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Breaking Even, Inc.
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This blog is all about personal finance... with a personality behind it. Learn about the interaction of life and money including how to save some, how to make more, and how to be happy with what you have.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'saving money tips'
Do Some Companies Really Prefer The Phone?
I like to preface this by saying I resisted getting an email address until I was almost 18 years old. I actually even had a pen pal through high school, you know, the old-fashioned kind involving stamps and (in our......
How Far Would You Go For A Discount?
At the inn, we have a policy about not offering discounted room rates. When your business is the only open four months of the year and you have to pay shorefront property taxes, it is completely understandable to me. We......
What I Learned Not Going To The Grocery Store This Week: Part Two
This week, after realizing I overspent my grocery budget, I decided to not to go to the grocery store and live exclusively on what I had in the house. Additional observations (see yesterday's post for part one): Let me finally......
When I Learned Not Going To The Grocery Store This Week: Part One
I waited a little too long to update my budget spreadsheet this month only to discover on Tuesday night overspent my usual grocery allowance by $36. And I still had a week left in the month. D'oh! Rather than panic,......
Which Is Better, Buying Salvage or Buying Concious?
So if it's one thing my good friends know about me is I'm a socially concious shopper. I let myself eat fast food exactly twice a year (usually when I'm in the process of moving). I buy local whenever I......
Fiddleheads: Why You Should Forage For Food
My friend HK used to use the term "forage" for what she'd do in our college cafeteria. Like any cafeteria situation no matter how good, you end up having to look around and create meals yourself with what's available... you......
Week O Insurance: COBRA
This week it's Mission Health Insurance in my life. I've got to navigate this before my current job ends so this week, it's the Week O Insurance at Breaking Even. More posts about this fascinating topic in the coming days!......
Week O Insurance: Health Insurance Co-ops
This week it's Mission Health Insurance in my life. I've got to navigate this before my current job ends so this week, it's the Week O Insurance at Breaking Even. More posts about this fascinating topic in the coming days!......
Hidden Money Or Why It Pays To Be A Flake
So I've had a "secret" ING Direct account for about a year now. Every pay period, $25 magically disappears from my paycheck. I see it on my direct deposit going out into the universe but other then that, I don't......
In A Car Accident? Get All The Information
So, my friend Sarah got in a car accident yesterday. Don't worry, she's perfectly fine, and the car is running smoothly. But it needs some serious body work. Well, the rest from Sarah: "I was at an intersection turning left,......
Lasagna Gardening: Gardening For Those Of Us Who Kill Chia Pets
When my friend Paul posted this idea on his Facebook page last week and I thought it was pretty brilliant. Lasagna gardening isn't growing ingredients for lasagna but an easy growing technique that Paul's wife Lorena has successfully implemented. (Th...
How Poor Are You? Part II
About four years ago, I did some volunteer work at a local food pantry. My job is interviewing prospective users of the pantry which included an in-depth discussion of the budget and finances. I remember one day having to look......
Is Your Car Shuddering? Allow Me To Save You $60
I've recently found all be driving along the road, somewhere between 45 and 60 mph, and my car will start to shudder. The first time this happened, I called my friend Robby who knows a lot about cars. He told......
Battling The Gray Area
Ahhh! I'm Aging! It is something about our company bathroom's combination of natural and fluorescent lighting... okay, scratch that. It's something about the way I look in any light, or more specifically how a certain part of me looks. My......
Shameless Promotion: The Next-To-Last French Class Edition
I'm home tonight preparing for the last two French classes of my adult education session. On one hand, le temps passe vite, but on the other, every time I teach a new class I rediscover how much work teaching really......
Fabulous Friday: Fantastic Coffee Drinks
Every Friday, I try to tackle an issue of style and lifestyle on the cheap. Isn't Friday fabulous? I've never gotten the allure of Starbucks. Maybe it's because I've never lived within 50 miles of one but I think it's......
Ask And You Shall Recieve
I had taken over the french press in our company breakroom after the employee who owned it left. I made my coffee many days a week and it was a happy frugal little ritual. Last week, it broke. Ugh. I......
How Do I Eat On $100 A Month?
Sally's Niece, a fellow blogger and frequent commenter, asked how I eat on $100 a month. My sister asked me the same question over the phone a couple days later. I figure if they were asking, you're probably wondering too.......
Fashion Forward Friday: Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap
Every Friday, I tackle an affordable idea of fashion or style in a fun segment I call Fashion Forward Friday. That's right, I'm about to blog about soap. But since personal care falls in the realm of being fashionable and......
Three Months Later: My Finalized Budget
Part I: What I Cut When other people write about stuff like this, to be honest my eyes glaze over. It's your budget, why do I care? I think. But I realize that occasionally as bloggers with a take on......
Shameless Promotion: The Zonked Sunday Night Edition
My Saturdays have become full in the last few weeks, which is good from the standpoint that I am making more money and in general growing my little business. On the other hand, by Sunday I am completely exhausted and......
Friends Helping Friends Free: Swap Your Stuff
I've decided to do a five part mini-series about how friends can help friends for free. On the surface, it's a common sense series of posts but a concept I think a lot of us need to be reminded of,......
Friends Help Friends Free: Trading Favors
I've decided to do a five part mini-series about how friends can help friends for free. On the surface, it's a common sense series of posts but a concept I think a lot of us need to be reminded of,......
Attention Slackers: Today Is Free Shipping Day
Haven't bought everything you've wanted to as of right now? No worries! Free Shipping Day, a yearly event offered by online retailers and the last day they can guarentee delivery before Christmas, is today! Of course, the obvious part I'm......
Other Ways To Find Fellow Commuters?
Update: Nicole will not have Internet at her house until December 6. She is still reading and loving a lot of websites but hopes her friends, family, and fellow bloggers understand her limited ability to comment, write e-mails, social network,......
Four Cheap Things (Under $5) That Save Me Tons Of Money
There are several objects that cost less than five dollars each that have become indispensable in my life lately. Tide To Go PenSince I'm now a laundromat girl, I have to be a little bit more careful about how much......
Stranger Stuff: Danger or Savior?
I spent a good part of today moving into my new apartment. And by moving into my new apartment, I mean moving just enough stuff here to live for a few days comfortably until my big move Sunday. One aspect......
Travel Tip: A Free Guide For Your Opinion
My friend Bailey brought some Las Vegas guide books when she flew in and we've used them a lot of the week. I had heard of and used Zagats a little before but nothing to this extent. (Examples: Best rated......
