Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Saving

Money Market Account VS Savings Account – What’s the Difference?

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There are many different savings vehicles to choose from, but two of the most common are money market accounts and savings accounts.

There are similarities between the two—both pay interest, have fixed balances, and are pretty easy to deposit money into or withdraw it out.  Either account type could accomplish your savings goals.

But there are significant differences between them, and those differences could help you decide when one is more appropriate as a savings vehicle than the other.

Money Market Accounts VS Savings Accounts

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Think Long Term When Shopping Black Friday and Cyber Monday

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When you do your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping don’t just think of things for the upcoming holidays — think long-term!

Many sales are at their best on these days.  Black Friday kicks off the big end-of-the-year holiday shopping frenzy and lots of people use it as an opportunity to stock up on gifts for the coming season.

But you can also take advantage now and buy items for events and purposes throughout the year.  That’s right, you should think long-term when you plan out your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping.

Many a time has passed where I thought I’d see an item on sale again but it ended up not being as good as the Black Friday or Cyber Monday price.  Damn!  Missed out.

Of course, for this to work you have to have money in your budget to buy extra now for the rest of the year.  It’s silly to put great deals on credit if you are going to end up paying credit card interest later on.

If you think out it and plan well, buying now can save you money, and time, for the upcoming year.

Here Are Some Great Occasions to Shop for On Black Friday and Cyber Monday:

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10 Tricks to Get Textbooks For Less Money (Because Tuition is Expensive Enough!)

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Textbooks for less money. Now that would be helpful!

When I went back to school some years ago I expected tuition to be higher, and it was.  

That wasn’t a shock, though.  I know that tuition goes up every year and how expensive it is.  I was prepared for that.

Know what shocked me?  I was shocked at how expensive textbooks had become! Let me tell you, textbooks are not cheap! Well, not for those that don’t know the tricks for cheaper textbooks.

I found that some textbooks were easily $100+, some lots more.  I quickly realized I had to figure out how to get cheaper textbooks!  Read on and you’ll see 10 tricks that can save you a LOT on your college textbooks.

Here are some great ways to save on your college textbooks and get textbooks for less:

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Free Tax Day Snacks, Giveaways and Deals 2015

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You got all your forms and receipts together to tackle your taxes.

Did you file everything yet in or are you still procrastinating?

If you are really one of those last minute folks then you better make sure your return is in either electronically by day’s end or post-marked by the end of the day on April 15th (expect the post office to be crowded).

To help everyone get over the tax-day malaise, there are a number of stores that are offering up free tax day snacks, giveaways, and deals.

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How to Save Money on Valentine’s Day and Still Have Fun – 23 Ways

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Every year, it seems like we’ve just gotten over the Christmas expense when another big expense comes—that’s right—Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day has turned into a highly commercialized holiday. In fact, according to the History Channel, “the holiday brings in almost $14 billion annually” (History).

But the history of Valentine’s Day is anything but romantic. 

The day has its roots in pagan festivities when an animal was sacrificed and young women were whipped with strips of animal skin to promote their fertility. Later, a 5th century pope turned Valentine’s Day into a Christian holiday by making it Saint Valentine’s feast day.

Who was Saint Valentine?

A priest who secretly married couples in the 3rd century AD after Emperor Claudius II banned marriage for his soldiers. Saint Valentine was discovered and sentenced to death. He was killed on February 14th, but not before he had written a love note to the jailer’s daughter signed, “From your Valentine” (History).

Yet, from this dark history, it’s become one of the most commercialized holidays.

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