Low Budget Life

The hustle and bustle of the business world has led many captains of industry to believe the idiom, “Time is money.” Whether or not you agree with the phrase, consider such philosophy to be transactional leverage.  For those of you who prefer to take the slower track in life, either going nowhere fast or savoring each step along the way, a lackadaisical lifestyle can easily to both money and perks thanks people who value their time for more than it’s worth.  Here are a few instances in which timing is everything, as far as saving is concerned.

1. The boarding gate at the airport – The airline industry can be quite the careless operation, often overbooking flights by selling more tickets than the aircraft has seats.  In order to rectify the situation, airlines will usually offer travel vouchers (good for close to the same price as the original ticket) to passengers willing to bump to a later flight.  If the later flight doesn’t leave until the next day, this will also be augmented with a hotel voucher and meal stipend. Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps the hardest thing about leaving to town to take a well deserved vacation is the accelerated rate at which greenbacks take a one way trip of their own, from the inside of your wallet out into the world.  Vacations, while relaxing during their actual duration, can lead to even bigger headaches upon your return home than the ones you sought to escape at the onset of your travels.  Then again, without a break from the day to day monotony that defines the common work experience, how is anyone expected to maintain his or her sanity?

It seems as if, in this time of cutbacks and penny-pinching, the first to be struck from household budgets across the country is vacation time.   This is unfortunate as, in many cases, well timed time-off can actually lead to increased productivity, not to mention an overall happier environment both at home and in the workplace. Read the rest of this entry »

Perhaps you don’t have time for a full-time job or maybe even already work 40 hours a week but with little discretionary income to show for it.  There are still a few ways to find a few extra dollars in your pocket, without having to come up with a suggestive alternative alias or risk shaming your good family name.  While these tips aren’t likely to suffice as a steady means of income, here are a few ideas to help you add a 20-spot or two to your bill fold. Read the rest of this entry »

As a limited income college student, likely with limited cooking capabilities to boot, the simple task of feeding yourself can prove more challenging than most midterms.  Of course, anyone looking to cut back on spending can look no further than the bottomless pit of burgers, burritos and ultimately dollar bills we feed at least 3 times a day (not to mention 4^th meal for Taco Bell fans).  While fast food is nice from time to time, even those prices aren’t what they used to be.  Not to mention regular reliance on the drive-thru diet will turn you from slim student to Nutty Professor, trading in your Buddy Love body for the Sherman Klump full-size.  At some point or another, it’s likely you will have to head to the grocery store, though not necessarily to stock up on fresh fruit, vegetables, and assorted cuts of meat.  Cooking meals from scratch at home will only further bankrupt your budget.  In case you didn’t notice, it’s still cheaper to order a pizza than hand toss your own homemade pie.  Here are some simple, cheap solutions you can pick up at the store, more or less ready-made for a delicious dinner. Read the rest of this entry »

A lot changes when you cross a state line, aside from whether or not fireworks are for sale.  Every state in the United States sets its own individual taxes on many products you might purchase out of both habit and necessity.  In some cases, driving 50 feet further down the road before running an errand may actually save you a healthy chunk of change over the course of the year.  In order for this to really be a practical money saving strategy, you have to live in a town or city that shares a border with your neighboring state, or at least is in close driving distance.  As geographic proximity plays the most prominent factor, border towns are obviously the most desirable set-up (border towns as in Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas, not Juarez, Mexico… unless you are looking to save on products illegal in the US, avoid Juarez, Mexico).  Keep in mind that if crossing the state line is too far of a trek or too high traffic, you will simply lose any savings back in gas money.   For anyone who naturally crosses a state line on the way to work or school, make sure you know which state has lower taxes on items like gas, alcohol and tobacco and purchase those items as necessary in the state with cheaper prices. Read the rest of this entry »