We all know about emotional eating.  I think I'm the queen of using chocolate to curb my frustrations.

When I was in college, I was an emotional spender, too.  I'd buy things on pure impulse just because it felt good to do it at the time.  Eventually, I realized that if I continued to be an emotional spender, I was going to be in big financial trouble.  I've had to learn that while it's okay to buy fun things, it's much better to have good control over your discretionary income.  It's much better to reign in those impulses.

Here are some strategies you can use to stop emotional spending.

Pay close attention to the things you buy. Some people shop out of boredom. To avoid this, only shop when you really need something and keep a track of what you put in your cart.  Make a list and stick to it!

Try not to overindulge in fantasies. Stop worrying about what everyone else is thinking. It’s ok to want to impress a friend with an expensive dinner or wow everyone at work with a really nice new outfit, but don’t act these out because it can become costly.

Beware of small purchases because they can quickly add up. You may feel less guilty about buying something that’s cheap, but then you may feel like it will be ok to buy more cheap things.  It's quite easy to "Dollar Spot" yourself into the poorhouse if you can't walk right by the temptation.

Treat yourself every now and then. If you plan ahead for a special treat, you will be less likely to impulsively spend large amounts of money. If there is some new tech gadget you want to get, save for it. You’ll feel much better about it and it won’t mess up your financial security.  To me, this is why I am frugal - so I can comfortably afford to treat myself to something special every once in awhile.

Acknowledge the feelings that make you want to spend more. If you notice the emotions that are making you feel the need to buy things, you might be less likely to act on them.  Hmm.... that sounds like emotional eating, doesn't it?

Always keep your priorities in mind. There will be no shortage of bad days, but rather than seeing material things as a way to make you feel better, try focusing on your more important goals. If your goal is to get out of debt, then look at making senseless purchases as an obstacle in your way of achieving that goal. If you want to make a large purchase like buying a new car or paying extra on your mortgage, take the money you would normally spend frivolously and squirrel it away.  I know one friend who puts money into a travel jar every time her family avoids going out to eat and cooks at home instead.  They've made their family vacation their priority over the brief enjoyment of a restaurant meal.

Stay away from retail situations. Try to avoid going to the mall, shopping on eBay, or being drawn in by catalogues. All they want is to get your money and it’s so easy to overspend in those situations.  This is somewhat easy to do when you live in a rural area... but remember that internet shopping can be just as dangerous to your budget.  When I'm feeling lousy, I stay away from any sites that share the hottest online deals - it's just too dangerous.

Take the scenic route, or somewhere that doesn’t involve you traveling through a strip mall or near any place you would normally enjoy shopping.  And if you do have to drive near places you like to shop, don't look at their signs.  They're always having a sale, so just forget about stopping.

Try also to come up with your own unique solutions. You could try reading a book to get you through a boring day rather than shopping. You could also just have a friend or two over and watch some shows or movies. There are many ways to have fun or get through the rough patches without wasting a penny.

Curbing your emotional spending is not easy.  It's just as hard as curbing your emotional eating.  If they were easy, we'd all be skinny and rich.   The key is to stop yourself before you splurge and question your motivation.

The following is a guest post by Sarah Leonard of  Online Nursing Degrees.

You’ve recently bought into the idea that eating healthy is a good thing, but as soon as you started looking for alternatives at the grocery store, you realized that eating better could put a substantial dent in your budget.

You used to snack on chips at $3-4 a bag.  A small bag of natural nuts costs just as much and you only get one fourth the product!  You want to cut out sugary juice drinks and soda, but some waters are even more expensive!  And filling your cart with brownie spell murder for your workout, but with deals like two boxes for four dollars, you get a lot more fulfillment than you would from apples and oranges.  

Okay, stop right there!  You can find all kinds of excuses to talk yourself out of eating healthy, but the truth is, you can’t really fall back on the old budget line if you follow these simple steps.

Buy produce at your local farmer’s market.  It’s bound to be homegrown, organic, and fresher than anything at the supermarket.  The kicker?  It’s already cheaper, but if you buy several items, you can often haggle for an even better price.
 
Buy dry goods in bulk.  Ditch the chips and opt instead for items like beans, rice, and pasta, which are both more filling and more nutritious.  They are also often available in bulk, which can significantly reduce your cost.

Go generic.  Give up on the pricey brands (even on sale they cost more than generic) and go for the market brand.  You could save more than half on products that are similar or the same just by peeling the name off the box.

Eat whole grains.  Sugary cereals taste great but offer little else.  Consider granola or oatmeal as an alternative.  You may have to go the health food store if you want to purchase it by weight instead of pre-packaged, but that’s the best way to get a deal.  And add a little honey or vanilla soymilk to make it just as tasty as (and infinitely more healthy than) the sugary cereal you gave up.

Ditch the sodas AND the bottled water.  Are you really willing to spend money on water?  Sure, most city-dwellers don’t dare drink from the tap, but with all sorts of filtration systems available, you can save a ton of money and still get the chlorine-free water you want with only a small initial investment.

Eating healthy can certainly cost a lot, if you let it.  But like anything else, a little time and effort will produce results, in this case, serious savings.  And isn’t it worth clipping a few coupons and taking the time to comparison shop if it gains you a healthier, happier life?

If you've ever wondered how much electricity your old refrigerator is using or if that old VCR is an energy sucker, now there's  away to find out.

It's called a Kill-a-Watt, and it's a simple little gadget you can use to determine the electricity usage.

To use it, you simple plug the appliance/electronic item into the Kill-a-Watt and then plug the Kill-a-Watt into an electrical outlet. The Kill-a-Watt measures how much electricity the item uses. It's best to let it measure the usage for at least a week or two, preferably longer.

Kill-a-Watts cost between $20 and $50 depending on the model you pick, but if you're really serious about finding ways to save on energy costs, this tool will pay for itself.

If you live in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota, you can check out a Kill-a-Watt for free at your local public library.  I've heard that in some parts of the country, local utility companies also lend Kill-a-Watts out to customers, so check around in your community for free options before you buy.

I used the Kill-a-Watt to find out what an energy sucker my 1980s chest freezer was. I estimated that the freezer was costing me about $10/month to run.  I've since bought a new chest freezer that only costs me about $3 a month to run.  I'm now looking to see what other appliances in our home are using too much energy.

Between our busy schedules, tight budgets, and long list of house projects, we're masters at staycations.

Never heard of a staycation?  A staycation is when you take a vacation from your work, but you don't leave town.  Or if you do, you stay within a two hour radius.  A staycation gives you a much needed time to relax without spending a lot of money on hotels, food, and tourist attractions.

The key to having a fun staycation is to purposefully avoid anything that involves work.  You should not be staining a deck, holding a garage sale, or mowing the lawn on your staycation. 

Instead, here are some ideas for fun and frugal staycations.
 
Find free passes to your local tourist attractions. Check to see if your local library offers free passes to area attractions.  Many merchants also offer discount coupons.  It can be a lot of fun to learn about things that are in your own backyard.

Do touristy stuff during the week. Visit tourist attractions and state parks during the week when they are less crowded.  You'll enjoy the sites much more when things aren't as busy. 

Check out your local newspaper for activities you can do.  Many cities offer free live music and arts events during the summer, so put those on your to-do list.

Splurge on food.  You're on vacation - so be sure to eat out at least a couple of times.  You can save a ton of money using gift certificates purchased from Restaurant.com or you can sign-up for coupons from your favorite restaurants.  When you do cook from home, splurge a little - a fancy meal at home is still going to be a lot less expensive than one at a resort restaurant.

Spend time at the beach or pool.  Soaking up that Vitamin D and splashing in the warm water can really do wonders for your mood.

Camp in your backyard or at a nearby campground.  Camping is a fun, inexpensive way to connect with your family.  Just don't forget the s'mores!

Take lots of photos.  Since you won't be buying any souvenirs, use your camera to capture happy memories of your staycation.   With the money you save on your staycation, you'll be able to create photo books and gifts.

Whether you're on the road or staying at home for your vacation, remember to enjoy yourself, recharge those batteries, and connect with your loved ones.

It's not how much money you spend, it's how you spend your time!

Many families pass up a yearly family vacation because of the cost.

But taking a vacation doesn't have to break the bank.  Just about everyone is offering deals on vacation packages, from cruises to resorts. Younger kids can cruise free or at a reduced price. There are all sorts of hotels that offer deals where kids eat free if they are under a certain age (with approved stay).

Of course, you still need to have the cash to pay for it all.  Here's how to find the money for your next vacation:

Hold a yard sale.  Most of us have a few extras in our garage or closets that we can stand to let go of. You never know: one man’s stuff gathering dust is another man’s treasure. You could be sitting on a gold mine. If you are a traveling with other family members or friends, hold a joint yard sale at your church or larger venue so that the proceeds benefit everyone.

Count your change.  If you really looked, you’d probably find several dollars' worth of coins around your house. Use piggy banks and empty jars to fill with the change from your pockets each day. Make it a scavenger hunt for the kids. Whoever can find the change gets to keep it in their jar. Each month, cash in the change and place the money in an account just for your vacation.

Create a budget.  Budgeting helps us find extra money not just for a vacation but to put towards savings for the future. Cutting out unnecessary expenses can help you squeeze some money out of your monthly paycheck. To make it a win-win situation, divide the money you find between a household savings account and a vacation one.

Save on insurance.  This may be the perfect time to re-examine your insurance policies. For vehicles that are paid off, you can change the policy and drop collision to save money there. Homeowner’s insurance policies can be tweaked to meet your changing needs and to save a little green. There are no shortage of ads and commercials offering incentives to switch insurance companies.  If you don't want to switch companies, you can use another company's rates as leverage in negotiating a lower price.  We've raised our deductibles on most of our policies, and that has put about $50 a month extra in our pockets each month.

Use the Internet.  This is a great place for making money. You can sell items on eBay at auction, begin a blog and include ads to make passive income, or get paid for participating in surveys. All of these ideas can bring in extra money towards your vacation fund.

Save those credit card rewards.  My family uses a rewards credit card to pay many of our monthly bills and to put gas in our vehicles.  Each month, we pay the balance in full.  You can do the same thing and use the rewards to help offset your travel expenses.

Save birthday money. Don’t let that money burn a hole in your pocket. Add it to your piggy bank for a future vacation. For kids, it can be the money they use to buy souvenirs.

What are some ways you raise some extra cash for vacations?

Going to the movies on date night is a special treat for my husband and I.

Good thing... because it's spendy!  Two tickets to an evening show with all the popcorn and candy you can stomach can easily set you back more than $30.

Here are a few ways you can save money at the movies:

Go to the matinee.  Sure, it's not as romantic during the day... but you can shave several dollars off the ticket price.

See an older movie.  If you're not caught up on having to see the newest releases, you can head to a 2nd run theater and grab an older (but still new to you) show for just a couple of bucks a ticket. 

Eat before you go.  If you're already full, you'll be less likely to load up on movie theater food.  Most theaters make their money from the concessions, so if you don't buy any food, you'll save a ton of money.  That said, don't smuggle in your own snacks - most theaters have policies prohibiting that, and you do want to be able to show your face there again someday.

But if you must have that movie theater popcorn and ice cold soda, check for coupons.   Look on the theater's web site for deals.  Check to see if your theater is on Twitter or Facebook - if they are, chances are they'll share special offers in those places.

Share a large beverage or popcorn.  If you're with your significant other, get the largest size and share.  Many theaters offer free refills on the largest size - but you'll have to sneak out during the movie to take advantage of that deal. 


Make friends with a theater employee.  Theater employees usually get deeply discounted or free movie theater passes.  If you're friends with a movie theater employee, ask if you they can get you a deal.  (Don't abuse your friends' generosity, though, or you'll lose the friend!)

Check for weekday discounts.  Some theaters offer morning shows for families with younger children. 

Get free tickets with purchases you already make.  A lot of companies are now offering e-movie cash with a qualifying purchase - like Hersheys, Kellogg's, General Mills, Tampax, and more, so check your cupboards and see if you have some codes you can cash in for for free movie passes.

Get rewards.  Earn free movie tickets through MyPoints or through your credit card rewards program. You should also check to see if your movie theater has a loyalty program.

What are some ways you save money at the movie theater?

Sometimes I'm afraid to save money.

How is it that a self-proclaimed Cheapskate afraid to save money?

Lack of confidence.

I've spent hundreds of dollars over the years on hair cuts because I'm terrified of attempting to cut my boys' hair.  I've gone so far as to buy a "how-to" book, watched "how-to" videos, and bought a nice set of clippers and scissors.  But I just can't bring myself to cut their hair.

I pay a crazy amount of money each year to have a vet tech clip my dogs toenails because I'm afraid of hurting our little dog.

I tend to leave my money in conservative savings and investment accounts because I fear I'll screw up and lose my money.

I seldom make my own bread because I fear that all the time I invest will leave me disappointment.

And I know there are more money-saving things I avoid doing out of fear of failure or disappointment.

Of course, the rational side of me knows that this fear is ridiculous. As the saying goes, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

Yet, the fear is still there.   So the question becomes how to deal with it.

I don't have any easy answers.  But here are a few things that are working for me:

Baby steps.  You don't have to make giant leaps from where you are to where you want to be.  Taking a few small steps in the right direction is better than being frozen in place.

Find the root of the fear.  If it's a lack of knowledge that's holding you back, find someone who can teach you the skill or read up on the subject on the internet or at your library.  If it's the reaction you might get from your family, sit down and discuss your plans with them.  


Accept that there will be failures.  You will make mistakes. You may have regrets.  Learn from those things and move on.


Frugality is a lifestyle, not an end result.  As you seek to make the most of your money, you will realize that you are developing a frugal way of life.  You can't clip coupons and call yourself frugal - frugality is much, much more than that.

April was not exactly frugal at our house.

We had a few areas that we kept a tight reign on - we didn't buy any clothing in April and only a few household and personal care items.

But we did splurge a bit on groceries, eating out, and a few special splurges.

I've been trying to eat healthier, and am still figuring out how to do that on a budget.  My husband and I have both had busy months from a professional standpoint and so we resorted to eating out more than I would like.

As for our splurge, we bought a new table and chairs for our deck, since we were using hand-me-down plastic furniture that didn't have enough sitting for all the members of our family.  We invested in a high quality set that we know we will enjoy for years to come.  We love eating outside together, and this new patio set will bring us a lot of pleasure.   It wasn't cheap, but we planned for the expense and paid for it with cash.

I also noticed that our gas expenses have increased.  One reason is that gas prices have gone up, but we've also been driving more than usual.  We'll soon be in summer vacation mode, and that expense should go down next month.


At the beginning of April, I alluded to plans to declutter.  I'm still working on that.  I'll be taking some of the kids things to a consignment shop this week and am working on a "donate" pile.  I forsee a garage sale in my future. 

There have been many times when I have thought that I would like to be a minimalist, but unfortunately I don't think I could get my family on board with it.

What was April like for you?  To you overspend or stick to your budget?  What are you plans for May?

Just a friendly little reminder from your favorite Cheapskate to check your credit report.

Why?  Because an inaccurate credit report can indicate your identity has been stolen, and errors in your report can affect your ability to get credit, increase your interest rates, and even affect what you pay for insurance.

If you've been in denial about your financial situation, checking your credit report can also be a good way to tally up what you owe and jump start your debt reduction plans.

If you've been working hard to pay off those debts, checking your credit report is a great way to see your success.  All those "account closed, zero balance" notices make a person feel pretty good!

So how do you check your credit report?  The most important thing to remember is that you should never pay to check your credit reports. 

Thanks to a federal law, you can access one credit report from each of the three nationwide credit reporting bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) for free each year.

To get started, all you have to do is visit annualcreditreport.com and fill out the forms.   You can also request your credit report by phone or mail.   The forms are simple to fill out.  They ask for things like your social security number, places you lived, and they may ask a couple of personal questions about your credit history to confirm your identity.  You can check out these frequently asked questions for more info.

Some people decide to request all three credit reports at once.  When you do that, it makes it easy to compare the results. But from a security standpoint, you may want to request one report from each bureau  every four months.  (Just remember to always use annualcreditreport.com to access these reports, or you can't get them for free.) 

When you request each report every four months over the course of the year, it helps you make sure nothing bad has happened to your credit report all year long. Think of it as credit monitoring without the credit monitoring fees! 

Checking your credit report is free, easy to do, and can provide you with a lot of information about your relationship with credit.  

The National Association of Letter Carriers will be holding their Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 8.

This is the largest food drive in the country, and it's super easy for you to help!

Just leave a bag of non-perishable food where your letter carrier normally delivers your mail on Saturday, May 8.  Your letter carrier will then pick up and deliver the food to a local food bank.

Donate items like canned meats, fish, soup, juice and vegetables, and pasta, cereal and rice. Don't include items that have expired or are in glass containers.

If you're good at couponing and freebie hunting, then I'm sure you  have an ample stockpile of canned and boxed foods to donate to your local food bank.

You may also want to check with your local food bank to see if they take personal care items like deodorant, shampoo and toothpaste.   If so, you probably have some in your stash to spare.

Saving money at the store feels good.  Using that savings to help others feels pretty good, too.

Last year the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collected 73.4 million pounds of food last year.  The need is great, it's easy to do, and it helps so many people right in our community.

One other easy way to help this cause:  Become a fan of Stamp Out Hunger on Facebook, and Campbell's Soup will donate one can of soup - up to a one million cans - to Feeding America.

The following is a guest post by Sarah Harris of  Zen College Life.

You’ve been dreaming of a European tour for years, and those exotic island getaways sound pretty sweet, but you just don’t see how you can have your dream vacation without breaking the bank.  When you sit down to consider the cost of travel, lodging, and transportation (not to mention all the little extras, like say, food…and don’t even get started on souvenirs!), your ledger goes into the red.  And nothing is less fun on holiday than constantly stressing over finances.  But how can you be frugal and still enjoy all the fun aspects of taking a vacation?  Here are some helpful hints.

1.    Stay with relatives.  Chances are, you have relatives (albeit distant) all over the world, and many of them would be happy to house you in exchange for a return on investment, so to speak (i.e., you put them up when they want to visit your corner of the world).  This can save you a ton of money on lodging, especially if you are planning to visit a large urban area where hotels are notoriously pricey.  They may also be willing to help you plan outings or take you on a tour of their hometown.  At the very least, it’s a good excuse to get to know some of your extended family.

2.    If you can’t (or won’t) stay with friends or relatives, then at least choose a reasonably priced hotel.  Chances are, you aren’t going to be spending much time there anyway, so what does it matter if you have an ocean view?  One good choice might be a business hotel, which tends to be less expensive on the weekends.  At the very least, you can choose accommodations that feature a complimentary continental breakfast so you can save on the cost of one meal.  Another good option for younger travelers is to stay in a youth hostel, which is specifically designed for the tourist on a budget (no private bathrooms, and you may have to share living quarters with other travelers, but at 10 to 20 bucks a bunk, it’s a steal for the frugal traveler).

3.    Consider a cruise.  If your goal is to tour a foreign country or three, this is a good way to get a glimpse of the port cities (often some of the most desirable tourist destinations anyway).  You pay a set price for travel, food, and lodging on-board and anything extra is up to you.  And if you go in the off-season, you can take advantage of reduced prices.

4.    Drive.  With airlines hiking prices and charging all kinds of taxes and fees (some charge for not only checked bags, but also carry-ons) and train travel almost as expensive, you could save a lot of money by putting the pedal to the metal.  You can also pack a lot of your own food and if you are the type that likes to camp out, you can cut the cost of lodging, as well.

5.    As for activities, if you’ve seen one mall, you’ve seen them all, so try to avoid the tourist traps.  Opt instead for freebies like museums and local novelties.  Every locale has its attractions (the Grand Canyon, The Getty Museum in Los Angeles, vineyard tours in Tuscany, the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, etc.), so do a little research before you take your trip to find fun (and free) activities.

The most important thing to remember is to make a budget and stick to it.  You don’t have to plan it down to the penny (and setting aside emergency money for extras couldn’t hurt), but be sure you have enough to do the things you want so you don’t spend your vacation dreading your next credit card bill.

This guest post was written by Sarah Harris, of Zen College Life, the premier directory for online schools. Find out more information about criminal justice degrees.

You know what happens.  You’re racing from one thing to another and then you get home and realize you’ve forgotten to pick something up at the store.

Or you’ve had a long day and it would be so easy to pick up a high calorie snack when you fill up your gas tank.

The cost of convenience can really be tough on your budget.

Here are some ways to save money when convenience is a necessity.

Stay out of the convenience store if you can.  Try to substitute with something you already have in your pantry.  See if you can borrow something from your neighbors.  Try to do without. 

Pay at the Pump.  If you just can’t resist those impulse buys at the grocery store when you stop to fill up for gas, then use your credit card and pay at the pump.  You will only be able to buy what you came for and nothing else.

Take advantage of store rewards.  Many convenience stores have loyalty programs.  If you must make a purchase at a convenience store, be sure to check for discounts.

Use a rewards credit card.  I’m not a big fan of using  your credit card for consumables, but if you are excellent at paying off your balance in full every month, you could get at least  a few pennies back for your stop at the convenience store.

Buy the store brands.  Even at convenience stores, where the prices are often outrageous, you can still find deals on store brands. 

Compare prices.  Look for multi-packs.  For example, it may be cheaper to buy a 6 pack of candy or a 2 liter bottle of soda than it is to buy a single candy bar or a 20 oz bottle of soda. 

Of course the best way to avoid the high cost of convenience is to plan in advance.   Make lists and keep them in your purse, or use a service like ZipList to keep your list on your phone.

photo by dno1967/ CC BY 2.0

Some part of me has always known that dieting is a lot like budgeting.

But since I’ve started Weight Watchers I’m even more aware of the parallels.

Instead of money, I get a certain allotment of points for the day (and for the week).  

Every day,  if I want to meet my goals of losing weight, I have to choose what foods have the most value for the points.  Every day, if I want to meet my financial goals, I have to make decisions based on what will provide the most value for my money.

And man, are both things really hard.  There is temptation everywhere. 

It’s really easy to let your attitude send you into a downward spiral.

For example, I had a rather challenging Easter week when it came to my diet.  I burned up all of my weekly points early in the week.  It depressed me and frustrated me. 

My attitude went down the tubes.  I decided that the week was “already screwed up” and that I might as well eat whatever I wanted and as much as I wanted.

Fortunately, I was able to start fresh the next week with a better attitude.  While I didn’t lose any weight that week,  I did gain a little perspective.

I  realized that it is that bad attitude - the “I’ve already screwed up, what’s the point of trying” attitude - is poison to your long term goals.  Where would we have been if we had felt that way when we were working to pay off our student debt and car loans?   We probably would have added a lot of self-entitlement to things like vacations and gadgets and racked up a lot of credit card debt.   We probably would have just told ourselves we deserved to treat ourselves… much like I can talk myself into a Snickers bar when I’ve had a bad day.

The keys to managing your finances and losing weight are the same: 

• Realize that you will make mistakes.  Learn from them and move on.

• Strive for getting the best value  - whether it is from your food or your money. 

• Always keep your goals in mind.  Post them on your fridge so you can see them.

• Realize that you do deserve a treat sometimes, but within reason.  

• A support network makes all the difference.  Sometimes it’s our friends and family that are the best at kicking us out of our bad moods. 

• There are no quick fixes.  It doesn’t take long to get into get into debt or to outgrow all your clothes.  But it does take a lot of work to get out of debt and lose the weight.  

The journey to better health and finances is a marathon, not a sprint.   But when you reach your goals, there is nothing better!

Those of us who love clipping and organizing coupons know that it's easy for these tiny scraps of paper to take over our purses and counter tops.

And when we don't use all those coupons, it can make you feel more than a little guilty about that paper waste.

Here are a few ways you can make using coupons more green:

Recycle what you don't use. If you've got kids, let them cut up your old expired coupon inserts for art projects and scissors practice. Be sure to recycle the inserts when you're done.

Swap those coupons. If you have coupons you don't need, swap them with a friend or relative for coupons you want. 

Print your coupons.  Rather than collecting all of the glossy newspaper inserts and magazines for coupons, print your coupons - in draft mode to save ink.  And the biggest tip to making your coupons more green: Only print the coupons you absolutely know you will use.

Mobile coupons.  Sign up for services like CellFire and download coupons right to your mobile phone or grocery store loyalty card.  Target also offers mobile coupons.  Text message fees may apply so read the fine print before you use mobile coupons.  In many cases the mobile coupons can be combined with manufacturer coupons.

Don't use coupons at all.  You can still save money on your grocery and household goods by buying storebrand items, shopping at Dollar Stores, thrift stores, and wholesale clubs.  Remember that the less processed and the less packaged an item is, the better it usually is for the environment.

Everything we throw away ends up in a landfill, polluting our planet.

It's easy to forget that, unless, of course, you're like us and have to haul your own garbage to the landfill every week.  Then you know all too well.  Blech.

Once you've been to a garbage dump, you realize that there is more you could do to keep things out of the landfill.  You could recycle more, you could compost, you could buy products that have less packaging to begin with.

But there is one very simple thing you can do to cut back on how much you throw away and it will save you money, too.

Think twice before you toss. 

The next time you are about to throw something away, take a close look at it before tossing it.  Ask yourself why you're throwing it away and if there's a better way to dispose of it than just throwing it in the trash.

We're all busy cleaning out the clutter from our lives.  Make sure that there isn't a bit of life left in that old junk before you put it in the garbage.

Before you toss out that clutter, consider these ideas:

• Sell it in a garage sale.

• Donate it to a charity thrift store like Goodwill or The Salvation Army. 

• Give it away on FreeCycle.

• Recycle any parts that you can.  Pull buttons off ratty old shirts and turn the shirts into rags. Pull shoe laces out of worn-out shoes.  Look at creative ways to make something new from the old materials.  Sometimes people will buy things just for the parts, so you may be able to give the item new life that way. 

• If it's broken, make sure it can't be fixed with a simple repair.  I threw away a perfectly good MyFirst LeapPad that could have been easily fixed if I'd taken the time to do a quick internet search.

Of course, the easiest way to control the amount of trash we put in the landfill is by controlling the amount of stuff we bring into our homes.

Think twice before you buy, too, and the Earth (and  your wallet) will be better for it.

Photo by mysza831

The weather is getting warmer, the sun has been shining.  It's the time of year you just really want to be outside.

And today is National Hanging Out Day, according to Project Laundry List, a non-profit organization that encourages people to wash their clothing in cold water and line dry their clothing.  (My kind of people, I think.)

Line-drying your clothing instead of throwing your laundry in the dryer not only saves energy, but can save you as much as $10 to $25 a month on your electric bill.

In addition, line drying clothes can help your clothes last longer because they're not subjected to a scorching hot dryer every week.

I enjoy putting my clothes out on the line in the warmer months of the year.  It's nice to be out in nature and know that I'm saving money and helping the environment doing it. 

During our cold Minnesota winters, I admit that I do use our dryer, but I don't throw everything in there - many things (like sweaters) are laid out on drying racks.  I also have a retractable clothes line that extends the length of our laundry/utility room to hang a few other things. 

One thing I've learned is that line drying your laundry is an art form.  If you're new to the concept, check out this great video on How to Hang Laundry  from my blogger friend Jenn at Frugal Upstate. 

So head outside and start hanging out that laundry!

The following is a guest post by Emily Thomas, who writes on the topic of online college degrees.

Your child's education is perhaps one of the most valuable assets one human being could give to another, as it is the one thing that will have definite on-going returns throughout your child's life, well into adulthood.

Therefore, money spent on education is, for the most part, money well spent. But if one thing is true, a quality education, especially these days, is expensive. So in order to invest wisely, you must carefully consider how to allocate your resources, so that you can give your kid the education she deserves without you yourself going broke. The following are a few suggestions on preparing for the inevitable college funds-sucker.

1. If your kid is about to apply to college, do your financial research FIRST.

More than anything, a higher education is what you'll have to shell out the most for. While tuition rates have been skyrocketing, the value of a college degree is incontestable, and that's not just in the realm of future employment success. Studies have proven that more educated people tend to be happier.

Before you begin the college search, make sure that you understand the costs. If your child is very gung-ho about attending a top university and has the grades and test scores to back it up, then make sure that you learn about all the costs involved, since elite, private universities, more so than public ones, often have expenditures that people don't normally account for until after they enroll.

2. Fill out the FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE while in the process of applying to schools.

The FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE are two common financial aid eligibility forms that most universities require if you are in need of financial aid from the government and/or the institution. Even if you think you earn too much to qualify, fill them out anyway. You never know. The earlier you get these forms in, the better your chances of getting all the financial aid you require. Don't wait until after your child is accepted. For more financial aid form tips, click here.

3. After acceptance, make a very specific but realistic budget for your child. And most importantly, stick to it.

Once you've calculated tuition and housing costs, which are usually pretty clear cut once your child receives her financial aid package in the mail, make a reasonable budget for personal costs. If your child has a meal plan which is more than likely included in housing costs, understand that sometimes the student cafeteria may be closed (once a week on Saturday, for example, or during short holidays when your kid may not come home). For a general idea of the different personal costs often associated with college, and what you can expect to pay, click here.

4. Don't budge on additional requests for money, if you know you've given your child enough to have a fulfilling academic and social life.

One thing that I noticed while attending college is the inordinate levels at which parents spoil their kids. Several of my friends had daddy's credit card, and asking money from the more hesitant parents became a game, a skill that one had to hone.

My parents, on the other hand, were very specific about my allowance, and I was usually able to make do. If I ran out (which was usually due to social expenses), then I learned different ways to make extra cash, like taking on a very part-time student job, or selling different things on eBay.

If you're firm with your kid's allowance, then your child will teach herself how to become a better saver and entrepreneur, which are lessons that everyone should learn, at some point or another, on their own. Bottom line, learn to say no.

Note: This guest post is contributed by Emily Thomas, who writes on the topics of online college degrees.  She welcomes your questions and comments at her email Id: emily.thomas31@gmail.com. 

Often when a woman makes the decision to leave the workforce to take care of her children, her main thought is how to handle the loss of her income. 

But there are more things to consider than just how to survive in a one-income family.

Here are some other financial considerations that you should consider as a stay-at-home moms:

Debt load.  How much debt are you carrying?  What are your plans for repaying that debt?  How will living on one income  affect those repayment plans?

Emergency Fund.  When the unexpected happens - and it always does - how will your family be prepared to handle it?   Do you have a 3-6 month emergency fund?

Life insurance.  Should your spouse die unexpectedly, do you have adequate life insurance to provide for you and the kids?   Depending on how long you’ve been out of the workforce, it may be difficult for you to find a job and you may not be ready emotionally for such dramatic change after the loss of your spouse. Likewise, if something were to happen to you, would there by adequate money available for your husband to cover childcare expenses on his income alone?

While no one likes to consider the possibility that a spouse could pass away, it does happen, and knowing that there is enough life insurance money to help cover expenses can provide some comfort.

Retirement.  Each year that you are out of the workforce is a loss of potential earnings toward your retirement.  While it is important to make sure your spouse is saving for retirement, you should also consider having your own retirement funds.  Consider establishing a spousal Roth IRA to help save.  The money you put into a Roth IRA can be taken out at any time without penalty.

Resume building.  What things will you do to ensure that your resume doesn’t completely die off when you leave the workforce?  If your situation suddenly required you  to look for work, will you have any relevant experience to put on your resume or have qualified references you can use?  Consider volunteering in your community or taking on some small side jobs to keep your resume alive.  If you are in a field (such as teaching) that requires a current license, be sure to keep up on the requirements.

Emotional Considerations.  Before you make the leap, you should also consider how you will feel about being a stay-at-home mom.  Being a SAHM is a roller coaster ride of challenges and triumphs.  The hours are long and sometimes thankless, and the isolation can be difficult.  When you feel lonely and overwhelmed it is easy to turn to shopping and overeating as an outlet.  What kinds of things will you do to ensure you take good care of yourself as a stay-at-home mom?

Being a stay-at-home is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.  Being financially smart makes it even better.

April is Earth Month and it seems like being more environmentally friendly is on everyone's minds.

If you're thinking that going green is only for people who have some green in their wallets, then please read Frugal Ways to Go Green, my guest post at SC Johnson's Family Economics blog.

Got your own "Going Green" tip?  Post it on the SC Johnson website and for each tip, they'll donate $1 to Team Earth.