It's time once again for me to clean out my bookmarks folder and dump all of the links I've recently come across that might be of interest to you all. It's a mishmash of articles, blog posts and websites that may be fun and informative. Check out the list below, you may find just what you've been looking for. Before I get to that, I have a plea:
Would anyone be interested in writing a diary on frugal holiday giving, specifically on some great gift ideas you can make? I don't have a crafty gene in my body, but I know many of you out there do and people would love to read about your gift making ideas. Send me email: frugalfridays (at) gmail.com if you are interested in guest hosting soon.
Budget Recipes: Looking for recipes that explicitly state how much it will cost per serving to prepare? Look no further than the website Budget Bytes. This is one of the best frugal food related websites I have ever seen. There are step by step instructions, with both during and after pictures and a detailed cost breakdown for all the ingredients in each recipe. Seriously, if you only follow one link I've posted today, make it this one.
Bartering: Last week I suggested that bartering your services might be a good way to save money. If you are open to the idea, but don't really know how to get started, check out the article, Barter for the Services You Need, to find some suggestions on how to advertise your skills and to connect with those who want to trade with you.
Love and Money: One of the main causes of divorce in this country are fights over money. This is often due to the fact that individuals may have very different goals and habits when it comes to earning, saving and spending. Before you get hitched, here are four topics to cover in Money Talks to Have Before Marriage.
Tax Planning: I know that most of us hate thinking about taxes, but spending some time to consider your financial situation now, may pay off in the future. Now is the time to consider these Year-end tax moves to make now. Right now. In addition, let me add one more that they didn't mention: consider whether you want to prepay your property taxes before the end of the year. If you are worried about possibly triggering AMT, you may want to skip it, but if you are looking for an extra deduction, that is one that is a possibility.
Federal Budget: Speaking of taxes, if you are wondering where your tax dollars go, this really cool wall poster shows graphically how the federal budget breaks down department by department in a great graphical design. It's a detailed source of information in an easy to grasp format and makes a fantastic educational tool.
Household Budget: Similarly, if you are wondering how the average US consumer spends the household budget, this graphic can show you and may help you pinpoint areas of your budget where you are overspending.
Your Financial Health: If you are wondering how healthy your personal finances are, as compared with what many experts recommend, take this little quiz, How healthy are your finances?, to see how you stack up.
Money Game: Speaking of education, if you have children or teenagers who you think could use a little more financial education, try pointing them towards this online soccer game where you score goals based on your answers to questions about money and finances. (Warning: this site has music and sounds that start up immediately.)
Credit Card Perks: If you currently carry credit cards, you may want to make sure you are taking advantage of all they offer by checking out this list of 10 Little-Known Credit Card Perks. Keep in mind that not all companies will offer all of these perks and some companies may not offer any.
Retirement Income: If you are retired, or intend to retire relatively soon, and you are worried about making sure your savings last, you make want to look over these Five ways to make your nest egg last a lifetime.
Jobs: While following the tips in 10 Ways to Make Your Boss Love You won't guarantee that you avoid being laid off, they can make your employment a little more secure, and can make you happier at work as well.
Insurance Costs: If you are looking to trim your household budget, one spot you may be able to trim is your insurance bill (home, auto, property, etc.) and you may find some helpful tips in: Slash Your Insurance Costs. (Note: the link to page 2 of this article is down right now. Click on the "Print This Article" link at the top to see the entire thing.) If you are considering switching insurance companies, you may want to check out the record of previous complaints against your new company before you switch. How to Check an Insurer's Complaint Record can help you find this information.
Disney Discounts: Planning a trip to a Disney themepark or considering buying tickets to a Disney show? Be sure and stop at MouseSavers first to find what discounts and freebies are currently available.
Packing Boxes and Sleeves: Wondering how to make a box to protect or display some odd-shaped item? Check out the website HowPack which has hundreds of patterns you can use to make packaging for just about anything. The site is password protected, but at least for now you can access it using the publicly available password: 147258.
Upcoming Seasonal Sales: November is traditionally the month when winter outerwear (coats, boots, gloves, etc.), blankets and quilts all go on sale. It's also a good time to pick up back to school items (such as clothes and sneakers) that just haven't sold. In addition wedding dresses also can be found on sale this month.