Author Archives: Melissa

Melissa, a mom to three little ones (ages 7, 3 and 1), blogs at both Mom's Plans where she writes about living a fulfilling life on less and paying down debt, and Fiscal Phoenix where she writes about rising from the ashes of your financial mistakes.

Consider Housing Changes to Improve Your Finances

Although the economy seems to be rebounding, people are still struggling.  Whether you are a recent college graduate who can’t seem to find a job, a middle aged worker who has recently been laid off or a retiree trying to make ends meet, there are radical ways you can make your money go further.  If…

Don’t Buy More Vehicle than You Need

You may have heard the advice not to buy more house than you need because you will pay more in so many areas—larger mortgage, utilities, furnishings, property taxes, maintenance.  Buying a house that is large enough to meet your needs, but not too large, will save you thousands of dollars over the life of your…

Stay At Home Parent? Consider Freelancing

Many families decide, after having a child or two, that it is best for one parent to stay home.  As the number of children you have increases, so, too, do the routine chores such as laundry, doing dishes, cooking, helping with homework, shuttling kids to events and caring for sick children.  Many families are able…

Ways to Save When Dining Out

In our fast-paced society, many of us rely on dining out.  The problem is that even if you choose modest restaurants, eating out frequently can cost a lot of money, especially if you are eating out with your family.  However, there are techniques that you can utilize that will save you money each time you…

Cutting Your Hair at Home – An Easy Way to Save Money

If you are looking to save more money or to pay down debt more quickly, one simple lifestyle change you can make is cutting your hair at home.  Save even more by also taking care of your family members’ hair care.  While the idea of cutting someone’s hair may be intimidating, it is really not…