TLC has launched a full 12-episode series, Extreme Couponing, based on the success of a premiere feature they ran on extreme coupon tactics back in December – which had an amazing 2.1 million viewers tune in to show their interest in the practice.

Some of the video content shows extreme couponers raking in $640 worth of goods for $6.43 and even $870 for FREE. Amazing!

The Benefits of Extreme Couponing

There are no doubt, benefits that can be achieved from extreme coupon tactics. To get $870 worth of product for absolutely nothing speaks for itself.

It gives those who don’t have much to do with their time an outlet for creativity. There is a definite art-form in getting that much product for free. It takes planning, skill, hard work, strategy, and some luck.

And I get the whole ‘beating the system’ appeal to extreme couponing as well.

But there are some significant costs to extreme couponing that would lead to me never doing it, which I’d like to highlight.

Why I’m Not a Fan of Extreme Couponing

I’m sorry, but I do not like extreme couponing, and I have some reasons why:

• Zero Societal Contribution: More than anything else, I do not see the societal value in extreme couponing. Those who spend 6-8 hours per day trying to reap rewards at the expense of others, could be contributing in a much more positive way to society. The savings that they enjoy are subsidized by a net increase in costs to others. That free stuff has to come from somewhere. Instead of spending 6-8 hours a day working very hard to get free things from others, why not spend that time making money doing something positive in the world instead of being a leech?
• Time: In order to enjoy the types of savings extreme couponers do, you have to spend a hell of a lot of time at it. People have quit (or refused to find) jobs so that they can spend their time doing this. It takes a lot of effort and work. It’s not work that I’d personally want to spend my time on.
• Questionable Ethics: In order to be one of the pros, you have to do some questionable things. One video depicted a woman dumpster diving for coupon inserts and I’ve heard another tactic is to steal inserts from neighbors Sunday paper’s. And even if you attain your coupons in ethical ways you have to be comfortable in knowing that you’re completely taking advantage of the brands and retailers.
• Crappy Product: One episode depicted a man who gave away all the free product he received to charity. That’s cool. But it’s also a rarity. Others simply stockpile and hoard product in their basements or garages. Scanning the stockpiled shelves of these extreme couponers, I noticed something. Everything on those shelves is mainstream name brand product: Coke, Pepsi, Crest, Tide, Ragu, etc. It’s stuff that I personally don’t buy and would not use. And if you were to use all that product and try to live off of it, you’d probably die of a heart attack or cancer in a few years. I think I’ll take a pass on that.
• Addiction: In order to be really good at extreme couponing, you almost have to be addicted to it. And unlike an athletic hobby or cooking or something productive, I can’t see it as being a healthy addiction.

What is your Take on Extreme Couponing?

• You know how I feel about it, but how do you feel? Do you approve or like these extreme strategies?
• Have you ever tried extreme couponing? What is the most product you’ve received for the lowest price? What was the time investment/strategy needed to get that?
• Take the poll on whether you are in favor of extreme couponing or not!

Related Posts:

• 5 Rules & Tools for Wise Coupon Use
• The 4 Best Grocery Stores
• Save Money on Groceries Without Sacrifice

Extreme Couponing: Is it Worth it? is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

Every community needs a good library. And every good personal financier needs a library card. If you haven’t been to the library since you were a kid, they’ve changed a lot. Sure, they are still loaded with books (which is never a bad thing), but with some of the newer offerings at libraries, it might just be time to get re-acquainted. Books are just a small part of the free value you can get from your library these days.

Not all libraries are created equal, so if your library doesn’t have the same materials or services that I’ve listed below, you can always pose the idea to them. If your library offers something mine doesn’t, please share! If you’re using your library to its fullest extent, not only are you saving hundreds a year, but you’re probably enriching your life at the same time.

1. Books-On Demand

Yes, the library has books. Lots of them, in fact. And in checking them out vs. buying them online or in the store, you are saving a ton of money. But what many people don’t realize is that you can also request that your library order books that you want to read that they don’t presently carry. Most libraries have a budget for this very purpose. So save the money you were going to throw at Amazon, and see if your local library will order it for you. You might have to wait a bit longer for them to come in, but I’m sure you’ll find something else to do in the meantime.

Besides, book clutter just plain sucks.

2. Audio Books

Whenever my wife and I take a road trip over a few hours, we always stop by the library to pick up an audio book. We consider ourselves lucky if we find one that we’ve been meaning to read, but usually at least find one that is appealing to us. You can also pick up audio books for your commute, which is perfect if you never seem to find the time to actually sit down and read books.

3. CD’s

Sure, cd’s are becoming obsolete as a medium in the age of digital music downloads and free-streaming, but there are a few of us who still don’t own an ipod. And free is always better than a $1.29 download per song.

4. DVD’s

My local library has a free DVD selection that would make any Blockbuster (if they still exist) envious. Not only do they have a great selection of the latest movies to hit DVD, but they also have a large number of television seasons on DVD. If you’re trying to drop the cable subscription, your library can be your go to source for the shows that you feel like you can’t live without.

5. Museum & Other Local Attraction Passes

Now we’re starting to get into the weird stuff that you are much more likely to not have known about. It is fairly common for libraries to have free passes to local museums and attractions that you usually have to pay for. Some you have to rent, others you don’t. My library even has a one day pass to state parks that you usually have to pay a $6 admission for. Good stuff.

6. Author Series & Celebrity Speaking Events

My local library has brought in a number of great authors and other speakers. I’ve attended 4 of these events in the last year. A recent speaker was David Alan Grier, of In Living Color fame.

7. Free Internet

Most libraries have some sort of free wifi hotspot access available. Some might have computers, some have wi-fi, and others have both. This is a great way to change up your scenery if you’re feeling less than productive at home. It’s also a great way to get internet access in locales that you are visiting if you don’t have it in your hotel, for example.

8. Hobby Tutorials and Work-Skills Trainings

From digital photography to computer classes, art, cooking, and more – many libraries are offering an array of enriching classes for you that are free to take.

9. Magazines

I still have magazine subscriptions to a few of my favorite magazines, but if you love a particular magazine, most libraries will have a wide array of back issues that you can dive into on a lazy day. It’s also a great way to explore whether or not you like a magazine’s content before subscribing to it.

10. Your Next Date

Seriously, it’s better than finding a wild one at the bar when you’re drunk (well, at least for long-term prospects).

Closing Thoughts on Libraries

Check out your local library’s website to find events, services, and and materials that you might not have known about. And then go spend a Sunday afternoon there. You might just enjoy it. And you’ll surely save some money.

Related Posts:

• 10 Free Birthday Meals
• 10 Cheap Summer Fun Activities
• 5 Ways to Use Craigslist to Save & Make Money
• 55 Marketable Hobbies you can Get Paid for

10 Library Freebies you Might Not have Known (or Forgot) About is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

It’s your birthday. And damn it, you deserve to eat and drink for free – and lots of it! Depending on your tastes and how recently you had a coronary, you can pretty much eat your way through your special day without paying a cent.

Remember when you simply had to walk in to a restaurant and tell them it was your birthday? No need for a license, and certainly no need to sign up for anything with your email address.

Those days are over, but you can still get disgustingly sick on your birthday from over-indulging on free food and drinks. And that’s an American past-time that will never go away. What I’m introducing to you today is the Birthday Glutton Marathon Challenge! Armed with a spam email address you can make a damn pig of yourself for free (and take another year off your lifespan in the process). Here’s how to do it.

7:00 AM – You have to start off your big day with a free birthday breakfast right?

• Denny’s: Denny’s is offering up a free Grand Slam breakfast on your birthday. It appears that no email signup is necessary. Just show up with your license at hand.

8:30 AM – Breakfast was food. Now, why not enjoy a free birthday beverage (or two) to finish it off?

• Starbucks: Join Starbucks rewards and get a free complimentary beverage on your birthday.
• Dunkin Donuts: Sign up for Dunkin’ Perks and get a free medium beverage, plus another on your birthday.

9:30 AM – Time for a pit stop and a breather.

12:00 PM – Time to hit the road again. It’s free birthday lunch time!

• Red Robin: Join e-club and get a free burger on your birthday.
• Ruby Tuesday: Join the birthday club and get a free burger on your birthday

Burgers don’t meet your fancy? How about Mexican?

• QDoba: Join the E-Club and get a free burrito on your birthday. Additionally, you get free chips and salsa, just for signing up.

2:00 PM – Not feeling so good. It’s time for a nap.

3:00 – 7:00 PM – Wake up and feel regret.

7:00 PM – It’s free birthday dinner time!

• Houlihans: Sign-up and get a free appetizer for joining plus a free entree on your birthday. Not bad!

Just one dinner on your birthday is for the weak.

• Benihana: Sign up for the Chef’s table email club and get a $30 birthday certificate every year.

9:00 PM – What would a birthday be without a free heart suffocating dessert!

• Coldstone Creamery: Join the birthday club and get free ice cream on your birthday.

But one dessert on your birthday is never enough!

• Baskin Robbins: Get a free scoop of ice cream when you join the birthday club.

Are you tough enough for the the Birthday Glutton Marathon Challenge? Challenge your friends and family who have upcoming birthdays!

Related Posts:

• 10 Food Rules to Save you Money & Improve your Health
• 10 Tips to Cut the Cost of Dining Out at Restaurants
• 4 Tips to Saving Money on Groceries

10 Free Birthday Meals is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

It doesn’t seem like there is a catch to this, and Zappos is world-renown for their great customer service, so I doubt that would be the case. You sign up, you get free overnight shipping “until the cows come home”, as they put it. Of course, Zappos already offered free shipping both ways, now you can just snatch up overnight shipping for free on top of that.

It looks like students, or anyone can sign up for this. Not a bad deal, if you ever buy shoes or clothing online.

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up!

Related Posts:

• REI Membership Review
• Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking Gear
• Choosing the Right Backpacking Food and Clothing

Zappos Offers Free Overnight Shipping Membership (Ends Today) is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

August is almost over, and that means there’s about two good months of summer left if you’re in a northern climate. Live it up before the cold and snow rolls in, and the regret that comes with it for not getting outside and having some fun while you had the chance.

Unfortunately, a lot of traditional outdoor summer activities can really cut into your entertainment budget. A round of golf, day at the amusement park, the ballpark, and outdoor concerts can run between $50-$100 per person. And other than going for a walk or sitting on your porch, there aren’t really any truly ‘free’ things to do when you factor in transportation costs.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun.

Here’s a list of 10 outdoor summer activities that will cost you no more than $10. Many of which, you’ve probably done at some point, but may have forgotten how cheap and fun they really were.

1. Pick Berries

U-Pick berry farms are awesome. You get ripe berries right off of the vine for 25-50% of what you’d pay in the store, you support a local farm, and you can have fun doing it. Two tips: Wear a mosquito net or bring bug spray (I got eaten alive the last time I did this), and try to find a local farm that does not spray insecticide on their berries.

Total Cost: $9 for 3 quarts

2. Dog Park!

If you have a dog (and even if you don’t) the dog park can bring hours of cheap entertainment and socializing – with humans AND dogs. Unless you have a super-submissive dog that is always getting beat up or an agressive dog that is always beating up others, it’s hard to leave the dog park without having a good time. Just make sure to bring plenty of cold water to keep your dog hydrated and cool, plus a poop bag (or three).

Total Cost: Free

3. Potluck BBQ

Invite your friends or neighbors over for a backyard BBQ. If you’re the host, buy $10 worth of hot dogs and burgers and use Google Docs to create a collaborative sign-up sheet with a list of stuff that people can choose to bring so that you have everything covered.

Total Cost: $10

4. Fly a Kite

If you’re a jaded, bitter adult, this may sound ridiculous. If you’re not, there’s something that brings the kid out in you when you get that cheap $7 kite you bought from Meijer or Wal-Mart up in the air for the first time.

Total Cost: $7 for a cheapie

5. Bike Ride

Mapping out a good bike ride to places you haven’t biked before is never time poorly spent. I have recently re-discovered by love for bike riding as a means of transportation to and from work. Going new places, getting that exercise, and building up a good sweat is a great way to spend a weekend afternoon in the summer.

Total Cost: Free,  minus the wear and tear on your bike

6. High School Football Game

High school football will be starting up soon and whether you recently graduated or not, it’s pretty good Friday night entertainment at a cheap price (if you like the game of football). Be careful though, those $4 cups of soda will really get ya.

Total Cost: $10/pair of tickets

7. Take a Dip in the Community Pool

Not every community has one, but those that do can provide a day of fun. My city has a 50 meter lap pool with a water slide. Admission for adults is $4/each and kids 3 and under are free. Don’t forget your towel, sunglasses, and sunscreen!

Total Cost: $8/pair

8. Walk a Dog or Comfort Cats at your Local Humane Society

Before we brought home our wonderful duck tolling retriever from our local Humane Society, my wife and I would volunteer dog walk every weekend for about a year. It was a great way to stay-in-shape, feel good about yourself, and give the animals a temporary reprieve from their stressful shelter environment. Most shelters also have ‘cat comforting’ as well (imagine being a cat in a shelter full of hungry, barking, stressed out dogs).

Total Cost: Free

9. Bottle of Wine at Sunset

I’m not advocating getting busted for public open alcohol container, but if you don’t have a view from your yard, you’ve got to go somewhere, right? Just make sure you have a way to get home safely.

Total Cost: $6-$10 for a decent bottle

10. Build a House

Habitat for Humanity is always looking for additional volunteers to help build houses. In doing so, you are demonstrating good will in your community, getting outdoors and meeting other like-minded folks, and learning or refining some pretty handy skills.

Total Cost: $3 for a good pair of work gloves

What cheap fun summer activities have you done this summer?

Related Posts:

• 5 Ways to Use Craigslist to Save & Make Money
• 55 Marketable Hobbies you can Get Paid for
• An Introduction to Urban Homesteading

10 Fun Summer Activities for Under $10 that you May Have Forgot About is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

My thought was that if I could drastically reduce my cell phone usage by having a land line, I could lower my cell phone bill significantly by switching to a lower minute prepaid plan. And I did just that – I have cut my total phone bills for two cell phone plans and the Ooma land line to just $30/month. The Ooma was essential in that transition, so I wanted to give a comprehensive review for you to determine if the Ooma might make sense for you.

In this Ooma review, first, I wanted to give a recap on what the Ooma is, for those who don’t know and get into the rest of the review so that you know everything you’d want to know about the Ooma.

What is an Ooma?

The Ooma is VOIP hardware that you plug in to a modem. It allows you to make free domestic calls, low priced international calls, and use a variety of other features. It differs from other VOIP services in that you pay for the hardware and have very limited or zero monthly fees vs. higher fees like traditional land line telephone service. It works without having your computer turned on. You just plug  any regular phone into the Ooma unit.

What About Ooma International Calls?

If you make calls internationally, you really have an opportunity to save money over cellular and land line phone service. You can view the latest Ooma international rates on their site, but at the time of this post, calls to Canada were $0.014, UK – $0.019, China – $0.025, and Mexico – $0.07 per minute.

Ooma Telo

The Ooma Telois the latest Ooma model. It replaces the Ooma Core system. The Telo has bluetooth, USB, and cellular integration and a few other hardware advancements. You can also buy the compatible Ooma Telo handset (pictured to the right), which is not compatible with Ooma Core. However, any old phone will work with either unit.

Once you pay for the Ooma Telo unit, all calls are still free of charge. However, there is a nominal service charge per month now that covers regulatory compliance, 911 service fees, and a federal universal service charge. Through a Ooma fee calculator on their site you can calculate what your fee is. Still cheap as heck and better than any alternative out there. Here’s what it came up with for my zip code:

Ooma Setup

Anyone (who has a modem and high-speed internet connection) can do it. The basic setup looks like this:

It’s really that simple, you plug your phone into the Ooma (in the middle) and your Ooma into a modem. You choose and activate a number online, and you’re ready to go. As stated earlier, you DO NOT use your computer at all in the connection.

Ooma Features

Other than providing you a connection, the Ooma does provide some nifty free features.

• Caller ID
• Call Waiting
• Voicemail (also can be listened to online)
• New phone number (available for most area codes)
• Free in-network calling (for international calls)

You can also port in your old landline number for a one-time fee of $39.99.

You can upgrade your features for a monthly fee to Ooma premier. Upgraded features include conferencing, forwarding, call blocking, and one free number porting. I haven’t used these features, so I can’t tell you if the upgrade service is worth it or not.

Service & Product Quality

I have not had to call Ooma customer service for anything. Ever. The setup is easy, the hardware has worked beautifully, and the acoustics are incredibly clear. There was one time over the last year that service was down (for an hour or so) and Ooma was very respondent and transparent about what caused the problem and how they were going to fix it. I have zero complaints. If you check out Ooma’s Amazon reviews,you’ll see the Ooma Telo has 4.5 out of 5 stars after 1,000 reviews. That speaks for itself.

Where to Buy Ooma

You can purchase Ooma at a number of retailers and on Ooma’s site, but the lowest price I have seen recently was at Amazon for $199 (w/free shipping) for the Ooma Telo. This is the lowest price I have ever seen it at (it has been retailing for about $250 at most places lately and on the Ooma site). The associated Ooma Telo handset sells for $49 on Amazon and just about everywhere else.

As an update, Ooma occasionally offers referral coupons to existing customers that I get now and then. Check out my Ooma snippet on my “money saving products page” for this coupon. Recently, it offers $10 off, free shipping, and a free bluetooth unit, directly from Ooma.

Final Thoughts

They really have made a great product that I have recommended to a number of people and would recommend to anyone looking to cut their phone bill. 5 out of 5 stars. It’s a frugal, monthly-subscription hater’s dream. Check out the Ooma at Amazon for more.

Ooma Review: 1 Year After Making the Switch is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

AS IS = This piece of crap is not functional and you sure as hell aren’t returning it if you’re crazy enough to buy it and I won’t be held legally liable if it blows up in your face because I remember this Matlock episode where this guy did and Matlock was able to get him off the hook.

Or Best Offer (OBO) = I know that I’m asking too much for this, but can you at least give me an offer somewhat close to what I’m asking for? Please? Pretty Please?

Price is Negotiable = I know that I’m asking too much for this, but I want you to feel like you got a good deal if you ask me for half price (but honestly, I’d take 25%).

FIRM = I hate haggling. Please don’t haggle with me because I know you’ll win and then I’ll be pissed at myself.

Like New = I only dropped it once, otherwise it’s as good as new.

Must Sell! = I stole this and I need to unload it before the cops catch up with me!

Mint Condition/Never Used = I can’t believe I bought this junk and never used it, but hopefully you’re as gullible as I am because I don’t want to add to my guilt if I have to throw this in the landfill – then I’d be a money waster and earth killer – EEK!!!

Free = It’s a piece of junk, but I will feel so much better if I don’t throw it in the landfill.

Must See! = Hey, if you come over, I think I might just be able to use the negotiation skills that I learned during my brief stint at door-to-door selling during that one dark summer to sell you my stuff, because God knows it’s not good enough to sell itself.

New in Box = I didn’t break it, and luckily I kept the box and with my precision glue-job you won’t be able to tell the difference and you’ll think you got a bargain.

Craigslist/Classified Humor Discussion:

• What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen in a Craigslist or classified ad?
• What phrases have you been guilty of and what was the alternate meaning?

Related Posts:

• How I Saved $1,700 by Being a Craigslist Subletting Nomad
• 5 Ways to Use Craigslist to Save and Make Big Money
• Cars on Craigslist
• How to Sell your Stuff Online
• How to Get Free Services on Craigslist

Craigslist & Other Classified Ad Phrases Alternative Meaning Humor is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

Ever bought something that you overpaid for? Or something that you were very geeked up for, only to realize later on that you never even used it. It’s human nature to create justifications for things that we don’t really need, but really want. We become the hunter and the ‘thing’ we’re after is our prey. It’s happened to even the most frugal of us at one time or another. Here are a few personal stories of when I felt buyer’s remorse.

The TV when I was 7 that Claimed my Life Savings

When I was about 7 years old, I had saved up around $80 and thought that money would be well spent towards a small portable black and white television from Meijers. The big day came, I handed over all of my money, which had taken years to earn. I got home, excitedly unpacked the TV from it’s box, turned it on, and watched a show or two.

Then it started to sink in. I had just spent every last cent I had. The day ended with me crying to my parents, “that’s a lot of money for a little kid!”. We ended up returning the TV. Lesson learned. It was the first time I had truly felt buyer remorse. My parents still won’t let me live that one down. I still hear, “that’s a lot of money for a little kid” occasionally, always in mocking tones.

The Acoustic Guitar when I didn’t Really Care for Guitar

In high school, I started to play an electric guitar. It was a cheap one, around $150 or so. I dabbled in playing and learning a few songs with a friend of mine. The cheap guitar was a good bang for the buck, even though I was horrid at playing it and not passionate enough to put the time into becoming great at it.

Towards the end of my college years, I went looking for my next hobby. I hadn’t played guitar in a while, but thought that just maybe I would now have time to dedicate towards becoming a modestly decent guitarist and justified the thought that maybe a nice new guitar was just the kind of motivation I needed to be the next Slash. I went out to a Guitar Shoppe and found a beautiful Ibanez acoustic guitar and dropped $500 on it.

With good intentions, I took a guitar class right after the purchase. The class finished, and I don’t think that I’ve played the guitar since. Lesson learned? Don’t spend a lot of money on something nice thinking that it will motivate you to love something that you’re really not that passionate about.

The Car that we Didn’t Need

A few years back, my wife’s ’96 Chevy Monte Carlo began piling up the miles and had a few mechanical issues that ended with the car sputtering out on the side of the highway. We paid to have the issues fixed and the car was running great afterward. But I began to justify why the incident was a valid reason for me to go out and start looking for a newer (and much more expensive) used vehicle.

I quickly found a car and financed $11K to take it home. Today, I could have easily purchased that car outright, but back then we had very little savings to invest in that kind of purchase. And we were paying interest on a depreciating asset. All while giving up another vehicle (for almost nothing) that was running just fine. Not a good decision on my part. Lesson learned? There’s a lot of them, but I felt somewhat redeemed two years later when I sold the car for only $500 less than what I paid for it and started busing to work.

Purchasing Wisdom that I’ve Gained Over the Years to Prevent Buyer Remorse Later on:

1. When you start justifying why something is a good idea to purchase, you begin transforming a want into a need in your head. Slow down and rationally remind yourself that material possessions will rarely, if ever, add to your happiness level.

2. Don’t make a purchase with the intent of using that purchase as a motivator. It rarely works. You have to be passionate about something, first and foremost.

3. Never finance to purchase a material possession, other than a house. I can’t come up with a good reason why you would ever need to.

4. $80 is a lot of money for a little kid.

Buyer Remorse/Purchasing Wisdom Discussion

• What things have you purchased that you later had buyer remorse for? Why were you remorseful?
• What tricks/advice do you have to stem poor purchasing decisions?

Related Posts:

• Clever Ways to Delay Instant Purchase Gratification
• Cost of Owning a Motor Scooter Vs. a Car
• Ooma Review: How to Save Money on your Phone Bill

Buyer Remorse Storytime: 3 Times I Felt it & How you can Avoid it is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

That being said, I get awfully tired of magazines and magazine agents that rope you in with a low introductory offer (usually 12 issues for $12 – or something similar) and then ‘conveniently’ increase your subscription price for you through auto-renewal.

What’s worse is that a lot of these introductory offers are through non-legit distribution channels, and you might not even know it. What follows is a simple process that I follow to keep my magazine subscription prices low and avoid magazine scams.

How the Magazine Subscription Industry Works

I have some personal experience with the magazine industry and here’s a little background on how they and some of the other players in their industry work:

1. Magazines make almost all their money from advertisements. No big surprise here.
2. Advertising revenue is driven by subscription numbers which influence how much a publication can charge for ads and what advertisers the magazine can attract.
3. In order to drive up subscriptions (and ad revenue), magazines are often willing to completely subsidize the cost of the subscription itself. They work directly with a number of agents who will usually get most or all of the cut on the subscription user cost.
4. There are ‘rogue’, or unauthorized, magazine agents out there who go through subscription clearing houses. Go through these guys and you might not see your subscription for months, or ever. They generally give the industry a bad name.

When Signing up for your Magazine Subscription:

Order either through the magazine’s site directly, or through a legit magazine agent. How do you know if an agent is legit? They have direct, authorized relationships with the magazine publisher and offer live customer support. Magazines.com and Magazineline.com are two good ones that clear both of these hurdles. The last thing you want is to have your personal information sold and/or not receive any subscription at all for the false promise of saving a dollar or two.

How to Get Cheap Magazine Subscriptions (and Keep them Cheap):

Finding discount magazine subscriptions is not that hard. Usually the publisher will offer the lowest authorized price on the magazine subscription that is out there. If you see someone offering lower, there is a good chance they aren’t legit. This should be your starting point.

Now that you have your cheap subscription, the challenge will be to keep it cheap. The magazine publisher usually will automatically begin scaling up your subscription price with each passing renewal. Most of the time they don’t even tell you that it is an increase.

This REALLY makes me mad. Why? For starters, the publisher is saving money by the fact that you are subscribing through them versus elsewhere (remember my earlier point about agencies taking almost all of the cut?). In subscribing directly through them, you are raising their subscription margins. How do they thank you for that? Through higher subscriptions!

Avoid the Magazine Subscription Renewal Bump!

So when your magazine renewal subscription price gets bumped, what should you do? Cancel. And go with an agent, or just re-subscribe through the publisher with another introductory offer (they never stop offering them). And when they raise your price on renewal? Cancel and start fresh again.

It only takes a few minutes of time and it keeps your cost low. Magazine subscription costs can add up quickly if you don’t keep things under control. The only downside  to this technique – you might miss an issue. Oh well, most magazines are online for free these days if you’re that upset about it.

Cheap Magazine Discussion:

• How have you kept your magazine subscription costs down?
• Have you been scammed by a rogue magazine agent? What happened?
• What agents have you been happy with?

Related Posts:

• Review of Ooma: The Budget Saving Phone Device with No Monthly Bills
• How to Buy Glasses Online
• Netflix Review: How to Get the Most from it

How to Avoid Getting Burned by the Magazine Industry is copyrighted by 20somethingfinance.com without consent to republish.

Direct Airfare Booking Sites (Online Travel Agencies)

These web pioneers book your flight directly with the airline. You’ll often find that their prices are eerily similar to what the airline is offering directly. The advantage to using them is you get to check multiple airlines at once. With aggregating sites joining the game, is there any advantage left in using these sites other than arranging your entire trip all on one site?

• Priceline
• Expedia

Airfare Aggregators

These are sites that claim to pull flight data from hundreds of airfare websites at the time of your search – which gives them an advantage when finding the cheapest flights over sites that book directly with the airline. It’s a business model that is supported by affiliate links, AdSense ads, and direct ad buys. A few test runs of these sites resulted in the lowest price being from a direct booking site (referenced below), matched by the airline’s site itself.

• Kayak
• Cheapflights
• Mobissimo
• Sidestep
• Hipmunk

Booking your Flight Direct on the Airline’s Site

At times, airlines do offer low prices that are not found on any other site due to their immediacy. JetBlue and Southwest are known for frequently doing this. Many airlines are now offering RSS and Twitter feeds so that you can stay on top of special deals and updates.

How to Find the Cheapest Flight

There’s a methodical way to make sure that you get the best rate out there. But it’s worth noting that getting the best airfare is often going to come down to If you want to book your flight far in advance or if you’re flexible on when you are flying out until the last minute.

• If you want to book you flight far in advance: your search can pretty much start and end with the aggregator sites, but you may also want to check with the airline if the aggregator is not showing a price from them.
• If you are flexible: set up RSS feeds on the airlines sites and Twitter, if available, which offer the flight you want. Some aggregators and direct booking sites also allow you the opportunity to set up alerts.

Cheap Flight Discussion:

• What methods have you used to find ridiculously cheap flights?
• Have you found special fares through Twitter and email alerts?

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