The Sun's Financial Diary

I know the holidays are about much more than gifts, but come on, who doesn’t enjoy giving great gifts to those we love?! The problem can be, though, that a generous spirit isn’t always accompanied by a bulging wallet. Fortunately, one can have a give great gifts and have a meager budget, too! So if [...]

Hey, I like getting out and about just as much as the next guy or gal. Maybe even more so. As a work-at-home mom, I’m usually confined to the four walls of our smallish condo all day, every day, leaving only to take my kids to school. This and staring seemingly endlessly at my computer [...]

It’s no mystery that secondhand shopping can be a boon to your bank account. As the ultimate “go-green” option, thrift store and garage sale shoppers can reap even bigger savings and better value with the following list of strategies. Not sure, keep it in your cart anyway. While shopping in traditional stores, consumers have the [...]

I took a stroll through the mall the other day and noticed what most of you are probably noticing at stores everywhere – all of the Christmas decorations and merchandise are out in full force.  Heck, I saw our mall putting up Christmas stuff in the middle of August.  I guess it’s never soon enough [...]

Seattle is deemed to be one of the most expensive places to live and it is. But unlike many of the very high price places that require you to at least earn a middle or high income amount, Seattle is an exception along with a few other cities. If you are wondering if there is [...]

I have been a Seattle resident for as long as I can remember since I was born and raised here for most of my life. When it comes to clothes, I love to go clothes shopping but because books are usually cheaper, I get more books than clothes. However, I do love clothes and I [...]

There fortunately are a seemingly endless supply of ways to save money, but one of the easiest ways is simply knowing when to buy and when not to buy. So, if you’re wondering when is the best time to fork over your cash for the best possible deal, use the guidelines below to help guide [...]

Make no doubt about it, hitting the mouse instead of the pavement can be an easy and effective way to not only save money, but gain convenience as well. As with anything else, though, there are “do’s” and “don’ts” and “hits” and “misses” when it comes to making sure your online shopping adventures are as [...]