Costco Pharmacy: Save on Prescription Drug Costs

While standing in line at the Costco pharmacy, I found myself in a discussion with another Costco member who apparently saves over a thousand dollars a year on her meds by buying them there instead of her neighborhood CVS. (I also got an earful … [Read the rest]

AutoSlash Review: Car Rental Price Drop Tracker

Here's a quick tip that I've been using regularly this summer for saving money on car rentals. A quick primer on car rental reservations. When you make a reservation at most car rental shops, you simply agree to a price and make a non-binding … [Read the rest]

4 Different Rules of Thumb For How Much House You Can Afford

Updated. Buying a house is always an exciting yet terrifying time. Deciding on how much we can "afford" is often limited by how much someone will lend us. Mortgage lenders use income size, income stability, credit score, down payment size, and other … [Read the rest]

Owning a World Market-Cap Weighting of Gold

Gold is an asset class that is part commodity, part currency, and part insurance policy. As I write this, gold prices are at a 5-year low. I own a little physical gold for cultural reasons, but I don't consider it part of my asset allocation and I … [Read the rest]

Alternative View: Keep Up With The OTHER Joneses

We've all heard the phrase "Keeping up with the Joneses". It even has its own Wikipedia page with competing origin stories. Perhaps the greatest marketing trick ever is making people equate social status with material goods. Instead of … [Read the rest]

Best Frugal Non-Stick Fry Pan / Saute Pan

I think it was Alton Brown's food show that first told me that all non-stick pans were pretty much disposable and simply weren't meant to last very long. Therefore, you should just buy the standard fry pan found at your local restaurant supply … [Read the rest]

Ally Bank Interest Checking Account Review

Updated. If you are looking for a flexible alternative to a megabank account with tiny interest but convenient ATM network, here is my review of the Ally Interest Checking Account which I use in conjunction with the Ally Online Savings Account and … [Read the rest]

Amazon Prime Day 7/15 : One-Day Sale for Prime Members

Expired: Sale is over! Amazon is holding something called "Amazon Prime Day" for their Prime members on July 15, 2015. Non-Prime members can sign up for a free 30-day trial to be eligible to participate. Here are the deals that caught my … [Read the rest]

Weight Management vs. Money Management: Taking the Long-Term View

I'm currently reading Smart People Don't Diet by Charlotte Markey. The book offers a "science-based approach" to weight management backed by academic research from scientists, doctors, nutritionists, and psychologists. Sounded good to me. The … [Read the rest]

AirHelp, Refund.Me, AirTaxBack: Get Money Back For Cancelled, Delayed, or Missed Flights

Have you been on a delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flight to/from Europe within the last within the last three years? Ever just missed a flight? You could be entitled up to $800 from the airline, or a refund of your taxes and fees. AirHelp … [Read the rest]

Portion Distortion: Change Your Perspective, Eat Better, Spend Less

I've got one month left on my $600 in weight-loss bets, and an important tool that has helped me success is portion control. This way, I can still enjoy most of my favorite foods while still losing 1-2 pounds a week. Even naughty things like … [Read the rest]

Home Improvement Receipts: Scan Now, Save Indefinitely

For many people, when they sell a home they don't even consider taxes. But over time, especially if you live in a relatively expensive area, more and more people will bump up against the federal capital gains exclusions of $250,000 for individuals … [Read the rest]