, but for the past couple months we’ve had impressive streams of falling water from our living room ceiling. My first rainy day solution: a bucket by my easy chair. More rain came. Turns out my wife wasn’t keen on a bigger bucket. And having put on the roof myself 15 …

Make Saving Money Actually Fun

Posted on 11/11/2009 by | General News | Comments

Money & SavingsYes, really. Yesterday, AARP kicked off its Saving Challenge, an online forum where folks will share stories of cheap skating, deals they’ve found and learning about creative and, yes, fun ways to cut down your spending costs. From Nov. 10 – Dec 31, savings expert Jeff Yeager will not only be chiming in on the online conversation to give you financial advice, but will be posing a “Weekly Challenge” for folks to send in their comments, photos and videos so …