I ran across this article and I wanted to share – why pay for something out of pocket when there are alternatives that allow you to enjoy it for a reduced cost – or even free? Here are some top areas where you can save by taking advantage of free or discounted versions.

1. Magazines

Popular magazines off the rack cost anywhere from $3-7, and while none of us really need them, if there’s one you’re really into it might be worth it to take out a yearly subscription because that can lower the price to as little as a dollar an issue. As long as it’s something that will be interesting to you for the long term, one of my favorites is Cabin Life and a close family member gives me an annual subscription at the holidays!

2. Late Fees

There’s nothing more frustrating than paying unnecessary fees. While service fees are unavoidable, others are entirely avoidable with diligence. If you can set up automatic payments, you’ll be saving yourself the possibility of forgetting a payment and incurring a late fee. A word of caution: you can incur other fees with automatic withdrawal if you don’t keep your account balanced. Don’t let an unexpected withdrawal overdraw an account with insufficient funds!

3. Unused Subscriptions

Some subscriptions automatically renew every year, causing expenses that you didn’t want or need. If a service has stopped being useful to you, make it a priority to cancel. Now’s the time to reevaluate all your automatic yearly or monthly subscriptions that you no longer use.  The longer you hold off, the more they stack up and the more you are unnecessarily charged.

4. Refuse (sizeable items)

Take advantage of services that offer free pick ups – you can usually call to have large pieces removed at no cost if requirements are met. Depending on where in San Diego you are, you may be entitled to a limited number of annual scheduled “extra” pick-ups with your waste service. Since you’re technically paying for your trash pick up, make sure that you are taking any perks that come along with the service!

5. Audio Books

Audio books are generally a single use kind of purchase. Unless you’re interested in spending a lengthy bit of time re-listening to an audiobook, you’ll most likely enjoy it and then archive it. Check out your local library’s online site to see if they have it available in the audio format you need – free of charge! If you really like the book, consider ripping it as an MP3 and storing it onto your hard drive.

6. Bottled Water

You’d be surprised how much money will add up if you purchase bottles of water!  Remember the days of water fountains?! By getting into the habit of carrying around a water bottle, you can fill up at drinking fountains and save the expense of buying a disposable water bottle. Most  convenience stores don’t mind if you fill up with filtered water from their soda machine. If you do need to buy filtered water, most come in cheaper as their volume increases. In that case, buy the biggest bottle and then fill up your reusable bottle to take with you. Bacteria can build up on the mouth of water bottles, so be sure replace or sterilize it every few weeks.

7. Tools/Appliances

Some appliances can be borrowed from neighbors or checked out from a lending library. In that way, you’re not only sharing a resource and cutting down on items that take up space in your cabinet or closet, you’re also avoiding the cost of buying an item that will be used sparingly.

8. Holiday Decorations

The day after most holidays, prices on decorations are slashed and sales abound. The Halloween scarecrow that cost $50 is suddenly cut down to $5. If you’re looking for specialized decorations, wait until after the holiday and take advantage of truly incredible discounts. If you have the room, then it’s entirely worth storing them for the next year if you purchased them at a steep 75% discount.  This is especially true for wrapping paper, ribbons, labels, and more.

9. Children’s Clothing

Kids grow out of clothes so quickly that it doesn’t always make sense to buy them new. Even after a couple of months wear, they’re usually perfectly suitable for a new set of arms and legs. Boutique consignment and vintage stores like Revivals, Buffalo Exchange and My Sister’s Closet  carry children’s clothes and could even be mistaken for a new clothing store considering how pristine toddler outfits usually look.

10. Disposable Lunch Bags

You should be able to keep a reusable lunch bag for years, and even if you want to continue to use plastic or paper bags, you can use any extra bags laying around the house. For example, you can reuse the plastic bag containing a loaf of bread as well as bags used for bulk purchasing of grains, nuts, beans, etc.

These 10 things are just a start! As always, your personal budget will be yours and yours alone. Take a look at expenses that might be hanging a little dark cost cloud over your spending and start cutting them out to see immediate savings!