All The Simple Dollar

401(k) plans offer tax advantages in addition to convenience. If your employer's 401(k) plan offers to match your contributions, then you're losing money out on free money.

Say you see someone in a store who's about to pay more than they have to for an item. Would you let the person know?

Soda and fast food are convenient (and tasty) parts of a normal routine. But making your own snacks will pad your wallet and help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Community parks and programs are an almost unlimited source of entertainment, at little to no cost.

Allowance can be a good tool to teach your kids about money management. Consider requiring them to divide their allowance into spending, saving, investing, and giving categories. 

If you can’t find something free and enjoyable to do outside, you’re not trying. Here are some suggestions.

Lots of household items make great toys. Just make sure they are sturdy, safe to put into a child's mouth, and too large to swallow.

Put those unused crayon nubs at the bottom of the box to good use – by making them into new crayons.

Play-Doh is a great toy, but it wears out quickly. Here's how to save  trip to the store and make your own.

Using what you already have waiting for a sale or a lower price, and thinking about about a purchase before you make it are good ways to avoid making a buy that you might regret later. 

By swapping babysitting services with another family, you save a hefty amount of money and build strong relationships to boot.

Frustration can lead to financial blunders. Here's how to calm down and make the best decisions for your financial future.

Spending more money on fewer toys is a better tactic than buying several cheap items.

The earlier you start saving for your child's education, the less you'll have to set aside each month.

In the early stages of childhood, kids outgrow clothing so quickly that it's unlikely they'll wear out.  As a result, it's easy to find secondhand kids' clothes that are practically new.

Creating your own baby wipes is easier (and more cost-effective) than you might think. 

Cloth diapers aren't as messy and time consuming as you think, and they're worlds cheaper (not to mention better for the planet) than disposable.

Free items, like tote bags and hats, are a cheap way for banks to rope in customers without actually improving their account services.

Student loans worth $25,000 will start accruing interest in November, but a young couple wants to buy a house in 2013. Should they pay off the student loans or buy a home? See question No. 4 in this reader mailbag.

Locking your money away in a CD provides you a period of “cooldown” where you can think rationally about what to do with the money instead of making a spur-of-the-moment (and likely poor) decision about how to it.