savings challenge

Tell Us About the Cheapest Person You Know

Posted on 10/22/2012 by | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & SavingsFrugal, penny-pincher, or just plain cheap. We all know someone who takes dollar-stretching to the max, or maybe that person is even you. In the Week #4 “Cheapest Person I Know” Challenge, we want to hear your stories about frugal folks you know who have turned penny-pinching into an art form, even if they sometimes take it a bit too far. Enter the “Cheapest Person You Know” Challenge. Maybe you have a great uncle who’s rumored to still have the …

5 Fun, Frugal Halloween Decorations

Posted on 10/17/2012 by | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Entertainment | Money & SavingsFor me, the scariest thing about Halloween is something I read in the paper the other day. This year, Americans who celebrate Halloween will spend an average of $80 per person on costumes, decorations, treats and such.  That makes Halloween an $8 billion a year holiday, second only to Christmas when it comes to consumer spending. For a cheapskate like me, that’s truly frightening. See also: Eat your jack-o’-lantern Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always enjoyed celebrating Halloween. But ever since I was a kid, part …

Sometimes Being Cheap Costs You Money

Posted on 10/15/2012 by | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & SavingsFrugal folks rightfully take great pride in all the terrific bargains they score and how much they manage to save through their thrift-craft. I’ve met thousands of proud, self-proclaimed “cheapskates” over the years, I know all about bargain hunting bragging rights. But sometimes even the most savvy shoppers slip up and buy something that turns out not to be quite the bargain they thought it was, and that’s the theme of this week’s “Cheap Regrets” Savings Challenge. Enter the Cheap …

Check Your Monthly Bills for Errors

Posted on 10/4/2012 by | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & SavingsI call it “bill creep.” Most of us have experienced it. It starts with the bills you pay automatically, every month, without really taking the time to examine each and every one. Then one month you take a closer look at them, and you realize two things. First, the amount you’re paying now is a lot more than you remembered it being. And second, there are all kinds of things on those bills that you don’t even understand, let alone …

Fall Into the AARP Savings Challenge

Posted on 10/1/2012 by | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & SavingsToday’s a big day for me and all of my frugal friends in the Savings Challenge group here at AARP.org. In fact, it’s even more exciting for a cheapskate like me than triple-coupon day at the supermarket! We’re kicking off a special “Fall Into Savings Challenge.” Each week during the month of October, we’ll be running a weekly contest picking your brains about your best tips, stories, and advice for saving money. After the Savings Challenge ends on Oct. 28, …

Winners Show Off Frugality in AARP Savings Challenge

Posted on 05/14/2012 by | The Ultimate Cheapskate | Comments

Money & Savings | Your LifeOnce or twice a year for the past four years I’ve had the pleasure of hosting an online “Savings Challenge” here on the AARP website. Members of the Savings Challenge group – now more than 5,000 strong – compete in weekly challenges throughout the month-long contest, and then three overall winners are selected at the end of the Challenge. Savings Challenges are one of the true highlights of my year. I get a sort of cheapskate high during them, like …

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