instant gratification

Back in the 80s I walked to the YMCA with my weekly video game allowance of two quarters. That bought me one game of Asteroid and one game of Pac-man. Any idea what the difference is between Pac-man in the 80s and FooPets today? You had to pay cash up front in order to play [...]

I recently read an article in The New York Times (hat tip for bringing it to my attention: MAPping Company Success) about the increasing trend of using real money to pay for virtual goods. The article also addresses the rise of credit, via a company called Kwedit.com, to pay for virtual purchases online. This article [...]

Over Christmas, my husband’s parents came to stay with us for two weeks. We have an extra bedroom, but no bed for it. While the air mattress is fine for a couple of nights, we didn’t want my in-laws to have to sleep on it for two weeks. We’re not quite ready to buy another [...]

PocketSmith is an online personal finance management tool with some unique features. It features a calendar that allows you to add events, multiple calendars, and forecasts how much cash you will have over the next year. Like other personal finance or budgeting sites, you upload transactions to the site from various accounts and are able [...]

It is often said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so ask yourself if you want your child mimicking your financial practices. It’s more important than ever to provide a solid example of financial basics and talk to your kids about money to help prevent the next generation from being in more financial [...]

Following the success of previous Frugal of Cheap Test, I am going to throw another one out there for your enjoyment. I hope that you’ll like this Financial IQ Test as much as the last one and find it somewhat educational as well. Please note that I’ve included a link or two for some questions. [...]

Net Worth Review
We definitely saw good recovery in April, but you really have to ask how much more can the Fed cuts interest rates. The S&P 500 index went up +4.75% from 1322.70 to 1385.59. According to NetworthIQ, my net worth actually went up +1.70% and net investable assets went up +6.22%, or from 22.09% [...]

With the recent increases in gas price, everyone is feeling the pinch. What used to be a $30 fill up is now $40. And every household budget is in crisis from the rising gas price, along with everything else. So, I figure this is a good time to share some money saving tips.

Save Money On [...]

Credit cards make it easy for us to buy now and pay later. This mindset is pervasive and dominant in the United States, and it keeps many Americans financially imprisoned. I can still remember when there was no credit card, and I had to save for what I want.
Morpheus offers him the chance to learn [...]