The Champagne Life on a DIY Budget Since 2007

Posts from the ‘Money’ category

6 pro tips resale thrifting courtney mirenzi

Side Hustle: 6 Pro Tips for Reselling Thrift Scores

Fellow Boston to Austin writer Courtney Mirenzi and I have a long shared history of scouring thrift stores in search of stylish treasure for cents on the dollar. We now have a weekly standing “picking” date at the Goodwill Outlet, and I love picking her brain for her pro tips on how she turns her like-new finds into funds to supplement her writing income through an eBay store and other resale avenues. It’s all about that side hustle! Read on for 6 of Courtney’s veteran experiences and pro tips.

ca$h in your life reality show casting

Cash in Your Life: The Reality Show

If being a reality TV star is YOUR dream, then you should apply to be on Ca$h in Your Life — a new show “seeking out couples and families for a chance to cash in their lives for a fresh start. Maybe your real calling is to open up a bed & breakfast, a boutique, or run a yacht charter. Whatever your dream may be, we are ready to pull out the stops, appraise your life, and offer you a check to cash in and start the life you have always wanted.”

how to save dream vacation shoestring

How to Save for a Dream Vacation

One of our biggest New Year’s Resolutions is to finally budget time and money for travel, often, and finally take that beachy, romantic vacation of a honeymoon we never got, and SOON. I found this Honeymoon Fund jar at Austin Goodwill for a few bucks and immediately scooped it up, and every time I spot it on the windowsill in the kitchen, I throw in whatever cash I have on hand in my wallet (usually between $5 and $20), and have been re-reading the top tips for saving for a dream vacation I shared with SmarterTravel earlier last spring — trying my best to take my own advice.

Shop Talk: Frugaa

This article is brought to you as part of the new Shop Talk series on Shoestring, a program that gives voice to some of Shoestring’s most loyal and exciting sponsors, their shops, products & services.

amazon subscribe save

Money Monday: Buying in Bulk

Whenever I talk to my dad about budgeting, he always brings up the warehouse clubs…groan. Don’t get me wrong, I think warehouse clubs are a great idea in theory, but the reality is that the quality of the products you find there in bulk are sub-par to those you’d buy individually, with rare exception.