Credit unions are another place to save. They’re to banks what generic drugs are to name brand prescriptions...

They are excellent substitutes that typically give you good value for your money and are just as safe. These nonprofit consumer organizations were started with the idea of providing higher savings rates and lower loan rates than profit-making institutions like banks. Approximately one in every five Americans has an account at one of these nonprofit cooperatives. Here’s a brief rundown of their strengths and weaknesses to help you assess whether they’re a good place for you to stash your contingency fund savings.

Ever feel like you move from one meal to the next? Do you just finish the lunch dishes in time to start on dinner? Or are you too busy to cook and so spend more to eat out? Do you even enjoy your meal? Or are you like me and dinnertime is something you dread? Below are eight painless ways to save money on your food bill this week. They don't require a lot of time or sacrifice. They just provide you with a bit more money in your pocket for other things that are important to you.

It happens to us all. The car breaks, the fridge goes out, we get sick and have to visit the doctor. Not only is there the time and stress of dealing with the issue, there is the financial impact. If you are like most people, your financial decision in those moments is no decision at all. Your only choice is to put it on a credit card.

What if you never had to do that again? What if you had the financial resources ready the next time a stressor struck? Here is one painless way to make that dream a reality.

Well, if you’ve been around the Lounge long you know that we are big on special accounts for special things. If money is tight, you may be saying to yourself, “Great idea, but how do I fund them?”

Here is a quick list of easy ideas you can use to fund your savings and fun money accounts.