Money

Have you ever heard someone's money-saving trick and thought it sounded absolutely insane? There are plenty of strange ways to save a buck or two. What's really great, though, is when it actually works. Head over to our partner site Wise Bread for some crazy yet effective forms of penny pinching:

I've been called many things in my life. Some good, some not so good. But I can't say I've ever been called crazy when it comes to being frugal. So, as I'm not getting any younger, I thought it was time to bring out a list of 10 crazy frugal schemes and earn the sobriquet. Some of these plans are certainly more "out there" than others, but all are worth a try, I think. Put some of them to the test and let us know how you get on.

Related: The Enemies of Frugality

And, if you have some even crazier ideas, chime in. While I was writing this article, a friend of mine told me they sometimes skip buying lunch and eat free samples from the grocery stores. It may save a few bucks, but that’s not my style. Anyway, on with the list.

Read on for more.

We're happy to present this post from our partners at Yahoo! Shine:

What's in a name? Lots and lots of "Benjamins," ($100 dollar bills, that is). Unless your name happens to be Benjamin, in which case, some research suggests, you had better stick with Ben.

The Ladders, an online job-matching site, recently crunched the numbers in its database of over 6 million career professionals to determine the top names for corporate executives as well as the names of the highest earners. They found that people with first names longer than five letters lose out on about $3,600 in salary every year—and that's per letter. So, for little Alexander that means potentially missing out on more than $500,000 over the course of a 40-year career.

Want insight on how names affect other aspects of life? Read on.

These days, it's hard to just stick with one company. Whether it's the job market or just the way things work now, many people are finding themselves working for multiple companies in the span of just a few years. Read the stories of some of today's job hoppers from our partner site LearnVest:

These days, job hopping is practically a way of life. Gone is the idea of spending four decades at one company, ultimately retiring with a gold watch and a pension plan.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median number of years workers stay at a given job is only 4.6, which allows them to rack up as many as 10 gigs in a lifetime.

The problem: Many employers still see job hopping as a deal breaker. Nearly 40% of recruiters and hiring managers say that a history of hopping is the single biggest obstacle for job-seekers, according to a recent survey conducted by recruiting software company Bullhorn.

We found four serial job hoppers who were willing to dish about their adventures in the labor market. Then we asked a crack squad of career experts for advice on how these hoppers can find a gig that will make them want to stick around.

Read on to get the details.

If you're trying to sell your home, then Business Insider has some advice on things that may affect the pricing.

With the real estate market as shaky as it is, homeowners can't afford to deal with more problems. And yet there's always something that pops up — whether it's noisy neighbors or an unfortunately placed sinkhole.

Related: 17 Things You Should Always Buy New

We've rounded up some of the biggest threats to the value of a home.

Sinkhole damage sucks property values down a staggering 30 percent.

The prevalence of reports of sinkhole damage in the US this year has raised questions about the impact on property values.

It's not the threat of a sinkhole that damages property value — there's insurance coverage specifically for sinkhole damage. In fact, a 2007 study found no statistically significant difference in home values in areas prone to sinkholes. Like earthquakes, it's only after sinkholes hit your property that problems arise.

Rob Arnold, a Florida real estate investor and realtor who has bought and sold more than 30 sinkhole properties in the last five years, told CF13 News he tells owners of damaged homes to knock 30 percent off their asking price, plus the cost of any repairs.

Read on for more.

Not everyone has an unlimited supply of money to pour into their vacation fund. Luckily, there are plenty of amazing places to see that don't cost an arm and a leg. Our friends at DailyWorth know all the best spots!

Got a travel itch but trying to stick to your budget? As it turns out, there’s often an amazing (and cheaper!) alternative to the pricey destination you’ve been dreaming about. For a little inspiration, we turned to Jeralyn Gerba, cofounder and editorial director of the travel website Fathom, who offered up some innovative and inexpensive travel ideas. Read on for some smart swaps that will satisfy your wanderlust but set you back way less, along with her expert tips on where to stay, eat, drink, and shop in each locale.

Seeking Tahitian surf and seclusion? Try Nicaragua.

According to WaterWays Surf Adventures, Nicaragua is one of Surfline’s “Best Bets” for surf travel from anywhere in the US. Gerba agrees: “Flights are cheap from the states, the rural coasts feel just as secluded as the South Seas, and there's consistent beach bum migration because of the great Pacific surf breaks — always a good sign.” There’s much more than surfing here, too. In addition to the dramatic Pacific coastline, Nicaragua offers up tranquil Caribbean beaches, freshwater lakes, verdant hills, and even volcanoes.

Where to stay: La Bahia Beach Hotel is a stylish, laid-back surf lodge that has a pool, a restaurant serving fresh seafood, an open-air lounge, and four breezy cabanas with king-size beds, alfresco showers, and unobstructed views of the ocean. The low-season (May 16 to Oct. 31) rate is $150 per night; the high-season (Nov. 1 to May 15) rate is $180.

RELATED: Travel in Style

Eat like you're in Paris in . . . Montreal.

There's Old World charm, beguiling accents, and plenty of gourmet items you'll wish you could smuggle through customs (foie gras! confit de canard!). Check out the city’s oldest quarter, Vieux-Montréal, for the most European experience. It’s full of cobble-stoned streets, museums, and restaurants. Don’t miss the revitalized canal district, which you can explore by boat, on foot, or with rented bicycles. Burn off those gourmet calories by strolling through Parc du Mont-Royal, situated on the hill that gave the metropolis its name.

Where to shop: The Jean Talon Market is an open-air market where the surrounding food shops are a gourmet paradise, showcasing a vast array of locally raised meats, farm-fresh produce, artisanal chocolates, and Québécois cheeses, wines, and ciders. Have lunch here or just enjoy the plentiful food samples at the market while mingling with Montrealers.

Read on for more.

Although staying in to eat is a lot cheaper than going out, foodies can't help but indulge in their favorite restaurants once in a while. Food is one of the biggest joys in life, and nothing is better than sharing a good meal and conversation with the ones you love. In fact, the restaurant industry in America makes about $1.8 billion on a typical day, according to the Restaurant Association. That's a lot of money we're spending meals out! On your next food outing, be sure to keep these tips in mind to shrink your bill:

Use Coupons: Go to Restaurant.com and enter in a coupon code for restaurant.com that'll get you a $25 voucher for only $10. You can find the coupon code by searching online at sites like RetailMeNot.com. Buy a local Entertainment book worth $15 that will give you lots of buy one get one free coupons for restaurants.

Earn Rewards: Do your research on sites like Mint and Credit Card Guide and figure out which credit cards give you the best rewards for your diner bucks. Oftentimes, if you're a loyal member of a mileage program, you can even earn some miles by eating at the restaurants the airline partner up with. For example, Southwest has a Rapid Rewards Dining program that credits three points for every dollar spent with their restaurant partners.

Skip the Drinks: Sodas, alcohol, and other non-tap water drinks tend to be overpriced at restaurants. Get water with your meal, and if you're really itching for a particular drink, wait until dinner's over and head to a convenient store to buy it.

Order the Kiddie Meal: The meals for kids are generally cheaper and most of the times are the perfect size for adults! This option is also great for portion control and your wallet.

Read on for more tips to save when dining out.

Credit card companies have got you covered in ways you may not know about. Taking advantage of all these hidden perks may save you hundreds of dollars a year. People often forget about these perks because they may not take the time to read more about them. Do your research and make sure you know the details of what the particular credit card you own will get you, because they may have different perks or different restrictions. Here are some benefits that may slip your mind:

• Car rental insurance: One of the most common benefits that people often forget about is that most credit card companies will cover part of your car rental insurance if you book a car with their card. Decline the "collision damage waiver" insurance, and your credit card firm will cover any damage or theft of the car that occurs during your rental.
• Purchase protection: If an expensive item is damaged or stolen in a certain period of time, you may be able to get some or all of your money back. This applies to items you've charged to the credit card and can even include stolen cell phones.
• Shopping discounts: Check out your credit card's website, and you'll see a variety of retailers you can get discounts at. They may include anything from car rentals to restaurant discounts.
• Trip cancellation: Some credit cards provide trip canceling insurance, which can reimburse you for the cost of your flight if you cancel due to sickness or injury.
• Lost luggage coverage: If your luggage has been lost, stolen, or damaged, your credit card company might cover a portion of it.

Read on for more.

Keeping or changing your maiden name is such a sensitive topic that it's hard to know when the appropriate time is to inform everyone. Do you tell them all at one go, or would you tell each person separately? Here are a couple of polite ways you can share the news.

• Tread carefully with reception announcements. Getting announced when you're coming into your reception is a good way to let people know about changes to your last name. However, if you're planning on keeping your maiden name, Anna Post, the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, advises against being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Baker "just because you want to do the classic thing. People will be listening to how you want to be called as a married woman." If you are keeping your maiden name, just have yourself announced as your maiden name.
• Include it in the wedding announcement. The wedding announcement is another good place to inform people.
• Don't send out an email blast. Post advises against sending out an email blast to let people know whether you're keeping it. However, if people email you individually to ask, it's perfectly fine to respond via email.
• Add it to the thank-you notes. When you're sending out the requisite thank-you cards to people who have attended your wedding, include your new last name if you're changing it, or use your maiden name if you're keeping it.
• Prewedding chatter. It's probably inevitable that the maiden name question will come up when discussing wedding plans with friends, so that's another organic way of letting your pals know. Post says it's becoming somewhat of a standard discussion during prewedding conversations.

Read on for more.