Including Debt Proof Living's Weekly Feature
Part of being a good steward involves making good spending decisions. Here we profile ways to reduce your spending on a variety of items, as well as general principles for cost-conscious living.
For many years, Mary Hunt has been SMI's go-to resource when it comes to saving money and living within your means. So we're excited to formally welcome her insight and wisdom to SMI's
Money-Saving Tips page via a new bi-weekly feature. Check back each week as Mary shares with us her Debt-Proof Living strategies and ideas.
For many years, Mary Hunt has been SMI's go-to resource when it comes to saving money and living within your means. So we're excited to formally welcome her insight and wisdom to SMI's
Money-Saving Tips page via a new bi-weekly feature. Check back each week as Mary shares with us her Debt-Proof Living strategies and ideas.
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New Rules for Job Applicants  By Mary Hunt |
| Unemployment respects no one in this tough economy. You could be an applicant as soon as tomorrow, so it is important that you realize that the rules have changed. Here are some tips to help you in this new hiring environment. |
 Get Mary's best-selling book Debt-Proof Living FREE
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You can probably entertain your family for less than you're currently spending. Lots of lower-cost alternatives are within easy reach.
Think you can't get into financial trouble if you use a debit card rather than a credit card? Think again. Debit cards carry plenty of risks too.
Planning your wedding doesn't have to be an exercise in frayed nerves and busted budgets. With flexible strategies, savvy shopping, and creative approaches, planning a wedding can be a positive and educational experience — for both bride and groom.
Unable to make ends meet? You may not want to hear this, but the culprit may be sitting in your driveway.
A "smartphone" can be a terrific tool for tracking your spending and keep your finances up-to-date. We review several apps that can make it happen.
The financial payoff from setting aside a day to tackle your financial to-do list is likely to be well worth your time.
Faith-based personal-financial bloggers are a great — and growing — resource for readers seeking solid advice from a Christian perspective.
Taking steps to prepare for a power failure is a wise investment that's almost certain to pay off — eventually. We explain how to prepare, and what it's likely to cost up front.
How do you actually implement a spending plan and stick to it? We offer an overview of several common methods used to stay on budget.
Making financial progress requires setting limits in each of your spending categories. Here's how.
Tracking your income and expenses is the first step toward becoming a faithful steward of what the Lord entrusts to you.
If you'd rather not make financial progress in 2009, we have some excellent excuses you can use.
Your personal finances are largely dictated by two factors: income and spending. For most people, spending is much more easily adjusted than income, making it a natural target for those wishing to shore up their financial health. Here are 9 money-saving tips from SMI's king of the bargain hunters.
Your personal finances are largely dictated by two factors: income and spending. For most people, spending is much more easily adjusted than income, making it a natural target for those wishing to shore up their financial health. Part 2 of this article on smart spending strategies offers 9 more money-saving tips from SMI's king of the bargain hunters.
"Buy now with no payments and no interest until 2009!" If you haven't seen the ads yet, you surely will start to soon. While these "free money" deals may sound enticing, they are fraught with peril for the unwary shopper.
Have a mortgage? There's a sure-fire way to cut its cost over the long term. But first, you may need to change your way of thinking.
How would you like to earn a 15% return on your savings this year? That's right, the same savings currently earning less than 4% in your money market account. We explain how this opportunity for big returns exists year after year.
By Matthew Pryor 
Mary Hunt is one of our favorite frugal gurus and she's got a new collection of time and money saving tips out in her recent book Tiptionary 2. Here's a sampling of some favorite tips as selected by the SMI staff.
We're pretty big on boring things like budgets, discipline, and saving. Is there ever a time to relax some of these rigors and bend the financial rules a bit? If there is, family vacations would be one such exception. These eight steps can help you put together a vacation plan that will provide a lifetime of memories, without taking you a lifetime to pay it all off.
Over the past decade, the Internet has completely changed how people approach travel planning. But many travelers are unaware of the newest entrants into the online travel planning field and miss out on potential bargains as a result. We review six types of sites you need to know about before planning your next trip.
Travel deals abound for those who know where to look. We've got the tips you need to save you big money when booking hotel, plane, and car reservations.
Making financial progress isn't always a matter of earning more. Spending less is just as effective, and is often more within our immediate control.
Many people think of AARP as a sort of "discount program" for seniors. But it's much more than that—it's a powerful political and lobbying force. When AARP exerts its influence, does it really represent your viewpoint? If not, there are plenty of other retiree organizations ready to stand in as alternatives.
The "envelope system" has long been considered one of the best ways to manage a budget in real time. But there are drawbacks, not the least of which is that most people these days use credit cards and other electronic transactions in addition to cash. Enter Mvelopes, the envelope budgeting system for the digital age.
You can now track your spending, check your balances, and monitor your cash flow via the Internet — using a no-frills site that doesn't cost a thing.
By Mary Hunt
Can you really have an all-cash Christmas? Sure. Financial tipster Mary Hunt has ideas on how to make it happen.
