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Birthdays on the Cheap

Birthdays are expensive. Shoot, I’ve said that before. It’s usually true, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are five ways to cut birthday party costs. Note: If you’re trying to cut costs on an adult party, just replace the word “kid” with “guest of honor”.

1. Location, location, location. The amusement park/pizza [...]

4 Ways to Flog the Inner Impulse Shopper

Impulse shopping kills. Not literally, of course, but it stings. You need to stop. I need to stop. We all need to stop.

Here’s how:

1. Use a list. Everybody tells you to shop with a list. Nobody has problems shopping with a list. How, exactly, does a list prevent you from buying something [...]

Naked Money

In our house, the bills don’t get hidden. I’ve never tried to hide our finances from our children. I believe doing that is part of the reason I reached adulthood with no brakes. Growing up, finances were almost entirely invisible.

Now, as a father, I balance the checkbook and pay bills on the laptop [...]

10 Things to do on a Cheap Vacation.

This summer, my family took a six-day vacation. Technically, it was a “stay-cation”, but I hate that word. Our goal was a fun time, on a budget, for 3 kids-one, two, and nine-without driving the adults nuts. Obviously, if you’re not herding small children, some of these choices may not be for you.

Zoo. In St. Paul, [...]