SAVING CENTSABLY: How do you afford all that?
Many times people see me and ask, "How did you buy that?" Sometimes people equate frugality to "going without," and they are surprised to find that my family might have some luxuries or experiences that frugal people sometimes do without.
One thing I have learned through savings-minded spending in the last eight years is that frugal doesn't always mean having to say "no." Frugal usually means finding a better way to do the spending!
Satellite Radio: How do you afford that?
I pay about $50 per year for satellite radio for my van. How does that happen? I refuse to like it too much. Meaning, when it comes time for the renewal, I refuse to pay full price for a membership. Until the operator drops the price to meet my plan for spending on this luxury, I refuse to get too attached!
I often hear people talk about the amounts they pay for satellite radio, especially because it is on the automatic renewal program. Don't buy into that. Decide to pay less and stick to that plan. Don't wait until the renewal comes for you to get out from under that pricey contract. Cancel now, and you will be surprised that the operator you speak with will do everything possible to drop your subscription rate to an affordable level.
Magazines: How do you afford so many magazine subscriptions for the people in your family?
Currently, we receive Smithsonian Magazine, Florida Fishing Magazine, Field & Stream, Alaska Magazine, American Art Magazine, Flying, Plane & Pilot Magazine, Popular Science, Western Horseman, Horse & Rider, Woman's Day, Better Homes & Gardens, Everyday with Rachael Ray, Weight Watchers Magazine and more. Those are just the ones I can name off the top of my head.
How much have I paid to receive those? Not one single penny. We use them so our children can learn about things in which they are interested. We cut them up in our home-school classroom. We donate them to hospitals and doctor's offices to replace worn out magazines in the waiting rooms.
We pay nothing for them. Get registered with www.freebizmag.com or www.freetrademagazines.com. Give both of these companies your email address and you will begin receiving offers for digital and paper copy magazines. Your mailbox will be full and so will your wallet -- because you won't be paying for any of them, either!
New clothes for the kids: How do you keep up with all those children and their "growing" without going broke?
Thrift stores! At one time we had access to many consignment sales in the Atlanta area. However, now that we live in Savannah, it has been more than a year since I have had the opportunity to shop at a consignment sale. Do you think my kids have grown in the last year? You better believe it!
Where do I buy their clothing? Goodwill, Salvation Army and independent thrift stores. It takes a little hunting, and there are times when we leave a store empty-handed, but that's how it happens at our house. We donate to thrift stores and we buy from thrift stores.
Computers for all those kids: How do you afford that?
If you spotted my children doing their online school work while we were out and about, you would spot a lot of laptops and at least a couple would have the famous Apple logo on them. How do we afford those? We buy used, and even refurbished, laptops from places like www.MacofAllTrades.com.
If have learned -- over several years and some awful buying experiences -- that Apple computers last longer and work more reliably for our schoolwork than do PC laptops, I'll keep on shopping like this when it comes to our technology needs.
Being frugal does not mean going without. Frugality requires that we all think differently about how to spend the money we have. Sometimes frugality means putting off a purchase for a week or two -- or a month or more -- so that we can afford it. Redefining frugality can mean we get the things we want -- and need -- without clearing out our wallets!
Contact writer Rachael Mercer at savingcentsably@gmail.com
This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 8:16 PM.