Favorite Posts

Chris presents The Joy of Owning Nothing posted at financial reflections, saying, “I take a lesson from the life of a multimillionaire who says “no” to most any purchase.”

The Shark Investor presents How To Live The Life Of Your Dreams (Visual Guide) posted at The Shark Investor

savingadvice presents I Want to be a Frugalista! posted at SavingAdvice.com Blog

MoneyNing presents 5 Surefire Ways to Stop Thinking Your Paycheck is Never Enough posted at Money Ning

Joanne presents 21 Ways To Create An Emergency Fund posted at Simply Saving.

Lazy Man and Money presents How to Stock a Bar posted at Lazy Man and Money.

J. Savings presents Would you take a 10% pay cut if it meant saving an employee? posted at Budgets are Sexy.

Cheap and Free Stuff

Carma presents How to Find Deals on the Web posted at Standard Deviations.

Kathy Hester (GeekyPoet) presents Finding Organic Coupons « Geek, Poet, Housewife Wannabe posted at Geek, Poet, Housewife Wannabe.

Adam Hagerman presents Frugal Wedding Tip: Save the Date Cards posted at Your Money Relationship.

Andrew Schultz presents Skype vs. Verizon – Saved me $631.70! posted at Andrew-Schultz.com

Myscha Theriault presents Meat Money: Grocery Saving Tips for Carnivores | Wise Bread posted at Wise Bread

Jim presents Free College Money: The FAFSA on Blueprint for Financial Prosperity posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Dan at Everydayfinance presents How I Saved $250/Year for Life with Comcast posted at Everyday Finance

ChristianPF presents Free Franklin Planner templates posted at Money in the Bible | Christian Personal Finance Blog

Andy presents Five Things You Should Get for Free posted at Tight Fisted Miser.

Kelly from Almost Frugal presents Frugal Gifts For New Parents and New Babies posted at Almost Frugal.

Great Tips and Advice

Shaun Kavanagh presents Use Your Credit Card for Everything You Can! posted at Kavmerica.com.

FIRE Getters presents 12 Tips To Lower Your Heating Bill posted at FIRE Finance.

juicefairy presents New Year, Better Credit Score: Post 1 posted at Juicefairy.

Cooupon Artist presents 15 Minutes a Day Toward a More Frugal Life | artofthecoupon.com posted at artofthecoupon.com.

GrrlScientist presents Survival Skills 101: Frugal Living posted at Living the Scientific Life

Morrison presents Only 1 New Years’ Resolution. posted at ALL DOORS CONSIDERED..

FMF presents Reminder: Pay Attention to Scanners posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Simple way to save money — pay attention!”

Madison presents 16 Ways to Do It Yourself posted at My Dollar Plan.

Dave presents Beater Bucks – 7 Tips To Keep Your Car Running posted at Cheapo Groovo.

RC presents Creating a Household Budget and Why it is Important posted at Think Your Way to Wealth.

Rob presents Negotiating Car Purchases posted at Negotiation Training Info

Doctor S presents The World Learns to Live Frugal in 2009 posted at Finance Your Life

Nicki presents The Timeless Art Of Sewing posted at Domestic Cents, saying, “Thank you!”

Ray K presents Save Money By Always Being In A Contract posted at JustSaver.com

Super Saver presents Stretching our Dining Out Dollars posted at My Wealth Builder

Savings Toolbox presents Reducing What You Waste Will Save Some Cash posted at Savings Toolbox.

TH in SoC presents Digital Television and Frugal Entertainment posted at The Well Run Dry

Silicon Valley Blogger presents 21 Deal Sites and Online Tools To Help You Save Money posted at The Digerati Life

Jill presents Top Coupon Tips | posted at Jill.

The Smarter Wallet presents Smart and Frugal Tips To Shop For Clothes Online posted at The Smarter Wallet

Resolutions and Budgeting

Roshawn Watson presents 3 Financial Decisions for a Great 2009 posted at Watson Inc

Bryce presents Number One New Year’s Resolution posted at Save and Conquer

Michael. presents Living on a Budget: Reasons and Motivations posted at Michael Emilio.

Todd presents Budgeting Basics posted at HarvestingDollars

Other Neat Stuff

TStrump presents 6 Ways to Adopt the Freegan Lifestyle | The Strump posted at The Strump – Financial Blog,

Praveen presents My Simple Trading System: Joy of the Down Sell posted at My Simple Trading System.

Condo Blues presents Organize Your Life with Six Pack Containers! posted at Condo Blues

Aryn presents Top Ten Frugal Winter Foods posted at Sound Money Matters.

Chuck Russell presents Hyundai Assurance Program; Buy Back Your Car posted at Car Buying Tips To Save You Money.

HowToMe presents How To Bake Rusks posted at HowToMe, saying, “Rusks, a double-baked sweet biscuit, are usually dipped in one’s morning coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate before they are eaten, but they can also be enjoyed as they are for a snack. Reportedly, rusks can also be helpful to a teething child.”

vh presents Snookered! posted at Funny about Money.

Destroy Debt presents Debt Got You Down? Turn That Frown Around posted at Debbie’s Debt Advice.

Scott Crawford presents DebtGoal » Blog Archive » New Year Debt Resolution Step 6: Simplify For Success posted at DebtGoal

Stephanie presents Guilty as Charged posted at Stop the Ride!.

nemesis presents How to save more money posted at Wealth Gears.

Livingalmostlarge presents Winter is good for the pocketbook posted at LivingAlmostLarge.

Paula Wethington presents Kitchen prep you can do on the weekends posted at Monroe on a Budget.

Miss M presents Frugal Traditional Skills posted at M is for Money.

Shadox presents Where Did Our Money Go in 2008? posted at Money and Such, saying, “Looking back at 2008 and how our family of 5 spent its cash.”

Ms. Smarty Pants presents How I Plan to Save Money on Holiday Gifts with My Discover Card posted at Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

SJ presents Alternative Fuels – Are They Really The Boon Of The Future? posted at Save Money On Gas

Zantor presents How to Take Control of Your Finances posted at Open Road Open Mind.

The Investor presents Stanford researchers prove you can spend 20% less on gifts for the same result posted at Monevator.com

The Happy Rock presents Out with the Old, In with the New – Switching Phone Companies posted at The Happy Rock

Megan presents Unusual food sales? posted at Counting My Pennies.

nickel@fivecentnickel.com presents Free Antibiotics (and Prenatal Vitamins!) posted at Money Tipper.

nickel presents Books are a Bargain posted at fivecentnickel.com.

Lisa Spinelli presents Successful Free Swap Sites for Books, DVDs, and CDs posted at Greener Pastures: Personal Finance

PatrickCML presents Free Disney Tickets for Military Members and Retirees posted at Military Finance Network

PatrickCML presents Introducing Money Saving Deals posted at Cash Money Life,

kathryn presents Basic Ideas for Balancing a Budget posted at Out of Debt Christian

Elizabeth Goldstein (Modern Gal) presents Surprising Frugal Advice: Stop Being so Obedient posted at Modern Gal

Dana J. presents Frugal Weight Loss Tips posted at Not Made Of Money.

Dana J. presents Recession Survival: Clipping Coupons and Shopping The Sales posted at The Family Wallet.

Curt presents Why Wages Don’t Fall During a Recession posted at PennyJobs.com.

Pamela Grundy presents Post Cereal Coupons; Stock up on Milk, NOW! posted at Personal Finance Analyst.

Mr. ToughMoneyLove presents Save on Investment Expenses and Losses: Fire Your Financial Planner posted at Tough Money Love » Hard Truth and Tough Love for Money Problems and Personal Finance

David presents Decision Making 101: Step One The Way We Make Decisions posted at Personal Finance Ology

Penelope Pince presents Save Money and Get More Exercise With a Mini Home Gym posted at Pecuniarities

Heather Levin presents How To Have A Green Valentine?s Day posted at The Greenest Dollar

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Festival of Frugality using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

So, what happened?

The Im-Perfect Storm

Let’s start with the weather. The Seattle area, along with most of the United States, is suffering through frigid temperatures causing delays, ice buildup, and not a small number of traffic accidents. Not to mention the variety of extended power outages for many communities. The storm passing over Seattle is the worst anyone’s seen there in over a decade. Lots of snow with freezing weather means that it just sits there and builds up.

To further complicate matters, this slow-moving arctic storm is making it’s way (sloooowly) through the mid-west. Exactly in the flight path of the airline we were intending on taking. Bad weather, coupled with the recent aircraft accident in Denver, CO. has most of the family more than a little nervous to be flying.

The final nail in the coffin was the call from the in-laws to say they had been literally snowed into their house for a week and wouldn’t be able to come get us. With that little bit of news, we apologized, excused ourselves from coming, and immediately got on the phone to the airline to see what we could do about changing our plans.

Not Flying the Friendly Skies

It’s a bit of a relief not going. Not because we don’t want to spend time with the in-laws, but because of the expected hassles this year. Because of the HUGE cost in fuel earlier, most airlines are still on their cut-back flight schedules. That means there are less flights, and the remaining flights are generally completely packed. That lack-of-extra-capacity in particular, has made the situation in Seattle (and other airports) much worse.

Typically in cases where the flight was canceled or delayed, one could book alternate flights with other carriers. Since all the airlines are flying less routes, this has made it extremely difficult, if not almost impossible to find alternate flights. Everything’s already full! Some people have reported that available seat estimates range from a few days, to up to a week until they can get another flight to their destination. Many are given the suggestion to ‘rent a car’ or arrange for alternate, non-flying transportation.

Now I’m not blaming the airlines for this mess, at least not completely. They can’t foresee what the weather is going to be like months ahead of time. This icy winter is catching everyone by surprise. What I can blame them for is keeping the flight schedules on a starvation diet, even after fuel costs have dropped back down to reasonable levels. Less flights with fuller capacities is a great cost-savings measure, as long as nothing goes wrong. That missing extra capacity is now sorely missed by the (possibly former) customers of the airlines.

The airlines lost huge amounts of money when oil shot up to around $140/barrel last summer, and they do need to recoup their operating expenses, but I’m thinking it’s about time to re-consider instituting more flights with a little less per-flight stowage. That way, when (not if) things happen like this again, they won’t get the PR black eye like they are now.

Are your travel plans being affected by the weather and restricted schedules? Leave us a message and let us hear your experiences.

At the Wal-Mart at the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, N.Y. a crowd of people ‘ripped’ the doors off, in their excitement and rush to get to the merchandise within. Four other shoppers, including a 28 year old pregnant woman, were injured in the mob’s rush to get in the store.

Have we truly turned into such a consumer nation that we’re willing to literally kill to get a good deal? I’ve heard anecdotal reports for years of people getting into scuffles, and even fist-fights sometimes to get that ‘hot toy’ or ‘perfect gift’. They even made that somewhat abysmal movie ‘Jingle All The Way‘ where Arnold Schwarzenegger spends the entire movie trying to get the years’ ‘it’ toy for his son. For those not wanting to suffer through this movie, let’s just say that it didn’t work for him either. Presents are ok, but your children would much rather have your time than your stuff.

But back to the subject at hand. When I read this article originally, I was stunned. The only thing that came to mind is “What were they selling at that Wal-Mart that was worth stampeding a person to death for?” I can’t think of ANYTHING in this world, that would be worth stomping a person to death for.

I don’t imagine the customers waiting just outside the doors were thinking to themselves “I’m going to get that <insert item here> for Christmas, even if I have to kill someone”. But all the same, that’s what ended up happening. The mob mentality, coupled with the seasonal must-buy-perfect-gift fever co-mingled with deadly results.

It’s not like there’s a dearth of Wal-Marts around either. I can travel about 2 hours in any direction and hit at least 3-4 DIFFERENT stores. They’ve popped up like evil little mushrooms (or more accurately, like hurkin’ big box store mushrooms) all across the country. Sold out of whatever favorite goodie you want at one? Call the other half-dozen stores in the surrounding county, have them hold one of whatever for you, and drive 10-15 minutes to go get it. If that doesn’t work, check back in with them periodically until another of whatever it is you can’t live without comes in.

Take Ten Deep Breaths and Call Me in The Morning

People, relax! The rampant consumerism isn’t going to make the holidays any better. It’s just an attempt to fill that empty area in your heart with ’stuff’. And no matter how much ’stuff’ you try to put in there, it’s never going to work. Relax, and let sanity slip back into place.

Also, with the way the economy is now, shopping is way down. That means that there is more STUFF for those that are going to buy this year. The rest of us are going to do our best to just ’sit this one out’. It’s been predicted by most of the financial media that this is going to end up being one of the worst years for consumer spending in decades. So that’s a LOT of us sitting it out.

For everyone else that plans on splurging this season, Bon Appétit! We salute your individual attempt to infuse capital into our economic system, much like our government is attempting to do, to re-energize the market. We need to get the good little consumers back out on the streets moving that money around so things can get back to ‘normal’ again financially.

Personally? I’m hiding under the bed today until the sales are over.

Are you braving the Sales of Black Friday in search of Christmas goodies?? Leave us a comment and let us know!

I’m sure there’s many out there that feel like making the trip to the traditional Thanksgiving get-together is about as enjoyable as having a vasectomy with a dull spoon. So, to make everyone feel better, I’ve assembled a list of reasons that you should stay home this year. Some are serious, and others,.. well, less-so.

The Top 10 Reasons to Stay Home

Airplane Ride from Hell – Even though fuel costs have dropped by over half from their highs only a few months ago, the airlines are still inflicting their passengers with the same cost-cutting measures as before (expensive or no food, long lines, etc). To add to this, the number of flights is down 12% from last year. That means MUCH more crowded flights. Hope you wanted to sit next to the bratty 6 year old.

Train Rides $$$ – As an alternate route, trains are having a comeback as the way to go. The only problem is that trains are having a comeback as the way to go. The law of supply and demand comes into play here. Amtrack has only so many rail cars, and they haven’t been stocking up on new ones in recent years. So if you want a ticket, be prepared to shell out the big bucks.

Lack of $$$ – With all the layoffs, downsizings, and other economic problems and issues, it’s just plain beyond some family’s means to travel this year. It’s just how things are, so might as well try to enjoy a nice quiet home Thanksgiving with close family and/or friends. Hopefully by this time next year, things will be looking up.

Not Having ‘The Discussion’ – You know about The Discussion. It’s when the parents ask you the Questions You Don’t Want To Answer. Typical questions are “So, when are you going to marry the guy you’ve been living with for the last 4 years?” or “Have you decided to give up that ‘music’ career thing and join the family furniture business yet?” It just gets worse from there. Missing out on the annual Spanish Inquisition might be a nice change.

Aunt Edna/Uncle Ben – Every family has some people like this. One or two people everyone wishes would disappear from the face of the earth so they don’t show up and embarass everyone. Even worse are the Aunts and Uncles that,.. aren’t. Not actually family, but have been around long enough to qualify. And to make things worse, they’re giving you that ‘come hither’ look that’s progressed FAR into the uncomfortable range.

Tofurky – Need I say more?

Sports Posers – Are you one of those guys that would rather be watching re-runs of Battlestar Galactica instead of sitting in front of the television pretending to feign interest in a bunch of guys beating up on each other over an inflated ovid of pig epidermis? Better to stay home and get your geek on with family members that have NO CHOICE but to hide your affliction.

Dishes, Lots of Dishes – I guess this is an issue for the women-folk, since to us guys, they seem to always be done by the time the game is over. If there were any left We’d be glad to help out, but since they’re done,…

Post Game Leftover Scuffle – Even though you’ve eaten enough to support a small Ethiopian tribe for a week, you’re still on the prowl for just a ‘little more pie’ after the big game. If you’re with the big family, there’s a lot of competition. Keeping it as a close-family get together eliminates a lot of that competition. (That and you can usually overpower the children without risking someone calling Child Services).

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – Yes, you cry like a little baby because of the wonderful feelings these floating pieces of art bring out. You sit glued to the television, watching the likes of Bullwinkle, Spider-Man and UnderDog waft down the street, making you feel like a little kid again. Definitely NOT something to let your big brothers know about. It’s hard enough fending them off during the annual ‘wrestle-the-little-brother-during-footbal-halftime’ event. You’d NEVER hear the end of this one if they found out.

Happy Thanksgiving All!!

Just a short update of a couple of news items that might be of interest.

Early Christmas Presents

While the auto industries are still hanging in the wind, there’s been some good news that has become eclipsed by all the back-and-forth between the Big Three and congress.

1. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Get a Heart Three Sizes Too Big - In a scene stolen from Dr. Seuss, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced they are suspending any foreclosure proceedings through the first of the year. Way to go!
2. Help for the Unemployed – Our government also announced that unemployment benefits are also extended (for those that would normally run out) through the end of the year also. Maybe that will make getting through the holiday seasons just a little easier.

Guest Post Posted

I also submitted a guest post to Patrick over at CashMoneyLife so that he could actually enjoy his vacation without worrying about his excellent blog. Do both of us a favor and take a run over there to check out the story.

My New Hobby – Watching My Home Value Decrease »

Thanks! Stay warm, and Keep reading the Blog!