Taking a break for just a few days with our closest family -- no gifts to exchange, no religious ceremonies, just enjoying good food and each other's company -- can be wonderful. 

If you take a critical look at absolutely every penny you spend - a really detailed examination - you might realize that your money is going to a number of places that it doesn't need to go.

February is real life, and it's probably how things are going to stay at least until summer starts, unless we take action to change them.

One of the reasons budgets fail is because a crucial first (and ongoing) step is missed in the budgeting process: tracking your expenses.

I have a strange confession to make; I have turned into quite the non-consumerist, in fact I have spent less than twenty dollars on myself since the first of the year.

This article will deepen the timeline by giving you some additional tips to ensure your kids have a healthy relationship with money, right from the start.

You want to eat healthy, and you want to feed yourself and your family without spending a fortune on food. So how do you get your budget of calories and nutrients to harmonize with your budget of dollars?

Although things may feel the same, more changes than we think. And if we review finances regularly, it's not a long arduous process; it's empowering and easy.

Impulse shopping is something we all fall prey to from time to time. But when impulse shopping tendencies become a full-on syndrome, we need to find ways to conquer it.  

I was stuck in a rut and I didn't know what to do to change the vicious cycle I was in. Arriving at my wit's end, I had to do something. Self-help books weren't particularly effective, meditation was lost on me, and keeping busy to take my mind off the ever-growing void in my heart was only making me stressed out and sick.

Accommodation is a big vacation expense; sometimes a preventative altogether. But if you could get free accommodation, would you reconsider going away? Good news: there are lots of ways to get free accommodation on your next vacation! Here are some ideas.

For your next vacation, how would you like to receive free accommodation, get off the beaten tourist trail, and feel right at home the whole time? If this type of vacation appeals to you, then house-sitting could be a great fit.

If a financial planner recommends investments before determining what you need the money for (ie: your goals), they're either skipping a step or have an alternate agenda. Financial planning is all about structuring your finances to help you get to where you want to go in life - now and later. Goals are crucial to the plan.

By having a working holiday, you can earn money as you go to cover your expenses, and in some cases you can even return home with some extra money in your pocket.

Beware of the sock monster. It lives in clothes dryers, under dressers, and behind furniture. And it's a vindictive monster, because it likes to bereave you of just one sock; it has no desire for pairs.

Would you like to volunteer during your next vacation? Do something that helps a local community, or nature, or animals? Great! But be warned: volunteer vacations can be quite expensive, and aren't all created equal. Here are a few tips on how to find inexpensive volunteer vacations.

Why do good things happen to people with sunny dispositions (alternately, bad luck plagues those already under the weather)? This may not be a coincidence. What if by playing a simple game for three weeks you could literally attract money into your life? Would you try it?

A house swap or home exchange can be an incredibly enriching vacation experience for you and your family. And guess what? It won't break the bank, either.  

You get up. You go to work. You go home. You go to sleep. And you repeat this pattern until all of a sudden, months have passed and you're not exactly sure what - if anything - you have to show for it (except maybe a few more wrinkles).

Most of us recycle paper and plastic, but there are many more things we simply can't recycle on our own. And if it still works (but just not for us), then it's a shame to toss it in the trash. Electronics in particular increasingly need replacing, but have numerous components that are toxic to landfills.

When I became a Professional Hobo almost four years ago, it came with a cost-- one that was hard to come to terms with, but one that was ultimately among the best things I could ever have done. I got rid of everything I owned.

I recently watched the animated movie "Up," and the first 15 minutes depressed me beyond reprieve. I felt sorry for the wife-- a woman, who as a girl had big dreams of travel adventures. But, as life continued, and as she developed a relationship and the responsibilities of being a "grown up," those dreams of travel were continuously put off. Finally, when they could afford the trip of her dreams, she was too ill to go. Then she died.

So what is the best use for your $500? Let's look at the options.

Even if you're not the best with your own finances, you owe it to your children not to pass along bad habits and fears.

After four years of full-time travel, I've got a few tricks for finding great deals, and I'm always discovering new techniques and loopholes. Here are some ways to find cheap airfare and get the most value for your money.