DEAR SARA: Do you have your kids do chores for their allowance, or do they get it regardless? –Michelle, Massachusetts
DEAR MICHELLE: I don’t give my children an allowance for chores. Our children have chores and responsibilities that they have to do because they should. We give rewards if they go above and beyond their daily responsibilities. Sometimes it’s monetary, and other times it’s not. I don’t want to get into a situation in which one day my kids decide they don’t care whether they get their allowance that week, …

photo by noel zia lee

Even small impulse purchases can result in overspending because they add up quickly. It helps to have a list of frugal activities to do when the urge to splurge strikes. Avoiding temptation is an important part of reaching your goals. It’s a powerful feeling to be in control. Simply avoid situations that cause you to spend unnecessarily.
Retail merchandising is designed to lure you in. It’s not just the scents and sounds that encourage you to shop. Merchandisers manipulate how you’ll walk through a store and …

photo by kk+

The first step on the frugal path is different for everyone, but a handful of immediate lifestyle changes are popular for people just beginning the journey. These simple changes show quick results and easily become a force of habit. Try one or try them all, and you’ll be well on your way to saving money painlessly. Do the math and you’ll soon recover money you didn’t know was falling through the cracks.
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photo by jslander

It makes sense to know when to buy and how to store produce so it will last longer and taste fresher. No one wants to find a great deal on fruit and later find a rotten, slimy mess in the refrigerator.
Buying marked-down produce is OK if you plan to eat it right away, but if you plan to store it, you’ll want to buy just enough of the freshest produce you can find. Like all bargains, it’s not a deal if it goes into the trash.
The …

photo by Digital Sophia

It’s no secret that most kids want stuff, and most of it isn’t anything they need. As a parent, you want your kids to be responsible, grateful and not think they are the center of the universe. You can’t possibly afford to satisfy every whim, either.
A common solution to the “gimmes” is to let them work for the things they want instead of running out and buying it or simply saying no. Often, it’s the children who want to work for extra money. If you don’t …