By Miriam Raftery

January 15, 2009 — January is the season for two kinds of yard lines—those scrutinized by SuperBowl fans and those frequented by bargain hunters at yard sales.  Lots of people are clearing out clutter (not to mention unwanted gifts) after the holidays—and in this bleak economy, more and more people are selling off valuable items in an effort to bring in a little extra cash.

By Miriam Raftery

December 1, 2008 Holiday season can be a major budget-buster.  Short of morphing into Ebenezeer Scrooge and avoiding gift-giving or merrymaking, how can you survive the season without spending more than you can afford?  Here are a few tips:

Resale Clothes & Toys for Children of All Ages

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2008 - In today’s cost-conscious times, parents are rediscovering the jobs of resale shopping.  By popular demand, after reporting on my favorite women’s resale shop, I scoured East County to find a great place for parents to save money on stylish kids’ clothes, play equipment and more.

Making ends meet is getting tougher. The cost of gas, food, college and just about everything else is going up, while wages have failed to keep pace with inflation. This column provides info on where to find bargains in East County, plus other tips on how to get more for less.

October 1, 2008 (EAST SAN DIEGO COUNTY) - Autumn is the perfect season to tackle these.