If you’re looking for a way to make a few extra bucks on the Internet, using Craigslist is an easy way to get started. You don't need to have any technical skills. You don't need to spend any money. So there's really nothing to lose. You just need "stuff" to sell.

And if you're looking to save a few bucks by buying stuff on Craigslist, it's very simple. Just search for what you are looking for, contact the seller, and pick it up.

Craigslist makes comparison shopping can really fun & simple!

But is buying & selling stuff from strangers safe to do?

The simple answer is "yes". After all, it's not that much different than a tag sale. Of course, there are some ways you can protect yourself so you don't put yourself at risk. I've both sold & bought stuff using Craigslist for years, without any problems. But these days you can never be too careful. Here are some tips to keep you safe:

» Click here to read more

Are you struggling to pay your bills every month - and frustrated that you have no money left over to live a normal life, without worrying about money all the time?

With money being tight, I needed to find some "breathing room". So I started to shop around for the lowest rates and I was able to save myself $285 a month! By cutting out some unnecessary expenses, shopping around for the best rates, and clipping a few coupons, you can save yourself a lot of money and lower your monthly bills, too!

Hey, if I can do it, there's no reason you can't, too. There are lots of little ways to save money that really add up:

» Click here to read more

These days everyone is looking for a better way to handle their money. With all the negative attention that banks and other financial institutions are getting, it makes perfect sense. Even if you could fully trust the banks with your savings, IRA's, 401k, and other money, are those the best ways to manage your money?

So if you're struggling with money problems, ask yourself the following questions:

What if you could get back the interest you pay to finance cars or other major purchases?

What if you could find a way to save without worrying about fluctuating interest rates and risky investments?

What if you could do all of this and be in control of your own money?

Sound good?

Then you should take a closer look at how you can gain better control of your finances with "Bank On Yourself!" The BOY (Bank on Yourself) program will help you take back control of your money and put it back into your own pockets. Unfortunately, since most people don't know much about Bank On Yourself - including most financial "experts" - they assume it is some sort of scam.

» Click here to read more

After reading this article. in the morning, the headline stuck in mind for the entire day. Why? Because I absolutely can't believe that people are taking out student loans for kids who are only 4 or 5 years old!

I'm a firm believer in the importance of a good education. For most people, it's priceless. A good education can pay off for years and years - often in ways you don't even realize. And education doesn't always mean a college degree, or graduating from a prestigious prep school. Learning is something that can occur just about anywhere. But I'm not blind to the fact that there are good schools - and there are bad schools. And there's nothing wrong with parents wanting to do everything in their power to send their kids to a good school.

I get that.

Heck, one of the biggest reasons we moved to the town we currently live in is for the highly regarded school system. And a lot of my tax money goes into this school system. So it's not like this good education is entirely free. My taxes are definitely NOT cheap!

But going into debt for a kid that is 4 or 5 years old?

» Click here to read more

Many personal finance sites will give endless, though no less, great advice on how to save money. Whether it’s trimming your budget, opening a savings account, or beginning to invest money in stocks and bonds, if your read personal finance sites, chances are you know all there is to know about growing a nest egg. Still, even though we know exactly how to go about saving money, we don’t necessarily do it. The key, in my experience, has been to change my overall attitude toward money. Here are a few tips:

1. Understand that the future is not a distant mirage.

Recently, I read a fascinating article that outlined a study showing that native speakers of languages in which the future and present tense are explicitly differentiated tend to save less money for the future. The reason behind this phenomenon, researchers speculate, is that since the future is so starkly contrasted from the present, it seems almost unreal. While of course, this is merely a conjecture, it brings to light one the most important attitudes you must adopt in order to save money—you have to take the future seriously. If you conceive of the future as present that will happen to you all-too soon, then you’ll be more likely to understand the necessity of saving.

» Click here to read more

When you’re in school the thought of having money – any money – is usually a laughable novelty. What money you do have is usually spent on late night pizzas and scraping up rent. Then when you get out of school and you get your first “real job” where you actually are bringing in a decent paycheck that money goes towards acquiring all the things you couldn’t buy in college. Suddenly you can afford things – you don’t have to shop the clearance rack or order off the dollar menu. Rarely do young, aspiring professionals think about planning their finances because the thought of investing money or saving a portion each month doesn’t seem as important as buying your first brand new car, or closing on your first house. However when you’re young is the perfect time to get familiar with financial planning, and can be done rather easily and in ways you may not have thought of before.

» Click here to read more

Recently, renowned NYU professor and activist Andrew Ross encouraged students to sign a petition promising to default on their student loans in solidarity against rising student debt. Associated in part with Occupy Wall Street, Ross claimed that if enough students defaulted together, it could meet the protestors’ ostensible demands of across-the-board student debt relief, free education, and other such cosmic improbabilities. If Ross understood for just a second what would actually occur if any graduate forewent their legal contract to repay their loans, maybe he would think twice about encouraging others to destroy their financial futures. For those not in the know, there are quite a few consequences when you default on your student loans. You essentially run the risk of:

OK, it's nearly a week after Black Friday so an article on holiday spending is probably too late for shopping junkies. But since I don't shop until at least December 15, there may be time to reach some of you who think like me :)

So, do you even have a plan for holiday spending?

Be honest now, nobody will know but you (well, the big guy in the red suit might find out, I think he signed up here a few weeks ago before he got busy).

My plan is the same as always - focus on quality and not quantity. And no, I'm not doing this just because I'm cheap. Fortunately, our kids don't ask for lots of junk. The realize the holidays are not just about spending lots of money and getting lots of gifts. Unfortunately, the gifts they do ask for are usually expensive. But at least we know they are getting something they really want and can really use. Which at least makes buying gifts a lot more fun.

Sadly, many people don't have a plan for buying holiday gifts. They just go out shopping, and buy whatever they find for the people on their list. This is clearly the WRONG way to approach holiday shopping. The list should include not just names, but gifts. This way you'll limit what you spend. Of course, if money is no object then a plan doesn't matter. But for the rest of us it does.

Do yourself a favor, make a list like Santa does - with name and gifts. And limit your buying to what you can REALLY afford - if you need to cut back a little now so don't end up with huge credit card bills in January your friends & family will have to understand!

So, what's your plan for this holiday season?