Northern Cheapskate

Frugal. By Nature.

Saving Money in Graduate School

Saving Money in Graduate School

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photo credit: Sean The following is a guest post by Anthony Garcia. If you're attending a college or university, you're acutely aware of the price of education. Every year the cost of tuition seems to grow, pricing some aspiring professionals out of the market. Even worse, these essential expenditures literally make some students broke. Yet in order remain competitive in today’s job market, it has become increasingly clear that you have to attend a graduate program in order to get a better … [Read more...]

Green Up School Lunches with 5 Days of Ideas

Green Up School Lunches with 5 Days of Ideas

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It's pretty simple & cost-effective to "green" up school lunches you send with your kids.It doesn't need to be overwhelming or break the bank. I am going to give you a few tips and also provide you with five different lunch bag ideas. Tips to a Greener Lunch Bag Use re-usable containers and lunch bags you already own, there is no need to go buy a new lunch bag every year. If you need to buy one, check out the thrift store, rummage sales, or ask friends if they have one they don't want … [Read more...]

Save Money on Clothes for School

Save Money on Clothes for School

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  Why is it that kids seem to grow faster than our budgets? It's not hard to spend a lot of money on clothes for school.  Just visit any shopping mall and you'll see what I mean. Of course, being a cheapskate, I've learned that it's not that hard to save a lot of money shopping for school clothes, either! Do an inventory.  Make a list of everything your kids have (and will wear) that still fits and is in decent condition.  This will help you figure out what things your kids … [Read more...]

Make the Most Out of Back-To-School Sales

Make the Most Out of Back-To-School Sales

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The back-to-school sales are just beginning.  This is the perfect time of year to find savings on all kinds of things you'll need throughout the year - whether or not you have kids in school. Watch for sales on these items during the next several weeks: Office supplies.  It's a great time to buy pens, pencils, notebooks, binders markers, glue, and tape.  I love having lots of super cheap notebooks around the house to job down ideas, make inventories and plan menus.  A stash of glue, … [Read more...]

21 Ways To Save Big on College Expenses

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The following is a guest post by Ellen Berry of BrainTrack.com. The most important thing you can do to save money on college costs is to plan ahead. The more knowledgeable you are about your options, the better choices you'll make, and the more money you'll save. Here's a list of strategies that will give you a head start: Create a career plan before choosing a school. College is a great place to explore your options when it comes to a career. If, however, you take some time to consider … [Read more...]

Great Ideas for Teacher Gifts

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Over the years, I have came up with some extremely frugal teacher holiday gifts, some semi-frugal holiday gifts and some not so frugal holiday gifts (like the year I had my fourth child on November 25th - gift cards for everyone!).  Everyone has their different tolerance level on spending for teachers, coaches, Sunday school helpers and the like, and often your budget can vary from year to year. Please let me take a moment to say that teachers, coaches and all those wonderful staff and … [Read more...]

Attitude is Key to College Success

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When I was an academic advisor, I saw many students create their own academic train wrecks.  Despite my advice, they would take too many credits, work too many hours, or refuse to get help when they needed it.  The most difficult of these students would blame the instructor or blame the system for their failing grades. I did my best to provide these students with the tools they would need to help themselves succeed.  And sometimes I was able to make a difference.  But in the end, it really … [Read more...]