Finally Frugal

OCTOBER 15, 2011

I have no idea when I'll have a chance to update again, but will try at least every couple of months. About 20% of my payments are going to service interest only right now, so that's a bit frustrating, but that number will also decrease as my balance goes down.

Debt 45

Debt Student Recession Frugal 45

Finally Frugal

MARCH 7, 2011

I have no idea what led to the federal refund, although I changed my withholdings several times last year (my human resource office must hate me) so maybe I had more taken out than I thought I did. For whatever reason, although I earned just about the same amount this year as I did last year, I received a larger refund - by about $400.

Taxes 45

Taxes Student Credit Cards Bank 45

Finally Frugal

JANUARY 8, 2011

Basically, the idea is to avoid a post-Christmas financial hangover by putting those extra dollars away in a special holiday savings account, thereby gaining a nice cushion when the gift buying season raises its expensive head once again; Second, how about starting a fund just for the car maintenance costs?

Frugal 45

Frugal Spendthrift Debt Recession 45

Finally Frugal

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

The idea is to emphasize how much we already own versus how much we really need. First, I read about the Six Items or Less project, in which participants pledge to choose SIX items of clothing (not including undergarments, outerwear and accessories, of course) from their closets and wear only those items for an entire month.

Frugal 49

Frugal Consignment Shops Clothing and Accessories Consignment 49

Finally Frugal

JANUARY 5, 2011

Stabilizing home values will also help owners do better financial planning, since they'll have a firm idea what their home is worth. But once buyers believe that prices have stopped falling, they'll be more inclined to buy, the first step back toward a healthy housing market.

Frugal 45

Frugal Student 2007 Unemployment 45

Finally Frugal

JANUARY 12, 2011

Well, call me crazy but it seems as if all of those 'experts' have no freaking idea when the housing market will bottom out, and never did. What does this all mean? They're guesstimating an end to the housing crisis based on, I'm sure, years of expensive education at Ivy League schools and various economic indicators.

Frugal 45

Frugal Real Estate 2008 Portland 45