Sometimes saving money just requires asking a simple question or two. With very little effort you can be saving money on your monthly bills and beyond. In many cases it is just a matter of asking to pay less.

It never hurts to ask, right? The worst that can happen is… nothing, which is exactly what is going to happen if you don’t ask.

How much money could you be saving?

Today I’m sharing four examples that teach four principles about how simple questions can save loads of money. I would love to hear your experience in being brave enough to ask potentially awkward questions in order to save money.

Rates are Negotiable

My first experience with reducing bills was when my husband and I were first married.  After being married for only four months we left the country for an international internship.  We moved out of our apartment and put our things in storage.  Naturally we called to cancel our utilities, including our land line phone.

My husband explained to the phone company representative that we were moving out of the country so we needed to cancel our phone service.   As soon as the representative heard “cancel” he kept lowering the price to entice us to stay with their company!

We though it was pretty funny because it wasn’t about money.  We were leaving the country!  No great deal on our monthly phone bill was going to change our mind.  We learned something though, which we stored away for when we came back to the states: rates are actually negotiable!

Customer Loyalty Pays

My dear friend wanted to get an iPhone but couldn’t see adding the data plan to her monthly bills.  She decided that if she could get her other monthly bills lowered enough to cover the cost of a new phone plan then she would go for it.  I was impressed with her discipline to stay within her current budget.

She called her cable and internet provider and politely said,

“I have been a loyal customer for X years and really like your service, but I feel like I am paying too much.  I get offers in the mail about signing up for other providers at much cheaper rates.  I am willing to switch to get a better price, but I would like to stay with you if it’s possible.  Is there anything you can do to lower our rate?”

Both companies were willing to lower their rates and she got her iPhone without increasing her monthly bills.  As loyal customers, we have more power than we think.

Have a Creative Alternative

Another close friend was tired of paying for expensive trash pick-up in her rural area, especially since her family didn’t generate very much garbage each week.  Her husband had just moved his small business to a new office in a newly developed business area.  He was the first one to sign on with the builder/landlord.  Noticing the large dumpsters were never full since the office space wasn’t yet all rented out, she asked the landlord if it was okay if she brought the family’s trash up to the dumpster each week.  He agreed, which completely eliminated the monthly garbage bill!

Of course every situation is different and will require its own custom solution.  By thinking creatively about lowering your monthly bills, you may be able to come up with a solution that will save you.

Look Beyond the Bills

While tuition is not a monthly bill, this example teaches the same principle.  When he decided to return to school and applied to J.D and M.B.A programs, he received a scholarship offer from both the law school and the business school at the university he ultimately selected.  The law school offer was more generous than we expected.  The business school offer was much smaller.  A few days after receiving the offer from the business school, he contacted the dean of admissions and explained that while he would love to attend, he wasn’t sure we could justify the added cost over an already expensive law school education.  Fifteen minutes later, the scholarship offer was doubled and our tuition cost was down by ten thousand dollars– just for asking!

This seemed like a novel idea to us at the time, but talking with other students, our experience was hardly exceptional.  Many students ask for increased scholarships or other benefits, and if a school wants you to attend, they’ll often accommodate the requests.  In retrospect, my husband probably should have also negotiated an increase at the law school.

The lesson: A scholarship offer is usually not a take-it-or-leave it proposition.  Treat the initial offer like a starting point for negotiation and you could ends up thousands of dollars ahead.  This lesson applies equally well to job offers.  The first offer is a starting point, and the company has illustrated by making the offer that they want you there.   Don’t be afraid to ask for more.

Is asking a potentially awkward question worth it?

Umm… YES!  The best part about saving on monthly bills or tuition (as opposed to just a purchase here and there) is that you see the savings every month!  Even just a little less on a monthly bill will add up quickly over time.  The savings can go straight to paying off debt or saving for the future.

Could you be a phone call away from saving hundreds of dollars a year by reducing your bills?

You’ll never know unless you ask!

• How have you experienced the power of asking?
• Have you had experience getting a monthly bill reduced by just asking?
• If you could get a bill reduced, which one would it be?

Note: This post was originally published in January 2014.

The post The Power of Asking– Simple Questions Have Saved Us Thousands! appeared first on Six Figures Under.

When money is tight, we often give the least to those who mean the most.  Instead of forgoing neighbor gifts or teacher gifts, we decide not to do anything special for our spouse.  Sometimes the stress of thinking of another gift causes us to enter into a gift-giving truce with our husband or wife.

Here are some strategies to save on spouse gifts, while still giving thoughtful and meaningful gifts.

Focus on Needs

When finances are tight, we often avoid buying things for ourselves even when they would normally be justifiable needs.  Chances are, if money is tight, both you and your spouse have legitimate needs that are going unmet.

If you have a little bit of money set aside for Christmas gifts for each other, focus on things that your spouse really needs instead of spending it on frivolous niceties.

Make Something for Each Other

If you enjoy a good challenge, setting a “handmade challenge” for Christmas gifts might be totally up your alley.

Even if you aren’t crafty, a thoughtful love letter, a creative book of the top ten things you love about your spouse, or a compilation of favorite photos or memories is something anyone can do.  You’ll find that handmade gifts from the heart will mean much more than any gift you could have bought.

Give the Gift of Time

Most of us are spread so thin these days that the people who mean the most sometimes get very little of our time.  The gift of time, especially when it’s scarce, is more valuable than what you could buy in the store on any budget.

Remember when you were a kid and you made coupons for mother’s day that your mom could redeem for breakfast in bed, mowing the lawn, or a big hug?  Why not do the same for your spouse?  You can get creative and make it fun, thoughtful, and personal.

How About You?

• Do you and your spouse give each other gifts?
• Do you have a price limit or rules about spouse gifts?

Originally published 17 Dec 2014, but updated to be included in the Frugal Festivities series.

Next in the series:

Day 14: Frugal Gifts for Your Grandchildren (that don’t cost much)

The post Frugal Spouse Gift Ideas appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Originally published September 23, 2014

I very rarely pay full price for anything.  I usually pay much, much less than full price. I realized that I have a pretty systematic strategy for finding the best deals on everything we buy. I have always shopped with this strategy, but it was especially helpful during the years we were working on our enormous student loan payoff goal. It’s an awesome way to keep our family’s expenses super low.

The steps are numbered because the order helps to really pay the absolute least possible.  Of course, depending on your situation and preferences, you can skip steps too.

1. Anticipate Needs: Keep a List

This is KEY!  Getting the best deals often requires patience.  The more time you have to scope out sales and wait for the perfect deal, the more money you will save.  Buying something in a hurry or on a whim is when you end up spending more than you wanted.

I keep a running list of things that I need, from random kitchen gadgets to the clothes each of my kids need for the next year or two.  I plan in advance what I would like to give for Christmas and birthday gifts.  I keep an actual written list in my purse so I always have it.

2. Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open and It Might Be Free

Good things come to those who wait.  Being patient has paid off for us in the way of free items more than once.  When I am seriously looking for a big ticket item, I peruse the free section of Craigslist.org and look at emails from Freecycle.org.  Sometimes I casually mention what I’m looking for to a friend or two at church.  It’s often a win-win situation, as someone is looking to get rid of something that is just what we are looking for.

Last year, we got a nice, working dishwasher through Freecycle from someone who was remodeling their kitchen.  I have been longing for a dishwasher for a long time, but didn’t want to spend the money to purchase one yet.  The dishwasher we got on Freecycle was the first dishwasher we have ever had in 8 years of marriage.  It has been a huge blessing!

3. Know Your Market and Have a Target Price

If you want to get an awesome deal, you have to know what an awesome deal looks like!  Know what the regular price of your item is.  Doing a little research online can help you out, especially for big ticket items.  Browsing Amazon can give me a pretty good idea of what a normal price is on a lot of different items.

Decide what you want to spend on the items on your list and set that as your target price.  Knowing ahead of time what you are willing to spend on something helps you pass up the deals that aren’t that great.  If you plan to shop at garage sales, it’s nice to be able to tell the seller, “I’m looking for a dresser that’s under $10.”

4. Browse Garage Sales and Thrift Stores

It’s no secret that buying secondhand is one of the best ways to save money.  While we aren’t willing to buy everything secondhand, used works fine for the majority of our purchases.

Garage sales are hit or miss.  You won’t find everything on your list (and you’ll probably find some treasures that aren’t on your list), but when you do find something, not only is the price negotiable, it will also likely be the lowest price you’ll find.  Clothing at yard sales and garage sales almost without fail will be priced lower than thrift stores.

The advantage that thrift stores have is they have a consistent schedule and plenty of inventory.  What they have is always changing, but you know that they will have a wide selection.  Most thrift stores have daily or weekly deals categories and markdowns.

5. Shop Used Items Online

Buying used items online is often a little more expensive than what you’d pay at a yard sale or thrift store.  The difference is the convenience factor and the search feature.  To find something on your list at a garage sale takes more luck and legwork that searching online, which is why the price is cheaper.  Some great places to look online are:

• Local Facebook Buy/Sell/Trade or Garage Sale-type pages
• Craigslist.org
• Classified ads through your local newspaper or Penny Saver
• Ebay (There are lots of NEW items on Ebay too)
• Online Consignment (like ThreadUp)

6. Regularly Peek at the Clearance Section

When you’re in Target or other favorite stores, take a peek at the clearance section when you are already in the store.  Be sure to have your list in hand, otherwise you will just spend and not save!  I wait until items are marked down to at least 50% before I even look.  Remember that even if it looks like a great deal, if you don’t need it or haven’t budgeted for it, it’s not a good deal.  That being said, I have found lots of items from my list on clearance.  Good things come to those who wait!

7. Watch for Sales

If you can’t (or don’t want to) find the item second hand, keep your eyes peeled for sales.  Depending on what you’re looking for, there may be a certain time of year that is better than others.  I’ve found great Lands’ End swimsuits at dirt cheap prices for myself and my kids during the fall and winter seasons.

Retailers love making every holiday into a shopping holiday.  Take a peek at the ads on holiday weekends if you’re looking for something specific.  Don’t be fooled into buying that’s something that’s a good deal, if you’ve got time to wait for a great deal.

If you’ve looked at Black Friday ads in the past, you probably have a good idea of the kind of items that will be the store’s doorbuster sales.  If you have tools or kitchen appliances on your list (or your gift list), waiting until November for your purchases will save you money.  Remember most Black Friday deals online are just as good as in the store, so avoid the crowd and stay home with your family!

8. Avoid Paying Shipping

Because I live in the boonies, I look for great deals online.  Even if you live close to shopping areas, running from store to store to find a great deal might not be your idea of a good time.  While shopping online can be convenient, it also usually comes with a charge for shipping.  I do whatever I can to avoid paying shipping.

I always compare prices online and factor in shipping.  Buying on Amazon is often a no-brainer with Amazon Prime’s free two-day shipping.  You can get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime or if you’re a college student, you can  get free two-day shipping with Amazon Student.  For individual retailers, I search for free shipping codes, wait for a free shipping deal, or sometimes it’s worth it to meet minimum purchase requirements.

9. Always Use Rebate Sites

For online shopping, I never complete my order without going through a rebate or cash-back site.  You can even get cash back shopping on some categories on Ebay and Amazon.

Rakuten is my favorite cash back site. When you sign up for Rakuten and make your first $30 purchase, you’ll get a bonus $30 bonus.  It’s amazing how fast that cash back adds up.

For many things on my list, I don’t move past step #4.   As a need becomes more urgent, I will move down to other steps.  Sometimes I go out of order, but with my target price still in mind.  The key to making this strategy work well for you is to anticipate your needs.

Some Real-Life Examples

I could talk your ear off about the deals I’ve found on this and that by following the strategy I outlined, but I’ll try to keep it brief so you can go make your list and start looking out for great deals.  Here are just a few of my real-life examples from when I originally published this in 2014.

New Suit

Since my husband wears a suit six days a week, his two suits are getting well-worn.  For a while, I’ve had “new suit” on my radar.  Whenever I’m in a thrift store, I check the suits.  His size is pretty rare (he’s super tall), so I have never actually found a suit in his size, but that doesn’t stop me from looking.  Taking a minute to look when I’m already in the store is not a burden, and if I ever do actually find one, the money I save will be well worth my time and diligence.

I looked around online and found that regular department stores don’t carry his size.  He is the average height of an NBA player, so we are stuck with shopping at specialty stores.  As the need became more urgent, we looked at the Labor Day sales and decided to head out and look in-store.  We went to the closest Jos A Bank store where they were having a “Buy One, Get Three Free” sale (keep in mind the cheapest suit is $650).  They only had 4 suits that were his size and none of them were colors or fabrics we liked, but at least we learned what suits fit well so we could continue our search online.

I took a peek at Ebay, knowing that finding a suit coat and pants together that would both fit, would be near impossible.  I was delighted to find someone selling brand new Jos A Bank suits for well-below retail.  There were even several suits in my husband’s size!  I got a $900 suit for just $100.  I need to tailor the unfinish edge of the pants, but at that price it’s well worth learning a new sewing skill.

Dress Shoes

After paying over $100 for a pair of new dress shoes for my husband back in law school, I wanted to do whatever I could to avoid doing that again.  I have “men’s dress shoes” on my list whether my husband has a current need for them or not (his size isn’t changing).  If I can avoid the situation where he needs shoes immediately, I can save a lot of money buying secondhand shoes that are still in great condition.

I always walk by the men’s shoes when I’m in the thrift store.  Several times I have found shoes in his size that are in wonderful condition for $3 to $10.  Sometimes they’ve even been half off!  I also found a great deal on Ebay.  I search for a brand, style, and size that he already knew fit well.  They were very lightly used and as the only bidder, I bought them for $10 with free shipping.

Minivan

We do our best to anticipate big needs, as well as small needs.  When I was pregnant with #3, we started looking into buying a minivan, as our car would not fit three car seats in the back.  Since we started looking with plenty of time to spare, we could go about our search without any pressure and wait for the best deal.  We casually mentioned to friends that we were looking to upgrade our car to fit our growing family and the van practically came right to us!  A friend brought us together with the seller and it worked out perfectly for both of us.  We found a van in great condition with the right price tag and we didn’t set foot on a car lot!

How About You

• What are your best strategies for saving money on everyday purchases?
• Do you keep a list and shop ahead for future needs?

Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links.  For more info check out my disclosure page.

The post How to Get the Best Deal on Everything– My Detailed Strategy appeared first on Six Figures Under.

My husband and I both love camping, so it’s not surprising that our kids do too. We go camping as often as our schedules allow.

Some people’s idea of camping is a 20 foot by 20 foot space with a paved parking spot, fire ring and a picnic table, with some trees in sight. Not us. When we are spending time in the outdoors, we want to spend time IN the outdoors. No pavement, no picnic tables, no neighbors.

It’s hard for me to imagine paying good money to sleep in a tent on a small grassy plot surrounded by strangers! Why would you do that when you can have a peaceful, authentic outdoor experience for free?

After writing about how we sometimes camp when we are on road trips, I’ve had people ask for more details on how we camp for free.

How to Camp For Free

Of course, you could camp for free in your own yard, but that’s not what I’m talking about. What I am talking about is often called dispersed camping, primitive camping or backcountry camping. Dispersed camping means camping outside of designated campgrounds on public land. Undeveloped land under the administration of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is available to the public for camping and recreation. Dispersed camping is also free and legal in national forests, national grasslands, many state forest areas and other similar public wilderness land.

Lots of state and national parks are tucked away in state and national forests. Instead of paying $35+ per night to camp in the park itself, leave the park and find your own spot in the forest for free. This is what we do every time we go to Yosemite. We find a beautiful, piece of forest about ten miles outside of the park boundaries, off a fire access road, where can’t see or hear another soul the entire time. Besides being free, it also feels safer since we don’t have trash cans and a history of careless campers to attract bears.

Each area will have its own rules, but generally the regulations are all pretty similar. You must be a certain distance off of a paved road (100 feet to 1/4 mile). You must camp at least 100-200 feet away from any water source. You can’t stay longer than 14 days within a 30-day period.

So how do you know where to go? If you know there is national forest, state forest, or BLM land near you (or near where you want to go), then look up the specific rules for that area. Otherwise, start with an online search of “dispersed camping” (or one of the synonyms I listed above) and the area or state you’re interested in. The Western United States is covered in public land (nearly the entire state of Nevada, for example). Since the East is more densely populated, there is less public land acreage, but it’s still there waiting for you to discover!

Why We Love Free Camping

Dispersed camping isn’t for everyone. Some people are happy to pay a fee and sleep under the stars in designated campgrounds. That’s perfectly fine. It’s just not our style. I love that dispersed camping allows us freedom to not be tied down to a specific destination. This comes in handy when we’re on road trips and aren’t sure where we’ll be stopping. We also enjoy free camping when we have a trip planned.

Here are some other reasons we love free camping:

• It’s free!— I bet you saw that one coming. It’s hard to believe the price campgrounds are charging these days. In some areas it’s as much as a motel.
• There’s privacy— I like people, don’t get me wrong, but I prefer not to feel like I’m having a giant sleepover with a bunch of strangers.
• You can enjoy natural nature— Instead of just sleeping outside, you are in a real natural environment. You can get a real breath of fresh air and explore the road less traveled.
• It’s quiet— You don’t have to worry about loud neighbors– or neighbors at all– with dispersed camping. You can just enjoy the sound of nature.

Choosing a Dispersed Camping Spot

Before you leave home, take a peek at a map of the state or national forest you’ll be going to (or passing by, if it’s a road trip). Most likely the highway will go right through it. In fact, there will probably be signs (“Entering _____ National Forest”) when you enter and exit state and national forests. Looking at a map will help you to plan approximately where you want to stop.

You can’t know everything from a map. When you enter the forest or BLM land, you’ll want to start looking for a spot with the following:

Somewhere to PULL OFF and park

When you enter the forest area, start looking for a pull off. There are many access roads, some will have open gates, but the majority will be closed. If the gate is open, you can drive down the road, then pull off of the road when you decide to stop. Many gates will be closed to car traffic (they are access roads for forest fires, logging companies, etc), so you’ll have to enter on foot. I like to pull off where my car isn’t visible to cars passing on the main road.

One November we camped in Tahoe National Forest. We parked just off the main road, near a closed gate as you can see in the picture above. There wasn’t any snow when we parked, when we awoke we were covered in snow and our car was stuck! Moral of the story: if there is a chance of snow, park on flat ground.

Somewhere with PRIVACY

It’s not too hard to find privacy, but you’ll at least want to take a look around and make sure you can’t be seen from the main road (or the access road if the gate is open). If you are equipped to hike a bit, you can get away from the noise of the road too.

Somewhere FLAT

For the sake of comfort, you’ll want to find a flat spot to sleep. Sometimes this is tricky. Sometimes we’ll pull off in several spots in order to find a nice flat area. Often, I’ll stay back at the car with the kids and my husband will hike in a little way to see if there is a nice flat spot. Other times we’ll see one right away.

Somewhere SAFE

Anytime you set up camp, you’ll want to make sure it’s in a spot that is safe. If there’s a dead tree that looks like it might fall over in the next wind storm, don’t put your tent under it. Dry riverbeds are sometimes covered in flat, soft, sand, but can quickly fill if rain further up the mountain cause a flash flood. If you are planning (and allowed) to have a fire, make sure you have a clear safe spot for open flames with no tall grass or low hanging branches.

A Few Things To Know about Dispersed Camping

When you pay to camp at a designated campsite, you’re paying to use their facilities. With dispersed camping you need to be self-contained. You can’t rely on facilities or campground improvements. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• No Bathrooms— You’ll need to know how to go in the woods. For number two, that means digging a hole six inches deep and bringing toilet paper with you.
• No Trash— You’ll need to pack out what you pack in, which includes all of your trash.
• Leave No Trace— Leave the land how you found it. Hide evidence of your being there so that others who come can enjoy the land’s natural beauty.
• Know Fire Regulations— Find out the local rules where you’ll be. For example, in California you need a burn permit. That’s something you sign each year that says you’ll have water and a shovel on hand. For much of the summer, no fires are allowed at all, and some areas are designated no-fire zones all year.
• Gathering Firewood— In most areas it is perfectly legal to gather dead and down wood to burn during your stay (assuming you are obeying fire regulations). You should not cut any live trees.

Primitive Camping is the Way to Go

Here are a few more examples of where we’ve done dispersed camping:

 We met some friends in Fort Bragg, California and instead of paying $40 to stay at a campground right on the coast, we drove fifteen minutes or so back into the state forest and camped in the trees.

When we were traveling across the country to move to California, we found a camping spot on some BLM land in Nevada. We had driven well into the night and the kids were all asleep when we arrived. It was a beautiful area near a roaring river that kept everyone asleep as we used our head lamps to set up the tent in the dark and carry the kids in.

We headed up to Lake Tahoe to camp and cut our own Christmas tree last year. We found a beautiful spot in Tahoe National Forest.

Utah is covered in public land. We have visited many of the breathtaking sites there, and always found great private, free places to camp, often in the national forest areas or BLM land.

We’ve camped at couple of different spots only a few hours from home. One of the spots, was in a more popular dispersed camping area so it had vault toilets within walking distance, though camping was still free and we still had a private, beautiful camping experience.

While primitive camping is not for everyone, it works perfectly for us. We love the outdoors and the adventure of wilderness away from the heavily trafficked paid areas (and the price). If you like roughing it, then dispersed camping is a great way to cut down on the costs of road trips, vacations, and time in the great outdoors.

How About You?

• Have you taken advantage of dispersed camping on public lands? Do you prefer “improved” fee campgrounds?

The post How to Camp For Free– Free Camping Hacks appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Nothing compares to snuggling up with a good book and smelling the real paper pages. For convenience, though, audiobooks are pretty darn close to as good as the real thing.

Audiobooks let you be well-read even when you don’t think you have time to read.

While it’s true that you’ll make time for what’s important to you, it really is hard when your list of important things is a mile long.  I like to efficiently multi-task (note: not all multi-tasking is efficient) while listening to audiobooks.  While I’m doing a chore that takes no brain power like cooking, laundry, dishes, cleaning, or organizing, I love getting lost in a good book.

Do you commute?  Do you exercise?  Do you clean your house? You can kill two birds with one stone by listening to a book while you drive or work out.

Audiobooks are great for kids too!

In fact, in our family audiobooks are the secret to serenity on any car trip.  Of course they’re great for road trips, but for people who live in the boonies, going to church or the grocery store may as well be a road trip (we’re not quite in the boonies anymore, but we still dive a lot).  All that time in the car is great for whining, whistling, wrestling, and generally annoying your fellow passengers.

Putting on an audiobook magically turns chaos into calm, whether it’s in the car, the kitchen, or the bedroom.  The kids are glued to the story and suddenly forget complaining, arguing, nit-picking, mess-making, and pestering.  They can relax and just listen or work on a project with their hands, like knitting or building with blocks.

The best part is that audiobooks don’t even have to cost you anything!  Here are five great ways to get audiobooks for free!

1- Check the CDs out from the library

Your local public library has audio books on CD (or even cassette) that you can check out.  If you’ve never looked at the audio book section, you might be surprised at how big it is.  Our library has a whole section of kids audio books.  Recently we have been checking out a few books each time we visit the library.

Just like other library materials, you can look up the exact title you want or you can browse in person or online.  When I browse in person I always find titles I’m interested in that I never would have thought to look for.  When you’re searching the catalog online, you can also filter by the type of media, so you can narrow your search down to audiobooks.

2- Check out the digital audio books on Libby

Did you know your public library has a lot more available than what you see on the shelves?  If you haven’t been to your library’s website recently, you’re missing out on some hidden treasures.

Libraries partner with digital book providers to make them available to library card holders.  Over 90% of libraries in North America use OverDrive, which gives you access to literally millions of titles, including thousands of audiobooks.  Even though the books are digital, your library has a limited number of licenses, so you sometimes have to wait for a title to become available, just like you would reserve a book at the library.

All you need is a library card and the Libby app. If you don’t have the Libby app on your phone or device yet, do yourself a favor and download it for free! When you set it up you’ll link it with your library.

When your checkout period ends, the book will disappear.  The best part is you don’t have to worry about losing or damaging the library’s resources or paying any late fees!  And since the file disappears when your time runs out, you don’t have to worry about your device’s storage space being bogged down with audio book files.

3- Download books from librivox.org

While there are many sites online where you can download free books, LibriVox.org has one of the most extensive collections.  You won’t find anything that is currently under copyright, but you’ll find loads of classics and other books published before 1926.

Unlike the audio files that you “check out” of the library, there is no time limit on these files.  I can’t tell you how many times my kids have listened to The Adventures of Reddy Fox (and other animal stories by Thornton W. Burgess).

Volunteers record themselves reading books that are in the public domain, and thus no longer under copyright.  These can be older books, published before 1926, books to which the copyright was never renewed, government works, or other books intentionally placed in the public domain. Librivox is a non-commercial, non-profit and ad-free project.

4- Get a free trial (or two)!

Audible is an Amazon company that specializes in audiobooks.  They offer a free 30-day trial of their “Plus Premium” service which includes 1 free audiobook to download and keep or if you’re already an Amazon Prime member you get 2 free audiobooks during the trial. After the trial you get 1 book free per month with Plus Premium.  You can cancel at anytime and keep the books that you’ve already downloaded. For a plus premium membership it’s $14.95 per month after the trial. Audible also has a membership (Plus) that doesn’t include any monthly downloads and costs $7.95 per month.

While “audible” has become synonymous with “audiobook” these days, it’s not the only option. When we started homeschooling I discovered Scribd and have loved it! Your Scribd subscription gives you access to millions of ebooks and audiobooks along with podcasts, magazines, sheet music and more. With a house full of readers, listeners and musicians, we access quite the spectrum of books on any given day. Scribd gives you a 30-day trial if you just go to their website, but since I have a Scribd subscription I can give you a 60-day free trial! After the trial

Which service is better? You’ll have to try for yourself and see which you prefer! For some people it’s worth it to have both. But in this article we are focusing on getting audiobooks to listen to for free, so I recommend doing the free trials for Audible and Scribd at different times to spread out the free audiobooks over three months.

No excuses

I was recently talking with a friend who drives a truck inside a huge mine.  School has never been his thing and he’s never been a big reader. Now that he spends most of his long work days in a truck by himself, he was excited to discover that he loves books!  Audiobooks have opened a whole new world to him, offering subjects and stories that he never would have encountered without audiobooks.

There really aren’t any excuses for not having great listening material.  Go find something motivating, uplifting, educational, or enjoyable to listen to.

Be careful though.  You might just be motivated to clean the house, exercise or take a trip while you listen!

How about you?

• When do you listen to audiobooks?
• Where do you get your audiobooks?

Note: This post contains an affiliate link.  For more info, see my disclosure page.

The post 4 Best Places to get Audiobooks for Free (& why we love them) appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Originally published July 31, 2015

Is it just me or does anyone else have a hard time resisting a box of new Crayola crayons for 25 cents this time of year?  Or how about a package of markers for just a little bit more.  Then there’s glue and scissors and notebooks, oh my!

In July, August, and September, the deals on school supplies abound!  I’ve been shopping school supply sales since long before I had kids in school (and after I was out of school myself).  I have my school supply stash all in its own special box.  That helps me keep it under control and also makes it easy to know exactly where to find what we need.

Here are 5 reasons that I like to stock up on school supplies.

1- Make Art Kits– A Fantastic Frugal Kid Gift

I love putting together little art kits for kids.  When one of my little ones goes to a birthday party and I don’t have time to make something handmade (like a skirt, t-shirt, apron, etc) or grab something at the store, then we often put together an art kit for the birthday girl or boy.  Sure, there are some kids out there who don’t like to get creative and crafty with art supplies, but most kids do.  It’s fun and inexpensive to put together an art kit and it’s always well-received (at least for ages 3 to 7 it’s been a hit).

Container— During back-to-school season, you can find pencil boxes for a dollar or less.  You can also find the plastic “shoe box” size containers with lids with all the other sizes of plastic bins and they are generally a dollar as well.

Art Supplies— Of course the sky is the limit here.  Some of the things we put it are:

• Markers
• Crayons
• Colored Pencils
• Glue or glue stick
• Scissors (if the recipient is old enough to use them responsibly)

By stocking up on the supplies during back-to-school sales, I not only get rock bottom prices, but I also have everything on hand to put together a gift.  That’s a major bonus when you’re an hour away from Target and you get a last minute birthday invitation!

2- Road Trip Entertainment

I don’t know about you, but I love new crayons.  There’s something special about a new, sharpened crayon that just entices me to take a break and crack open a coloring book.  My kids feel the same way.  A box of new crayons is magical.  Before a long road trip, I pull out a new box of crayons for each child from my stash.  I bring along a new coloring book or tablet of plain paper as well. The crayons won’t be in their beautiful pristine condition for long, but I don’t mind when they only cost me a quarter or two.

For older kids, a blank composition book and a new pen is exciting.  They can keep a journal, take notes, write stories, or just doodle.  With the digital age that we live in, I think it’s nice to pull out some honest-to-goodness paper every once in a while so our kids don’t forget what it is!

3- To Create Other Gifts

There are lots of creative tutorials out there to show you how to make some pretty awesome handmade gifts.  Many years ago, I made my kids and my nieces and nephews crayon rolls to put in their “quiet bags” for church.  I’ve seen some neat marker holders that hold a sketch pad as well.

Another time, I made my kids their own journals by decorating the front of a composition book for them. They loved having their own personalized journals where they can write (or dictate) the things that are important to them.  It cost me 50 cents, plus a little time and love.

If you really want to have fun, search “melted crayons” on Pinterest and see all the creative melted crayon art that people have done.  You’ll want to have some extra packages of new crayons on hand, for when the artistic mood strikes!

4- As Backup

Some things just have a way of disappearing around here.  Maybe it happens at your house too.  The most susceptible seem to be socks, hair elastics, and writing implements.  Some days I write phone messages in crayon for want of a pen.  The funny thing is that when it’s time to do homework all we can find is pens and not a single pencil.  Always having some extras on hand has been helpful.

5- To Donate

Whether it’s putting together humanitarian aid kits for needy children on the other side of the world or donating to my child’s teacher, there are lots of opportunities to give school supplies to those who need them.  Halfway through the school year, my son’s kindergarten teacher sent home a note saying that the class was running low on glue sticks and wondered if any parents could donate some.  Thanks to my school supply stash, I could easily send some in the next day.

Some stores have collection boxes at the store where you can give supplies to needy children.  There are local programs that put together backpacks with school supplies for needy children.  When opportunities like this come up, I’m always happy that I have my school supply stash available.

How About You?

• Do you stock up on cheap school supplies?
• What do you do with your school supply stash?
• Does anyone else have a thing for fresh, new, sharpened crayons?

The post 5 Reasons to Stock Up on School Supplies appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Originally published August 15, 2016

If you’re working toward a big financial goal, you’re probably not going to accidentally blow a huge chunk of change all at once.  When you’re really serious about a goal, it’s easy to say no to the big things that might halt your progress.

The price tag often helps.  A hefty price tag, makes it easier to distinguish between wants and needs.  However, when the price tag is smaller, it’s easier to let those purchases slide.

And it’s those “little” expenses here and there that can really get you.

How much difference can a little extra spending here and there make to your financial goals?

Frankly, a lot!

Five dollars here and ten dollars there really adds up over a month.  If you are trying to reduce your expenses to get out of debt or save money, you could be redirecting those fund toward your goal instead!

Did you know that you can blow $10,000 in a year just by spending about $27 a day?

It’s time to take control of your spending!

Here’s a little look inside my head when I’m attempting to curb spending on a daily basis.  There are three basic questions I ask myself to decide if an “extra” purchase is worth it when I’m focused on a goal.

Before I buy, I ask myself..

1- Do I really need this?

2- Can I make do, or do without?

3- Is this more important than my goal?

Just this last week I went through these questions several times as I was really tempted to make some purchases.  Here’s how my mental conversations played out in these simple, everyday situations.

Beach Towels

At kindergarten orientation, my son’s teacher said the kids should bring in a towel for their nap time and she mentioned that there were some end-of-season sales on beach towels.  We always just bring bath towels when we go to the pool, but I’ve been wanting to get beach towels for our family.  In my mind I planned to get them.

As I was telling my husband about my back-to-school shopping plans I mentioned the beach towels.  As I heard myself talking about buying clearanced beach towels for our family, I heard the irony.  Earlier that day I was impatiently looking at houses that we are trying to save for and suddenly beach towels were trying to sneak into my priorities.

Are they a need?

Nope, not a need, just a nice-to-have.

Can I make do, or do without?

Yep, we’ve been doing fine without them all this time.  So far everyone has dried off just fine.

Are they more important than our big goal?

No way!  As soon as I gave voice to my sudden “need” for six family beach towels, it almost made me laugh at how ridiculous my “need” sounded.  Sometimes it helps to imagine telling your spouse or accountability partner.  Would they see this purchase as wise?

Cloth Diapers

I got notice that a cloth diaper boutique that I follow was closing and had their diapers clearanced.  I browsed through their selection, saw the great prices, and even loaded up my virtual shopping cart.  Thankfully, I decided to let my cart sit there long enough to adequately think things through, which of course included these questions.

Is this something I need?

Well, no.  I suppose we’re doing fine with what we’ve got.  They sure are cute though.

Note: I could have argued that diapers are something we need.  I could also tell myself how much we would save over disposables.  While those are both true, they are arguments for cloth diapers in general and not for this specific purchase.  We already have enough diapers right now.

Can I make do, or do without?

Of course!  I can keep using the same diapers I was using before I knew about the sale.  While it’s easy to get caught up in all the cute, stylish patterns, I have plenty of cloth diapers right now.  Besides, since I potty train early-ish, my little one will only be in diapers for another eight months or so anyway.

Is this more important than our goals?

Ummm no!  Diapers are cute, but I would much rather have a house!!

New food containers

As school lunch season is upon us, I’ve been contemplating all the ways I can simplify and save money in the process.  Some of my best lunch hacks involve my favorite food containers.  I love that I can put anything in them (yogurt, fruit salad, soup, etc) because they don’t leak!  I would love to pre-fill lots of them at the beginning of the week, but we don’t have enough containers for that.  I make four sack lunches everyday!

I figured I would just buy another set so I would have more of the lunch-size containers (this size is perfect for my elementary school kids).  Then I would be able to prep more lunches at once instead of having to wash and refill the containers daily.

Are they a need?

No, even though I could have made a good argument claiming they were.

Can I make do, or do without?

For a few extra minutes each day, I can wash and refill the containers we already have.  It wouldn’t be as fast or glamorous as new containers, but it’s totally functional and doable.  I had a box (in our storage in the kids’ room) that had some old containers that work fine for salad and non-leaky food.

Are the containers worth slowing down our goal progress?

Nope.  It will be nice to have more of them in the future, but for now I’m happy to stay focused on our goal!

The Results

There were actually a few more things I said no to this week after running through my mental questions, but you get the idea.  When I paused long enough to ask myself these questions and answer honestly, I decided that our goal was more important and we could do without the extra stuff.

Even just with these three “no”s that I detailed for you, I easily saved $100 last week.  While I could have justified each purchase, even in the name of saving money, I resisted.  And that’s a savings of 100%.

Instead of buying some nice-to-have stuff, that $100+ is staying in my account to go toward our goals!  Hooray!

As I’ve made an extra effort to say no when I’m tempted by a little “I want” purchase, I’ve noticed that it gets easier.  Each time I say no to an unnecessary purchase I’m stronger and more willing to say no to the next one.  The money that I saved, from the last time I said no, almost becomes more valuable because it represents my first sacrifice, which makes me that much more protective of blowing it when another want comes along.

If you worry that I’m depriving myself, don’t.  Think of it as building self-discipline.  If there is something that I need or decide is worth getting, I just have to account for it in the budget.  When the money is available in one of our budget categories, I can spend it without feeling guilty.  We put the money in that budget category for a reason and there is no problem spending it for that reason.

Curb Spending by Asking Yourself

If you are dedicated to reaching a financial goal, I encourage you to ask yourself these questions before making a purchase:

• Is this a need?
• Can I make do, or do without?
• Is this more important than my goal?

Even if the purchase amount seems small and insignificant, I assure you that those small amounts add up quickly, for spending and for saving.  Not only will you save money with the purchases you turn down, you will start to build habits of careful shopping, self-discipline, and dedication to your goals.

You can do this!

How about you?

• How do you resist those little budget breakers that add up?
• What questions do you ask yourself before making a purchase?

The post 3 Questions to Curb Spending and Reach Your Financial Goals appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Do people still make baby registries?

Today’s post isn’t one that most of you will use right away, as it only directly applies to those of you who have a baby in your near future.  If that doesn’t describe you now, you can pin it for later or pass it onto a friend or daughter who is expecting.

Is a Baby Registry Worth It?

Gift registries are becoming more and more popular.  The idea of making a list of the gifts you would like to receive used to sound childish and tacky, but now it’s seen as a favor to those who wish to give gifts.  We all want to give gifts that will be used, appreciated and loved by the recipient.  Your creating a gift registry allows your friends and family the opportunity to do just that!

In addition to making gift-giving easy, a registry increases the likelihood of receiving gifts that will be the most useful to you, which means you won’t have to buy them yourself.  The items you do end up buying yourself can usually be purchased at a discount if they’re on your registry.

Creating a baby registry can definitely be worth the time and hassle.  Here are some tips to help make your baby registry worth it:

–> Do the product research

Creating a baby registry is a great excuse to research baby products and decide what you like and what fits your parenting style.  Ask other new parents or experienced parents what they loved and what they would avoid.  Having a well thought out and researched registry will mean fewer returns and more gifts that you sincerely love.  Even if you don’t receive a single gift from your registry, having done the research will make shopping (and looking for deals) much easier.

–> Focus on what you need

While you might be tempted to go crazy with the scanner and add everything that is cute or looks interesting, it’s not a good tactic for making the most out of your baby registry.  Be intentional about the items you choose.  A good test is to ask yourself “Would I spend my own money on this?”  If the answer is no, then I wouldn’t put it on my registry (I’m also the type who spends gift cards like they are hard-earned cash).  If you do, you might end up with a bunch of fru-fru for your baby, but left to buy all the essentials on your own.

Don’t be afraid to register for diapers, wipes, and other basics.  I’ve found that people love to give diapers and moms love to receive them.  While not a very original gift, they are definitely useful and appreciated.  Having the basics on your registry reminds people that simple, useful gifts are appreciated.

–> Register items from a wide price range

It’s fine to have a couple of big ticket items on your registry, in case your friends from work want to go in on a gift together, or grandma wants to get something extra special, but the bulk of your gift registry should be in the lower price range.  Having lower priced options allows people to shop on their own budget.  People who want to spend more can buy multiple items or put together a gift basket.

–> Don’t register for clothes

You will get clothes whether you register for them or not.  Many people won’t look at your gift registry and will just choose baby clothes that they think are cute.  Another reason not to register for clothes is that different store locations have different clothing inventories.  Friends will have a hard time finding the exact item you are looking for because the store might not carry it.  Finding clothes from your registry can be very frustrating.

–> Learn the programs, but keep it simple

Lots of major retailers have baby registries.  Each store has different perks or bonuses for registering with them.  Learn about the programs before you decide where to register.  For example, at Babies R Us you get up to 10% back from purchases made from your registry, even purchases you make yourself.  Target gives you a 15% off completion coupon so you can buy what’s left on your registry (another great reason to put basics like diapers and wipes on the list).

While every store has their own perks, keep it simple (for you and your shower attendees) by not registering everywhere.  I think more that two places is overkill.  People will wonder if you don’t have anything better to do than run up and down the aisles of six different stores with a scanner, drooling over baby gear.

–> Make Amazon one of your choices

Registering with Amazon’s Baby Registry is a no-brainer.  Not only can you stay at home in your pjs, but you can literally add anything you want.  With Amazon’s Universal Registry Capability, you can add items for anywhere across the internet to your registry.

The standard completion discount for Amazon’s baby registry is 10% off, but if you’re an Amazon Prime member or you join Amazon Family any time up to actually using your discount, your completion discount goes up to 15%!  You can use your completion discount on two orders of $2,000 combined value (up to $300 discount) for up to 60 days after your expected arrival date.

Amazon makes it super easy on your friends and family.  They don’t have to go on a wild goose chase through the store looking at bar codes to find the exact items on your registry.  They can be at home in their pjs too.  Plus, out-of-town folks can just have gifts sent directly to you.

I made a quick video explaining a little more about Amazon’s Baby Registry program and showing you what comes in the “Welcome Box” and what you need to do to get it.

Sometimes a registry isn’t right

I was not planning on having a baby showers for the last few of my babies (I’m currently expecting number 6), but it always seems that friends throw something together no matter how much I insist that we don’t really need anything.

For example, with my fourth, a good friend insisted that she was going to throw me a shower.  I would have felt presumptuous making a gift registry, as I really didn’t need anything, didn’t know the baby’s gender yet, and didn’t want people to feel obligated to bring a gift.

She had suggested that those who wanted to bring a gift could bring a freezer meal instead.  I was showered with freezer meals!  My deep freeze was jam-packed with homemade convenience foods.  And trust me– they came in handy when life got crazy!

How about you?

• Did you do a baby registry?  Where did you register and how did you like it?
• What tips to you have for making a gift registry?

You’ll Also Enjoy:

The post Is a Baby Registry Worth It? Tips to Make the Most of Your Baby Registry appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Now that we have lived in our house for a year and a half, it seems like every cupboard and closet needs to be decluttered and reorganized.  I just went through the children’s books last week and have two big boxes of books to donate.

I have been thinking lately about where I lie on the spectrum between being a minimalist and a hoarder.

The post below was originally shared in May 2015, but I wanted to share it again since it’s what I’ve been mulling over lately.

What do hoarders and minimalists have in common?

Admittedly not a lot.  In fact they are pretty much at opposite ends of the “stuff” spectrum. The lifestyle of a hoarder would drive a minimalist insane.  Likewise, a true pack rat would go bonkers in a minimalist’s world.

Hoarders and minimalists have at least one thing in common: Frugality.

By definition, frugal is:

Economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful

Not all hoarders and minimalists are frugal.

While individual cases and motives vary, I think the mentalities behind hoarding and minimalism both demonstrate key components of frugality.

The Frugal Hoarder

Painting the image of a hoarder (or “pack rat” to put it more gently) isn’t hard, thanks to television’s exposure through shows like Hoarders and Extreme Couponing.  The extreme situations that make it to the screen, however, are definitely less frugal than your average pack rat mentality.  Set aside the extremes and picture a pack rat that you know and love.

Frugal hoarders accumulate stuff that they feel may possibly be useful to themselves or others at some time in the future.  They have a difficult time getting rid of anything because they are afraid they will want or need the item in the future.

Whether it was given to them for free or purchased on a great deal, frugal pack rats take pride in how little it cost them to acquire the goods.  The low price itself is often the sole justification for bringing the items home.

Looking at the definition above, frugal hoarders feel that getting rid of something that could possibly be useful would be wasteful. They believe that saving stuff is saving money.

The Frugal Minimalist

Minimalists hit frugality from a different angle.  Instead of focusing intensely on the economical expenditure, they are economical in the use of things.  Minimalism, as far as stuff is concerned, is defined by William Morris’s quote, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

Minimalists are also not wasteful, another classic component of frugality’s definition.  Instead of preventing waste by saving everything like a pack rat, minimalists avoid acquiring things that would not be used.  To a minimalist, having something that isn’t useful is wasteful, not only because of the money spent, but also the space it takes up, the maintenance costs and opportunity cost (what else your money and space could be doing).

Frugal minimalists save money by just not buying much.  Their purchases are intentional and well thought-out.  They believe they are saving money by not saving stuff.

Where are you on the spectrum?

Most people aren’t one extreme or the other.  We all have different priorities and tendencies, but we probably lean one way or the other.

You might be a frugal hoarder if…

…you find yourself justifying clearance purchases with “I might need this someday.”

…you can find plenty to buy at any given garage sale.

…you buy more at the thrift store than you donate.

…you buy multiples because the deal is just “too good.”

…people call you when they are moving or downsizing to see if you want their stuff.

…you hang onto your children’s outgrown clothes for potential future children.

You might be a frugal minimalist if…

…you get rid of potentially useful things to save space.

…you shop with a list and stick to it.

…you donate more to the thrift store than you buy.

…you only buy what you absolutely are sure that you need.

…you love giving away useful items to friends.

…you pass along baby clothes right after a child outgrows them.

I would say (and my husband would agree) that I lean toward the hoarder side of frugality (and his tool collection would reveal the same thing about him).

For example, my newborn daughter is wearing clothes that my 7-year-old daughter wore seven years ago.  Those clothes have traveled 3,500 miles with us in those seven years.  Thinking about the space that they took up for those seven years and the effort of moving them across the country twice, makes the minimalist mindset sound appealing.

Still, I have a hard time passing up “free” things that may be of use in the future, even if I have to store them.  And when it comes to food, I believe in being prepared, which is why I prefer to call it stocking up rather than hoarding.

If you are feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with all of the stuff in your house or you feel like you’re always cleaning but nothing ever seems clean, then you probably have a clutter problem.  If you’ve tried to declutter in the past but have gotten burned out, then Step-by-Step Decluttering will be great for you!  After listening to the audio-book, I was totally encouraged and motivated to get to work.  Sarah gives clear methods and strategies to work through the decluttering process without feeling overwhelmed.

How about you?

• What kind of frugal are you?
• Have you had experience moving to a different spot on the frugality spectrum?

The post Hoarder, Minimalist, or Something in the Middle? appeared first on Six Figures Under.

Don’t you hate it when you learn an awesome trick to save money right after you spent a bunch of money where you could have used that very trick?

Well that just happened to us!

As I explained in my November family budget update, we bought the components for a new computer as well as a TV and accessories and a trampoline over Thanksgiving weekend.  Three major purchases for our family.

Like any frugal girl worth her salt, I made sure to get cash back for shopping online.  I always do!

But the week after, I discovered an amazing tool for saving even more money with online shopping and I think you’re going to like it too.

If you’ve done frugal online shopping then I’m sure you’ve heard of RetailMeNot.  Whenever I search “coupon code for [insert store name]” they always come up as one of the first search results.  I’ve looked to RetailMeNot for their online shopping coupon codes for years.

Now RetailMeNot has cash back options too!

RetailMeNot does their cash back different than most cash back sites I’ve seen.  Instead of giving a tiny percentage of the total purchase back as cash, they have what are more like cash back coupons.

If you’re making a large purchase, then you’re definitely going to want to take advantage of their cashback options.  Right now they have cash back for online shopping at hundreds of stores.

This year we put Christmas lights outside for the first time ever (Have I mentioned how excited I am about Christmas in our new house!?)!  We needed some serious extension cords and way more lights than we had, so I ordered some Christmas lights and three 100-foot extension cords from Home Depot (and picked them up in store an hour later!).

Thanks to RetailMeNot I got $20 cash back on my $200 purchase.  That’s 10% cashback!  It certainly beats the 0-2% cashback you’ll get elsewhere!

Cash back is just the beginning.  It gets better!

I decided to install the Genie browser extension so I wouldn’t forget to get cash back, but it turns out it is waaay cooler than a simple reminder to activate the cash back function.

Since RetailMeNot is also an amazing coupon code database, the Genie will automatically try all the coupon codes for me and pick the best one to apply!  No scrolling through a bunch of coupon codes that don’t work and having to try each one out myself (and then get frustrated when they’re expired and give up)!

I’m shopping for dress shirts and pants for my husband now and I’m really appreciating the Genie doing the dirty work for me!  Lands’ End has coupon codes that have pin numbers with them, so they are especially tedious to enter.

Just watch the Genie work its wonders on my order:

If I had only known!

I’m really wishing I had known about RetailMeNot’s cash back offers and had the Genie installed before Black Friday.

While we got our few percent back on our purchases at NewEgg, OfficeDepot, Sam’s Club, and Best Buy, when I compared that cash (well, change) with what I could have got if I had used RetailMeNot, I felt sick to my stomach.

We missed out on over $50!  No joke!

Don’t do what I did!

Next time you’re making a big purchase online (or any purchase, for that matter), check RetailMeNot.

Better yet, install the Genie so that you will not only know about the cash back offers, but you’ll get the best coupon codes applied automatically without the time-consuming searching and frustrating trial and error.

Be sure to check out their Sweepstakes Signup Page to sign up for their emails so you’ll know when the best deals at your favorite stores are happening so you don’t miss out!

How about you?

• Have you ever realized after-the-fact that you missed a deal or could have saved money?
• Have you seen the RetailMeNot Genie work its wonders?!

The post The Cash Back Hack I Learned Too Late appeared first on Six Figures Under.