The Sun's Financial Diary

Nothing threatens a grocery budget (and a parent’s sanity more) than a hungry child in a grocery store. Sure, we all know it’s best to shop while you and your kiddo aren’t hungry. Heck, it’s best to shop without kiddos in tow at all. But what’s “best”, “ideal” and “easiest” isn’t always possible. So the [...]

With the economy the way it is, stress for all of us is at an all-time high while the money in our bank accounts may be struggling at an all-time low. Don’t neglect your sanity (or your blood pressure), though. Fortunately there are plenty of ways to de-stress at a discounted price. So the next time [...]

Got a household problem or challenge that needs a solution? Chances are you don’t have to spend a dime to find it. There are plenty of multi-tasking items around your home masquerading as plain old ordinary “stuff”. If you want to solve your dilemma while saving some money, too, get ready to help some of [...]

It’s cheap. It’s warm. It’s (usually) super easy to make, and it’s tummy-filling. What it often is not, though, is exciting. Let’s face it, soup can be plain old boring. But many of us could benefit from having soup as a main meal at least a couple times a week. Fortunately, though, there’s many ways to gussy up [...]

Utilizing the bookmark feature (sometimes called “Favorites”) on your Internet browser can really save you time, but many of them can save you money too. Here’s a quick rundown of various sites you might want to consider adding to your bookmarked list if you want to start adding to your bottom line, too: RetailMeNot.com is [...]

If you ever find yourself looking down at your watch wondering where in the world did the time go or how in the world are you going to get stuff done, then this article’s for you. If you’ve ever plopped down at the end of the day exhausted wishing there was a way to not [...]

Let’s face it, what kid doesn’t like candy? And, frankly, it can be an inexpensive way to fill an Easter basket, especially if you visit the bulk candy section. But if you’re like me, you’d rather just have a sprinkling of sweets and round out the basket with other, non-sugary stuff. Fortunately, with a bit [...]

Kids are wonderful. So before I even get started, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade mine for the world. But they are incredible expensive! The doctor might have cut the cord shortly after birth, but he might as well have just hooked it right up to my bank account because these kiddos are sucking [...]