Here are my favorite Internet destinations for saving money, time and headaches. All are worth a bookmark. If you've got one of your own, chime in.
The best sites for saving money
Bargaineering. Jim Wang's blog offers plenty of good personal-finance content along with reviews of banks, credit card offers, books and products.
Consumerism Commentary. Track blogger Flexo's net worth as he and partner Smithee write about saving money on everything from banking to travel.
The Dollar Stretcher. If this site has had a major redesign since its launch in 1996, I missed it. But you don't need fancy graphics when you have a huge library of articles and tips about saving money. Even black-belt frugality experts will find new information here.
Financial Integrity. This is the site run by the New Road Map Foundation and Vicki Robin, a co-author of the seminal voluntary simplicity guidebook "Your Money or Your Life." Learn the steps to create financial freedom and align your financial life with your personal values.
Get Rich Slowly. Blogger J.D. Roth dug his way out of debt and tells you how you can, too. An active community of readers provides additional insights and commentary.
The Simple Dollar. Like Roth, Trent Hamm has experienced and conquered debt. He grew up in poverty and understands how early deprivation can lead to later disasters with money.
The Simple Living Network. Followers of voluntary simplicity will find just about everything they need here, including articles, discussion forums and links to a range of like-minded sites.
Smart Spending. Yeah, it's cross promotion, but MSN Money's Smart Spending blog is still one of my favorite places to check for savings tips, commentaries on frugality and a roundup of good deals around the Web.
Wise Bread. A variety of voices enlivens Wise Bread, a site devoted to helping you "live large on a small budget." In addition to personal finance and frugal living, Wise Bread provides commentary on careers and "life hacks."
The best sites for savvier spending
Angie's List. Need to find a good contractor, a reliable handyman, an honest plumber or a warmhearted pediatrician? You'll find them and more on this consumer review site, which now has more than 750,000 members contributing and searching reports on local businesses. Membership fees vary by city but are typically around $5 a month to $40 a year.
BillShrink. Get a better deal on credit cards and cell phone plans by answering a few questions about your bills. BillShrink analyzes your situation and matches you up with competitive offers.
The Budget Fashionista. You can look good for a lot less if you follow Kathryn Finney's smart advice, sales alerts and budget shopping tips.
Facebook users: Become a fan of Liz Pulliam Weston
Consumer Reports. The venerable consumer-products-testing organization has an easy-to-use site with plenty of free information, but it's well worth the $26 annual subscription to have access to all the detailed ratings.
The Consumerist. Now owned by Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, this irreverent site alerts readers to scams, customer-service nightmares, great deals and money-saving opportunities.
Edmunds.com. There are plenty of car price research sites on the Web, but Edmunds distinguishes itself with the True Cost to Own feature, which predicts how much each vehicle will cost in maintenance, repairs, insurance and depreciation over time, as well as in-depth articles such as the must-read "Confessions of a Car Salesman."
ePinions. "Unbiased reviews by real people" of an amazing variety of stuff. You can find ratings of products, companies, books, music and more.
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