Photo by tellytom

Renting your first college apartment or house is very exciting, but it can also be exhausting, time consuming and overwhelming. 

There's a real liberation to being out of the dorms and on your own for the first time. You have the freedom to do what you want, go out when you want, cook what you want, study when you want, and so much more. But before you can experience this freedom, you have to find the perfect place to live. Check out these nine tips for a general guide through your journey.

1. Start Looking Early
Start looking the semester before you plan on renting. Get information on all the places in which you might like to live. Attend housing fairs for information about different properties without driving all over the city. Your university may also have an off-campus housing office where you can get housing, landlord, management company and roommate listings. These offices can also give you advice on how to conduct your search. Property management agencies can be helpful but ask about any service fees they may charge.

2. Prioritize 
Consider what's most important about your new place. Do you want to live close to campus or are you willing to drive a little further? Do you want an up-scale apartment or can you compromise for a better price? 

3. Don't Commit Early
Just because you start looking early doesn't mean you have to commit -- and you shouldn't. Once a landlord or leasing agent gets your contact information, they'll call you about upcoming rental-rate deals or specials. If they still have vacancies later in the season, their more likely to cut deals and offer better rates. The national vacancy rate is six to eight percent, according to AllBusiness.com so you can be picky. Landlords will do just about anything to get their vacant spaces rented out. However, the line between waiting just long enough and waiting too long is very fine. You don't want to run out of options because you waited too long.

Photo by jenniferconley

Economists are saying the recession is over. Bull hockey! Maybe the stock market is recovering and bankers are smiling, but you and I both know America still has a long row to hoe before the little people see blue skies again (you should excuse the mixed metaphor). 

We all know people who've been unemployed so long they've given up. Our early enthusiasm for frugal living has turned into frugal fatigue. And it's been heaven knows how long since dining out didn't eat up our entire food budget. (Again, apologies for the bad pun.) 

So next time you hear the economy is getting better, just think about these 10 signs the recession is over. In fact, we had a hard time limiting ourselves to just 10!

1. Two Buck Chuck America's Best Selling Wine
Trader Joe’s, a specialty grocery store based in California, is a savior to cash-strapped wine snobs. The store's legendary Charles Shaw wines, lovingly nicknamed “Two Buck Chuck” have become something of a phenomenon in the wine world and are now the nation’s best-selling wines. That's not surprising when you consider the combination of great taste and low prices ($1.99 - $3.49 per bottle, depending on the region).

2. Unemployed Women Selling Their Wedding Rings on Craigslist
There are thousands of ads on Craigslist for things like used appliances, furniture, and cars from people who need a little quick cash to get by, with the seller frequently revealing a glimpse of the problems necessitating the sale. For upfront desperation, few ads are more poignant than the ones for wedding or engagement rings from people in financial straits. According to theHuffingtonPost, "Sellers typically said they posted their ads in an effort to take care of their children."

Photo by Amin Tabrizi

Textbook prices have vastly outpaced inflation in the past two decades, according to the Government Accountability Office. Students are definitely feeling the affects of these price increases. However, there are strategies to keeping the cost of books as low as possible.

Most students already know a few tricks of the trade. For example, it's common knowledge textbooks from the college bookstore cost more than through Amazon, eBay and Half.com. Here are 10 lesser-known ways to drastically cut your textbook expenses.

1. Purchase the International Edition
International editions and U.S. editions are eerily similar, except for their prices. The international edition is usually significantly cheaper than the U.S. edition. Any differences often are cosmetic, while the content is identical. Buy international editions at AbeBooks.com or buy and sell them through InternationalEditionTextbooks.com.

2. Rent Instead of Buy
You can save up to 75 percent on textbook rentals and shipping often is free. You'll only pay a fraction of the cost and can return it at the end of the rental period. Your rental period doesn't start until the book is delivered. You also have the option to buy your rental books if you decide to keep the book. You also may extend your rental period if you need the book longer than originally anticipated. Rental companies often will send out a reminder your due date, so you don't get charged an extra late fee. Check out BookRenter.com.

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If you think your household finances are invulnerable to disaster, think again. Just one flood, fire, earthquake or tornado could wipe out your life savings. Before misfortune hits, it's vital to secure your finances from unexpected events of nature. 

Here are seven steps to protecting your home and finances.

1. Get the Right Insurance
Review your insurance policies to ascertain what they do and don't cover. Keep in mind there's a big difference between replacement cost coverage and standard coverage, which only pays the actual cash value of insured property. Be sure that you have enough insurance to cover recent home renovations or improvements. Learn more by visiting Fema.gov, and the Insurance Information Institute.

2. Purchase Flood Insurance
As many Hurricane Katrina survivors sadly learned, most homeowners insurance polices don't cover flood damage. Look for flood insurance that will cover both your structure and the contents. Renters and business owners also should purchase coverage. Nearly 100 insurance companies in more than 21,000 participating communities offer flood insurance at an average of around $500 a year. In low- to moderate-risk areas, lower-cost Preferred Risk Policies (PRPs) start at just $112 a year. Learn more about your flood risk and how to protect their property at FloodSmart.gov or calling 1-800-427-2419.

3. Inventory Possessions
Keep a written and video or photo record of all major household items and valuables, including those stored in your basement, crawlspace, attic and garage. Create files detailing serial numbers and store receipts for major appliances and electronics. Have jewelry and artwork appraised. These documents are critically important when filing insurance claims. For help in conducting a home inventory, visit KnowYourStuff.org. or the Insurance Information Institute.

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March Wedding Madness has set in but, as with the shrinking size of engagement-ring diamonds, wedding budgets have gone the way of the economy. It only makes sense people are less willing to spend a fortune on a one-time party.

The temptations to grow a small wedding into an extravaganza, however, can be hard to resist. Bakers, caterers and bridal-gown salons will try to up-sell their cakes, to compensate for shrinking incomes. Invitation lists tend to grow like weeds, as parents add work associates, friends ask to bring extra guests, and Auntie Flo insists your six cousins absolutely must be invited.

For those tying the knot this year, we offer the following 15 tips on how to not mortgage your future by serving 300 people a rubber-chicken meal.

1. Communication is Paramount
Sit down with your future spouse and talk about your expectations. You need to discuss compromises if he wants a tiny wedding and you want a giant blow out. Also, pow wow with anyone else involved in covering costs and set a realistic ceiling. Decide if pictures are more important than flowers, or if it is more important to have 250 guests with a sit-down meal.

2. Boring Budgets
Yes, you've heard it before, but once you've agreed upon the total amount you're willing to spend, it's vital to establish and stick to a budget. Several online budget calculators make this process much easier by allowing you to add and subtract costs as you go and have these changes reflected in the total figure. Examples include YourWeddingCompany.com and eVantageous.com.

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Financing your college education is overwhelming and stressful, particularly if you don't know what you're doing. With a lot of help, guidance and planning, you'll be set-up for successful financial planning that will benefit you now and after graduation. The hard work you put into planning will definitely pay off.

According to USA Today, the average college student graduates with $19,000 of debt. Making the most of available financial aid now will help cut those high monthly payments that come due after graduation.

Student financial aid comes in many forms and variations. At first, it can be hard to understand what kind of aid you're looking for, how to get it and how or if you'll eventually pay it back. It's vital to understand all these components to ensure you're paying for your education in the way that best suits you and your financial needs.

Thankfully, applying for financial aid is easier these days.

"Everything is going Web-based," said Chris Peterson, University of Northern Colorado associate director of financial aid. "The government has eliminated some of the most frustrating questions from the online version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the standard application. It's also easier for students and parents to figure out how much a prospective college will actually cost and how much aid they'll receive before applying with Web-based calculators."

Consider the following four facts to help jump-start your financial planning.

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Among the many wonderful things you may learn in college, there’s one thing you may learn the hard way: money management. As a recent college graduate, there are many money saving tips I wish I'd known before heading to college.

College students have enough to worry about: Studying for tests, paying for tuition, making it to class on time and, of course, having fun. How and where you spend your money is probably the last thing on your mind. College is an expensive investment. There isn’t much you can do to control those expenses, but there are ways to control your personal spending. 

Check out these five tips to help reduce those costs and help you avoid eating Ramen noodles every day of the week. 

1. Track Your Spending
The best thing you can do is track exactly where your money goes. Make a list of all mandatory expenses, such as rent, utilities, school supplies and groceries. Once you know where your money is going, it's easier to establish a budget. Make sure you budget a bit for fun or you'll fall off your budget as easily as you'd fall off a diet. Just stick to your plan and form good spending habits early.

2. Avoid Credit Cards
Although having a credit card may sound like a good idea, don't be fooled. Credit cards are one of the biggest problem areas for college students. They may seem like free and easy money to a poor college kid, but the money you borrow must be paid back with a steep interest rate and hidden fees. Fortunately, recent federal legislation makes it far more difficult for students to obtain credit cards without an adult co-signer, but it's still possible to get into trouble. If you must get a card, make sure to sign up for one with a low interest rate that won't balloon after the introductory period. And make sure you pay the balance off every month.

Photo by Steve Rhodes

In the ever shrinking credit market, it's become more and more difficult for low-income consumers to obtain traditional forms of credit, such as credit cards and personal loans. As a result, more people have turned to “pay-day loans.”

These short-term loans allow consumers to almost instantly obtain cash, using uncashed checks or electronic access to a ban account as collateral.  

Most pay-day loans require repayment within a week or two, usually when the borrower receives their next pay check. The problem is that borrowers who can ill afford to do so must re-pay not only the amount of the loan but a hefty finance charge. Those who can't pay back the entire loan within the specified period,are charged additional fees until the loan is paid off in its entirety.

Pay-day-loan firms typically charge over 300 percent APR (Annual Percentage Rate), although many loaners usually advertise at a better rate. Add this interest to the balance of the loan and you might as well borrow from a loan shark. The only advantage of a pay-day loan is that Guido won't show up to break your legs when you can't pay. 

Thanks to the recession, pay-day loans have become big business. Here are some basic facts you should consider before taking out a pay-day loan.

1. Loan Terms and Fees
Typical loan terms range from as little as $100 to upwards of $2,000 dollars. State laws determine the size and terms of loans, but companies can charge additional fees above the interest rate. For example, a borrower often may end up paying $115 on a $100 loan; an interest rate of well over 600 percent.

Photo by Harm Wimmenhove

Gardening -- you should excuse the pun -- is rapidly growing into the number-one American hobby. Maybe we're trying to save money by growing our own vegetables or maybe gardeners are returning to the soil as a means of working off stress. Whatever the reason, gardening is one of the most "fruitful" returns on investment one can make. 

Unfortunately, novice gardeners can end up spending more on seeds, tools and the other doo-dads required for a start-up patch. The good news is there are a few tricks that can save you money while still turning out a good crop. Here are nine tips to get you going.

1. Plan Early
Plot out your garden before turning the first spade of earth. Several websites make it easy to plan your garden either at no cost or free for the first 30 days. I'm particularly partial to GrowVeg.com, which helps you plot out the amount of space you'll need for each plant and where each should go in relation to other plants. The Farmers' Almanac is still one of your best guides to when you should start planting and what kind of weather you can anticipate for the growing year.

2. Understand Your Land
Before you shell out a ton of cash for new plants, ask your neighbors what plants thrive in the soil of your region. Keep in mind plants appropriate for your growing zone might not work in your garden due to variations in soil composition, micro-climate, pests, sunlight exposure and water availability. Your local USDA Extension Specialist or Master Gardener can analyze your soil and recommend amendments and suitable plants.

Photo by Kevan Emmott

My neighbor installed a tankless water heater in his new house and loves to brag about how much money he's saving. 

Tankless water heaters, also known as instantaneous or demand water heaters, provide hot water only as needed; whereas traditional tank heaters electrically heat water at a consistent temperature to provide hot water on demand. A tankless heater uses a gas burner to heat the water, delivering a constant supply of hot water. As a result, you don't need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water.

Think of it in this way: You don't leave your home furnace running while vacationing. You only keep the heating running when you need it. In the same way, you only use a tankless water heater when you need hot water.

The problem is ascertaining the exact payback, or return on investment, for the average tankless heater. Since my neighbor never paid energy costs in his new home to heat a standard water heater, he has no true standard of comparison. 

Different tankless manufactures claim a wide range of savings, anywhere from 50 percent to 80 percent. What many fail to figure in is the cost of exchanging out a tank heater for a tankless heater. 

Consider the following nine factors and you may find yourself ready to go tankless.