Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

Frugal

Our Switch To Netflix – Review

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A few years ago my wife complained about our cable bill.

“This is a ridiculous amount to pay every month” she said.

We had a premium cable channel on our plan but we weren’t even watching most of the movies or shows it provided.  And the movies it did show played over and over without much variety.

I thought about it and it was ridiculous.

So what to do?

We wanted to be able to watch recent movies without having to pay per movie or leave the house to pick something up. 

Enter Netflix!
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20 Kids and Counting: How to Have a Large and Frugal Family

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I’m sure you’ve heard of the show 17 Kids and Counting, then changed to 18 and 19 with new additions. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are expecting yet another child in April 2012.

That will make number 20 for the conservative Christian couple!

With two sets of fraternal twins, Michelle has been pregnant much more than the average woman.  They do not use birth control, instead, leaving their family size up to God.  With shows like Jon and Kate Plus 8 and the outrage Octomom caused, there are many people both intrigued and outraged at families the size of classrooms.

The Duggar children range in age from 23 years old to 23 months old, and there’s even a grandbaby!  How do you fit that many kids in 1 house?  Every teen couldn’t possibly get their own car, can they?  And how on Earth are they coming up with so many names that start with J?!
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Cheap, Inexpensive, and Frugal Halloween Costume Buying Tips

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Who dressed YOU?

Halloween is great fun! I remember how exciting it was going around town in my Halloween costume, getting candy from all of the neighbors.  I still get to enjoy that now through my kids!

Do you remember those old Halloween costumes? You know the ones that came in a box and it was made up of a thin plastic mask with eye holes that hurt and it was held onto your head with an elastic piece that usually didn’t last the night and the body of the costume was a plastic sack-like piece you climbed into which also didn’t make it through the night?  Those were great!  I remember one year I was Chewbacca and another I was Yoda ( I remember terrorizing my younger sister with those masks too; I was such a stinker!).  I’m sure I was Superman and Batman as well.
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Frugal Vacation Idea – Tag Along to Your Spouse’s Business Conference

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Many people have to attend business conferences, often at faraway locations.  While it is true some people like to spend this time away from their family to focus on work and make business connections, others would prefer not to be away from their family for a long period of time.  If you are of the latter group and your spouse has a flexible schedule, why not create a family vacation around a conference instead?  Tag along to your spouse’s business conference and you have the makings of a frugal vacation.  There are several advantages to doing so:
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Transportation Alternatives for One Car Families

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Many of us grew up in two car families, and more recently, even three car families.  A car for each adult (and sometimes teenaged) member of the family seems to be a necessity, but is it?  Are there transportation alternatives for one car families?

We live on the outskirts of a major urban area and have lived happily with one car our entire married life.  By not having a second car we have saved thousands of dollars.  Consider the following:
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