Frugaling focuses issues of social justice, minimalism, frugality, simple living, anti-consumption, saving and making money, dealing with debt, and everything in between.
I use a few special financial and service companies to stay frugal, save more, and sometimes even make more. Here’s what I recommend to everyone I meet:
- Wealthfront for investments. This company skillfully invests my money without excessive fees or picking individual stocks. They also have terrific customer service. Register and you’ll receive $15,000 managed for free.
- Ally Bank for checking and savings. This is hands down the best checking and savings account I’ve ever owned. Every year I look for an alternative, but stick with Ally. Again, they have awesome service, far higher interest rates for savings (~1%) and checking (~.10%).
- Uber for traveling in cities. When a city doesn’t have great public transportation, I immediately check my Uber app. The rates tend to be fair for both users and drivers, and you can see exactly when they’ll arrive. The company makes any city more approachable and affordable to travel in.
- Mint for money management. There’s no better app and website for managing wealth (or debt). The company tracks every dollar in or out. Assets can be paired with car loans to see exactly where your money is going.
My writing is informed by various authors — in print and digital. I’m humbled by their work, and want to support their endeavors. The following recommended reads are favorites that help inspire me. Without their work, I’m not sure what this site would look like.
Check out my book, Frugaling: Save more, live well, give generously, on Amazon.com!
- A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel
- Brandwashed: Tricks Companies Use to Manipulate Our Minds and Persuade Us to Buy by Martin Lindstrom
- Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty
- Confessions of a Street Addict by Jim Cramer
- Culture Jam: How to Reverse America’s Suicidal Consumer Binge–And Why We Must by Kalle Lasn
- Essential: Essays by The Minimalists
- Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
- Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky
- Mortality by Christopher Hitchens
- Revolution by Russell Brand
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
- The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap by Matt Taibbi
- The Innovators by Walter Isaacson
- The Rise of the Warrior Cop by Radley Balko
- The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life by Leo Babauta
- This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein
- Walden on Wheels: On the Open Road from Debt to Freedom by Ken Ilgunas
- Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed