Alpha Consumer
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Best Cheap Date: Cooking and Board Games
Continue reading… 3 CommentsCongratulations to Jim of Blueprint for Financial Prosperity for winning the third edition of the Alpha Consumer Challenge! His best cheap date idea—to cook and play board games—won by 1 percentage point. He will receive Break Down Your Money: How to Get Beyond the Noise to Profit in the Markets by Fox Business Network reporter Tracy Byrnes.
I asked Jim to share a few things about himself and his site:
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Podcast: Painless Budgeting
Continue reading… 0 CommentsI interviewed Cathy from the Chief Family Officer blog for the Alpha Consumer Podcast, and she had all kinds of suggestions for ways to save money on daily expenses. She also recommended these websites:
On the podcast, you can also pick up the latest Alpha Consumer Tip of the Week on recovering from financial disaster. Listen now, download in
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How to Get Student Loans Forgiven
Continue reading… 33 CommentsDear Alpha Consumer,
I have about $70,000 in student loan debt and right now it's on deferral. I intend to pay it off, but I'm exploring all my options. Can you talk about debt forgiveness? I'm a writer and haven't found any debt forgiveness programs that apply.
The reason you haven't found any is probably because there aren't any. Loan forgiveness programs are few and far between, and the ones that do exist apply mainly to people working in public sector jobs such as law enforcement or social work. (Read more about the federal government's policies here.) People with disabilities are also eligible for various forgiveness programs.
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Audio: Skip Weddings to Save Money
Continue reading… 0 CommentsOver the weekend, I spoke with WTOP about saving money at weddings. (Top tip: Just don't go!) Listen now, download in
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Addicted to Shopping
Continue reading… 8 CommentsJust when many consumers are trying hard to stick to budgets, some companies are doing whatever they can to persuade us to ignore those frugal plans.
Last night on television, I saw a Discover Card ad that began, "We are a nation of consumers. And there's nothing wrong with that," against a backdrop of plasma televisions and iPods. Oh, really, there's nothing wrong with that? With the personal savings rate hovering around 0 percent and the average American carrying $16,635 in debt (excluding mortgages), I would argue that there's a lot wrong with that.
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Losing Weight on a Budget
Continue reading… 4 CommentsWith gyms costing upwards of $50 a month, exercise can be pricey. Here is a guest post from Kyle James of Rather-Be-Shopping.com on how to stay in shape on the cheap:
Three years ago, I was at my annual physical, and my doctor told me I was 45 pounds overweight. Of course, I already knew this, as the mirror does not lie! But I was the king of procrastination and kept telling myself, "I will start working out next month." Next month would come and go, and, still, I did nothing.
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Vote: Best Cheap Date Night
Continue reading… 3 CommentsThe ideas for cheap dates are in, and it's time to vote: Who do you think has the best idea for a frugal-yet-romantic night out? The winner of this Alpha Consumer Challenge will receive Break Down Your Money: How to Get Beyond the Noise to Profit in the Markets by Fox Business Network reporter Tracy Byrnes. (Votes will be accepted through Tuesday.)
Here are the finalists, picked from many great submissions:
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Audio: Pros and Cons of Debt Settlement
Continue reading… 0 CommentsOver the weekend, I spoke with WTOP about debt settlement and how to know whether it's the right choice. Listen now, download on
iTunes, or subscribe to the RSS feed.Also, remember to submit your best cheap date idea to the Alpha Consumer Challenge by Thursday at 9 a.m.
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Quiz: Are You Ready to Move in Together?
Continue reading… 1 CommentIn theory, living together is romantic—no more schlepping clothes and toothbrushes back and forth between homes. But in reality, it can quickly turn into a financial nightmare, especially if you and your partner have different spending habits and, in the worst case scenario, end up breaking up after sharing furniture, a house, and perhaps even a dog.
To help you decide if you're ready to take your relationship to the next level, take this Alpha Consumer quiz. (You can find more tips on getting along financially with your new roommate here. You can also take previous quizzes on whether you're ready to get married or have a baby.)
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5 Ways to Save at Weddings
Continue reading… 58 CommentsIt's the time of year when weddings can start taking up more time (and money) than any other weekend activity. I know I'm not the only one with a fridge covered in invites; Banker Girl and Budgeting Babe have also been discussing how to handle the multiple commitments.
Here are some ways to cut down on those wedding costs:
- Just say no. It may sound harsh, but sometimes it's the best solution. Ask yourself, will I still be friends with this person in 10 years? If the answer is no, then consider responding with a polite decline.
