TessMore Finance Blog

With summer now behind us (*weep*), you may be looking for more economical bottles of delicious red wine with firm tannins to go with those crispier days, heavier meals and crackling fires. But you don’t need to spend a fortune on red wine. It can still taste plenty rich even when you buy it on the cheap. We researched popular wine retailers to find the best cheap red wine, and got some help from Nick Elliott, a winemaking expert based in San Diego. We’ve got some great information about how to select red wine and why prices are what they are. However, if you just want to skip to our list of 13 great reds, we understand. 13 of the Best Cheap Red Wines Under $12 Setting the Table for Red Wine: A Brief Q&A Before we take our first sip, let’s review some common questions that come up when talking about reds. Why Are Some Red Wines So Pricey? Answer: Lots of reasons. Here are some typical factors driving the price of red wines. Red wine is aged, and the longer a bottle sits...

I’d like to introduce the concept of Career Seasons to you — which will help you find a job that’s perfect for you in this season of your life . At different points in our lives, we want different kinds of jobs: Growth: When we prioritize learning and earning more — and we’re willing to put in the time Lifestyle: When we want to prioritize our time outside work, such as taking care of family Reinvention: When we want to completely reinvent ourselves, including the role and even industry we work in Without understanding your Career Season, how can you find a job that’s perfectly made for you? Here’s how we discovered this concept. Whenever I ask people what they want from a Dream Job , one of the most striking things about their answers is how DIFFERENT they are. Some examples I’ve received: “I’ve worked part-time for a couple of years whilst my family needed me. Now I’m going back to complete my Master’s and stepping back onto the career ladder full time .” “M...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . When choosing a credit card, you want one that suits your needs. It can feel overwhelming at first, but it gets easier once you take a look at your credit profile to get a bird’s-eye view of your current financial situation.  Here, we’ll help you learn how to choose a credit card — we’ll highlight the key features to look out for, so you can find a credit card that feels like it was tailored to you. 1. See Where Your Credit Score Stands The first step you’ll want to take is to get your credit score. Knowing your credit score gives you a solid idea of what cards you may qualify for and can even help you find pre-approved offers. Your score doesn’t have to be perfect to land a good credit card. But you’ll at least need a score in the good range to qualify for the top credit cards with the most sought-af...

The term “cost of living” refers to the amount of money that’s necessary to cover essential living costs in a given time and location. Living expense s such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and health care all vary based on time and place and are factored into cost of living. If you plan on moving to a new city or are just curious about what it might cost to live somewhere else, use the cost of living calculator below to see the difference we’d expect between your current location and your desired one. Additionally, the calculator will let you know whether it’s likely you’d be able to maintain your standard of living based on your income. If your current salary just won’t cut it, take charge of your financial future and try out our tips to negotiate a potential cost of living adjustment. Cost of Living Calculator Where do you currently live? Where do you want to live? What's your current pre-tax household income? Calculate Reset To maintain your c...

Apple’s recent announcement of the new iPhone 13 is one of several new tech items that have been announced or introduced recently. The Google Pixel 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S22 are two other phones that you might have your eye on.  In addition to new phones, there are plenty of laptops, TVs, wearable items and other tech that are sure to make many Christmas shopping lists. If you or someone you love is a techie, here are some things to think about as you budget for new tech. Most technology items are depreciating assets The first thing to remember is that most technology items are depreciating assets. What that means is that it loses value over time. Like buying a new car , most tech items will never be worth more than it is at the time of its initial sale. Just like you might lose a third of your new car’s value as soon as you drive it off the car lot, your new phone might lose a third of its value as soon as you walk out of the Verizon or Apple store. A new phone Technologic...

Quick Navigation Holiday Shopping on Cyber Monday vs. Black Friday When Are the Best Deals? What’s the Average Discount? How to Prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales Store Specific Information Gone are the days when you needed to pitch a tent in front of a big box store to be the first in line on Black Friday and get the best deals for the holiday shopping season. What was once the traditional start of the holiday season has morphed into several weeks of sales, some starting in early October. Then there’s Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, both of which happen after Black Friday. For 2021, those dates are Black Friday (Nov. 26), Small Business Saturday (Nov. 27) and Cyber Monday (Nov. 29). There are deals to be had tied to both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, mostly in the five categories of tech, beauty, clothing, toys and home products. Take a deep breath though, pandemic-caused supply chain issues may make certain items in those categories difficult to ...

As the calendar turns to winter and temperatures drop, some people can think of nothing but sitting inside next to the fireplace with hot chocolate and a good book. Others however start planning their winter sports getaway.  Whether your passion is the ski slopes, snowboarding or snowmobiling, winter sports can get expensive. If you’re looking to play in the snow, here are a few tips to save on winter sports. Buying vs. Renting Equipment Winter sports equipment can get expensive, no matter what type of sport you’re looking at. Skis, special snow boots, snowboards, snowmobiles can make your budget really feel the pain. One way that you can save on this equipment is to buy used. Paying top dollar for new equipment will be the most expensive, and many times you can find used equipment that is just as good for a fraction of the price. Another thing to consider is renting your equipment rather than buying it. Of course whether renting is feasible depends on a variety of factors, incl...

Brittany Cantu was in shock when she found out she was chosen for The Penny Hoarder’s “Dream Job” challenge in October. To earn her $5,000 paycheck, Cantu had to kick one of her most persistent spending habits and save money for 30 days — all in an effort to find new and healthier ways to manage her money. Cantu was up for the job: She saved an impressive $621 simply by not buying stuff online during the course of the month. As a registered nurse, wife, and mother of three, Cantu stays busy. In her free time, she had built a habit of online spending. “I definitely have a shopping problem,” she said. “I use a deal website that gives me deals at places like Target and Amazon. It’s easy to overspend because my 10-month-old son doesn’t like to nap by himself so I get really bored when he’s sleeping on me.” Her growing kids also factored into her online buying habit. “The kids grow out of their clothes constantly, so kids’ clothes is a huge item that we usually need to buy,” she said. ...

It’s going to cost more to heat your home this winter, thanks to global price hikes for natural gas, heating oil and other fuels. How much more? The federal government is saying we could see spikes of 54% in our heating bills compared to last year. That’s a big jump and something that many of us will struggle to afford. For people lucky enough to use electricity for their heating systems, it’s predicted that their bills will only go up about 6%. Still, that’s money that you could use elsewhere. This dreary news is coupled with the prediction that it may be a colder winter in many parts of the country, too. But there are some ways to keep your energy bill in check this winter (and in the summer, too), and much of that has to do with maintenance. 25 Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill From bundling up to not heating uninsulated rooms to simple maintenance checks and fixes, these two dozen plus one ways to avoid sticker shock from your electric bill are worth your efforts. 1. Get a F...