Adventures In Frugal Land

Simply Frugal. Simply Natural.

by

How to Pick A Streaming Service

Cable has gotten to be so expensive anymore. Are you still on the fence about switching from cable to a streaming service? Don’t be, it’s quick, easy and cheap. The two biggest choices you have to make is to choose a streaming service and a streaming device.

How to Pick A Streaming Service

Streaming Devices Options

 

Dedicated Devices

I prefer Roku players as a dedicated device for streaming movies and music. Other options include FireTV and AppleTV. Pick the best one based on the services available and the price.

Gaming Devices

Playstation, Xbox, and Wii gaming devices all have the ability to stream your favorite service.

Computers and Tablets

All newer computers and tablets are capable of using the streaming options listed below. Better yet, use an HDMI cord and connect your computer to your television for the optional viewing experience.

 

Streaming Services Options

 

Netflix

Netflix is available for $7.99 a month for the basic membership package. With the basic membership, you can watch on one device at a time. With the standard package, you can watch on two devices at the same time for $9.99 a month. For $11.99, enjoy the premium package and the ability to watch on four devices at the same time.

Pros:

Huge selection of movies and TV shows.

Kid friendly section.

Multiple accounts to keep family viewing preferences separate.

Available on all devices.

Cons:

New releases aren’t available.

 

Amazon

Amazon Instant Video is included in all Amazon Prime memberships. Not a member? Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial.

Pros:

Ability to rent movies that are new releases.

A wide variety of movies and TV shows that aren’t available on other services.

Cost is factored into an Amazon Prime subscription so if you are already a Prime member, you don’t pay anything extra!

Can pay extra to have access to STARS, SHOWTIME and other special programing. Free trial is available. Join Amazon Third Party Video Subscriptions Free Trial today.

Cons:

A Smaller selection of movies and TV shows compared to Netflix.

Not compatible with all devices.

 

Hulu

Hulu subscriptions are available for $7.99 a month and up.

Pros:

TV new releases available soon after aired on the network.

A wide variety of TV shows.

Cons:

Not as wide of a variety of movies.

Not all shows and movies are able to be streamed on a device (but are on a PC)

Have to pay extra for a commercial free option.

 

These are not the only options for streaming services. Over the past few years, smaller services have popped up. Most of these services are tailored to specific tastes. I haven’t tried many of these so I cannot comment on how well they work. Have you tried any of the smaller ones? Which ones were your favorite? I have tried RightNow Media and I really enjoy it. RightNow Media is available for members of many churches. See if your church has this service for members to gain access to a wide selection of family friendly, Christian programming.

 

Do you have any other advice for someone wanting to make the switch from cable to a streaming service? What option is your favorite and why?

by

So…you have bad credit, now what?

Ignore It Or Fix It

You could always ignore it. I don’t recommend this option but it’s there. If you don’t’ want to ignore it, then the next option is to fix it.

So, You have bad credit. Now What?

Check for errors with all credit bureaus.

 

You can check your report for free at annualcreditreport.com. Also, credit karma provides a report AND a score. Did I mention it is free?

 

Dispute any errors that you find.

 

I once found my student loans being reported twice! That sure made my credit score plummet. I was able to dispute it and the extra loan showing disappeared.

 

On credit karma, you can dispute your Transunion errors directly from their site. For other bureaus, you can dispute from the respective sites. It is so easy to dispute errors now that you can do it electronically.

 

Plead your case.

If you’ve missed a payment or two, it doesn’t hurt to ask the creditor to remove it. They are under no obligation to do so, but many will for faithful customers.

 

Start rebuilding.

 

In order to raise your credit score, you are going to have to rebuild it. I’ve found that the best option for me was to open up a secured credit card. After a few months of on-time payments, I was able to open up an unsecured card with the same company.

 

Other people have found luck with credit lines such as Fingerhut but they charge really high interest. However, if you are needing to raise your credit and you don’t have another choice, Fingerhut isn’t the worst option.

 

Have you ever found yourself if the position of having bad credit? How did you get your score up?

by

13 Stupid Things Poor People Do

Did I catch your attention with that title? Speaking from experience, there are several stupid things that poor people do. Yes, I’m sure I know wealthy people do some of these too but for now, let’s just focus on this subject. I’ve seen several of these points first hand. I’ve struggled with many of them myself. 
 

Stupid Things Poor People Do:

13 Stupid Things Poor People Do

 
Neglect Health
This is by far one of the stupidest things anyone, in any situation can do. However, it’s a reality to those living with low incomes. I have neglected my own health (at great consequence) at times to pay my rent or buy groceries.
 
Buy Junk Food
Guess what? If you use coupons, it’s often cheaper to buy junk food. Yes, there are ways to shop for groceries without couponing but it is easier and cheaper to buy junk. This goes back to the neglecting health. Junk food is, well, junk. But, if you are hungry, you’re going to eat what you can afford. (***I am not advocating abstaining from all sorts of junk food forever. I enjoy my ice cream and cake as much as the next girl!)
 
Drive Unsafe Cars
Ugh. This is something I am totally guilty of doing. Not only is it unsafe…it gets expensive. Really quick.
 
Pay Bills With Credit Cards
What to do you do when your electric bill is due and you don’t have the money to pay it? Why, you put it on a credit card of course. Seems like a logical solution but it will bite you in your butt later on.
 
Take Out Loans With High-Interest Rates
When you are strapped for cash, what else can you do but take out a loan with high rates?
 
Avoid Psychiatric Treatment
I’ve seen so many people broke avoid paying for a counselor or medication when they need it.
 
Breaking Vehicle Laws
If you don’t have the money to pay your registration or insurance, it’s tempting to continue driving anyways. Don’t do it. The ticket you get is not worth it.
 
Take Up Vices
Smoking and drinking feel good. When you are broke, you do what you can to feel better about your situation. Please note that I do not advocate this. I’ve recently was able to quit smoking and I know you can too!
 
View Children As A Burden
Doctor’s visits, school clothes, food and toys are all expensive. Sometimes, people start to (even subconsciously) view their own children as a burden. Don’t think of your children this way. I don’t care how poor you are, if you love your child, you can be a good parent. There are programs available to assist you if you need help. (I’ve wrote about a lot of these in my e-book “Poor Me: Practical Advice For Navigating Welfare)
 
Spends Way Too Much Time Caring About Other People’s Opinions
Are you embarrassed to have people over to your home because of how run down it is? Does your car embarrass you in the parking lot? Do you feel that people are judging your clothing? It’s a common thing to feel judged. But, do you really care what strangers think? So what if you are driving a (safe!) clunker….it’s really no one else’s business. Unless they plan on buying you a new car (hey if anyone wants to take me on a shopping spree, I’m all in!).  I’m reminded of a story that Crystal Paine told of when she and her husband were paying cash for a house (awesomeness right there!), they were driving an old beat up vehicle. I look at that story and think how easy would it be for others to judge them for the state of the car, not realizing it was because they were actually smart and saved every cent to buy a mortgage free house. No one knows why you live where you live, drive what you drive or wear what you wear. 
 
Do Not Keep Up With Technology
Technology is an important part of the world. When you are poor,  it is hard to keep up with it all. While, you don’t need to go into debt to purchase the latest gadget, keep your computer skills up to par. You never know when you will need them for a job. Often, libraries will offer computer classes for free for their patrons.
 
Go Into Debt
Debt is a slippery slope. It starts out innocently enough with a little credit card and slowly, it builds and builds. Just, don’t do it. Trust me, it sucks.
 
Not Planning And Dreaming
Don’t give up on your dreams because of a temporary setback. Keep trying (and failing) until you get where you want to be. One thing I try to remind myself is that I’ve been in worse situations.
 
I did not make this list to judge anyone. I have struggled with several of these points myself. Yes, I write from experience. I’ve heard it say that poverty is an endless cycle. When you start making these choices, that’s what it becomes. Learn from your mistakes and hardships and move on, even if you can only afford to move on mentally.
 
 
What do you think are some of the stupidest things poor people do?

by

Are You Overusing These 7 Products?

I hate spending money on household items like toilet paper or shampoo. I try to coupon as much as possible for these items and make them last as long as possible. It amazes me how much people (myself included!) waste their money by overusing common household products.

 

Are you using these common household products- (1)

 

Shampoo & Conditioner

 

I don’t see the point of rinsing and repeating. If anyone knows why I should be doing this, please let me know. Until then, I’m happily washing my hair once at a time.

 

Laundry Detergent

 

Try cutting the amount of detergent you use in thirds are even half. You don’t need the amount that is recommended.

 

Cleaning Supplies

 

Try using less than you usually do when cleaning. I bet you won’t even notice the difference. Most of time, cleaners are so concentrated that only a small amount is truly needed.

 

Paper Towels

 

I try to use rags whenever possible. It seems that when paper towels are in my home, they get used. For everything. You can also try cutting them in half to be the size of napkins.

 

Body Wash

 

You only need a small amount, not a giant amount to fill up your loofah!

 

Dish Soap

 

Are you guilty of using more dish soap the dirtier the pan is? I am. Try not to follow into that temptation. All you need is a tiny squirt.

 

Fabric Softener Sheets

 

Don’t use a whole sheet of fabric softener sheets. Cut them in half to save money.

 

Do you find yourself wasting common household products? Which ones are the biggest issue in your home?

 

by

7 Reasons I Use Prime

This post is not sponsored in any way by Amazon. I have used affiliate links in it though (meaning if you purchase through my links, it helps support this site and allows me to provide free content.) All opinions are my own. I really, really, really love Amazon 😀

 

Why I Love Amazon Prime

 

I love Amazon Prime! Do you use it? Many people think that the only benefit is for the quick shipping. While, the two-day shipping is awesome, there are several other reasons I think Amazon Prime rocks.

 

Quick Shipping

 

I love being able to order something from Amazon and have it show up on my doorstep 2 days later.

 

Free Books

 

Through the Kindle Lending Library, Prime members can borrow one free book every month.

 

Frequent Credits

 

Often, Amazon will run promotions that gives a dollar in digital credit for choosing delayed shipping. These credits build up over time. I’ve redeemed mine for several books and movies.

 

Movies

 

Speaking of movies, did you know that Amazon has a movie streaming service (like Netflix!)? Also, you can purchase movies to watch anytime. Or, you can even rent one, which is great for me because I can never seem to remember to return movies.

 

Music

 

They also have a music streaming service (like Spotify!).

 

Subscribe & Save

 

Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program allows you to set up automatic deliveries of certain products. You can cancel the subscription at any time.

 

Reviews

 

I frequently use Amazon to review products that I get for free or greatly discounted. I love being to able to do this as I’ve been able to try new, often expensive, products at a fraction of the cost.

 

I cannot imagine ever going back to using Prime JUST for the shipping. How about you? Do you utilize all of benefits of Prime? Did you know you can try it before you buy it? Head over to Amazon and Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial.
.

 

by

50 Children’s Gifts That Never Go Out of Style

Do you struggle with finding a suitable gift for a child? Luckily, the gems of our childhood are still a great choice today. I’ve included gift ideas in different price brackets. I’d love to hear any other ideas you have in the comments!
50 Children's Gifts That Never Go Out Of Style
  1. Blocks
  2. Legos
  3. Coloring Books
  4. Water Guns
  5. Sidewalk Chalk
  6. Dress Up Stuff
  7. Doll Babies
  8. Pretend Food
  9. Musical Instruments
  10. Nerf Guns
  11. Matchbox Cars
  12. Sport Balls
  13. String
  14. Bubbles
  15. Sewing Kit
  16. Army Men
  17. Pretend Cleaning Supplies
  18. Makeup
  19. Stickers
  20. Etch-A-Sketch
  21. Rubber Ducks
  22. Paint
  23. Board Games
  24. Play Dough
  25. Lincoln Logs
  26. Mr. Potato Head
  27. Easy Bake Oven
  28. Little People
  29. Magnetic Letters
  30. Paper Dolls
  31. Magnetic Dolls
  32. Gardening Tools
  33. Dump Trucks
  34. Remote Control Cars
  35. Construction Paper
  36. Card Games
  37. Barbies
  38. Velvet Posters
  39. Bounce Balls
  40. Stuffed Animals
  41. Silly Putty
  42. Sand
  43. Small Furniture
  44. Pretend Tattoos
  45. Cd Player
  46. Yak Back
  47. Cardboard Box
  48. Science Kits
  49. Easel
  50. Shopping Cart
What games or toys did you love as a child?

by

5 Ways to Save Even More at Yard Sales

I love May. Not only does May contain Mother’s Day and my birthday, May also contains the start of the yard sale season! Only the flowers start blooming, so do the neon green and pink signs directing traffic to the nearest sale.

 

Yard sales are a great way to save money on items you need. Follow these easy  steps to save even more at yard sales.

5 Ways to Save Even More at Yard Sales •••

Negotiate

 

Yard sales are all about negotiating. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts for purchasing multiple items or a lower price if you think that’s fair. The worst thing that can happen is the seller will say no.

 

Ask when the last day of the sale is

 

Find out when the last day of the sale it. Make a note to stop back in on that day. Often, sellers are more likely to reduce their prices even more on the last day.

 

Go with a specific list

 

Make a list before you leave your house of the items you hope to find. Allow yourself a small budget to purchase anything extra. Those small purchases add up quickly!

 

Carry all necessary tools

 

Don’t go to a yard sale unprepared. If you know you are looking for a piece of furniture, carry a tape measure with you to ensure the furniture will fit in your home. Also, carry a list of your family’s sizes if you are purchasing clothes.

 

Be willing to walk away.

 

Sometimes, you have to be willing to walk away from an item if it’s out of your budget.

 

What are your tricks for saving at yard sales?

 

by

7 Ways To Save Money On Clothes

There was a time that I enjoyed shopping for clothes for myself. That was when I was a teenager and had no bills (or extra weight!). Now, clothing shopping is a huge stress for me. Not only because it’s become a bit harder to find clothes that fit. It’s stressful clothes shopping because of the cost. Clothing can be expensive but it’s a necessary expensive. Fortunately, there are ways to cut down the cost of clothing (besides becoming a nudist!)

7 Ways To Save Money On Clothes

Have a Minimalist Wardrobe

The less clothes you have, the less you need to buy! Before going to the mall, shop in your closet first. See how many outfits you can but together with what you already have.

Shop at Consignment Stores for Clothes

I adore consignment stores. I’ve found several name brand, high quality pieces of clothes for next to nothing at consignment stores.

If you don’t have a consignment store in your area, consider shopping online with Schoola or thredUP.

Find the Clearance Rack

No matter what store I am in, I head straight to the clearance rack before I go anywhere else. I am always on the lookout for next seasons clothes.

Use Reward Programs for Gift Cards

I frequently combine gift cards I received from Swagbucks or other programs with clearance finds. It’s a great way to buy something new without it coming out of your pocket.

Accept Hand-Me-Downs

I LOVE hand-me-downs. If someone offers you them, look through and see if there is anything you can use.

Learn How to Mend

What do you do when your shirt or pants get a hole in them? By learning how to mend, you can stretch the life of your clothing.

Buy Higher Quality

Yes, sometimes you have to spend money to save money. I much prefer to buy a heavy duty sweatshirt or coat that will last for years instead of something that I have to replace after a few months. If you have the means to do this, I suggest it highly. It will save you a fortune in the long run.

 

I’m always looking for new ways to save money on clothing. I have a much easier time cutting down my grocery bill than I do my clothing bill. How about you? Is clothes shopping stressful for you or do you enjoy? Do you have any additional tricks you use when shopping for clothes?

 

 

 

**There are affiliate links included in this post. If you sign up or make a purchase with any of these companies, I receive a small percentage back. It does not cost you any extra money and you not required to do use any of the products or services. I have only included products and services that I personally use and recommended. Thank you for helping me maintain this website. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.**

 

 

by

5 Ways to Give When Broke

I hear a lot of people talking about how much they give to charity. It’s as if it’s become some sort of thing to brag about. I don’t like hearing how this celebrity donated thousands of dollars to this charity. Or how much a relative tithes at church. I personally feel that money should something that’s private. I’ve had times in my life where I have been able to give financially to others. I’ve also had times where donating a dollar to the charity at the checkout counter was too much. When talking about giving, we tend to think in dollars in cents. But, giving does not have to mean swiping a credit card or writing a check. There are different ways to give to others even if you do not have a lot (or any) discretionary money.

5 Ways to Give When Broke

Give From Coupon Stockpile

A coupon stockpile is a great resource to be able to gift others. If you have the time, you can stockpile toiletries, groceries, household items and other products at a very low cost or for free. I have given family members and friends gift baskets filled with products from my stockpile instead of purchasing a gift. You can also donate items to the food bank or other charity organization. It’s a great way to give without spending money.

Rewards Programs

I try to utilize all reward programs I can to build up my gift card stash. I use them to purchase necessities for myself or gifts for others. It’s nice because it’s not money that comes out of my budget.

My two favorites are listed below. They are affiliate links but both are services I fully recommend to anyone!

Qmee is an extension for Chrome that pops up on a side when there is a paid link. For example, I’m searching for an alarm clock on Amazon, Qmee pops up and offers 6 cents for me to click through them. It only takes a few seconds. I like Qmee because they pay instantly to Paypal or to a charity you pick. It’s not a lot, only a few dollars a month but it’s a few dollar I didn’t have before.

Swagbucks is a search engine, just like Google. Only, when you search through them, you get the chance to earn points that are redeemable for gift cards. There are other ways to earn but I don’t usually have the time.

Purchasing via Bloggers

You may not know this but not all bloggers make a ton of money. The ones that do are a rarity, not the norm. Most of us spend hours a week on our blogs and money to pay for hosting fees, domain names and designers.

If you find a blog helpful, it’s nice to click through their links to make a purchase. If I’m going to buy something anyways, I try to go through another blogger first. It’s not much but I know I’m blessing another family this way.

Giving Time

If you don’t have money, think about giving your time. Maybe you could babysit for a neighbor in need. Or, serve your local food bank. A lot of times, churches do clothing drives and they need people to help collect the donations or organize them. There are too many ways to give your time to list.

Using Your Talents

What talents to you have? Are you a great writer, baker, singer or organizer? Perhaps you are a great listener. Make a list of your talents and try to think of creative ways you can use them to make a difference in someone’s life. If you are a writer, maybe you can write the blog posts for your church. Or, if you are able to design websites, you could build one for a non-profit organization.

Poverty has many struggles but it doesn’t take away wanting to help others. One of the hardest parts of being broke is not being able to give generously. I’ve met people who’ve struggled with poverty who are the most generous people I have ever met and truly want to help others but do not have the means to do so. Being broke does not mean you can’t give to others. You might have to be a little more creative than pulling out a checkbook but it’s very doable.

 

**There are affiliate links included in this post. If you sign up or make a purchase with any of these companies, I receive a small percentage back. It does not cost you any extra money and you not required to do use any of the products or services. I have only included products and services that I personally use and recommended. Thank you for helping me maintain this website. Please see my Disclosure Policy for additional information.**

 

 

by

5 Steps to Take After Defaulting on Student Loans

If often surprises people that even though I like to save a ton on my groceries, I’ve been in student loan default before. Not everyone knows what it even means to be in default. Most students don’t pay close attention when they are signing the loan documents. You are considered in default of your student loans if you fail to make a payment for 270 days. If you are in default, your student loans can be offset, your wages garnished, the amount you owe will increase, your credit score will tank and you will be ineligible to receive any additional financial aid.

Have you defaulted on your student loans? Learn what 5 steps you need to take.

You do not have to stay in default indefinitely. I’ve seen several people give up on paying off their student loans once they entered into default. Do not do that! It is possible to get yourself out of default.

 

Figure Out If You Are Truly In Default On Your Student Loans.

I’ve heard of people thinking they were in default when they only missed one payment. To be in default, you have to fail to make a payment for 270 straight days. You can check The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) for a complete overview of what loans you have. The NSLDS will tell you if any of the loans are in default or not. The NSLDS is not updated daily as the system relays on each individual lender to report any changes.

 

Contact Your Loan Collection Agency.

This is the most important step and often the hardest. Speaking from experience, it’s not a scary process to speak to a loan collection agency after defaulting on your student loans. Inquire if you are eligible for a lower payment or another option. Often, they are willing to work with you. Visit My EDD Debt to determine who your loan collection agency is.

 

Apply For A Rehabilitation.

If you qualify, you can enter into a rehabilitation agreement with the loan collection agency. A rehabilitation agreement is when you enter into an agreement to pay a set amount each month. This amount could be as low as $5. After making a set number of payments, the loan is out of default. The lenders will also stop reporting the missed payments to the credit bureaus and the negative information will be removed.

Usually, a rehabilitation takes 9 months to complete fully. During this time, your loans are still considered in default. This means your federal taxes and wages may still be garnished unless your agreement states otherwise. You can only do a rehabilitation once over the life of the loan.

This arrangement is great for people who are worried about the hit their credit score has taken to defaulted student loans.

 

Figure Out How Much You Can Afford To Pay Monthly On Your Student Loans.

Make sure you have an accurate idea of how much you can afford to pay each month on your student loans. Be sure to take into consideration your housing expenses, car payments and any other set payments you are responsible for. There are many great options for figuring out budgets.

 

Decide Between Payment Options.

There are several different payment options. Choose the one that is right for you.

Consolidation

Consolidate your loans into one loan agreement. You can do this online or print and mail the application to the loan providers.

Standard Repayment Plan

The monthly payments are a fixed amount over a set period of time.

Graduated Repayment Plan

Lower payments that slowly increase over time.

Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE)

Maximum payments can only amount to 10 percent of your discretionary income.

Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR)

Maximum payments can only amount to 10-15 percent of your discretionary income.

Income-Contingent Repayment Plan (ICR)

Monthly payments are adjusted to the amount of your income.

Income-Sensitive Repayment Plan

The monthly payment is based on your total income.

Pay your loans in full.

Not many people can afford to do this. If you can, it is certainly the way to go!

 

**If you choose the Pay As You Earn or the Income Based Repayment Plan, you could have payments as low as $0.00 if your income is low enough!!

Start Rebuilding

After you get yourself out of student loan default, you need to work on rebuilding your credit. The quicker you focus on bad credit, the better. (Psst…this post tells you what to do when you have bad credit.)

 

I’ve been in default before. As I searched for answers, I found myself even more confused. All I wanted to know was how I can get out of default. While being in default has nasty consequences, it’s relatively a simple process to get out of if you follow these five simple steps to take after defaulting on your student loans.




 

Have you ever been in default with your student loans?