Get Out of Debt with This FREE eBook!

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Once your debt load gets to be a certain size, it can seem completely unmanageable, almost like you're never going to be able to pay it down.Well, dear readers, help is here: A brand new ebook called what else but Get Out of Debt. It's free and exclusive to Stapler Confessions.Click on the link below to download a copy and after you've finished reading it, please let us know what you think of it by posting feedback in the comments section beneath this post.Click here to get your FREE Read more [...]

6 Ways To Shop at Costco Without a Membership

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If you can't get past seeing Costco's annual fee of $60 to $120 as cannibalizing the savings, you might want to try one of the following six tactics for shopping at the warehouse chain without a membership of your own.1. Costco Optical This is the one option that never gets old. You do not need a membership to see the eye doctor within the optical section of Costco, nor do you need one to buy any prescription eyewear there.Of course, this is something you probably won't be doing more than Read more [...]

You Might Win Up to $100 Just by Clicking

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Help us help you and you just might win an Amazon gift card worth up to $100 – it's one of 50 prizes we're offering in a drawing to encourage readers like yourself to give us quick feedback. All it takes to win is a few minutes of your time.We want to know how we can provide you with even better content that fits your lifestyle and financial situation.Please know that your answers will be kept confidential and are only being used to help us create personal finance articles that meet Read more [...]

Amazon Is Giving Away Free Turkey With $100 Grocery Buy

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At a time when offline supermarkets appear to have backed off giving away free turkey, Amazon is debuting this type of promotion for the first time ever.The online mega-retailer is leveraging its acquisition of Whole Foods to try to get more people hooked on Amazon Fresh by offering a free turkey with the purchase of at least $100 in groceries. Safeway Promotions This is similar to a promotion Safeway ran earlier this month -- only the minimum grocery purchase ranged from $100 to $150, depending Read more [...]

Can You Really Live on Minimum Wage?

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Sometimes circumstances might lead you to take a job that only pays minimum wage to avoid starvation. Right out of college or high school is one likely time to expect that pay rate. Some 29 states, dozens of cities and the District of Columbia have higher minimum wages than the federal rate of $7.25.Although some states and municipalities have debated measures that would have pushed the minimum wage in their respective locations below the federal minimum, none appears to have succeeded as of Read more [...]

Be Thankful: Give to Charity

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As the end of the year steadily approaches, it's a good time to consider donating to charity. Make enough of thse contributions and you reach the minimum required to claim a deduction on your tax return. Here are 10 great nonprofits that would appreciate your money or any kind of gift in kind, like toys and food. Books for Africa This organization is dedicated to collecting, sorting, and shipping books to underprivileged areas in Africa. Boys and Girls Club Kids in poverty-stricken communities Read more [...]

Holiday Season Budgeting Tricks

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Although the approaching winter holidays are a wonderful time of year for most people, too many people abandon their budgets (and diets!) around this time. You don't have to break the bank -- instead, just follow these holiday season budgeting tricks.Host a Potluck If you typically host a meal for Thanksgiving or one of the winter holidays, ask guests to bring a dish with them. This not only saves you money but also reduces the amount of time you have to spend preparing the meal. It can also Read more [...]

Should You Make Your Own Cat Food?

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Carefully weigh the pros and cons before attempting to make your own cat food.There are actually serious health considerations that you might want to prioritize over cost issues. Dry commercial cat food is actually less beneficial than what you can get in a can or make yourself.Cats have a tendency to drink less water than other other types of animals, so the dehydration of kibble makes them susceptible to kidney failure and other digestive problems in their older years. Should You Make Read more [...]

IRS Announces 2018 Tax Rates

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Few people look forward to paying their taxes, but nonetheless the Internal Revenue Service has announced its 2018 tax rates, along with associated deductions, credits and exemptions. Highlights of the 2018 Tax Rates Highlights include adding another $500 to the maximum annual contribution to most of the numbered retirement plans, along with the government's Thrift Savings Plan.If you apply for ein in 2018 you may need to use a ein filing service. Numbered Plans The maximum contribution for Read more [...]

Lower Your Rent With the Power of Negotiation

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While it might seem like rents are sky high and never coming down, real estate experts have been saying that housing markets are beginning to soften. If you moved into your current digs during the peak of the rental market, you're probably paying more than most of the landlord's other tenants and thus might stand a decent chance to lower your rent.While this type of negotiation isn't easy, you can increase your chances of succeeding if you prepare ahead of time.Keeping you as a tenant saves Read more [...]