Parafiks - A Personal Finance

8 Ways to Live Frugally Without Sacrificing Comfort

One of my guilty pleasures is watching the show Extreme Cheapskates. I realize much of the television dramatization is exaggerated—some scenes are likely staged—but I also believe there are people who take extreme frugality to unusual lengths to save money.

I’m not judging anyone who lives frugally; I know I do things others find odd too. A bit of self-deprecating humor keeps life interesting.

On a related note, sometimes extreme thrift crosses ethical lines. I discussed this in a previous post titled “Frugality And Ethics – Are You Being Cheap, Frugal, or Stealing?”

Related articles:

75+ Ways To Make Extra Money
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How To Save Money – My Best Money Saving Tips
12 Money Hacks That Will Help You Save More Money

Below are eight extreme cheapskate tactics shown on the program. If you’re curious about extreme cheapskate tips, here they are—some are shocking, some are ingenious, and some simply cross a line.

8 extreme cheapskate tips

Looking for the best fun jobs that pay well? Many people dream of finding work they enjoy that also pays a good salary. It makes sense — you don’t want to spend 40 hours a week doing something you dread. I’m fortunate to have a job I genuinely love. I don’t wake up dreading the … Read more

Choosing the Right Bank for Your Women-Owned Business

This article is a paid partnership with Synovus. The content was provided by the advertiser and is published for informational purposes only. It should not be considered legal or financial advice. Choosing the right bank for a women-owned business can make a significant difference in cash flow management, access to funding, and the ability to … Read more

70+ Profitable Side Hustles to Earn Extra Income

If you want to learn how to make money on the side, you’re in the right place. Earning extra income transformed my life. Because I learned how to make money on the side, I paid off $38,000 in student loans within seven months, left my day job to pursue my passion, and started traveling full-time.

On Making Sense of Cents I write a lot about ways to make money on the side because extra income can change your life too. It can help you stop living paycheck to paycheck, pay off debt, accelerate retirement savings, and reach important financial goals.

Before I discovered side hustles, I didn’t even realize they existed. I thought I wouldn’t have time to start anything. Once I gave it a try, I wished I had started sooner.

Hi everyone. This is the latest installment of my “Extra Income” series. If you’d like to be featured, please send me an e-mail. Other posts in this series include: I Run a Resume Business, I Help Businesses Create Online Campaigns, I’m a Creative Web Entrepreneur, and I’m a Frequent Flyer Mile Redemption Specialist.

The following post is from My Money Design (MMD). My Money Design covers traditional personal finance topics like investing and retirement, but also focuses on building passive income streams to earn money on the side.

In 2013 the site had a breakthrough with a niche website initiative: creating a portfolio of focused, authoritative websites that generate passive income through advertising.

Related: 12 Passive Income Ideas That Will Let You Enjoy Life More

Below is a detailed look at how this approach developed for My Money Design and what lessons were learned along the way.

Do you want to learn how to make $10 a day? Whether you need an extra $10 right now or are aiming to earn an additional $10 every day, there are many practical options to choose from. Making $10 per day adds up: that’s roughly $300 a month or about $3,650 a year. Many methods … Read more

15 Personal Finance Books Young Adults Should Read to Build Wealth

Are you looking for the best money books for young adults? If you’re a recent high school or college graduate, or a young adult starting to take control of your finances, the right books can make a huge difference. Below are carefully selected personal finance and life guides that explain money in a clear, practical, … Read more

Protect Yourself from Financial Fraud: Practical Prevention Tips

Today I have partnered with Aura. Aura is a leader in intelligent safety solutions and offers all-in-one digital protection for consumers. We now do nearly everything online. From shopping and paying bills to banking and staying connected with friends and family, many people spend a large portion of each day online. On average, online consumers … Read more

30-Day No-Spend Challenge to Reset Your Finances and Save Big

Have you ever tried a no-spend challenge? This simple money-saving approach helps you eliminate unnecessary purchases for a set period—whether it’s a weekend, a month, or even longer. By avoiding nonessential spending, you can save money and reset your habits. During a no-spend challenge, you limit purchases to essentials like groceries, utilities, and necessary transportation. … Read more

Can Credit Cards Replace Your Emergency Fund?

Recently I’ve noticed more families treating credit cards as their emergency savings. While credit cards can help in certain short-term situations, relying on them instead of a dedicated emergency fund worries me. For most people, a cash emergency fund is a safer and more reliable solution. Whatever emergency amount you choose to save, having something … Read more