Beware of bank fee complacency

I learned a little lesson in forgetfulness yesterday. I checked my Chase bank account, and I’d been charged two rather large fees: A $12 “Savings Withdrawal Limit Fee” on October 24, and a $9 “Additional Withdrawal Fee,” on October 27th. I had no idea why these fees were assessed. When I called customer service, the agent put me [...]

Looking for a new laptop: Mac vs. PC?

If you’re thinking of buying a computer in the next few months, and need to find one cheap, check out Walter Mossberg’s column today. It’s his annual computer buying guide, and given the economic downturn, he’s focusing on how to get the most for your money if you’re on a budget. The article also includes advice on [...]

Budget recipe #3: Indian Dahl

I’ve been making this dish for about 10 years–it’s basically the first thing I ever learned to cook. It’s incredibly cheap and easy, and it freezes well. And the best thing about it is that you can keep the ingredients on hand at all times, so this is a great emergency recipe for those times when [...]

Mint is improving

A month or so ago, I almost had the opportunity to meet with Aaron Patzer, the founder of Mint, the website that helps you track your money. When the meeting fell through, I was disappointed; I had been excited to tell him about all of the things Mint got wrong.
It thought my credit card didn’t [...]

In which we flush $2,000 down the toilet

(NOTE: I originally wrote this post for Make Love Not Debt while they were on their honeymoon.)
Shopping for a mattress when you’ve been sleeping poorly is like riding your bike to a car dealership. Shopping for a mattress when you’ve recently gotten a raise … is just plain dangerous.
And that is how my husband and I [...]