Sometimes the small, unseemly, unimportant tasks we do every day can have a massive impact on our lives for the better. We call these “life hacks”. In this article, we’re walking through the top ten most powerful life hacks that can change your life. If you’re looking to bring your life together and don’t know where to start, take the time to read this article. It’s crazy where these small steps can lead you in three to five years.
1. 15 Minutes of Sun Every Morning
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Get sunlight in your eyes every morning. Sunlight offers many benefits, including but not limited to setting your circadian rhythm, priming your brain to be alert and focused, and giving your body Vitamin D. It also enhances metabolism and immune functionality. After doing it regularly, watch this transform your overall mood, well-being, and even your ability to sleep.
2. Daily Meditation
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
So many of our problems come because we cannot sit by ourselves, alone with our thoughts, for even thirty minutes. Our society is filled with cheap dopamine, constant notifications, and screens everywhere we look. Take time to slow down and be present.
Meditation has already been demonstrated to reduce stress and enhance mental clarity. Meditation might be what you require if you’re grappling with burnout and finding that your performance has declined.
3. Surround yourself with optimists
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Optimists are like the light in your life that you look for when you’re currently in the dark part of your life. Surround yourself with people who bring positive influence. You are the average of the five individuals you invest the most time with. Ensure that each of these five individuals can drive you toward your goals. Ultimately, exercise careful discretion in selecting those you allocate your time to. It’s effortless to draw in negative companions during personal struggle and despondency. However, true allies will aid you in rediscovering a positive trajectory once more.
4. Practice Gratitude
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Gratitude is a key ingredient for living a fulfilling life. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, build strong relationships, and improve their health. Take five minutes per day to write down five things you’re grateful for. Practicing gratitude also reminds you of all that you have: your friends, positive relationships, and good moments throughout the day.
5. Ask for Advice
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Don’t underestimate the power of a mentor. Epictetus mentored Marcus Aurelius. Jobs mentored Zuckerberg. Buffet mentored Gates. Seek advice from people two to three steps ahead of you. You can access their lifetime of wisdom in two to three years. While reading self-help books helps, having access to a mentor is on another level.
6. Journal Every Day
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Writing is essential to unleashing your creative potential. Writing or journaling daily builds discipline and allows you to organize your thinking. It also improves your vocabulary and communication skills. Mastering this skill will lead to success in the modern economy.
7. Invest in Yourself
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
We spend eight hours a day working for someone else, but many of us won’t take 30 minutes to work on ourselves. Invest in yourself through reading, exercising, and learning a new skill. Just 30 minutes a day can change your life.
8. Read Good Books
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
The most successful people in the world have one thing in common: they love to read. Read about things that interest you. Re-read your favorite books. Read every day. An hour a day of reading puts you at the top .01% of people.
9. Take a Cold Shower
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
A three-minute cold shower will provide benefits that last the rest of the day, like raising your ability to handle stress. Taking a cold shower increases dopamine, boosts metabolism, and burns brown fat, so anything else you have to do afterward will seem easy.
10. Set a Bedtime Alarm
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
After this alarm goes off, allow your mind to relax. Turn off all your devices. Take a warm shower or bath. Read your favorite fiction book. Setting yourself up for success the next day starts the night before.
Source: Reddit.
These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them
Photo Credit: Lightstorm Entertainment / TSG Entertainment II
The movies we love best are a combination of excellent characters, plots, stories and cinematography. But if these factors can make great movies, they can also make terrible movies—the ones that make people cringe, the ones we swear they’ll never watch again.
These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them
10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
People will always have preferences and something to say about celebrities. What you might love may not be the same for others. Whether it’s about their past behaviors, legal issues, or feuds with other celebrities, here is a list of celebrities people just cannot stand.
10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked
11 Vampire Movies That Will Leave You Yearning for More
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures
Sometimes, we just love to watch a favorite vampire movie, one of the ones that never gets old. It piques our imagination with the unknown story of two teenagers fighting for their love, the incredible and creepy scenes, and the bloodsucking classics.
11 Vampire Movies That Will Leave You Yearning for More
25 Extraordinary Sequels and Remakes That Outshine the Originals
Image Credit: Rosebud Releasing Corporation
Every once in a while, a movie sequel or remake surpasses the original film. After polling the internet, “Name a single movie where the sequel or remake was better than the original?” Here are the top-voted responses.
25 Extraordinary Sequels and Remakes That Outshine the Originals
25 Blockbuster Films With Behind-The-Scenes Turmoil Unknown to the Public
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox
Several big movies with significant nightmare productions have some seriously delicious tea. After a recent poll on the internet, here are twenty-five films with disasters that made filming difficult.
25 Blockbuster Films With Behind-The-Scenes Turmoil Unknown to the Public
Do you ever wish you knew the secrets to attract wealth because your 9 to 5 isn’t paying the bills very well? You’re not alone! Today, we’ll talk about the 11 secret life hacks that rich people are doing to make gaining wealth easier.
We’ve compiled the best answers from Reddit, so you don’t have to do it yourself. Read this blog and shift your mindset with these lessons from the wealthy.
1. Organize Everything
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
If you’re familiar with Marie Kondo, she specifically emphasizes that organizing and decluttering will have a huge impact our lives. It turns out that’s one of the life hacks of truly rich people.
One person said, “Allow me to ramble passionately about a hack of small consequence. Something I noticed about all the rich people’s houses is they have storage containers everywhere. The pantry isn’t piles of groceries shoved inside, it’s all in tidy bins, often matching, sometimes labeled. Their closets have shelves and drawers, not a single pole to hang items. Under their sinks are multiple bins and containers, sometimes on a pullout shelf/drawer. Their spices are ALL on racks, not just the few that fit in a singular rack with the rest piled on top or haphazardly in an adjacent cabinet.
“Their jewelry is organized like a utensil drawer and not shoved in a single box. There are trays or giant bowls by every entry door to toss your mail and keys instead of cluttering every flat surface. Imagine how much calmer your brain would be if you didn’t have to hunt through what feels like a disorganized garage sale everywhere you turn. You don’t have to bend over to rife through objects, you can bring a bin to you.
“I’m just a povvo, but I started ramping up my organizational game and it’s made a subtle but impactful difference in my daily life. Started with matching-sized Amazon boxes in the pantry and Dollar Tree fabric collapsible boxes for toiletries under the sinks and the closet floors, and built up from there. I’ve been slowly converting all my bathroom and kitchen shelves to pull-out drawers (this one is expensive).”
2. Buying in Bulk
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
This life hack may not be applicable to every body because, in order to save a lot of money on purchases, particularly groceries, you must have the money to shell out first.
One user shared, “Rich people can afford to save money on purchases if they want. I guess if you are rich and don’t care about saving $ it doesn’t apply to you, but it’s definitely a big benefit if you’re a frugal rich person. If that makes sense. A small tiny example. Most would categorize me as wealthy. I buy high-end groceries but aim to do it for as cheap as possible. When our Whole Foods has a sale on our favorite frozen pizzas, normally $12.99 and on sale for $7.99, I buy 10 of them and load up my deep freezer. The fact that I was able to save $50 is only possible because 1) I have enough money to shell out $80 for the upfront cost on the pizzas, and 2) I have a deep freezer to store it in. Neither of those things would be possible without money.”
3. Semi-Permanent Cosmetics
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Beauty, in whatever form, is expensive—and only the rich don’t think twice about spending such a huge amount on beautifying themselves or their surroundings.
“…I think a lot of beauty at that level is faked, just like the lawns are faked. Spray tans, teeth caps, really expensive hair extensions and plugs, professional makeup, tailoring, even surgery, etc. etc. I was shocked when I learned about caps for teeth. I didn’t even know that was a thing. Feels like a total cheat code. Can even avoid the expense and discomfort of braces. There are a lot of beauty ‘hacks’ that are not accessible unless you have $$$,” someone shared.
4. Hacking Expensive Purchases
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One person commented, “I’ve worked for a rich family and learned a couple hacks. Everyone else is correct. They just hire things out. If you’re genuinely curious, then I’ll share two things I learned in my job that are specific to the wealthy lifestyle. First, moths love real cashmere so you have to keep cedar in your closets to keep them away from eating your sweaters. Second, if you are flying private and only medium-wealthy not truly a fan of throwing money down the drain unnecessarily, it is actually more affordable to ship your luggage via UPS than pay for the additional fuel it will take to carry it in the plane with you.”
Another one shared, “I knew a lady who was, let’s just say she was in a different tax bracket. She and her late husband never took a road trip. They flew everywhere. He was a pilot, and they owned their own plane. They would fly somewhere, and if she ran out of clean clothes, she would just buy more. She’d ship her dirty clothes back home, and the maid would have everything dry-cleaned by the time the lady got back. I can’t imagine how many clothes this lady had. Or maybe she donated them on a regular basis?”
5. Networking
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
We’re familiar with networking, but it really is one of the life hacks that truly rich people are doing. They leverage the people they know who are also rich and powerful, and that’s what makes them too.
One person shared, “Networking. Powerful people have a large network of connections to get what they want. If you aren’t going out of your way to build ties with people who have things you want like wealth or power, the alternative is working very hard and hoping you get noticed—which doesn’t work most of the time because, unfortunately, the meritocracy is a lie. Learn to meet people and maintain professional connections, not just friendships. And no modesty, that’s a killer.”
The second person replied, “The best network—Politicians, Thieves, Police, Money Laundering—Mafia. Exist all around.”
6. Know What’s Worth Your Time
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“When you are good at what you do to make money, you hire pros to do things that you need and get them properly done. That’s classic economics of the division of labor. You focus on what you do well and make more money. That’s the opposite of downward spiral. The concrete example is that I unblock my toilets and fix leaks. I also change my engine oil. Because it’s cheaper for me to do it. If my pay rate is higher than the pros, if course I’ll hire someone. That saves me money,” one person said.
“Sure… but I kind of hate how many people try to apply this to a typical salary worker. No one is gonna pay me to work overtime on a Saturday at my hourly rate (and I don’t want to), and it’s easier to work on a house project for a few hours than find a 2nd job. Many people point to your example, but they either don’t have time for projects cause they work 60 hours a week or prefer to use their disposable income and do something else with their free time. They are not financial wizards, they just make other choices based on circumstances, and that is fine,” argued another commenter.
Another user added, “Yeah, not every minute of my day is monetize-able. Someone once said Bill Gates is so rich that he loses money if he stops to pick up a penny in the street. No, he doesn’t. He didn’t cease to earn money for doing it. Rich people hire others to change their oil because it gives them back time for leisure.”
7. Buy Quality the First Time
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One person said, “I was taught to always buy the best of anything I can the first time so I don’t waste my time, money, or efforts on junk. That bled over into everything. Relationships. Experiences. It becomes a mindset and lifestyle. I think that’s what you’re seeing when you look at that neighborhood.”
Another one replied, “This right here. If you want to buy a new piece of furniture, TV, car, etc… Buy nice things and buy quality. It’ll last for years and years. Also, pay cash. Don’t bother financing it. That’s just more wasted money.”
Another user quipped, “Buy once, cry once.”
8. Weigh your Options
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“Not really a hack but spending dollars so they count. If there’s a gym that’s $50 a month but is 20 mins away and they’ll only go once a week, and there’s one 2 mins away that’s $200 but they’ll go every day, spend the extra money. The $50 option is a waste. This can be applied in many circumstances,” one person shared.
9. Elegant Appearance
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One person shared their experience while working with truly rich people, “A few things I’ve noticed when working for wealthy people. They look rich even in casual clothes because they get everything tailored, even simple white shirts and jeans so they look expensive even when they aren’t.
“A lot of accessories like shoes, bags and jewelry are custom made which can be a better option if you’re going to spend a lot on designer brands anyway, and they will be unique. They don’t just go to the gym, they have a personal trainer who focuses on that toned without being too muscular look, so they look naturally hot without trying.
“Getting blow dry right before an event makes you look polished. I worked for a woman who never washed her own hair, and she always looked amazing. I saw people spend a lot of money on wardrobe staples like jackets and classics, but they would only buy high street seasonal pieces to keep them in style.
“They sell designer pieces to concession stores after wearing them a few times and basically get 50-80% of the cost back depending on the designer. Having lunch at a Michelin-star restaraunt can be slightly more affordable than dinner but you still get the experience. Having drinks at the restaurant bar so you can be ‘seen’ and mingle but don’t have to buy dinner. Going to clubs and events on weekdays means you are more likely to get in, get a table/ticket and it can be less expensive.”
10. Excellent “Talkers”
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One person shared, “When I was doing my first startup I saw ‘new money’ people. In school I saw ‘old money’ people. There are all types of rich people and these types have their own ways. They do live in the same areas though. They recognize each other by their watch, type of clothes and behavior. And you can see if they are new rich, old rich, dem or rep by these things too. Their kids go to an endless amount of extracurricular activities. Here it is hockey and tennis, sometimes baseball. The parents do it so their kids build their network (I mean 5year olds).
“Rich people have some skills, but the main skill is talking. They are great at talking. It used to put me off. So and so became the director of yadayada. Why? The only thing he can do is talk. And that is precisely the point. They don’t get so stressed. They just talk for a living. Everything comes from their network. People like listening to their stories. But they cannot do anything of value other than talking. They hire people for that. Duh. Don’t be apologetic. Don’t do stuff worth 10$ an hour if you can make more. Do lots of self-care. And be a professional talker. Listen to people, look at their behavior and clothing, and copy that in your own way.”
Someone added, “I agree with this comment but will extend it further. You call it ‘just talking’ to anyone that will listen, but what they really are doing is ‘selling.’ They are selling their latest ideas, pitches, schemes, problems, solutions, whatever, etc. And their audience (other rich people) love to talk too, so the audience then adds on to those ideas, sometimes with money or introductions to other people with money. And it snowballs because of the network effect.”
11. Etiquette and Mannerisms
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“You have a lot of time for personal maintenance and improvement if you don’t have to worry about cooking dinner or doing laundry. Some things, like good etiquette, are made very important from a very young age (hence the napkin folding, knowing what course to use which fork, how to properly address folks in a formal setting, etc) it’s a social code that helps identify who is and who isn’t,” one person stated.
Another one added in agreement, “Exactly. It’s very subtle and says a great deal.”
Source: Reddit.
Image Credit: Shutterstock – Denis Makarenko
Who is one actress you can never stand watching, no matter their role? After polling the internet, these were the top-voted actresses that people couldn’t stand watching.
10 Actresses People Despise Watching Regardless of Their Role
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
We’ve all heard the famous adage that “no publicity is bad publicity,” and while it tends to be accurate, there are certainly exceptions. But what about those few stars who stay out of the limelight and get along without a hint of trouble?
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Have you ever known someone and thought you liked them—until you learned about their hobbies? Then you get to know them and then you’re like, “Wow, red flag.” Well, you’re not alone.
These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.
10 Celebrities That Made the Big Times Then Disappeared Off The Face of the Earth
Image Credit: Troma Entertainment
We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.
These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites
There are many lies that we’ve come to believe since we were young. Whether we inferred them from our circumstances, or they were touted as true in a classroom or online, it’s easy to hold these misconceptions if they’re not being challenged. And while some lies seem to do us no harm, we should still investigate to find the truth wherever we can. Do you know any lies that you used to think are true? Well, here are some other stupid lies that the world needs to stop believing.
1. Farmers Cause Inflation
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
It might be believable that farmers are causing inflation, but that’s just not the case. Farmers are often subsidized by the government; all they’re doing is trying to keep their farms afloat, and produce the food that America eats. Inflation is much more affected by the government itself, as it pumps new money into the economy trying to help struggling families, but only driving up the prices we all have to contend with. So, thank a farmer, and vote carefully!
2. The Food Pyramid is Healthy
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
The food pyramid was initially introduced as a way of fending off starvation. In a place where food is scarce, grains are the easiest to preserve and the fastest source of energy. Fruits and veggies are next easiest to save, and meat is quite volatile unless it’s frozen or smoked, etc. But after it was developed, the US adopted it as a dietary guideline to help eat up all the grains that were being produced in America. Since then, our whole way of eating has shifted around the food pyramid. Now it’s time to shift it back! Veggies and fruits should be at the base, with proteins and complex carbohydrates next, healthy fats should be after that, and sweets still at the very top. Now you know!
3. You Can’t be Both Emotional and Logical
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
A lot of people underestimate the role of our emotions in our decision-making ability. If we don’t value or feel emotional about anything, then our decisions are going to be pretty cold and maybe even cruel. Yes, it’s best not to make major decisions while you’re overwhelmed with feelings, but emotions are also major indicators of the ways that events in our lives are affecting us. When we express emotions well, we can work through them to make very logical conclusions, and even more, if we use our emotions as signals to let us know when something is right or wrong in our circumstances, we can act very logically to change what’s happening. So you can enjoy your emotions and your logical thinking all at once!
4. Company Loyalty to Employees
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Companies like to say they’ll reward hard work and team involvement, but really the best most of us get is casual Fridays, or the occasional pizza party. There are some good companies out there, but they’re few and far between. Most corporations, especially the large ones, just treat employees as completely replaceable parts to an overworked machine. It’s great to work hard for a promotion or special recognition, but we also advocate for work-life balance, and don’t really recommend giving extra hours of your day to a company that doesn’t appreciate you.
5. Pharmaceutical Companies are Trying to Help
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One commenter said, “Well, they try to help us, when it benefits them. Dead people don’t have prescriptions, so obviously they want to keep people alive so they can continue to rip them off. As soon as the costs of saving them outweigh the potential profits, they [stop caring].”
Another user added, “The government and university run labs that have scientists who do rigorous research and create life saving medications are trying to help us. The pharmaceutical companies that snatch up their technology are leeches on society.”
6. Mental Illness Isn’t Real
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One person said, “Yup there’s a whole chuck of Christianity that’s like ‘if you just pray hard enough!’ Or ‘it’s a spiritual problem, not a mental health problem.’”
Another commenter said, “‘You should just stop being depressed,’ or ‘You just need to smile more,’ or ‘Just stop worrying about it,’ are the dumbest advice you could give to someone who struggles with their mental health, yet there’s always some idiot there to give you that advice.”
7. You Can Work Your Way to the Top 1%
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“To 20%? Sure… Top 10%? Maybe… Top 1%? It’s going to take a lot of luck, and you probably need to be born on at least second base (but third base is preferred),” one user commented.
Another added, “Are we talking globally or in a certain country? Most Americans can get within the top 1 percent globally with an entry-level job.”
8. We Only Use 10% of Our Brain
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One Redditor said, “This was debunked so long ago, I can’t believe some people still believe it, lol.”
A second person replied, “The people that still believe it only use 10% of their brains.”
Another user added, “I’ve heard it at work a few times in the past few years, and the people saying it are very insistent that they’re right. It’s still a thing.”
9. You Need a College Degree
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
“You need a college degree to become successful. The reality is if they go to a trade school such as plumbing, HVAC, etc., that’s where the money is,” one user stated.
“Totally agree there. My husband has absolutely no education beyond high school and is very successful. I have a college degree, and other than helping him with his businesses, I don’t really work,” the second one replied.
10. The Economy Must Grow
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One Reddit user said, “Yeah… it really feels like this weird religion that we’re all supposed to believe in, nevermind how much damage it causes.”
Another person replied, “Exactly. GDP is not a good indicator of human health or happiness in a country, as we run out of natural resources and jam everyone into townhouses they cannot afford while destroying the earth. There are other indicators like HDI, GPI, etc. that we should pay more attention to than GDP.”
11. The Subject of Your Degree Doesn’t Matter
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
One user commented, “I wish someone had told me this before I got my BA in anthropology. I spent a decade using bs explanations as to how it was relevant to anything.”
Another person said, “For Boomers, this was kinda-sorta true. But stopped being the case some 40+ years ago,” someone replied.
Source: this Reddit thread.
These are 10 Things That Completely Destroyed The Love in a Relationship
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
There’s no question that relationships can be confusing, but here are some of the top things to avoid if you want to keep your relationship healthy!
10 Actors and Actresses People Refuse to Watch Ever Again
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
We all have a favorite actor or actress, but most of us have a least-favorite as well. Check out this list of actors and actresses people never want to see performing again!
Top 10 Worst Human Inventions of All Time
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Some inventions are world-changing, and some of them, well, they change the world in the wrong ways. Here are some of the worst inventions Redditors could think of.
10 Famous Celebrities Who Look Like They Smell Terrible
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
We’ve all had moments of hygiene faux pas—but these celebrities just look like they don’t take care of themselves at all.
10 Terrible Fads People Are Glad Died Out
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Every fad has its time in the limelight, but some of them come and go faster than others; and some just need to die out right away. Check out this list of fads of which people were happy to see the last.
By Peter Anderson8 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited May 29, 2023.
Memorial Day is here! It’s become synonymous with being a day to enjoy family, friends and even a having a BBQ, but let’s not forget to take a moment today to remember all our fighting men and women over the years who have made the ultimate sacrifice, by giving their lives so that the rest of us might live free.
Over the years on Memorial Day I’ve had a chance to stop at my grandparent’s graves at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Bloomington, MN.
While I won’t make it there this year, it is always a vivid reminder of just how much so many have given. There is row after row of graves for our military men and women, so many of them having died while fighting for our nation.
A couple of times while I was there I found the graves of Medal of Honor winners there, and it was amazing to read of their sacrifices later on when I got home via a Google search.
My Grandfather’s POW Story
Being at Fort Snelling also reminds me of just how much my grandfather gave, despite the fact that he wasn’t killed in action. My grandfather, Fred Anderson, was in the U.S. Army Air Corps, becoming a prisoner of war in a German POW camp for over a year. What he went through couldn’t have been easy, and I’m just sad that he passed at such a young age (in his 60s) due to Parkinson’s Disease and a stroke. I was never really able to get a full accounting of his experiences as I would have liked.
I recently did find out a bit more about his experience as a prisoner of war by reading a book about the experiences of many others in the same prison camp as him, called The Last Escape, The Untold Story of Alled Prisoners of War in Europe 1944-1945.
My grandfather was a replacement waist gunner on a B-17 that was shot down in February of 1944. He had flown three successful missions with his crew, but on the fourth mission during “The Big Week” (see wikipedia) they were returning from a bombing run over Leipzig, Germany, and were shot down.
The entire crew parachuted out of the plane, but were quickly captured by the Germans. They were sent to Stalag Luft 4 near Grosstychow, Prussia where 6,660 other American POWs were held.
My grandfather’s capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on February 22, 1944, and he was imprisoned for at least 473 days (1 year and ~4 months) according to the Red Cross.
His recollection of being liberated was in a hospital bed. He went to sleep one night in ill health as a prisoner of the Germans, and woke up to find the Russians had overrun the area. He eventually made his way to France where he recuperated, and then on home to Minnesota where he married and had a family, including his firstborn – my father.
When he left home before the war he weighed in at 180 lbs, and came home at a thin 130 lbs at the end of 1945. We’re so thankful he made it back, so many were not so lucky.
Since it is Memorial Day weekend the cemetery will be in full bloom with flags flying, and flowers on countless graves, in remembrance of loved ones. It’s usually a very stirring sight, and I may try to make it down there the day after to get a glimpse – and to say thank you in prayer for all those brave men and women.
So on this Memorial Day weekend, thank you to our veterans, and thank you to those who have already paid the ultimate price. You won’t be forgotten.
By Peter Anderson12 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited August 19, 2022.
The last few years have been tough ones, with the economy going through recession, millions of people becoming unemployed and businesses going under left and right.
The economy has shown some signs of improving, but indications are we still have a lot of rough road ahead of us.
With the economy being so unsure, now is as good a time as any to start thinking about how to cut back on your regular monthly bills. For many, once you’ve cut out some of the more obvious expenditures, it doesn’t feel like there are that many other places that can be cut. The truth is, however, that most people have a lot of places that they can still cut back and save money.
Today I thought I’d look at some of the main areas of spending that people have every month – their regular monthly bills.
Often people take those monthly bills for granted, not even thinking about how they can save money on those regular expenditures, just taking it on faith that they can’t get those bills any lower.
So today’s post is all about how to save money on just about all of your regular monthly bills.
How To Save On Your Phone And Wireless Bills
There are a variety of ways that you can save on your cell phone, home phone and mobile internet charges. Here are a couple of the options that we’re using – or plan to start using in the coming year to save on our phone bills.
Landline phone service
: For years we’ve had a landline because my wife prefers talking on that versus a cell phone, and also because we needed the landline for our home security system. We recently made changes that mean we can now opt for a cheaper VOIP option for our landline service. After doing some research a lot of other bloggers are talking about the Ooma phone service, which is apparently very good. All you have to do is pay upfront to buy an Ooma Telo device for around $140, which then allows you to make unlimited calls in the U.S. for free over your existing broadband connection! All you have to pay is local taxes in your area (about $4.50 for us). You can port your current landline phone number over as well, for a $39.99 fee. Read my full review of Ooma here, and my post talking about setting Ooma up here.
Prepaid Cell Phones: One way that we’ve been saving a ton of money over the years is by using prepaid cell phone service, instead of more costly contract plans. We have no contract phone service from Republic Wireless, and we pay on average about $40/month for two phones. Both of them are Android smartphones with tons of minutes and unlimited text with 1GB/data ($20/month). The only downside is the up front cost of the cell phone – it isn’t subsidized like on contract plans. There are a variety of other low cost prepaid cell services out there that many people recommend including Tello and a Gen Mobile. Check out the related content below for a full article talking about saving on your cell phone bill using prepaid services. Want to use a traditional phone service? Check out Bill Shark, BillFixers or Rocket Money to negotiate a reduction in your monthly cell phone bills.
Low Cost Hotspots: A while ago I had a need to have Internet access on the go while traveling. At the time I settled on buying a mobile hotspot from Virgin Mobile via their prepaid wireless broadband plan. You just buy the hotspot, and then pay $35/month for 1GB of data. I was in a rush so I bought the hotspot and used it while on my trip. When I got back I became aware that there are quite a few companies that offer mobile hotspots for much lower cost, or phones and phone plans that can be used as hotspots – for much less. Do your research.
Related Content
How To Save On Your Housing Costs
One place that you can save hundreds of dollars every month is in your housing costs. Most people are aware that they could probably save by refinancing, but there are other ways you can save as well.
Refinance your mortgage: The most obvious way to save on your housing costs is simply to refinance your home mortgage. Rates are so low right now, and by refinancing you can often save hundreds of dollars off of your regular monthly payment. I’m in the middle of looking for a refinance right now, and we stand to save in the neighborhood of $200-300/month.
Appeal your property taxes: A lot of people don’t realize that you can actually appeal your property taxes in many counties by appealing the county’s tax appraisal value. I have successfully appealed our value once a couple of years ago, saving $363/year. Find out how I did it below via the related content.
Get cheaper homeowner’s insurance: I go into this more in the insurance section below, but if you shop around you can often find hundreds in savings every year just by switching insurance companies. We saved almost $1000/year by doing this just a couple of months ago.
Remove mortgage insurance: If you’re paying mortgage insurance with your regular monthly payment, and you have already reached 20% equity in your home, you may want to look into having that insurance removed by your mortgage company. It isn’t there to protect you, but the bank. Often you can have it removed after getting 20% equity in the house, and in many cases it may be required that they remove it. In some cases, if you’re a high risk borrower or if you have a FHA loan, you may need to keep the mortgage insurance longer.
Downsize your house: If you’re really trying to lower your bills a sure fire way is to downsize your house. Not only will your payment go down, but your insurance, taxes, maintenance costs and other costs will go down as well. Of course any costs associated with moving also need to be taken into account.
Related Content
How To Save On TV, Movies And Entertainment
There are a lot of ways that you can cut costs when it comes to your entertainment dollar.
Shop around and sign up for deals on premium TV: First, if you’re determined to keep your premium TV because of sports or programming only available on cable, you can at least make sure that you get the best possible deal on your cable TV package. Make sure to shop around once your introductory deal runs out and you can usually end up saving hundreds every year by switching companies! Or you can use a bill negotiation service like Bill Shark, BillFixers or Rocket Money to negotiate a reduction in your monthly bills.
Cancel un-needed services: Another thing you can do is check to make sure you’re not doubling up on any services. When we were cutting back a while ago we realized that we were paying for both Netflix streaming and Amazon Prime – which has a good video streaming option. We realized most of the same TV shows and movies were available on both sources, so we canceled Netflix – saving us $7.99/month.
Cut the cord: If you’re a bit more ambitious and aren’t very particular about receiving certain channels or waiting to see content the night it airs, you might want to make this the year that you cut the cord. Cancel your cable or satellite TV packages and move to something more affordable. Instead of paying for a TV package you can use free or low cost video streaming services like Hulu or Philo, shows streamed by the networks, and more. Use a software like Playon to stream the shows directly to your TV using an existing gaming console like the Xbox One or Playstation 4, or a cheap device like the Fire TV or Roku. The options are pretty numerous, and we’ve used options like this in the past to get most of our TV entertainment. Check out the related content below for a couple of exhaustive posts on how to set this up.
Use cheap movie rental alternatives: Don’t really watch TV or movies too much – and a monthly Netflix or Amazon subscription doesn’t make sense for you? Use a cheap rental alternative like Redbox, where you can rent a new release movie for a dollar. You can often find coupon codes to get free rentals every now and then. If you rent infrequently enough for it to matter, use cheap pay per view video options on Itunes, Amazon and Xbox to rent movies without leaving the comfort of your home. Amazon often gives away free credits on social media for their MP3 and Video stores, so follow them on Twitter and Facebook to get deals!
Related Content
How To Save On Your Internet Costs
If you’re looking to save on your internet costs, the best thing you can do, similar as with TV deals, is to shop around, or use a bill negotiation company.
Search for the best deal: Find out where you can get the best deal. For us our internet options include DSL service from a couple of different companies and cable internet. You can usually find competing deals and introductory offers that you can use to hop from company to company and always have the best deal. Other times you can bundle with other services and save. It can be a pain, but it can save you a ton of money too.
Get reduced rate internet: Another thing you can do if you live in certain areas is us a free 4G internet service. Of course to do this you’d have to live in an area with good 4G coverage.
Related Content
How To Save On Insurance
The best way to save on your insurance costs is just to shop around on a regular basis. I like to do it at least every 1-2 years for my homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance, life insurance and less often for other types. We found our best deal by using an insurance broker because they were able to compare rates at multiple companies and compare quotes for us.
Within the past few weeks we shopped around for new homeowner’s insurance after the premium skyrocketed. We ended up saving almost $1000/year when we switched our homeowner’s and auto insurance to a new company. That’s not the first time we’ve been able to do that! We did the same thing about 4 years ago, comparing rates and saving over $1000 that time!
Not sure where to start in getting quotes? Check out our insurance page to get quotes from a bunch of different companies.
Related Content:
Save By Getting A Better Bank Account
You may have had your old bricks and mortar checking or savings account since you were in high school, but have been noticing lately that they’ve started charging you fees for various things. You’ve also noticed that the fees for your brokerage account have gone up, and mysterious inactivity fees started popping up. Whatever the case, people often find that their bank account is no longer useful to them, and that they can save money on fees (or make more interest) by moving somewhere else.
Save money by closing old accounts: Often old accounts start charging inactivity fees for dormant accounts, or just start charging fees because they think they can get away with it. Closing an account can be a pain, but it can also save you money (and headaches) in the long run.
Sign up for better bank accounts: Signing up for a better bank account will mean not only savings because of no fees and no minimums, but also can mean you’ll end up making more money interest, cash back and other perks. For example, a while back we Chime a great online bank. We’ve saved quite a bit in account fees that we no longer pay. Our old account at a traditional bricks and mortar was charging us fees for all sorts of things, and customer service wasn’t great. We have also switched our savings account to online banks with accounts from Capital One 360 and CIT Bank Not only are we making more in interest, but the features available at those banks surpass our old bank.
Lower interest on your credit card accounts: If the interest on your credit card is getting unreasonably high, consider closing the account after signing up for a card with a lower interest rate, 0% balance transfer and no fees. Just be wary of big charges to actually transfer balances.
Different account types to consider closing if the fees or features aren’t up to snuff? Savings accounts, checking accounts, brokerage accounts, mutual fund company accounts, credit cards. Go down the list and figure out which ones just aren’t cutting it anymore.
Related Content
How To Save On Energy Bills
Saving on energy bills often can’t be done by switching to another provider because there is often only one option for water, gas or electricity in many areas. That means the savings usually has to come from being creative and saving in other ways.
Some ways to save on your energy bills:
Get a programmable thermostat
: A good portion of your utility bills every month are going to come from your heating and cooling bills. By buying a programmable thermostat like the smart Nest thermostat, you can have your heat turned down at night, turned low when you’re gone and even control it remotely. They advertise an annual savings average of $173, so it may take about 18 months to pay back the $249 cost – unless you can find it for less. Other options include regular programmable thermostats which can run $50-70 or more.
Get (slightly) out of your comfort zone: Be willing to turn the temp down slightly in the winter, and up in the summer. You can save a ton of money just by turning the temp up or down even a few degrees!
Use a power saving device: A lot of the electronic devices we use these days have phantom power drain even when you’re not using them. Get around this by getting an auto-sensing power strip that will turn off all power when the unit is off, or energy saving power plugs that have on off switches for things like coffeemakers or toasters.
Save at your water heater: The water heater can account for 14-25% of your energy bills every year. Often the heat on your water heater is turned up higher than you need it to be. A temp of 120-140 degrees is hot enough, and every 10 degrees you lower it you’ll save 3-5% on your bill. Some experts say not to go below 120 degrees, however, because bacteria can grow in the tank. You can also save by putting a fiberglass insulating blanket on the water heater to save money on heat loss.
Get a home energy audit to find energy leaks: Local utilities will often come out to do a home energy audit free of charge or a small fee to help you find where your home is leaking energy. Plug up the leaks and save!
Maintain your appliances: Doing things like cleaning your AC condensor coils or changing furnace filters regularly can save you money on your energy. If you don’t, appliances can work harder than they need to, and drain more energy.
Related Content
Save On Bills By Negotiating Them
One way you can save money on your regular, recurring monthly bills is to negotiate them.
If you have the time to do a little research, and make a few phone calls you can often reduce your monthly bills by hundreds of dollars every year.
If you don’t have the time, there are quite a few companies that will do it for you, for a small cost.
Conclusion
So there you have it, how to save money on just about all your possible monthly bills. I could probably go on, but the point is there are no shortage of ways to save money on your regular monthly expenditures. You can save on your housing costs, your phone and wireless broadband costs, your insurance costs, your energy costs, your bank accounts and even on your spending on entertainment. You just have to be creative, find cheaper alternatives and cancel un-needed services.
So what ways to save on your regular monthly bills can you suggest? Tell us your money-saving strategies in the comments!
I‘ve been finding ways to cut back our monthly expenses lately, and I shared some of those tips in a recent post titled, “How To Save Money On All Your Regular Monthly Bills“. One of the places I thought that most people could end up saving on their regular monthly expenses was in their phone bills.
Many people pay way more than they have to for expensive smartphone plans and landline phone service. The average cell phone bill runs close to $100 every month, and if you have a landline as well that can add on another $30-60 depending on where you live, how many features you have and how many state, local and federal taxes are being levied on your monthly bill.
A couple of years ago we addressed our overly expensive cell phone plans by dumping our regular contract service, and buying prepaid cell phones from Virgin Mobile. We now pay no more than $40-50/month for two cell phones, one of them a smartphone.
We’ve been saving a lot of money on our cell phones for the past couple of years, but we’ve still been paying for an expensive landline phone. The cost for the phone line keeps going up, and the only reason why we hadn’t dropped it yet was because we needed it for our home security system. Now that there are other options for that (cell and internet based security systems), we’ve finally decided to take the plunge and switch from a landline to VOIP service.
[embedded content]
Cutting The Phone Cord, Going To VOIP
When we decided to switch to a cheaper VOIP provider we looked around to find some of the better devices out there. Among the options we found were service from Vonage (still has monthly bill), Magic Jack Plus, Google Voice and Skype.
After searching around for reviews of the different services I found quite a few favorable reviews of the Ooma phone service using the Ooma Telo device. Ryan from CashMoneyLife mentioned that he had signed up for Ooma and had been happy with it. G.E. Miller at 20somethingfinance.com talked about how he’s been using the Ooma service for years. Both were saving hundreds of dollars by using Ooma. The reason? There are no regular monthly phone bills if you sign up for their basic service. All you pay for is the hardware which you connect to an existing internet connection.
Almost all of the recent reviews that I read of Ooma were very positive. The only negatives I saw were from people having issues with their particular router or modem not working with the Ooma device, or a few people complaining about short outages. With all that in mind we decided to jump in and purchase the Ooma Telo pictured above.
Save Hundreds By Using Ooma
So just how much money can you save by switching from traditional phone service to a device like the ones available from Ooma? Hundreds of dollars if our situation is any indication.
Cost of our old phone service
Centurylink landline – $43.38/month: We pay $43.38/month after service fees, taxes, or $520.56/year. Included on that phone is voicemail, call waiting and caller ID.
It was actually more expensive than I realized. For quite a while I had thought we were paying somewhere closer to $30. Taxes really bump the price up a notch!
So how much will we save by moving to Ooma – where we’ll have more features available than our old phone line?
Costs of Ooma VOIP phone service
Ooma Telo device – $76.25: The device itself used to cost $299.99 when they originally launched, but it has dropped in the last year or two. As of this writing, the normal everyday price on Amazon is currently $76.25. We got a referral code and when we bought it the cost was $139.99 for us direct from Ooma. (You can find it for less than $100 reliably now)
Fees, service charges and taxes – $4.53/month: The only monthly fees you’ll ever pay are the fees associated with having 911 service on the device, and then state and local taxes. For our zip code it came out to only $4.53/month or about $54/year. Find out how much you’d pay a month here: Ooma Tax Calculator.
So for us with the initial up front cost of $139.99, plus the monthly taxes and fees of less than $5/month, we’ll have paid for our unit in less than 4 months of service. After that we’ll be saving around $40/month. That adds up quick!
Ooma has a savings calculator on their site that gives you an approximate amount you’ll be saving if you switch to them. It showed that by the end of the first year we will have saved over $288. By the end of the second year we’ll have saved over $756!
How Ooma Works
Setting up the Ooma service sounds pretty simple according to what I’ve read. For most people it takes around 15-20 minutes to setup their new Ooma Telo device.
Since I haven’t received and installed my Ooma yet, I can’t vouch for just how simple it truly is in practice, but it certainly sounds easy.
Activate your device online using the activation code found on the bottom of your Ooma Telo device.
Choose a phone number. You can port your old phone number later on if you’d like.
Enter your contact information, including a second phone number and a physical address for 911 purposes.
Enter billing information to pay for fees and taxes, or for premier service if you sign up for that.
Account registration.
After you’ve done all that it’s just a matter of plugging in the device and running an ethernet cable to the device from your modem or router. Once you plug it in it may need to download any necessary updates, but after that you should be set to go. Just plugin your regular old phone and go to town!
Read my post talking about setting up Ooma here. It really is easy!
Ooma Features
So what are some of the features that you get with an Ooma account and the Telo device? With the basic free service, you can get all that you’d expect from your regular landline service, and more.
Basic Ooma Service Features
Free U.S. calling.
Voicemail that you can access from any phone or web browser.
Caller ID and call waiting.
Great HD call clarity.
911 service (despite it not being a landline) and 911 email and text alerts when someone calls for emergency help.
Porting of your landline phone number.
Online account where you can check call logs, listen to voicemail and set preferences.
Low cost international calls. (I would probably just use Skype if I had to do this)
So we’ll be getting everything we had with the old service on the basic plan with Ooma, and more like the online voicemail. With the premier service with Ooma, which costs $9.99/month, you get a whole lot of other features included with your account.
Premier Ooma Service Features
Three way conferencing.
Do not disturb setting so calls roll into voicemail without the phone ringing.
Community blacklist access to block known telemarketers and solicitors.
Personal blacklist to block calls from numbers you don’t want to talk to.
Call forwarding so you can even forward your calls to your cell phone or another phone.
Ooma mobile app access to make wi-fi calls on the go with the Iphone app.
Voicemail to email forwarding so that you can listen to your messages in your email.
Instant second line so that you can make a second call without missing a beat.
Backup number to forward calls to in case your phone goes down.
Call screening to listen to a message and pickup if you decide you want to talk to the person.
Anonymous call blocking.
Multi-ring so that your phone system rings your cell phone and home phone simultaneously.
Having A Smooth Transition – Keeping Your Old Phone Number
One thing I love about Ooma is that we’re able to port our old home phone number to the new Ooma Telo device. All you have to do once you setup your system is request that they port the number over from the old phone company. There is a $39.99 charge if you decide to do this, although it’s free if you opt for a year of the paid $10/month premium service. It can take 3-4 weeks or more depending on how quick your old provider moves making the change.
To check if your phone number can be ported to Ooma, go here.
Once you’ve got an Ooma home phone system your phone number can then be portable wherever you go. If you move, like we plan on doing in the next year, you just take your Ooma with you and plug it in at the new house and you’re all set to go. No turning service on and off. You can also take it with you on vacation, or on a long trip. Anywhere you can plug it into an internet connection you should be able to make calls. Just make sure to change your 911 service address on your online account if you do move.
Where Can You Get The Best Deal On Ooma?
So where can you find the best deal on Ooma?
For me the best deal that I found on the Ooma right now was by buying it from Amazon.com has the unit available everyday for a price of $76.25. Costco also sells the unit and members can sometimes find specials on the Ooma system. Some people have reported getting it for as little as $50 for refurbished units.
The key is to do your homework when buying the device, find out what specials and promotions are currently available, and find the best possible deal!
Are you already using Ooma at your house? Tell us what your experience has been in the comments!
By Melissa2 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited January 6, 2014.
Because we’re digging our way out of debt, I’ve been on a mission to cut corners anywhere I can.
I’ve made many changes to our household including making our own laundry detergent and liquid hand soap, switching to Ooma for our home phone service, negotiating a discount on cable (only because it’s bundled with our Internet; otherwise I’d ditch it all together), and air drying all of our laundry, just to name a few.
While all of these changes have helped us find more money to apply to our debt, without a doubt, the change that saved us the most money has been just saying no to going out to eat.
Saying No To Eating Out
Three years ago, I LOVED going out to eat. I liked not having to cook and choosing from a wide variety of foods. I liked the relaxation and the experience.
If you would have told me that one day I would almost never go out to eat, I wouldn’t have believed you, and I might have even cried a bit. That’s how much eating out was ingrained in me. Our family went out to eat at least two to three times a week. (And it’s not lost on me that this habit is part of the reason why we have debt to pay off.)
But, one day, we just stopped eating out. Every time we got the check at the restaurant, the experience became less enjoyable. As we watched our credit card balances creep up, I felt guilty about my restaurant habit.
And now, three years later, we eat out less than 6 times a year. It’s not hard. I don’t miss it. In fact, I actually prefer our food at home to restaurant food.
How To Eat Out Less
If you’d like to cut your restaurant habit, here are some tips to make it easier:
1. Invest in good pots, pans and utensils.
If you don’t cook much at home now, you must have the basic materials you need to be able to cook.
2. Be willing to spend a bit more on groceries.
I know, this sounds counter intuitive. After all, you’re trying to eat more at home to save money.
However, from personal experience, I can say that part of the reason I loved going out was because I didn’t like the food we were making at home. I was trying to scrimp on groceries to have more money to eat out, and couponing netted me things like canned biscuits and soups, which I wasn’t incredibly fond of. Spending a bit more to eat foods you like at home can still save you more money than eating out and scrimping on groceries.
3. Find easy to make recipes.
Even though I like cooking, I really hate to spend an hour on a meal just to watch my family devour it in 10 or 15 minutes. Instead, I try to make my time in the kitchen easier. I do this by making double of a recipe and putting the extra serving in the freezer for a fast meal later. (This is my version of fast food now.) I also use the slow cooker–a lot!
4. Find recipes you love.
Thanks to Pinterest, you can find many recipes for the ingredients you have on hand. I use Pinterest every week to find new recipes.
5. Have variety.
There’s nothing worse than cooking the same meals week in and week out. Every week try at least one new recipe. You’ll appreciate the change of pace.
6. Don’t deny yourself completely.
You can still go out. However, make it a special occasion and something you’re mindful of, not just the default because you don’t have any food prepared at home.
Do you need to kick the eating out habit? If so, what’s your biggest challenge?
Or, if you’ve already kicked the habit, what changes in your finances have you noticed?
By Peter Anderson1 Comment – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited January 21, 2019.
296 Shares
Later this month we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving, and for many people the Thanksgiving week is a time to sit back and reflect on all of the blessings that we’ve been given throughout the year. For some the week is about getting together with family and enjoying all of the good food. For others, however, Thanksgiving week is all about gearing up to go out and go shopping on Black Friday, or Cyber Monday.
I don’t usually go out on Black Friday, but I’m never one to say never when it comes to finding a deal. There have been several years where I have gone out on Black Friday, with mixed results. In years where I planned ahead, knew exactly what I wanted, and got to the store plenty early, I didn’t have any issues. In years where I just decided last minute to show up and see if I could get a deal – it didn’t work out well at all.
So today I want to go over a few Black Friday shopping tips, and look at some things you can do to prepare for the hottest shopping weekend of the year.
Don’t Just Wing It, Plan Ahead
One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made when shopping on Black Friday was to not really make a plan ahead of time, and to just wing it when it came to getting a deal on the items I was shopping for. When I showed up at the store trying to get a deal, it was a complete mess. I didn’t know where the item I was looking for was going to be, others had showed up way before I did and the store in general was much busier than I had anticipated.
Here’s a video looking at my experience and the madness that ensued at Wal-Mart that night.
[embedded content]
View the video on YouTube
So as you can see it was complete madness and mayhem. I hadn’t planned ahead, and it was obvious others had. I saw one family talking on walkie-talkies, coordinating their battle plan!
Websites To Research Your Black Friday Deals
As mentioned above it’s a good idea to plan ahead and to research all of the Black Friday sales ahead of time. Track down and find the best deals on the items that you need.
So where can you go to do all your research? There are a ton of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping sites you can check out, here are a few of the better ones:
This “most wanted” list from gottadeal.com – will give you an idea of what items are most wanted at each store. Using that information you can prioritize you list and make a battle plan.
Black Friday Most Wanted Deals
8 Tips For Black Friday Shopping
Black Friday shopping starts way ahead of the early morning hours on Friday following Thanksgiving. It starts by doing your homework ahead of
time, and making a battle plan for where you’re going to go, and what you’re going to get.
Make a list in the order of importance: Make a list of things you were planning to buy this year anyway, and then prioritize them in the order that you want them the most – so you can make sure to go and wait in line for those items first.
Make a budget and save up the cash: Make a spending budget for the day, and save up the cash ahead of time to pay for all your purchases. Don’t spend more than you had planned!
Make sure the stores don’t have advance Black Friday deals: Some stores will give you the Black Friday price on the item ahead of time, they start the sales earlier in the week. If you can avoid going to the store on the big day, do it! Some stores also have rewards programs and members will sometimes get a preview shopping event and get Black Friday prices earlier in the week! (for example, Sears does this)
See if the item is available online too: Some stores will have Black Friday deals on their websites as well, so if you can get the deal online and avoid the store, go for it!
Go on a reconnaissance mission: If you’re looking for an item that’s going to be extremely popular, you may even want to go to the store ahead of time and scout out the location of the item so you know where to go. Be careful, however, as some stores will place Black Friday deals throughout the store, so make sure to get that store’s Black Friday sales plan layout.
Go with a friend.. or two: If you’re looking for more than one big ticket item, you may want to go to the store with the friend so you can wait in separate lines and get both of the items you wanted.
Bring some snacks: If you plan on waiting in line for a long time Friday morning, bring along some snacks, and maybe even some coffee (but don’t go overboard or you may lose your spot on line when you go to use the restroom!)
Figure out if you need a voucher for big items: Some stores will hand out vouchers to people in line for more popular or big ticket items to avoid a scramble once the doors open. Find out if your items need a voucher at that store, and if so, make sure to be in line super early.
So start planning for your big shopping day today, and you’ll be sure to get the deals that you wanted and save on your Christmas shopping, unlike those poor slobs like me who just show up!
Cyber Monday Is Great For Deals Too!
If you don’t get the deal you wanted on Black Friday, don’t worry. Cyber Monday – the Monday after Black Friday – also has a ton of great deals, mainly at online stores. Checking the sites linked above will also give you access to a lot of the best online deals to be found then.
Also, remember that while Black Friday has a lot of hype surrounding it, it isn’t always the best time to buy certain items.
When you do finally get around to buying the things you want, make sure you’re taking advantage of all available discounts to get the best possible deal! Also, remember, you can always go the route of buying or making frugal Christmas gifts for your family as well!
Have your own Black Friday shopping tips? Tell us what they are in the comments!
By Melissa1 Comment – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited November 18, 2016.
279 Shares
It’s November. November!
Life is busy and full now, but I know after Thanksgiving, life will hit full on crazy because our family schedule will be so busy.
Is Your Busy Day As Busy As You Think?
Every night, I crash into bed and think of how busy my day was. How I didn’t get done all of the many things I wanted to do.
For instance, one of my goals this year is to make 12 homemade Christmas presents for my family. I set this goal in January and figured I’d make one present a month. Manageable, right? Now that it’s November, I should theoretically have 10 Christmas presents completed.
Guess how many I do have completed?
One.
Yep, just one.
But even though I have this supposed time shortage, I have time to check Facebook several times a day for five to twenty minutes at a shot.
Making Christmas presents with supplies I have on hand will save me a lot of money come December. But I’m not making the presents. I’m too busy checking Facebook.
My day is busy, sure, but I’m making it busier by wasting my precious time throughout the day.
Can you relate? Likely you can, as “CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the average US consumer spends 40 minutes on Facebook per day” (Business Insider).
Common Time Sucks
The problem with our hyper-connected society is that there are so many ways to waste time. There is Facebook, as we’ve already mentioned, and all the many other social media platforms—Twitter, Periscope, Pinterest, YouTube, etc. Don’t forget blogs and online games as distractions.
With smartphones, you don’t have to limit wasting your time to home; you can waste your time on the go, too.
But it’s not just electronics that waste our time.
How cluttered is your house? How much time do you waste just looking for things?
Our house is much more cluttered than I would like, so I waste a lot of time looking for things. Today my husband and daughter spent 10 minutes looking for her school folder. Last weekend I spent 20 minutes looking for the cord to our external hard drive. I still have not found it, and because I can’t access what I need on there, I had to waste time recreating what is already on the hard drive. That sucked another 60 minutes of my time.
Simple Schedule Changes Can Help You Save Or Make Money
Now that I’m aware of how much time I’m really wasting, I’ve decided to make changes. I’ve set a schedule to check Facebook once in the morning and once at night. I cannot spend more than 10 minutes total. I’m also on a mission to declutter the house once and for all (and maybe even make a little money).
By not checking Facebook throughout the day, but only twice a day, I will easily have another 20 to 30 minutes in my day. There are roughly seven weeks until Christmas. Seven weeks times 30 minutes a day is 1,470 minutes or 24.5 hours!! I could very easily complete all of my homemade Christmas presents in that time and save myself a bundle of money.
There is nothing wrong with relaxing in the evening, after you’re already tired and unproductive, to read your favorite blog or look through Facebook. But when those things take up our time during our most productive hours, we must admit that we’re not as busy as we think. If we make smarter choices with the use of our time, we’ll have more opportunities to both make and save money.
Have you taken the time to observe how much time you waste during the day? Are you as shocked as I am about the amount of wasted time in your day? If you changed your habits and created more time by limiting distractions, how could you save or make more money?
*This article may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
One of the topics I keep coming back to on Bible Money Matters is the idea of finding ways to cut your regular recurring expenses. One of the big ways that we’ve saved was by cutting our mobile phone costs and home phone costs.
We cut our mobile phone bills substantially by moving to a no-contract cell phone provider several years ago. My wife and I both switched to Virgin Mobile pre-paid cell service. We’ve saved hundreds over the years by making the switch from our old traditional contract provider.
My wife has recently been complaining about how her old smartphone just isn’t working very well anymore. The GPS never seems to work despite being on, it’s always running out of storage and it’s just too slow and old to run some of the newest apps.
Since she isn’t on a contract I decided to see if we could find a better deal on a phone and plan than the one we’re on with Virgin Mobile – a $35/month plan that gets her basically all she needs. One provider that keeps coming up when I research low cost no contract cell providers is Republic Wireless. They have plans as low as $15/month! Today I thought I’d do a quick post talking about Republic Wireless, who they are, what they have to offer and how you can use them to save.
Save With Republic Wireless
Republic Wireless History
Republic Wireless is a wireless communications service provider and subsidiary of Bandwidth. Bandwidth is an internet and telephone service provider co-founded in 1999 by CEO David Morken in his spare bedroom. Morken is an avowed capitalist, but also is outspoken about his Christian faith, and he talks about how his Christian values help to inform the company’s focus on integrity and service:
It’s amazing when you can have an economic alignment with a service orientation and a service heart. You don’t just tell the truth because it’s going to have an economic benefit, you have to tell the truth when it’s going to cause economic harm as well.
Bandwidth’s expertise is in telephony and VOIP services, so a consumer focused VOIP cell service like Republic Wireless was a natural outgrowth of the company.
Republic Wireless was created in January of 2010 and first launched as a private beta service in November of 2011 with 2 available smartphones. A year later in 2012 they launched an open public beta. Finally in November of 2013 they came out of their beta testing period and began offering several calling plans ranging anywhere from $5/month to $40/month depending on the level of service you buy. As of September of 2017 they will have 8 smartphone options available to purchase on their store. They range from the high end Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge ($599) to the mid level Moto G4 ($179) all the way to the entry-level Moto E ($99).
Republic Wireless is an MVNO for the Sprint and T-Mobile networks depending on which plan you’re on, so they’ll have the same coverage as Sprint or T-Mobile. What sets them apart, however, is their new “Hybrid Calling” techonology that allows you to make phone calls over WiFi, or if WiFi isn’t available, via the cell networks as normal phones do. You’re even able to do mid-call handoff from calls started in WiFi, and pass it over to the cell networks with no call interruption.
Republic’s idea is to use WiFi data whenever possible to make cell service more affordable, since cellular data costs so much more to use. Here’s how they describe their service.
Our mission at Republic Wireless is simple: to make enjoying the features of a smartphone more affordable and accessible for everyone. Through Hybrid Calling technology (that’s WiFi + cellular), we’re able to offer our customers remarkable mobile service plans at unheard of rates. You see, WiFi is cheap and plentiful while cellular (especially data) is more scarce and much more expensive. By relying on our members to use the cheap and plentiful WiFi wherever it’s available, we’re making great progress on our mission—delivering a mind blowing total cost of ownership that’s leaving a lot of folks scratching their heads (happily!).
When the service first started I heard a lot of complaints about call quality, and problems handing off calls from WiFi to cell networks. Most of the more recent reviews I’ve read, however, have been much more positive about the quality of service.
Republic Wireless – How It Works
Making calls over WiFi is much more affordable for the wireless communications provider, so what Republic Wireless has created is a more affordable way to have cell service.
Their Hybrid Calling technology allows them to offer more affordable plans than many other providers just by giving WiFi calling priority over the cell calling. So if WiFi is available where you are, your call will be routed over the WiFi networks, and if it’s not, then calls will go over the Sprint or T-Mobile cell network (or Verizon’s network if Sprint is not available).
The more prevalent WiFi is where you typically go, the more likely you will be to choose one of their WiFi only plans, and save a ton of money!
What Phones Can I Get?
Currently there are 8 phones available for Republic Wireless, The Moto E4, Moto E4 Plus, Moto G5 plus, Huawei AScend 5W, Moto G4, Moto Z Play, Moto Z and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. Available phones are always subject to change, and often do. Go to the Republic Wireless site via the link below to see current options.
View Current Phones @ Republic Wireless
So what do you get with each of the phones?
Motorola Moto E4 – $99: This phone sports a 5″ HD display, with 16 GB of internal memory, 2 GB of RAM, 2800 mAh removable battery and a MicroSD slot.
Motorola Moto E4 Plus – $199: This phone has a 5.5″ HD display, with 32 GB of internal memory, 2 GB of RAM, 5000 mAh rapid charging battery and a MicroSD slot.
Motorola Moto G5 plus – $299: This phone has a 5.2″ HD display, with 32/64 GB of internal memory, 2/4 GB of RAM, 3000 mAh rapid charging battery and a MicroSD slot.
Huawei AScend 5W – $149: This phone has a 5.5″ HD display, with 16 GB of internal memory, 2 GB of RAM, 3000 mAh battery and a MicroSD slot.
Motorola Moto G4 – $179: This phone has a 5.5″ HD display, with 16/32 GB of internal memory, 2 GB of RAM, 3000 mAh Turbo Charge battery and a MicroSD slot.
Motorola Moto Z Play – $349: This phone has a 5.5″ AMOLED HD display, with 32 GB of internal memory, 3 GB of RAM, 3510 mAh 50 hr battery and a MicroSD slot expandable up to 200GB.
Motorola Moto Z – $499: This phone has a 5.5″ HD display, with 64 GB of internal memory, 4 GB of RAM, 2600 mAh battery and a MicroSD slot expandable up to 200GB.
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge – $599: This phone has a 5.5″ Quad HD display, with 32 GB of internal memory, 4 GB of RAM, 3600 mAh 33 hr battery with wireless charging and a MicroSD slot expandable up to 200GB.
Here is an unboxing video of our older Moto X that we received a while back (which is no longer sold, but you can still find used).
[embedded content]
View this video on YouTube
When it comes down to it, all of their phones are going to be good phones, it just comes down to how much speed, memory and other bells and whistles that you want. The faster the processor, the more memory and better display, the more the phone will cost.
Available Monthly Plans
So what are the plans that are currently available on the Republic Wireless network?
Here are the new calling plans on the new Republic Wireless 3.0 plans:
The plan that most people use is the unlimited talk & text + 1GB of LTE data for just $20.
It is an amazing deal, and $5 cheaper than their old Republic Wireless 2.0 1GB data plan!
They do have a bunch of other calling plans, however. The plans start at a $15/month for a plan with no data, all the way up to a $90/month 10GB plan:
$15 Unlimited Talk, Text, and WiFi Data
$20 Unlimited Talk, Text, and WiFi Data + 1GB of Cell Data
$30 Unlimited Talk, Text, and WiFi Data + 2GB of Cell Data
$45 Unlimited Talk, Text, and WiFi Data + 4GB of Cell Data
$60 Unlimited Talk, Text, and WiFi Data + 6GB of Cell Data
$90 Unlimited Talk, Text, and WiFi Data + 10GB of Cell Data
Depending on how much data you use in a typical month, or if you use data at all, the service can be extremely affordable. I know some people that don’t really use data that go with the $15/month plan, while others like me who use a small amount of data can go with the $20/month plan.
Switch Your Plan Up To 2X Per Month At No Extra Charge
One nice feature that Republic Wireless offers is the ability to switch your monthly plan up to twice per month. This will come in handy, for example, if you’re traveling one month and want to have more 4G LTE data access available on your phone.
So let’s say you’re on the $15/month plan with no cell data, and you want to switch your plan (right from your phone if you want!) to the $30/month 2GB data plan while you travel. You can switch it while you’re traveling, and then when you come back switch it back to the more affordable plan again.
How is it charged? You’ll pay the daily rate for each plan, for the days that you use it. So for the $15 plan you’d pay about $.50 a day, while the $30/month plan would be about $1 a day. Just figure out how many days of the month on each plan you used and you’ll figure out what your charges for that month will be. Piece of cake, and a great way to save!
Check Out Plans @ Republic Wireless
Pros & Cons
What are the pros and cons of cell service with Republic Wireless? Here are a few:
Pros
Low cost – affordable: Depending on your needs your service will be anywhere from $15-$45/month. Much cheaper than the average $96/month phone bill (according to J.D. Power).
Ability to switch plans up to 2x per month: If you want to switch your plan with Republic, for example, if you’re traveling and want to have 4G data access, you can do that up to 2x per month. So you can be on the $5 plan, and switch to the $40/month plan for the month – and then switch back.
Good phones available: The Samsung Galaxy S7 has received rave reviews and by all accounts it’s a great phone. The other phones that are available are good mid and entry level smartphones as well.
Roaming on other networks available: If you don’t have a T-Mobile tower in your area, the service will roam on another network for voice calls at no added cost.
Make calls on WiFi – even in your basement!: If you typically can’t make cell phone calls in your basement, or at your job – as long as you’ve got a WiFi signal you can now make calls!
Unlimited talk, text, data: All of the plans will give you unlimited talk, text and data if you’re on WiFi. You can also get unlimited talk and text via cell networks on the $15-45/month plans. No worries about going over your minutes or text limit!
Make international calls, as long as you have good WiFi: I remember paying through the nose for calling cards when my family took a cruise a few years back. Now, as long as you have WiFi you can make calls to the U.S., even if you’re overseas.
Port your existing number: You can port your existing phone number to the service as long as it’s compatible. Be sure to check beforehand, I did and my number is available to port.
30 day trial: You can try the phone for a no risk 30 day trial. Just be sure to read the caveats (like not opening accessories if you’re not sure you want to keep the phone, and that you’ll have to pay a $10 shipping charge).
Cons
Limited phone choices: There are currently only a limited number of phones you can buy on the Republic Wireless site. They are all great phones, but if you want something different like an iPhone for an example, you’re out of luck. Thankfully they do have some “bring your own phone” options as well.
Occasional phone service hiccups in WiFi/cell handoffs: Some people have noticed hiccups when moving from a WiFi connection to cell connection. This seems to have improved, however, and most people don’t have issues with this.
No short code support: As of this writing there is no support for short code messaging – in other words sending messages to 4-6 digit numbers services. (Example: text 32456 for a listing of movies) This is being changed however, and they anticipate support for short codes to be added soon. UPDATE: Republic Wireless announced on October 10th, 2014 that there is now support for short codes. One more thing to scratch off the cons list!
Overall Republic Wireless is a great non contract cell service option. It ends up being cheaper than most of the other services that I’ve looked into, and if you have good WiFi coverage like I do, it can be considerably cheaper. I’d definitely recommend checking it out if you’re looking to cut an out of control cell phone bill.
Are you using Republic Wireless? How has the service worked for you? How much are you saving?
Find out more about the service and sign up via the link below.
More Details About Republic Wireless
Moble Virtual Network Operator (MVNO)
Mobile Network
Minimum Plan Price
Free Tethering
Review
Gen Mobile
Sprint
$5 (Unlimited Text – No Talk, No Data) $10 (300 Min Talk & Unlimited Text – 1GB Data) Discounts if prepaid for 3 months.
Yes
Review
Tello
Sprint
$5 (100 Min Talk & Unlimited Text – No Data)
Yes
Review
Twigby
Sprint, Verizon Wireless
$9 (300 Min Talk & Unlimited Text – No Data)
Yes
Review
Ting
Sprint, T-Mobile
$9 (100 Min Talk & No Text – No Data)
Yes
Review
Red Pocket Mobile
Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile US, Sprint
$10 (500 Min Talk & 500 Text – 500 MB Data)
Yes
Republic Wireless
Sprint, T-Mobile
$15 (Unlimited Talk & Text – No Data)
Yes
Review
Mint Mobile
T-Mobile
$15 (Unlimited Talk & Text – 3GB Data) If prepaid for 1 year. Prepay in 3,6, 12 month increments. Buy 3 Months, Get 3 Free)
Yes
Review
Unreal Mobile
AT&T
$15 (Unlimited Talk & Text – 3GB Data). Prepay in 3,6, 12 month increments.
Yes
Review
TracFone
Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile US, Sprint, U.S. Cellular
$15 (200 Min Talk & 500 Text – 500 MB Data) If put on auto-renew save 5%.
No
Google FI
T-Mobile, Sprint, U.S. Cellular
$20 (Unlimited Talk & Text – No Data)
Yes
Total Wireless
Verizon Wireless
$23.70 (Unlimited Talk & Text – No Data) $25 without auto-pay.