18 Smart Things to Do With Your Tax Refund

April 13, 2012

Boy, are we glad we used an accountant to prepare our taxes this year! You remember the whole saga about whether we should hire a pro or do our own self-employment income taxes, and thanks to you all, I was convinced that getting help was going to be well worth our hard-earned clams. After getting [...]

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How Can We Splurge but Still Save?

March 5, 2012

I confess I’ve been feeling quite unfrugal recently. All this spending on our house makes me wonder if I’m losing points in the thrift department. I mean, would a big saver pay an interior designer? Would a savings expert buy a house in one of the most expensive cities? Would a thrifty person renovate — [...]

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Readers Answered: How to Find an Affordable Accountant

February 3, 2012

“OH MY GOD, I cannot reply FAST ENOUGH — get an accountant!!!! The money you shell out to them is worth all the time and energy and stress and frustration that you save…just THINK, in cost-benefit analysis, how much more time it allows you to play with your children, or get exercise, or read a [...]

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Please Help Take Frugal Mama to the Next Level by Answering a Few Quick Questions

January 31, 2012

When I tell people I’ve found my calling with Frugal Mama, I sometimes have to stop and laugh. It’s easy to find a job you are passionate about, with a flexible schedule, and permission to work from home. The trick is getting paid to do it! Sure, I have begun to earn a little money [...]

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Question for Readers: How Do I Find a Good but Reasonable Accountant?

January 12, 2012

My uncle Phil and my friend Ashley, both savvy in business and money, have been telling me I need to get an accountant now that Frugal Mama is turning into a small business. Signs that I needed to get my finances organized? I started making money from writing for other sites, I trademarked Frugal Mama, [...]

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Things I Want to Nail in 2012 and Tools I Need to Sharpen | Goal #1: Face the Scariness of Retirement Saving

January 3, 2012

This is so stereotypical of me to list goals for the new year. My friend Jamie has always thought that New Year’s Eve seems like an artificial holiday. Changing numbers is kind-of a random thing to celebrate, but on the upside, the simple turning of the calendar does inspire hope and new plans. As I’ve [...]

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Proud to Welcome These Home Businesses & Start-ups (+ Resources for Small Biz Owners)

December 9, 2011

Last week I announced that I would be offering free ads this month (and for 30 days thereafter) to Frugal Mama readers. I’m so happy to introduce you to the start-ups who now grace my blog. Each one is so unique, and adds a richness to the site. Starting one’s own business can be isolating, [...]

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Free Ads to Frugal Mama Readers for the Month of December

December 1, 2011

So here’s the deal. I have decided it’s time to open up Frugal Mama to advertisements. I’ve struggled with the idea of making money from this blog for a long while. Selling stuff on a blog about simple living and saving money seemed counter-message. But the truth is, there are plenty of companies and small [...]

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This One Thing Will Make You Save Money and Achieve Your Dreams

November 17, 2011

Focus. It is usually the key element missing in our efforts to save money and build wealth. Do you know what you want out of life? Do you how much you need to get there? If we just have iffy ideas about what we want, then our success will also be iffy. The Power of [...]

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New Daily Spending Form: Introducing a Prettier and Better Printable

November 8, 2011

Remember the black-and-white daily budget table that’s been on my site since it launched?  Never Ask Again: Where Does All the Money Go?, the post where it first appeared, continues to be my most-trafficked page, and the chart is still one of the most well-loved tools in our household. However after doing several money makeovers [...]

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Why I Don’t Groupon

October 5, 2011

Recent news about how the deal-of-the-day coupon movement is losing steam made me think about why I was never on the train. I’m sure people who know I write about saving money are probably asking, “Why wouldn’t you be all over coupons by e-mail?” So here’s the deal. A few weeks ago a friend of [...]

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Getting our Finances in Order in Just 10 Minutes a Day

September 22, 2011

This is a guest post by Laura Brady Saade of Give Me 10! I like how Laura separates the urgent (bake sale) from the important (retirement). She shows how tiny pockets of time can help us chip away at daunting tasks so we can find more peace of mind. If you’re like me, you probably [...]

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Reader Spotlight: How Stephanie Quadrupled Her Children’s Art Business and Cut Her Workload by More than Half

August 29, 2011

Stephanie Brandt wrote me recently saying: Your post on how you found your calling and putting your desires out there for the universe to respond to really resonated with me and got me thinking. My Etsy business has been going really well and is not only a great source of income for our family, but [...]

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Question for Readers: When Does Frugal Become Embarrassing?

August 16, 2011

As part of a new normal here of featuring my readers, I thought we’d start off with this question sent to me by Daisy.   “I didn’t enjoy being part of a frugal family as a child. I was conspicuous and just wanted to fit in. I never had the ‘right’ clothes and my lunch [...]

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Fallen off the Wagon? Get Back on Track and Love Your New Frugal Life

June 13, 2011

Did you resolve to spend less and save more back in January? If so, you are in good company — even if you’ve swerved off the path. Fewer than 2% of people actually follow-through on their New Year’s Resolutions — however, this year can be different. Resolution Rescue: Listen While You’re Folding Laundry In this Buttoned [...]

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15 Super-Easy Ways to Save the Earth — and Your Wallet

April 21, 2011

Frugal and green go hand in hand. Of course some eco-friendly solutions can require investments of time and energy, such as replacing appliances, planting a vegetable garden, or getting by with one car. But so many win-win solutions are cheap and easy. More at Parentables…

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