Boy meets girl. Boy asks girl out (or vice versa; this is 2010 after all) and then freaks out about paying for impressive date(s). Hopefully not if he's been paying attention. You should know from earlier articles (kinda like the ones you can find here and here) that there are plenty of cheap date options. And, if you're looking for even more, our lady friend over at 365 Cheap Dates hooks it up with original, affordable venues for love. But, keep in mind that even the best big idea needs finishing touches.

I was very excited when Rent.Food.Broke. contacted me about writing an article for them about saving money on groceries. I know Rent.Food.Broke focuses on staying under a $10 limit. Well, I spend about $10 a week on groceries for each per person in my family. Yep, that's right, just $50 a week for my family of five. This includes all our food, diapers, toiletries and paper goods. If you'd like, you can check out my most recent shopping trip.

We've all been hearing that sharing is caring line since kindergarten. It may feel cliche, but there's another aspect to the concept of sharing when you're low on funds: namely that borrowed, traded, and gifted stuff doesn't cost you anything. Additionally, other people's stuff is always cooler than yours. A pretty slick trick is to scout out which friends have the best stuff. It's a good bet that your handy construction worker buddy probably has a hammer. But what if you don't have a construction worker buddy? Then this is the article for you.

If you didn't know by now that being green could help you save green you clearly haven't been paying much attention. We've written a whole bunch of articles on the subject. Here's one more for good measure, with miscellaneous tips for ways to keep our planet healthy and your wallet fuller. Yay environment!

Your electric bill is one of your ever-present expenses, coming back pay period after pay period to take more of your money. But you don't have to give them as much as you have been. There are many ways to reduce your electric usage, even if only by a little bit. And if you do, Al Gore will shed one less tear. Here are some pointers.

Saving the world is cool and all but sometimes it seems like a lot of work. To make real changes, you have to figure out why they make sense for your life. Being a Green Bum is all about figuring out how to save both kinds of green (money and the environment, duh) long term. Here are suggestions for reducing waste and cost in a room you use every day: the kitchen.

Although many of us harbor bitterness toward the big 'ol V-Day, there are a few broke romantics still out there. Forgive the bad poetry, but it’s got to be done:

Chocolate and flowers,
cards and gifts,
use your RFB powers,
to make little shifts,
that’ll keep your lovers,
diving under the covers.

A huge chunk of your electric bill is the result of making things hotter and colder. Controlling your climate better will save you a bunch of money, and will put you on good terms with Al Gore. Saving the environment is sexy. Read on to find out how.

Magazines are nice. We know the print industry is tanking, in large measure because of this "internet" thing (who reads that?) but there's just something about flipping through real pages and discovering some new interesting tidbit that's hard to pass up. Problem: magazines are expensive. A new issue of Wired on the newsstand will cost you $4.99. That ain't cheap. But you can do better. Here's how.

Some folks hide their money in the freezer, but did you know you too may be able to get some spare cash out of your fridge? Your refrigerator uses quite a bit of power, which is power that you have to pay for. Cutting down on the power your fridge uses will save you a bit of money, as well as reduce your overall dependence on electricity. Your wallet will be happy and Mother Earth will love you.