Thrifty

Thirty miles per gallon. That benchmark is emerging as the defining criteria for motorists who are hoping to find relief from steadily rising gas prices. It’s more important than style, color or power. “It’s definitely changing,” said Drew Koehnke, sales manager for Power Auto Center in Corvallis, who carries Buick, Pontiac and Cadillac autos. “Now people come in and ask what we’ve got

Inexpensive Wall Decor By Kathy Wilson Want to decorate your walls, but your budget is tight? Here are some terrific low cost wall decor ideas that can be used for any room. *Baskets *Straw hats or fedoras *Empty frames from yard sales *Blocks of wood as candle wall sconces *Pretty quilts *Print family snapshots in black and white, and hang in black dollar shop frames *Garden catalog pages, in

Emergency FundsI think credit cards are so marketed to people for emergencies and travel that they forget what they really are: loans, so we forget to save.Mortgages that put you in chargeUsually, when borrowers want to restructure their mortgages - go from a fixed-rate to a variable rate, for example - they have to refinance, an onerous, expensive process. There are new closing costs, legal fees

The nation’s car-selling industry – particularly in California, its No. 1 market – is going through what amounts to a natural selection process. Evidence of this evolutionary process can be seen locally. Today, after more than a quarter-century, Senator Ford at 3801 Florin Road stopped selling new cars, although it will continue selling used autos of all makes, expand rental-car operatio

Thrifty Canada is pleased to offer a 10 % discount off time and mileage, on any car. Use promo code CAN8. Offer good through 4.30.08. Thrifty Canada is pleased to offer a 5% discount off time and mileage, on any car to Senior Citizens (for renters age 55 or older). Receive 15% off your next Thrifty weekly rental in Canada when you use your American Express® Card. For a limited time, when pay for your rental with an American Express Card, you'll also earn DOUBLE Thrifty Blue Chip Rewards credits. Just book and complete a rental between by May 31, 2008. See site for more details. Rent a Mini Van at any participating Thrifty location for only $177 per week. Minimum 5 day rental and must be paid for with an American Express Credit Card. PC Code AX07 must also show in the reservation. A

The slowing economy might curtail consumer spending. But reduced spending itself can be inhibited if digital marketers have anything to do with it. Target marketing company ICOM says its recent survey shows that U.S. shoppers are more likely to use coupons now that a recession is coming. Or, now that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke admits [...]

Ford Motor Co., buoyed by the improved quality of its vehicle lineup, is enhancing its certified used vehicle program to help dealers struggling with a downturn in new car and truck sales. Ford’s new emphasis on used vehicles comes as consumers worried about their finances look for budget-friendly alternatives. Other automakers say their dealers also are looking to certified used vehicle programs to help offset the decline in new model sales. Recent surveys by J.D. Power and Associates and Wachovia show overall demand for used cars, and for certified used-car sales particularly, is increasing across the board. As The Detroit News reported Saturday, the latest initial quality study commissioned by Ford shows the automaker in a statistical dead-heat with Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp

This guest post is by S.B. from the Be Thrifty Like Us blog. I visited her blog the other day and was very impressed with her shopping trip where she got all her stuff for free, and a penny back. Not that is someone worth learning from. Steve Steve contacted me to write a guest post about [...]

We all love accessories, but we also love our wallets :) We want to be trendy, to have the latest and greatest, but at the same time, not spend a mountain of money on them. So, here are some ideas for cool accessories that won't break the bank!Look techy and cool when you are out and about at Starbucks and other WiFi hotspots, with this IoGear WiFi Wireless finder, model GWF001. The price? $17! The geek appeal? Priceless! Functionality? Check the reviews :)You can't always carry your laptop dock with you, or have a dock in every place your frequent. But you can carry this Trendnet TK-207K 2-Port USB KVM switch for $20. Note that this is a USB switch, not a PS/2 switch! Some of the features mentioned at the J&R product page are auto-scanning. Hot-Plug, and Audible Feedback. Weight is 3.5oz,

Photo: SilverspriteI’ve noticed that a good few people tend to think that being thrifty means spending the least possible amount of money but that isn’t strictly true. What it means is getting the best value for your money. For example, when our shopping arrived recently there were two large jars of powdered milk, half a dozen tins of mushroom soup, four bottles of shampoo and an organic fillet steak. “I thought you were supposed to be saving money”, DD2 said, pointing to these things. “Yes”, I replied, “I am indeed saving money. That’s why I bought them.” The first three items were all on offer, either 25% off by buying two or they were on ‘buy one get one free’. By ordering more than we immediately needed, I was saving money because I know that these

Photo: SilverspriteI’ve noticed that a good few people tend to think that being thrifty means spending the least possible amount of money but that isn’t strictly true. What it means is getting the best value for your money. For example, when our shopping arrived recently there were two large jars of powdered milk, half a dozen tins of mushroom soup, four bottles of shampoo and an organic fillet steak. “I thought you were supposed to be saving money”, DD2 said, pointing to these things. “Yes”, I replied, “I am indeed saving money. That’s why I bought them.” The first three items were all on offer, either 25% off by buying two or they were on ‘buy one get one free’. By ordering more than we immediately needed, I was saving money because I know that these

Growing up is all about spending more money. The biggest difference is that when we are young, we are spending parents’ money; when we get older, we are spending our own money.There are just too many fortunate people living around me who can never understand the fears. We simply belong to different groups, or rather, different classes; of course, I’m in the lower class.It requires some standard of income stability to be able to afford a meal which cost over two hundreds dollars for a Valentines’ Day dinner. Be it whatever annual event which can only be celebrated once a year, you will not even think about celebrating it if you are having financial difficulties.Financial freedom includes when you can survive even without working; that is you do not need to contribute any money to the

I've always admired women who can pull off being professional and fabulous all at once so I thought I'd do my own take on that vibe - think post makeover Anne Hathaway in the Devil Wears Prada, minus all the designer hogwash.This dress from Old Navy with it's minimalist but modern cut is a great start and a steal at 25 bucks. Get glam with a chunky necklace like this one from JCPenney to really make things pop. Finish up with some chic shoes and a large clutch, and there you have it! A sophisticated and classy look that's great for work and a bit of fun afterwards!Old Navy Printed Belted Dress $29.50 $25.00Forever21 Metallic Clutch $13.80JCPenney Beaded Pendant Necklace $28.00 $22.40Lulu*s Oppose Split Body Heel By Michael Antonio $21.00TOTAL: $82.20

While inclement weather meant thrifting was a bust this week, that doesn't mean "Treasure Box Wednesday" has to be. So today I'm taking you all to work with me. Virtually. Because:1.) So much of my office decor has been thrifted and2.) Good help is hard to find-- Hand me that Jell-O mold so we can submerge this coworker's stapler in fruity gelatin goodness, won't you?Now with our office prank complete--(Heh-heh, remind me to tell you someday about when I kidnapped my colleague's glass cat collection from her desk and left ransom notes telling her where to recover them... Good times... good times)...--On to the decorating!The building I work in dates from the mid-1800s and has been many things over the years, the last of which was a series of apartments. This means that our offices-- while

Grandma's rock hard fruitcake... holiday sweatshirts weighed down with twenty-pounds of frolicking snowpersons in puff paint, ribbons and lace... ponies that bite...The Christmas season brings with it the gift of family and friends-- and just a few less desirable elements, as well.I mean, how many of you ever received something from a friend or relative that you just KNOW was sitting around their house for 20 years?Since it really IS the thought that counts, then that thought probably shouldn't be, "Hey, this string-and-nail art at the back of the closet isn't doing me any good. If I dust it off, who can I pawn it off on?"...Just sayin'.So when I suggest it's possible to find great Christmas gifts for the people on your list at thrift stores, I'm not suggesting you grab the first big-eyed-

In conjunction with BlogCatalog’s December 17th “Bloggers Unite: Act of Kindness” day, I'd thought of a somewhat unusual-- and, I think, appropriate-- way to do my part.While I donate to thrift stores every year in both a monetary “Putting Cash in the Kettle” way, and in a traditional “Giving Bags o’Stuff Away” way, this year I had an opportunity to do something which might just help spread a little kindness to a thrift store charity organization all year long.I’ve developed a Squidoo page on “Decorating with Thrift Store Finds” where royalties will go to the Salvation Army for any Amazon book purchases made through my recommended book list on that page.As my regular readers know, The Thrift Shop Romantic doesn’t have things like online ads, paid product endorsement

One thing I like about being green is that it is often cheaper. So someone who is more motivated by saving money may just happen to be green too, and vice versa. This is really proven by Mint’s post Eight Things You Should Not Buy New. It is a great post, but I could add more to it…for example, in the books section, I recommend a site I talked about last week, BookMooch. But it’s a good start to the idea that not everything we buy has to be brand new! Mint is a new money management site that I love…usually I don’t really care about stuff like that, but it’s a really cool way to have all your financial information on one site and it helps you track your spending habits and stuff…there are tons of other cool features that I haven’t even had a chance to check out yet….plus I love their Mint.edu blog because it gives me financial tips and advice in a way that I understand. I hope this blog post wasn’t too boring…I

Thrifty car rentals is currently offering some great holiday car rental discounts that can save you money during your travels. Through December 12, 2007, Thrifty car rentals start at just $33 per day and $169 per week for a Mid Size SUV. Here are the full details on the current Thrifty car rental discounts: Mid Size SUV - $33 per day / $169 per week. Minivan - $36 per day / $189 per week. Convertible - $39 per day / $197 per week. Premium Car - $39 per day / $197 per week. These car rental discounts can save you a lot of money during your travels this holiday season. To take advantage of these Thrifty car rental discounts, just click on the following link and make sure the promotional code 722M2 is entered. Nationwide holiday rates staring at just $33.00 per day and at $169.00 per week. Rates valid at all U.S. locations except the New York Metro area and Hawaii. Enter in PC Code 722M2 at booking. A 24 hour advanced reservation is required. Rates ef

Thanks once again for dropping by ubertramp.com, and welcome to the first in the series of regular round-ups celebrating all things backpackery, geeky, and cheap(y)! As you may have already gathered, this new weekly slot is a celebration of web based austerity. Each Friday I’ll be compiling and sharing a handful of discoveries from around the web – discoveries geared toward preserving that meagre road fund. Ok, just a few links this week as I only had the idea of doing this whilst having a smoke a few hours ago. Its now mid afternoon and if I leave it much later I’ll have to change the title to cheapskate Saturday – and I don’t want to do that. To kick off this week’s festival of frugality we’re going straight over to Eyeflare.com and their recent trilogy of tips to help secure a cheaper flight. Essentially, it deals with air consolidators. And thankfully, the first post in the series kicks off with a brief outline of what an air consolidator is and what they are all abo

By: Deon Melchior There are some good deals on the internet concerning web space and hosting but you have to look to find the best deals. You should also consider how long a provider has been in business.Finding free web space on the Internet is simple. All you have to do is use a simple Web search (Google, AltaVista or Yahoo) and the results should bring back options for free web space. There are many individuals and businesses looking for a place to put their website without having to pay for the service. These free services can provide anywhere from 5MB to 100Mb of online web space for hosting your web site.Free sites also come with some cool stuff, such as counters, guestbooks, virtual domain names, tracking logs, blogs, copy and past scripts that are usually Java code scripts and more. These additions are good for people that have little or no knowledge into building a web site.A free service provides benefits to all people and may sound like a good idea but the goal is to do your

Ever since stores introduced the idea of sales there have been bargain hunters seeking out the best available prices on products and thrifty consumers are always seeking out ways to save money while shopping. However, online shopping offers shoppers many new ways to save money. Savvy shoppers can not only find the best deals online but can also find ways to further reduce the cost of these great deals. (more…)

Thrifty living doesn't mean changing your lifestyle. I am sick of reading these articles that tell you to save money you need to stop drinking, not gamble, not buy name brand groceries, etc. I have even read articles that say "Cancel your gym membership! It's costing you $50 a month! Instead get running shoes and run for one hour a day." First, thats the biggest crock ever. We all have running

When planning to travel to other countries or even just to a different state, car rental has always been a must especially for traveling business men who need to go to one place to another. However, is spite of whatever “status” they may have, business men as well as ordinary travelers still opt to find and avail of the most thrifty car rentals that they could find. Thrifty car rentals usually abound, whether it be on directories, the internet or wherever it is that you can find service advertisements. It really just a matter of choosing the best thrifty car rental for you and your needs. Convenience is always a must whenever a person travels, this is pretty much while a lot of people opt to avail of thrifty car rentals, aside from having the convenience of being able to go whichever place they want without the hassle of hopping from one kind of mass transportation to another, they still get good value for their money. A good example of a reputable thrifty car rental service compan

1 pkg. lemon flavored gelatin1−1/2 c. hot water1/3 c. syrup from peaches2 tbsp. vinegarFew grains salt1 c. canned cling peach slices1/2 c. finely shredded cabbage1/2 c. diced celery1 tbsp. diced pimientoSalad greensMayonnaiseDissolve gelatin in hot water. Blend in peach syrup, vinegar and salt, and cool until slightly thickened. Fold well drained peaches, cabbage, celery and pimiento into thickened gelatin. Spoon into 6 individual molds or one large mold and chill until firm. Unmold on salad greens and serve with mayonnaise.

From the website :HOW TO ENTER DETAILS# To enter, a booking for a Thrifty vehicle for 2 days or more must be made via the Thrifty website, www.thrifty.com.au. This will automatically enter the candidate into the running for the prize. There will be 1 prize comprising of airfare tickets from the winners closest capital city to Melbourne, accommodation for two nights and tickets to the AFL Grand Final for 2 people. The accommodation will be 4 stars to be taken on the 28th and 29th September 2007. This will be all booked by Thrifty for the winner. Total nominal prize value, AUD 5000.00.# The promotion commences on 13 August 2007 at 00:01 EST and entries close at Midday EST 17 September 2007 (Promotional Period).

Thrifty car rental offers end of the summer discounted Mini Van and SUV rentals, which are a great way to save money if you are moving to college. These Thrifty car rental discounts will also save you money if you are planning a road trip, or if you just need to rent a car and want the added space and comfort that an SUV or Mini Van can provide. Thrifty is also offering added discounts if you rent by the week, which may be ideal for moving or family vacations. Here are the current car rental discount links from Thrifty. Limited Time Offer for Mini Vans and Mid Size Sport Utility vehicles. Valid at all Thrifty U.S. locations except NY Metro, Florida and Hawaii. $39 per day or $199 per week for a Mini Van or $34 per day or $179 per week for a Mid Size SUV from Thrifty Car Rental. Just enter PC Code SCLD7 to receive this rate. Offer begins August 23 and ends September 8, 2007. No Blackouts for Labor Day! If you live in Flo

What does it mean to be thrifty, frugal or cheap? And which best describes oneself?After reading SAHMmy's hilarious post that Frugal is not the F word and then this really intriguing post, I determined I once again don't fit into a nice neat category. The story of my life. The author even creates a Ven diagram to display the relationship between the three.Based on that post, I think I'm somewhat thrifty, sometimes frugal but never cheap.So what does that make me exactly? I'm going to go with financially savvy. Our sacrifices and purchases and investments are by choice. That and it's my blog so I can. Oh wait, financially savvy is already taken (which has excellent information by the way). But I'm still going with it.So what are you (overall)?Take the pollClick here to subscribe to the What Works For Us feed.

Did you know my big twins are going to be FOUR YEARS OLD in a mere ten days? Can you believe it? I’ve been trying to think of something to get them for their birthday. I’m getting ready to move them into big kid beds (yes, they’re still in cribs!) so I really need to look into getting some kids’ bedding. Pablo naturally will want Spongebob, and I’m thinking Mallory would love something with Disney princesses - that seems to be her thing at the moment. And this is why I love the internet. I was checking out a coupon site called DealLocker.com, and I think it’s the biggest and baddest site of its kind I’ve seen yet. I have a whole folder of these sites bookmarked! I’ve been able to find coupon codes for pretty much every gift idea I’ve come up with. I can get Spongebob sheets and a comforter at Target.com and save 10% with some of these Target coupon codes. They have a princess comforter at Penney’s, which isn’t available

I have a better idea, Clark. How about kids save their dimes until they come out with an issue of Adventure Comics where you aren't acting like the world's biggest douche?* *welcome to all new readers who Googled "world's biggest douche!"

I post very rarely for loudlaunch, because I’m picky about any sponsored posts that I’ll consent to object y’all to. You’re welcome. When they asked me to post this one, I knew you’d like it. My Coupons has relaunched their web site and it’s bigger and better than before. They [...]

This is a timely chance to talk about being prudent with money. The Scots are famed for their financial acumen and our Scottish Chancellor has just delivered his latest canny budget. In personal terms I hold my hand up and admit I could be a lot more astute with the way I handle cash. For Remortgages, for example, there are plenty of compeetitive mortgage lenders to choose from - you do not have to accept the first offer from your own bank. The site has got some good stuff relating to debt advice, especially valuable for anyone whose loans or credit cards balances have spiralled out of control. As most of us are more likely to get divorced than switch our current accounts, there is plenty of scope for the Thrifty Scot to help us. My home insurance is due for renewal next month - I promise to visit the Thrifty Scot first!

Kristy Shreve Powers offers some great thrifty tips for meals on her Busy Mama's Guides blog. Her first great featured link is Hillbilly Housewife. If you're down to your last $45, it's a great site for squeezing every penny out of your food budget. One word of caution - Hillbilly Housewife assumes that you're a SAHM or SAHD that can watch over a pot of beans boiling on the stove all day. I don't know about you, but as a WAHM, I'm too busy to stay in the kitchen that long. Check out her Busy Mama's Guide to Spruced Up Salads which should give you lots of great ideas for combining a big bowl of greens with a little of this and that left over in your fridge. Finally, read her post Busy Mama's Guide to Cheap & Easy Recipes Transformed to think about making your everyday meal into something healthy and nutritious. Mmmmm veggie mac and cheese...

As part of the implementation of the Basel II risk-based capital requirements in the United States for "large and internationally active" banks, the Federal Reserve recently announced a series of regulatory recommendations for enhancing the management of consumer credit risk. "Given the increasing complexity of the activities at our largest banks, and the related risks of those activities, I fully support efforts to develop a more appropriately risk-sensitive capital framework for those institutions," said Board Chairman Ben S. Bernanke. These recommendations include the Federal Reserve's "Guidance on Nontraditional Mortgage Product Risks" which clearly outlines the key risks involved in "toxic" mortgage lending as well as providing regulatory guidance and even sample illustrations of consumer information intended to assist the consumer in better understanding the risks involved with particular mortgage products. The most important point here is that, the Federal Reserv