Cara Reynolds – SUM180 Community Manager

Verizon called me recently and actually offered me a good deal in changing my cell phone plan. I am always skeptical of offers from big companies like that, but the sales rep cut my monthly bill down by $30. Again, not much, but I’ll take it.

Whenever someone asks about the small dent on my refrigerator door, I say, “Floor model discount! We got an excellent deal!”

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, many more health insurance plans are covering or helping to cover programs that help people quit.
You can read more here:

Check with your insurance plan and see if you can get help to quit.

I think it depends on your current situation. Do you have kids or a spouse? My husband and I got term life insurance when we had kids. If something happens to one of us, the kids’ education and other expenses will be covered. The policies expire when the kids are in their 20s – hopefully they will be paying their own way by then!

In my exp…[Read more]

I have read that “wash your hair every other day” advice many times. I think that one is definitely falls in the “works for you, but not for me” category.

I have definitely cut back on highlights to save money and I only get pedicures for special occasions. I go without otherwise, because I don’t have the skill or the patience to DIY.

But…[Read more]

I would add Boden to the high-quality list. They are a British company and a bit pricier than some other companies, but the clothing is well made and lasts through many washings.
They have a unique style too – I always get compliments on my Boden dresses and skirts.

Karina Dresses is another good one. The dresses are well made, feature gorgeous p…[Read more]

An herb garden is a good choice also. Some plants will come back every year. Cilantro reseeds itself each year, so if you get a start from a friend, there is no need to buy another plant next year.

We have a small collection of herbs, and the oregano comes back every year, and the sage does too.

We buy a basil plant or two every spring. It’s e…[Read more]

I am just starting to locate scholarships for my high school senior. I also use the above tool but have also found a site called fastweb. It was started by a group of educators. I receive e mails three times a week with new scholarships available. My experience so far is that it takes time to apply as most ask for essays. My goal is to put lots of…[Read more]

As the mother of two teenagers, we have discovered Rent The Runway together. They have rented dresses for dances and once I saw how easy and inexpensive a rental can be I have jumped on the trend. You will save a lot of money on a special dress that would probably spend a lot of time hanging in your closet.

Yes. If you have children you know that your children’s auto insurance is sky high. While it isn’t easy to save on their insurance right away, consider these tips to save you money:
1. After a year and a clean record call your insurance company and ask for a lower rate. We lowered our bill on both our children after the first year. When my son…[Read more]

I had heard about Tradesy but was a little skeptical. I do love my local consignment shop, but it does require an appointment and a trip to the store. Including an envelop is a genius move – very persuasive!
Thanks for the tip – your experience has convinced me to try it!

I think that credit card debt is such a big problem for so many people that anything that chips away at it is a good thing.
The envelope system wouldn’t work for me, and it would never work for my husband. He never has cash. We have joint accounts, so any system we use has to work for both of us.
I’ve found having a weekly spending target helps me…[Read more]

I used Dave Ramsey’s envelope spending system for about one week – clearly not a success for me! In theory the system sounds great. Set aside the cash you need for a week into envelopes. $X for groceries, $x for entertainment, $x for gas. That part was easy enough until reality set in. An extra child to feed for dinner. A longer car trip than usu…[Read more]