This guest post from Shelley Turner is part of the “reader stories” feature at Get Rich Slowly. Some stories contain general advice; others are examples of how a GRS reader achieved financial success — or failure. These stories feature folks from all levels of financial maturity and with all sorts of incomes.
They’re coming! Like it or not, the holidays — and all the stress of buying the Perfect Gift — are just around the corner. I actually like brainstorming gift ideas, and have been told I’m pretty good at it. Today I’ll share my secrets with you.
The best gifts are appropriate for the recipient, yet don’t cost a small fortune. You want your gift to say “I know what you like”, not “I didn’t have a clue of what to get you for a gift for but here it is anyway”. I once received a leopard-hair belt. Anybody who knows me, or has seen how I dress, understands that there’s never been (nor ever will be) a time that I’d wear a leopard-hair belt. A gift like that screams “I just bought you something because I had to”.
Gift-giving ground rules Before you buy, take a few minutes to think about what your recipient has in her house or on her desk, what she spends her time doing, what she likes to talk about, where she likes to eat, and even what she keeps in her refrigerator. Even if you don’t know her that well, this exercise will help you get some ideas of what the recipient likes.
I’m not a collector, so I prefer practical and useful gifts. However, if your gift recipient is a collector, that’s a perfect opportunity. Even if his collection is filled with expensive items, you can often find a small token within that collection that you could give him. The trick to buying a great gift for somebody, no matter what the occasion, is to buy what your recipient would enjoy — not what you’d enjoy.
Often, a consumable gift that provides momentary pleasure and then disappears is best, especially around the holidays when people usually get many gifts. Consumables can be given, enjoyed, and remembered without becoming Stuff.
My husband’s 90-year-old grandmother is a perfect example. What can you give a 90-year-old woman who already has everything she wants and needs? Not much. However, I know she really enjoys a good cup of coffee. And I found some European butter cookies and a some jars of preserves made in her native Denmark. I give her this same gift every year. She tells me she waits eagerly for our gift because not only does she enjoy consuming it during the winter, but because it’s a small reminder of her home country.
Inexpensive gift ideas No matter which gift you choose, if it’s something your recipient uses over and over, you can give a great gift without spending too much. Here are some of my favorite inexpensive gift ideas. These have all been well-received and cost less than $20. You can tailor the gift idea to fit your budget. Some of these can be used as hostess gifts for holiday parties you may be attending.
Personalized note cards
A book by her favorite author
Monogrammed wine stoppers
Travel journal
Engraved metal bookmark
Monogrammed soap bars
Bread basket with quick bread or muffin mix inside
Dog or cat breed-specific items — calendars, notepads, keychains, etc. of their pet
Cookbook (specific subjects like fondue, vegetarian, appetizers, etc or you could get a book representing their hometown like the Chesapeake Bay, etc.)
Personalized insulated tote-style lunch bag (put his favorite snack inside)
Sports team items — pick her favorite team mug, hat, t-shirt, scarf, etc. (fill a mug with her favorite hard candy)
Gourmet chocolate bars tied with ribbon or raffia
Favorite bubble bath & bath pillow
Wallet with gift cards or cash inside
Amaryllis or Paperwhite bulb package
Old-fashioned jar filled with favorite candy or snack
Hand-made soap with an interesting soap dish
Handmade crocheted or knitted scarf or hat
BBQ sauces, hot sauces, grilling rubs, etc (some have funny labels)
Ice cream dish with favorite topping
Decorative candy bowl with favorite candy
Ornament representing current hobby
Charm to add to an existing charm bracelet
T-shirt from favorite restaurant
Crabtree & Evelyn hand therapy (super-rich hand cream)
Nice colored pencils and/or sketch notebook for artists
Small decorative bowl and package of dip mix
Hand towels with initials embroidered (especially if newly married)
Here are a few more ideas with a bit of explanation:
Magazine subscription (hundreds of subjects to choose from — and you can give crossword puzzle and comic book subscriptions too). Buy the current issue and put a note on it that you got him a one-year subscription.
Lolita glasses are painted wine, beer, or margarita glass that have themes painted on them based on hobbies. There’s a recipe painted on the bottom of each glass too.
Year of Napkins! This requires advance planning, but makes a unique gift for a very reasonable price. For each holiday throughout the year (plus Happy Birthday), pick up one pack of luncheon-sized napkins. When you’ve collected all the holidays, package them in order of the holidays in small CD crates, baskets, etc. Usually you can find the napkins in the clearance section right after the holiday. Decide how many of these you want to put together in advance so you can buy as many as you need during each holiday.
Remember that you can also go in with others to purchase bigger gifts, such as theater tickets, cooking classes, and other “experiences”. If you’re very organized, you can shop all year and pick up interesting gifts along the way. My sister-in-law has a birthday in January, but I often find stuff she’ll love in the summer, so I buy it and keep it until her birthday.
Check the clearance racks all year to get even better deals. Unless you really enjoy going shopping the week before Christmas, you may find that buying gifts ahead of time will not only save you money, but also make the holiday season a little more relaxing, as well.
Reminder: Another way to save money on gifts is to make them yourself. Here’s a list of 34 great homemade Christmas gifts almost anyone can put together. And over at The Simple Dollar, Trent has been documenting his own quest for family-produced Christmas presents.
A note on packaging When packaging your gifts, you’re not stuck using a gift bag or plain wrapping paper unless you want to. Tulle (that material used to tie up rice/birdseed to throw at weddings) is great for wrapping unusually-shaped items, such as the bowls & dip mixes, candy bowls & jars, ice cream dishes, bottles of hot sauces, soap, etc. It’s really inexpensive to purchase by the yard, comes in many colors, and your recipient can see what you gave her without unwrapping it. Tulle is especially good for hostess gifts so they don’t have to open them upon receipt.
Some other tips:
Magazines roll up perfectly in those tall wine bottle bags.
Chinese-food boxes and small tin buckets are inexpensive and fun to use.
Bread baskets work nicely to hold all kinds of items and they can reuse the basket later.
When packaging your gifts, use your imagination!
Gift giving can be fun — if you allow yourself to be creative and take a few minutes to think about your recipient. The bottom line: If he’ll enjoy it, it’s a great gift for him!
Last Updated: March 17, 2022 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner – 51 Comments
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Right now, you are probably thinking, “saving money is NOT fun.”
However, I want to tell you that you are wrong!
Yep, wrong.
Maybe you don’t nerd out as much as I do when it comes to saving money, but there are plenty of ways to learn how to make saving money fun. Learning to have fun saving money is always a good idea, because it can help you save more money.
So many people get tired of paying off debt and saving money, because it can feel so monotonous or they just lack the motivation.
This is why I believe the best way to save money is to learn how to make saving money fun. This can help keep you motivated and interested in saving money.
Below are some great tips on how to make saving money fun. Enjoy!
Challenge yourself.
Challenging yourself to save more money is great, because it can help keep your financial goal on your mind and keep you motivated.
Some ways you can challenge yourself to make saving money fun include:
Take part in the $20 Savings Challenge and save over $1,000 easily.
Challenge yourself to beat spending areas you constantly struggle with. You could try to spend less money on gas, food, utilities, and more.
Whenever you do spend money on a “want,” you can put that same amount of money into your savings account. So, if you buy a $35 clothing item, then you need to also put $35 towards savings or debt. This will make things seem much more expensive, so you are likely to spend less!
Take part in a no spend challenge. Read more about this in the section below.
Related tip: I recommend checking out my PrizePool review. PrizePool is a new type of savings account where you can win one of the over 15,000 cash prizes totaling $50,000 every month simply by saving your money in a savings account. One lucky winner will get the $25,000 Grand Prize out of this guaranteed PrizePool each and every month. PrizePool savings accounts are FDIC insured too.
Take part in a no spend challenge.
To some people, a no spend challenge may not be the most fun thing in the world. However, they can be a great way to let your creative side come out, because you will have to make do with what you already have.
You can do a challenge where you don’t buy any clothing, pantry food items, coffee, gas, and so on.
Now, you may be wondering how a no spend challenge can help you, so here’s how:
No spend challenges can prevent impulse spending.
You will find use in the items you already have.
A no spend challenge can motivate a person.
It can make you aware of your spending problems.
It can help you declutter and prevent waste.
Read further at The Power Of A No Spend Challenge.
Compete with others.
You can even go a step further by making it a challenge between you and someone else. You can turn it into a fun challenge between your friends, family members, or coworkers.
Think of this as similar to when a person has a weight loss buddy. By having someone rooting you on, who is also going through both the good and bad times, you may be more likely to reach your financial goals.
You can compete with others to see who can save the most money, who can go the longest without buying a certain item, who can pay off debt first, and more.
Read personal finance blogs.
I’m not just saying this because Making Sense of Cents is a personal finance blog.
I truly believe that reading personal finance blogs can help keep you interested in saving money. Personal finance blogs are great for seeing how other real people are doing with their financial goals, to introduce you to things you haven’t thought of, and for possibly joining a community of others who have similar goals as yours.
Related: How To Save Money
Make your financial goal visual.
Making your goal visual is a great way to find motivation and make saving money fun.
Having your financial goal displayed in front of you can make it that much more real, plus it’s nice to have a constant reminder of what you’re working towards.
Various ways to make your financial goal visual include:
Create a graphic that demonstrates your financial goal. An example of this would work for something like paying off your house. You could have a picture of a house and section it into 100 pieces. Then, each time you reach a small payoff goal, you can color a piece in. I did some research and found a blog post on A Cultivated Nest about many other creative ways to do this.
Keep a picture of your goal on hand. Whether your goal is a vacation, your dream home, an item you want, or something else, having a picture will keep you reminded of it. You could even go all out and create a vision board on Pinterest or on a poster board.
Start a blog. Blogging greatly helped me with my financial goals, because I could easily look back to see how I was doing, and the blogging community was very supportive. Plus, I felt like I had to keep myself accountable and kept improving because everything was public. If interested, you can start a blog for cheap with my easy tutorial.
Find ways to have frugal fun.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy your life while staying on a realistic budget.
In fact, I believe that many of the great ways to have fun are free or affordable. We spend hardly any money within our entertainment budget each month and still have a great time filled with new experiences. Just check out my Instagram if you don’t believe me!
You can have frugal fun by:
Mystery shopping, while it won’t make you rich, it can be an easy way to earn free meals at restaurants, free outings, free hotel stays, and more.
Take advantage of happy hours.
Sign up for email lists. You can earn valuable coupons, free visits, and more by doing this.
Visit the library.
Churn credit cards so you can travel for cheap, earn free cash, gift cards, and more. Read How I’ve Earned Over $2,500 in Credit Card Rewards in 2015 for more information.
Go outside for a bike ride, hike, walk, run, swim, and more.
Volunteer at events. Many events and festivals need volunteers. This may allow you free admission when you are done with your job!
Find free attractions in your city. In some cities, there might be free visits to the zoo, museums, concerts, and more.
Are you interested in learning how to make saving money fun? What do you think is the best way to save money?
P.S. Here are some ways to make saving money a little easier:
If you are looking for a cheap cell phone service, check out Republic Wireless. Republic Wireless is a service I’ve been using for over one year now, and I’m still happy with the service. They have monthly cell phone plans as low as $5 per month. Read Saving Over $2,000 A Year With Republic Wireless Review.
Negotiate any bills that you have such as phone, internet, etc.
Use a programmable thermostat so that you can heat and cool your home efficiently and more affordably.
Sign up for a website like Ebates where you can earn CASH BACK for just spending like how you normally would online. The service is free too! Plus, when you sign up through my link, you also receive a free $10 gift card bonus to Macys, Walmart, Target, or Kohls!
Eliminate your cable bill. Buy a digital antenna (this is the exact one we have) and enjoy free TV – this is what we do!
If you have trouble eating at home, then try out $5 Meal Plan. They send meal plans directly to your email. It’s a service that I personally use and me and my husband love it!
Refinance your student loans. I recommend Credible for student loan refinancing. You can lower the interest rate on your student loans significantly by using Credible which may help you shave thousands off your student loan bill over time.
Earn side money from home easily, by taking surveys. This can earn you cash, gift cards, free items, and more so that you can spend less money! Survey companies I recommend include American Consumer Opinion, Survey Junkie, Pinecone Research, Opinion Outpost, and Harris Poll Online. They’re free to join and free to use! You get paid to answer surveys and to test products. It’s best to sign up for as many as you can as that way you can receive the most surveys and make the most money.
As you all know, I believe that earning more money is the best way to save money.
We may primarily focus on airline loyalty programmes and air miles here at TPG but there are a ton of other money-saving loyalty programmes that we also love and help us save money and maximise our travel adventures.
There are dozens of U.K. loyalty schemes out there – of which the Tesco Clubcard and the cross-retailer Nectar card are among the best known.
Both of the above work for travellers who use points and miles, albeit in different ways (their points earned from the loyalty programmes can be converted to Virgin Points and Avios respectively) – but there are other loyalty cards and programmes out there that have similar potential, if sometimes small, benefits for holidaymakers. The key thing to remember is that everything is cumulative, and even the smallest reward can eventually add up.
Here are a handful of loyalty programmes that may be worth signing up for, helping you earn on everyday spending, such as grocery shopping, buying toiletries, or even filling up your car with a tank of petrol.
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Tesco Clubcard
(Photo by Jason Alden/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
Good for: Collecting Virgin Points, earning points on everyday spending, and getting discounts on select items in your weekly food shop Sign up here: Tesco
Tesco Clubcard is perhaps one of the best-known loyalty schemes in Britain– you can read TPG U.K.’s full guide here.
Though you can no longer transfer Clubcard points into Avios (its partnership with BA ended in early 2021), you can turn £1.50 of Clubcard vouchers into 375 Virgin Points, to boost your Virgin Atlantic Flying Club total. Essentially, you can get 2.5 Virgin points for every one Clubcard point.
So, how do you earn Clubcard points? Once you’ve got the card (or have it attached to your online account), you just do your usual grocery shopping at Tesco, picking up one Clubcard point for every £1 you spend. If you drive, fill up your car with fuel at Tesco and earn one point for every £2 spent. Once you’ve earned a certain amount of points, they’ll be collected into Clubcard vouchers, which you can then transfer into Virgin Points. Simple, really.
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Another benefit for Clubcard holders is that it can help save cash on shopping if they keep an eagle eye out for Clubcard Prices (reductions in prices) and various offers, both in-store and online.
Finally, if you’re keen to rack up even more Clubcard points, there is the Tesco Clubcard Credit Card –a no-fee Mastercard (alas with no signing bonus) that offers points for every transaction over a certain amount. Namely, you’ll get five points per £4 spent at Tesco supermarkets, five points for every £4 spent on fuel at Tesco, plus one point per £8 you spend at other shops and retailers. This is on top of the one point per £1 you’ll get from scanning your card, or shopping online.
Say you spend £100 a week (or £400 a month) at Tesco on your family’s food shopping, that’s 400 points (from your loyalty card) and 500 (from your credit card), totalling 900 Tesco Clubcard points, a £9 voucher or 2,250 Virgin Points per month.
Nectar
Good for: Collecting Avios, earning points on everyday purchases and regular food shopping. Sign up here: Nectar
If you’re an Avios collector, then it’s definitely worth also getting a Nectar account. If you’re yet to sign up, you can read TPG U.K.’s full guide here.
Similar to the Tescon Clubcard you can earn Nectar points on everyday transactions. 400 Nectar points can be transferred into 250 Avios, meaning your everyday shopping can contribute to your points-funded dream trip. Until 16 November you can also transfer Avios back to Nectar points at this same rate (250 Avios to 400 Nectar points), after this date this conversion rate will change so you need to convert 300 Avios to get 400 Nectar points. The Nectar to Avios conversion however will remain (for now) set at 400 Nectar points for 250 Avios.
The easiest ways to collect Nectar are to shop at Sainsbury’s (where many purchases, including fuel, will earn you one Nectar point for every £1 spent), as well as at Sainsbury’s Bank, Esso, Argos, Very, even eBay on eligible items. You can also earn by spending with Booking.com, British Airways, DFDS, Expedia and Nectar Hotels (plus more brands, listed on the Nectar website).
To amplify your Nectar-collecting ability, there’s also the Nectar American Express Credit Card, which has a £0 annual fee in the first year (£25 from year two), offers a bonus of 20,000 Nectar points (when you spend £2,000 in the first three months) and a friend referral bonus of 5,000 Nectar points.
Spending on this card gives you two Nectar points per £1 spent on virtually all purchases, but you’ll earn three points per £1 on purchases at Sainsbury’s, Argos and other Nectar partners — as you can double dip for that third point with your loyalty card. Say you spend £100 a week (or £400 a month) at Sainsbury’s on your family’s shopping, that’s around 4,800 Nectar points or 3,000 Avios earned per month.
Related: The ultimate guide to British Airways Avios
Boots Advantage Card
Good for: Buying travel essentials, earning points on regular purchases Sign up here: Boots
With Boots Advantage Card, you collect four points for every £1 you spend in shops, online or via their app, meaning you’ll be racking up points every time you pick up toiletries, make-up, skincare or even a Boots meal deal.
Every point is worth 1p, meaning 1,000 points is £10 to spend. They quickly add up, and though you can’t use your points to get money off a purchase (only to wipe out the full amount), they may well come in handy for frequent travellers. Whether you travel by plane or train, you might find yourself in an airport or station Boots picking up some forgotten sunscreen, travel minis, flight socks, travel adapters, eye masks, or a disposable camera to document your trip… the list could go on.
A range of offers and discounts will be available to holders, too, potentially saving you a bit of money in the long run… though only if you aren’t tempted by sales prices, and only buy what you actually need.
Heathrow Rewards
Good for: Collecting Virgin Points, Avios or other airline rewards Sign up here: Heathrow
In a nutshell: if you spend a lot of time (and money) at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), then you’d be daft not to consider joining Heathrow Rewards.
Generally speaking, you get one point per £1 spent at the airport, as well as one point for every £10 spent at Travelex exchanging money, with a sign-up bonus of 100 points. You’ll even get extra points when you splash out on expensive items from the airport’s designer shops.
You can transfer your points (at a 1:1 rate) to either Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, into Avios points for use with British Airways, as well as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Emirates Skywards, among others. Check out our guide to Heathrow Rewards for the full list.
Related: The best points and miles promotions running right now
Superdrug Health & Beautycard
Good for: Buying travel essentials, earning points on regular purchases Sign up here: Superdrug
Similarly to Boots’ Advantage Card, Superdrug has its own rewards scheme called the Health & Beautycard, which could be useful for travellers in need of a few essentials such as travel toiletries, skincare products, vitamins, etc.
You’ll earn one point per £1 spent, with 100 points equating to £1 to spend in-store – though crucially you can use your points to pay for part of a purchase if you prefer. You’ll also have the chance to earn extra points as you shop, with periods where quadruple points are on offer, as well as receive various offers and discounts.
BPme Rewards
Good for: Collecting Avios, getting money off travel products such as luggage and tech, and earning points on regular fuel top-ups Sign up here: BPme Rewards
Previously, petrol station BP’s rewards scheme was linked to Nectar, but it now runs its own programme called BPme Rewards.
Essentially, you can earn every time you top up your vehicle, wash your car or by nipping into a BP garage for a snack – snapping up two points for every one litre of Ultimate fuel, one point for every litre of regular fuel, and one point for every £1 spent in a BP shop or car wash.
So, how does this help holidaymakers? Well, you can convert 40 BPme points into 25 Avios (though note you can’t turn Avios into BPme points), with an upper limit of 30,000 BPme points being turned into Avios per day. An alternative might be saving them up for Amazon or Marks & Spencer gift cards, to be used for big travel-related purchases such as new luggage, camping gear, clothing, cameras or other handy tech.
Related: British Airways is launching a new wine club where you can earn up to 15 Avios for every £1 spent
Airtime Rewards
Good for: Saving money on your phone bill, earning cashback on everyday spending (even at stores without their own loyalty schemes). Sign up to the app: Airtime Rewards
Airtime Rewards is a bit of an outlier in this list, as though its app rewards you for shopping at around 150 retailers like a traditional loyalty scheme, the reward comes not in point form but as cashback — which can only be used for the specific, immovable purpose of knocking some money off your monthly phone bill.
All you need to do is check if your phone provider will actually let you get the money off your bill (O2, 3, EE, GiffGaff and Vodafone are signed up) and be willing to download the Airtime Rewards app and submit your debit or credit card details, allowing them to track your spending and automatically apply the discount to your account’s wallet when relevant (but P.S. it won’t work for American Express cards).
Retailers signed up to Airtime Rewards offer varying percentages of cashback on your purchases, which could be anything from 1% to as much as 8%. Popular retailers the app lists include Boots (5% back), Argos (2%), Wilko (3%), New Look (2%), Halfords (4%), Currys (1%) and Waterstones (6%). Foodies can get money back from Wagamama, Zizzi, YO! Sushi and Ocado, while people who utilise public transport can get 8% cashback on LNER Trains.
How much you save depends on how often you shop at retailers like these, but it all adds up – and could knock the odd £5 or £10 off your phone bill, perhaps even monthly, meaning more to save for your next getaway. Or to help with any unexpected roaming charges.
Red by Dufry
Good for: Discounts on duty-free shopping, lounge access and even hotels Sign up for the app here: Red by Dufry
Red by Dufry is the loyalty scheme for duty-free shopping at the airport, earning you points when you buy from Dufry shops – such as WorldDutyFree (which we have in the U.K.), ExpressDutyFree, Nuance (Asia, Europe and North America) and Hudson (U.S. and Canada), though tobacco purchases don’t count. You can use the discount and earn points at airport Michael Kors, Gap, Superdry, and Victoria’s Secret stores, too.
Sign up for the app and you’ll immediately get a Silver card (and QR code), which is scanned at checkout to earn five points per €1 EUR spent and get up to 5% off the price of your purchases. Other potential benefits, such as discounts on airport lounge access, various hotels, restaurants, museums and car rentals, are also worth exploring.
Over time, you can increase your discount. Once you’ve spent €400, you’ll have 2,000 and reach Gold status, giving you up to 7% discount – while spending €1,000 EUR gets you 5,000 points and up to 10% off your shopping with the Platinum card. A big bonus is that if your airport of choice is Heathrow, Dufry has confirmed you can also double dip and earn Heathrow Rewards at the same time as Red points – as well as redeem Heathrow Rewards as WorldDutyFree vouchers.
Related: Virgin Red vs BA Shopping: which one is most worth your time?
Waterstones Plus
Good for: Earning point on book purchases, and getting money off your travel guidebooks and holiday reads Sign up here: Waterstones
As far as rewards go, Waterstones Plus is relatively low stakes, but when it comes to maximising your travel, every pound saved is worth the effort. Particularly if you’re an avid reader, who can’t survive a long-haul plane journey without (at least) one book to delve into, need the latest holiday read for a day at the beach, or prefer exploring a new destination with a trusty guidebook in hand.
Simply, you get one Plus stamp for every £10 you spent in Waterstones shops, on the website or in its cafés. When you have 10 Plus stamps, you’ve got £10 to spend in-store. You might also get some useful offers. There’s an option for students, too, which offers the same stamps-to-cash scenario but adds a bumper 5% discount on most purchases.
Texaco Star Rewards
Good for: Earning points on regular fuel top-ups, and getting money off travel purchases such as luggage and tech Sign up here: Texaco Star Rewards
Another rewards scheme for drivers, petrol station Texaco’s offering – called Star Rewards – has another straightforward premise, with one litre of fuel purchased equaling one point. When you have 500 points, you’ve got £5 to spend, either with Texaco or by converting your points into vouchers that can be used with various retailers – plus you get a 200-point sign-up bonus.
Most notably for travellers, Texaco points can be converted into a Love2Shop voucher, which can pay for or be put towards online purchases at Argos, Currys PC World, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Sports Direct – potentially saving you money on travel purchases such as luggage, cameras, or even just some new shoes. You can also use a certain value of voucher towards purchases with the National Trust, boosting any U.K. trips you might take.
Costa Club
One for tea drinks and coffee addicts (Photo by Allina Rosanova/Getty Images)
Good for: Coffee lovers who want regular freebies while in transit Sign up here: Costa Coffee
If you frequently find yourself drawn to the unmistakable mauve exterior of Costa Coffee when at any British train station or airport, then joining Costa Club – the brand’s loyalty scheme – is a no-brainer.
To be fair, there isn’t loads to think about here. When you buy eight (hot or cold) drinks, you’ll get the ninth free, or if you get your beverage in an environmentally-friendly reusable cup, you’ll only need to buy four to get your next freebie. A bonus is a free piece of cake on your birthday, too.
Costs can quickly add up as you wander the airport or while dipping into train station shops to buy snacks for your rail journey, so you might as well make the most of any savings.
On June 11th is the launch of a brand new Chase Freedom Rise card which is meant to help someone build credit when applying for their first credit card. This is for both students and non-students alike. We previously reported on the new Student Rise card here and here
Card Details
No annual fee
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases
The rewards are earned as Ultimate Rewards points which can be redeemed for cashback, travel, gift cards, and more
Bonus: Earn $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of account opening
Other Details:
Becoming a Chase checking account holder with a checking balance of $250+ will increase your chances of getting approved for the Freedom Rise card (though it is not required). Be sure to open the Chase checking account before applying for the Freedom Rise card. Be sure to add the $250 to your checking account within 48 hours of applying for the card. Existing Chase checking customers can help their approval chances by increasing their balance to $250+ within 48 hours of their Freedom Rise card application.
The card is meant for those NEW to credit, not for those with damaged credit.
Cardholders will be evaluated for a credit limit increase in as soon as six months
The Chase Freedom Student card is being discontinued for new applicants on June 11, 2023 in favor of the new Freedom Rise card. (That card is live right now online, 6/6/23, at this link.) Existing Freedom Student cardholders will continue to be serviced as before, and do not have to transition to the Freedom Rise.
It’s still unclear if the new Freedom Rise card will be available online or in-branch only.
Our Verdict
The fact that the card earns Ultimate Rewards points makes it a good starter card to advise someone who has no credit, e.g. a student or newbie. The points will then tie into their regular Ultimate Rewards balance when they eventually build up their credit and get the better Chase cards. And 1.5x Ultimate Rewards everywhere is pretty good on its own.
You can always try first applying for a regular Freedom Flex or Freedom Unlimited card and, if denied, try for this starter card instead.
Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite card is offering a signup bonus of 75,000 points (worth $750 cash) after you spend $5,000 on the new card.
Card Details
$550 annual fee
Up to $150 annually in statement credits for lifestyle conveniences, including streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services. (applies to the following category codes: 4899,5399,5411,5422,5499,5691,5734,5815,5816,5817,5818,5921,5940,5964,5968,5969,5999,7032,7299,7372,7841,7997, and 7999)
Up to $300 annually in Airline Incidental Statement Credits for qualifying purchases like seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services and airline lounge fees.
Up to $100 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees (every four years).
Card earnings:
2 points for every dollar on travel and dining purchases
1.5 points per dollar on all other purchases
Preferred Rewards members earn 25% – 75% more points on every purchase. This means clients could earn up to 3.5 points on travel and dining purchases, and up to 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 they spend.
Clients can redeem points for travel, cash back, a statement credit, distinctive experiences or gift cards.
20% savings on domestic and international airfare for any class when paying with points through the Bank of America Travel Center or concierge.
That gives 25% additional value to the points. For top-tier Preferred Rewards members, this can potentially bring up the value of your points on travel/dining from 3.5 to 4.4 cents per point, and from 2.6 to 3.3 cents per point on all purchases (wow!)
Priority Pass Select Membership
See our full review on the Bank of America Elite Visa Infinite Card here.
Our Verdict
This 75,000 offer is a nice bump from the regular 50,000 points bonus which has been available since card launch in 2021. It does have a higher $5,000 spend requirement instead of the prior $3,000.
While the card does have a $550 annual fee that can potentially be offset with the $300 + $150 credits which will be able to be used twice during the first year. (I assume the $300 airline incidental credits could be used the same as the regular Premium Rewards card for AA gift card, cheap Southwest fare, etc.) If you would value those $900 in credits to mostly offset the annual fee, this then becomes a nice cash signup bonus offer.
We’ll add this to our List of Best Current Credit Card Signup Bonuses. Check out these Things To Know About Bank of America Credit Cards before applying. At the same time, Bank of America has bumped up the signup bonus on their Premium Rewards card from 50k to 60k.
Note: We’re not encouraging people to go out and sign up for credit cards, especially if you have debt or plan to carry a balance on a card. (The interest you pay will wipe out any rewards benefits.) But if you can control your spending and pay your bill on time and in full every month, Holly’s money hack may work for you. Also keep in mind that your credit score takes a hit each time you open a card, and whatever balance you have on your credit card as of the statement closing date will be reported to the credit bureaus. If you pay the balance in full before the statement closing date, your balance will be reported as $0.
Almost two years ago, we began our journey out of debt. Like the average American family, we had car loans, student loans, and consumer debt. At one point, we were making minimum payments on several credit cards and a loan I took out to buy a Kirby vacuum. I’m serious.
However, getting pregnant with our second child made us realize that we needed to get our finances together quickly. Once we committed to new financial goals, we cut out nearly everything from our life that was “enjoyable.” We said goodbye to cable TV and dinners at restaurants. We quit shopping for fun and only went to the store to get groceries and absolute necessities. Our new budget was cut down to the bare bones…so much so that I hesitated to buy almost anything.
As the months flew by, we began making huge strides against the debt that we had burdened ourselves with. Once we became debt-free, we realized that we had become addicted to our new, frugal lifestyle. Having no consumer debt had freed up a lot of cash to save and invest, and we quickly got serious about building wealth. However, having a strict budget made it difficult to do anything spontaneous like see a movie or have a date night. I began to look for a way to supplement our income with some “fun money” without ruining our short- and long-term goals. It was around that time that I got my first credit card sign-up bonus offer in the mail.
Enter credit card rewards
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read a direct mailer from a major issuer promoting their new credit card. “Spend $500 in 3 months and earn a $100 statement credit.” Could it really be that easy? Why would they give away $100 in free money? As I read through the disclosures carefully, I determined that there was no “catch.” Truthfully, the issuer was offering a $100 bonus just to get new customers to try their card. As long as I paid off the card in full and accrued no interest, this $100 would truly be free money. Since our grocery spending approaches $500 on a normal month, I knew that we could reach the spending requirement easily and I decided to give it a try. Within the first month, we put our regularly planned spending on the card. The bonus points, equal to a $100 statement credit, were quickly credited to my account. I was hooked.
Soon after that, my husband applied for the same card and earned the $100 bonus just for doing our regular shopping. We then moved on to new cards in order to earn a new sign-up bonus. Another card from that issuer, which had better perks, required that we spend $3,000 in three months in order to earn a $400 statement credit. Since we had some upcoming expenses that could be put on credit, we each signed up. We put two family vacations and our regular monthly spending for groceries and gas on each card and easily earned $800 in statement credits. Since we were going to spend the money anyway, these bonuses were truly “free.” We used the $1,000 that we had earned up to this point on some fun activities with our children. I was also able to surprise my husband with last-minute tickets to see his favorite musical, “Les Miserables,” and a new grill for Father’s Day.
Is this wrong?
Obviously there are some people who would say that we are gaming the system. Their argument may be that the credit card bonuses are meant to secure long-term customers, not to provide some extra cash to take my family to Applebee’s. Some may feel that we are just using the banks for our own gain.
I don’t see it that way at all. Actually, to a certain extent, some of their strategies have worked. For instance, I plan on keeping the perkier card because it has no foreign transaction fees. I have also found that this particular card comes with great customer service. Calling the 1-800 number on the card quickly connects me with a real, live person at any hour of the day or night. I would have never tried the card if not for the sign-up bonus. So, in that respect, I feel that the issuer did earn a long-term customer.
I also definitely do not feel bad that I never pay interest. For every person like me who pays their balance in full every month, there are far too many people making the minimum payment. Additionally, banks earn money from retailers just because they choose to take credit cards as payment. Simply put, when I spend $100 at the grocery store, they have to pay the credit card company a certain percentage of my order.
Moving forward
In the past two months, we have moved our spending from those cards to another issuer’s premium card. Their new offer of “Spend $2,000 in 3 months and earn $250 in gift cards” was just too good to pass up…especially with Christmas just around the corner. Since we will put our gas, groceries, and our entire Christmas shopping budget on the card, we will easily reach the spending requirement and, thus, reap the rewards.
Chasing reward deals certainly isn’t for everyone. However, it has definitely made a difference in our bottom line. It has provided us with some extra money that doesn’t have to be accounted for. I can spend our rewards on gifts or something fun and not feel like I have sacrificed what is important to us. And now that we are completely out of consumer debt, I am actually finding that using credit cards helps us stay on budget. Both of the issuers have websites that make it quick and easy to track what I have spent and where.
Is this strategy right for you?
Before entertaining any credit card sign-up bonuses, I would ask myself a few questions. Are you in debt? If you are in credit card debt, then it is a bad idea to pursue credit card rewards. In fact, you might consider cutting up your cards or putting them somewhere not easily accessible. Work on getting out of debt and staying out of debt instead.
Do you have trouble tracking your spending? If so, then pursuing rewards offers may not be for you. While I tend to use one card at a time, some people try to juggle multiple offers at once and end up getting confused. If you are worried about losing track of your spending, then please skip using credit cards altogether.
Are you worried about your credit score? Remember that applying for new credit too frequently can reduce your score and make it harder for you to get the best rate for a loan. Please take into consideration how applying for credit will affect your credit score and do what is in your best interest.
Do you try to earn credit card rewards? If so, what is your favorite credit card rewards program?
Have you come across a Craigslist rental scam lately? Here are my tips to avoid Craigslist scams and real estate scams so that you can stay safe.
Over the past few weeks, we have been searching for the perfect rental home for us to move into, but sadly we have come across many Craigslist rental scams. We found many great homes, and actually signed a lease the other day on one (more information on that to come soon).
Even though we found a rental home, we came across many Craigslist scams and Craigslist rental scams firsthand. It led to us wondering “How do I avoid Craigslist rental scams?”
I only received around 10 emails back from potential landlords and three of those I knew were definitely scammers. There might have been others as well.
Due to this, I knew I had to create a post on the topic of rental scams.
You can find rental scams everywhere (Craigslist, Zillow, and more), and many people are duped every single day out of hundreds or sometimes thousands of dollars.
P.S. If you are looking for a rental, your credit score can be extremely important. You can check your credit score with Credit Sesame for free here.
Interesting articles on Making Sense of Cents that you may want to read:
How do Craigslist rental scams work?
There are cases where the person might not actually be a scammer, but you should be on high alert if you decide to continue through with a potential rental that you are unsure about.
Hopefully with my advice on renting on Craigslist tips below, you’ll be able to find a REAL rental.
Some scams that you may come across include:
Craigslist rental scams
Craigslist apartment scams
Craigslist housing scams
Craigslist vacation rental scams
Fake house ads on Craigslist
Rent to own scams on craigslist
If you’re wondering if Craigslist rentals are legit – yes, they are! But, you need to be careful.
Below, you’ll learn how to spot a scammer on Craigslist.
Related: What You Need To Know About Renting A Room In Your House
What happens if you get scammed on Craigslist?
If you get scammed on Craigslist, they may be taking your rent money, security deposit, or even your personal information. Plus, they may waste your valuable time, and you may even be thinking that you are truly moving into the rental property.
This can be heartbreaking, and you definitely do not want this to happen to you.
How can you tell if someone is scamming you on Craigslist?
1. They are showing you the home, but do they actually own it?
One of the many Craigslist rental scams I have been hearing about a lot lately is when a scammer seems legitimate and even shows you around the rental. You might believe they are the landlord since they somehow got into the rental, but that isn’t always the case.
Sometimes scammers will break into a back window or even steal the key from the actual landlord so they can show the rental to unsuspecting potential tenants. This can be a huge disaster, as many people will believe the scammer since they are pretending to be the landlord.
Another Craigslist scam I have heard about that is related to this is when a renter moves into a home, pays the deposit, rent, etc., only to find out weeks or months later that the actual owner is at their door. The owner might have been on a long vacation or they might have just let the home sit vacant while trying to sell it, and thieves noticed their absence only to take advantage of the situation. This can be bad as you will have to vacate immediately and you will be out of money, such as the refundable deposit you may have given to the scammer.
My rental search tip: Always make sure the person renting out the home is the owner or the property manager. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist. You can usually do a simple search on who owns the property by looking up city records. You also may be able to call the building’s manager (if there is one) and ask if the apartment is for rent and who is renting it.
2. A rental that seems too good to be true is often one of the many Craigslist rental scams.
This is how some rental scammers try to lure you in and an easy way to know how to spot a scammer on Craigslist. They will create a listing, make the rental sound amazing, offer it at a very low price, not require money upfront, and so on.
This is a clue that you might be the victim of a Craigslist scam. If the landlord makes it too easy for you to live in their rental, then you need to be very careful. Scammers are often hoping that someone will be caught up in a “great deal” and come running to them with cash.
My rental search tip: Always do your research before you give anyone money. You should check other listings in the area to see if the rental is comparable and you should also see if the place is actually for rent. In most cases, it is not.
Here’s one Craigslist scam email I received (I actually received this response for two different rentals I inquired about):
3. A scammer wants your information or money before you view the home.
If you are asked to fill out a rental application before you view a home, then you might be in the middle of one of the many Craigslist rental scams. The scammer is hoping that you will give them personal information, such as your bank account number, social security number, or something else. They will then disappear once they receive all of this information. This is a bad situation because you basically just gave your identity away.
Also, if you are asked to give money before you are allowed to view a home, then something is not right. This is most definitely a scam and you should avoid it. You should never have to pay loads of money in order to just view a home.
My rental search tip: You should always do your research, view the home, and more before you give out any extremely personal information. Occasionally, you may have to give your ID to the landlord, but other than that they should not need anything from you just to show you the rental house or apartment.
Here’s another Craigslist rental scam e-mail I received. This person sent me two e-mails so I just copied and pasted both e-mails into one so that you can easily read them both:
4. The landlord’s email has been compromised – Big Craigslist housing scams!
One scary Craigslist rental scam I recently heard about is when all of the information in a rental listing is correct. The home is actually for rent, the e-mail and phone number are real, and more.
However, when you e-mail the landlord you believe you are actually talking to them. It turns out that you are actually talking to someone who hacked into their e-mail. This can be a scary Craigslist scam as it can be hard to detect.
My rental search tip: Even though this Craigslist rental scam seems difficult, it can be easy to overcome. You should contact the landlord via the phone number that is listed on the real listing and talk to a real person. Then, you should verify everything that was discussed in the e-mails. Most of the time, landlords have no idea that their e-mail address was even hacked.
Related: Phone Scams: The Best Tips To Avoid Becoming A Victim
5. They give you a sob story.
Some rental scammers will give you a sob story in order to make you feel bad for them. But, think about it: why would a landlord need to tell you this at all in the first place?
It’s a business for them.
If they give you some sort of sad story, then it is most likely a scam. Lots of Craigslist rental scammers will give you a sob story such as having to move to take care of family, being forced to move due to the military, or something else.
Don’t believe it.
How do I verify a rental on Craigslist? How can you tell a scam on Craigslist?
You may be wondering “How do you know if a rental is legit?” or “How do I make sure a Craigslist rental is real?”
There are many different things to be aware of when looking for a rental online. Here are my general tips before falling for Craigslist housing scams or Craigslist apartment scams:
Always make sure the person showing the home is the landlord or property manager.
If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
If the landlord is trying to push a lot of urgency your way, then I would be wary. For example, if they say that they need someone to move in tomorrow because they are flying overseas, and that’s why they have such a good deal, then they may be a con artist.
Be careful with your personal information, so that you are not the victim of identity theft.
If anyone ever asks you to wire money, you should not. Most scammers will ask for money to be wired and this should be your first red flag that something is not right. Keep in mind that if you wire money, you CANNOT get it back. Too many people think you can get wired money back.
Does the listing and/or e-mail communication with the “landlord” have many misspellings? Does the e-mail refer to you as Sir or Madam? Do they say they are out of the country and cannot show you the home until you pay? Do they claim to be a missionary or a reverend? If any of these are true, then this is usually the sign of a scammer.
Does the person never want to meet in person? If you never meet the landlord, then it is most likely a Craigslist rental listing scam. The landlord or their property manager will want to meet you, not avoid you.
Do they only want you to peak through the windows in order to view the rental? This is a huge red flag if they never want to meet you and instead want you to only look through the windows. Legitimate landlords will want to meet you and rental ads that state otherwise are most likely fake.
Does the Craigslist home for rent seem like a really great deal? If so, you may want to ask yourself why they are offering such a great deal. Real owners don’t think you are doing them a favor. Instead, they see it as a way to make money.
Do they mention Western Union or receiving funds via money order? If so, then it may be a scam as scammers love to mention Western Union. You simply want to be careful if they ask for either of these.
Are they letting you skip any type of background check? Sometimes there are credit checks, background checks, and so on. If it is too easy to get the rental, then it is probably a scam.
Always trust your gut instinct as there are always other places to rent in the world.
As you can see, there are many ways to learn how to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist. There are many fake house ads on Craigslist, so you want to be careful.
Are Craigslist rentals legit? How do I know if a rental is legitimate?
Yes, Craigslist rentals cans be legitimate. I have personally found Craigslist houses to rent (and lived in it) through Craigslist.
Below, you will see how to tell if a Craigslist rental is legitimate or if it is a fake Craigslist ad, and how to spot red flags.
Are Craigslist rentals safe? Is renting from Craigslist safe?
Yes, Craigslist rentals can be safe. You simply need to follow the tips in this article so that you can stay away from Craigslist rental scams and find legitimate home rentals.
Why do people post fake rentals on Craigslist?
People post fake rental ads on Craigslist because they are scammers and are looking for easy money. Plus, some potential renters who may be looking for a new home may be a little desperate as well, because everyone needs a place to live in, of course.
Is it safe to rent a room from Craigslist?
Yes, it can be safe to rent a room from Craigslist. Follow the tips here, and make sure you get along with your potential future roommates.
You also want to be safe on Facebook Marketplace, and anywhere else where you may be looking at potential homes to rent.
Someone posted my house for rent on Craigslist, what do I do?
If you have a realtor or real estate agent and your house or condo are currently for sale, I highly recommend contacting them and seeing what you can do. This is because many times homes that are for sale will be listed for rent on Craigslist through a fake ad.
You should also report the fraudulent Craigslist ad to Craigslist. Doing this will help to curb Craigslist rental frauds and help anyone who may fall for the Craigslist rental scam.
You also will want to go to your local police department and attorney general to see what they can do for you as well.
How do I protect myself from Craigslist rental scams? How do I avoid getting scammed on Craigslist?
Don’t give money or any of your personal information (such as your bank account number, social security number, and so on) until you are 100% sure that it is a real rental on Craigslist.
Also, if the person requests money or your personal info from you before you even view the rental property, then I would be careful as well.
You will want to make sure you do your research before you give the person cashier’s checks, a PayPal account, or even Venmoing or sending a Zelle payment to them. Whatever way that they ask for payment, you simply want to be careful and spend your time to make sure that you are not dealing with a Craigslist scammer.
Unfortunately, there are many Craigslist rental scams on the internet which are scamming potential renters.
P.S. There are over 200 comments below (you may have to click “« Older Comments” to see all of them), and many of you have been sharing your Craigslist rental scam stories and screenshots of exact emails. This is a great way to learn how to catch a rental scammer on Craigslist. Let’s continue to help one another out, thank you!
How to spot Craigslist housing scams? How to spot a rental scammer on Craigslist?
I hope you enjoyed today’s article on how to find Craigslist rental scams. There are definitely many fake ads out there, but do not let a Craigslist scammer deter you. There are ways to learn how to avoid rental scams on Craigslist so that you don’t get scammed.
Instead, I recommend doing your research and being careful before you hand over money or start a wire transfer. You may want to ask locals about a specific rental property, search anything you can on Google to see if the rental pops up for you (such as if you can see any complaints for that specific address), reaching out to a property management company, and more. This is so that you can make sure you are talking to the true owner of the property or whoever works for them.
After all, you don’t want to give scam artists a security deposit, Moneygram, first month’s rent, application fee, cashier’s checks, or whatever else they want without some verification that it is all real.
And, if a landlord asks you to send over gift cards as a form of payment, it is most likely fake and you are dealing with a Craigslist scammer. I have never, never heard of a landlord asking for a gift card as payment. It can be easy to fall for a rental scam, especially in today’s rental market where there is no rental inventory, which can lead to a lot of desperation.
Also, please be careful and watch out for Craigslist sublet scams. You can use many of the same Craigslist rental scam tips above to avoid Craigslist sublet scams.
But, there are legitimate rentals on Craigslist, you simply need to be careful. This may mean making sure to meet the property owner face-to-face, doing some research on the contact information that you are given, and more before you give a personal check and last month’s rent.
I, personally, have found a home rental on Craigslist and it was a great home. You can find Craigslist apartment rentals, Craigslist house rentals, and more that are legitimate – you just have to be careful.
What Craigslist rental scams and Craigslist apartment scams have you seen or heard about? Have you wondered how Craigslist rental scams work? Have you ever been the victim of any type of scam?
Bank of America Premium Rewards card is offering a signup bonus of 60,000 points (worth $600 cash) after you spend $4,000 on the new card.
Card Details
Annual fee of $95 (not waived first year)
This card may not be available to you if you currently have or have had the card in the preceding 24 month period.
$100 Airline Incidental Statement Credit annually for qualifying purchases such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services and airline lounge fees. Only applies to domestic-originated flights on certain U.S. Domestic airline carriers.
$100 airport security statement credit towards TSA Pre✓ ® or Global Entry Application fee every four year
Card earns at the following rates:
2x points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases
1.5x points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Eligible for Bank of America Preferred Rewards, meaning you can get an additional 25-75% rewards on all purchases. Makes the card earn at the following rates with top tier status:
3.5x points per $1 spent on travel & dining purchases
2.625x points per $1 spent on all other purchases
Points are worth 1¢ each and can be redeemed for cash back as a statement credit into eligible Bank of America or Merrill Lynch accounts or to purchase travel through the Bank of America travel center or to redeem gift cards
Full card review for Bank of America Premium Rewards card can be found here.
Our Verdict
Since its launch in 2017, the offer on this card has been 50,000 points with $3,000 spend. They’re now bumping it up to 60,000 points with $4,000 spend which is nice.
If you don’t have the card, this is pretty easy $600 bonus to meet. It does have the $95 annual fee, which some might be able to offset with the $100 travel incidental credit (see what counts here).
Bank of America has also increased the Elite version of this card to $750.
We’ll add this to our List of Best Current Credit Card Signup Bonuses. Check out these Things To Know About Bank of America Credit Cards before applying.
Though J.D.’s back on the blog, he’s still a bit behind — so much e-mail! — so here’s a guest-post from Tim Ellis, who writes Seattle Bubble when he isn’t glued to a screen, zoned out on video games. You can find him playing as “TH3 T1M” on Xbox Live and on PSN.
I’ve been an avid gamer ever since I bought my first Nintendo Entertainment System when I was ten. Today I have a Wii, an Xbox 360, and a PS3. My library of games includes major titles including the big Mario and Halo games, LittleBigPlanet, Batman: Arkham Asylum… you get the picture.
Even with a serious untreated gaming addiction, I manage to spend just a few hundred dollars a year on my gaming habit. (I’m not rich, after all.) I bought all three of the consoles mentioned above for a combined total of about $400 (today’s retail price: $800), and I rarely spend more than $20 on a game, despite the fact that most titles retail for $50 to $60. Here are a few of the tricks I use to indulge in my gaming habit without laying waste to my carefully-constructed budget.
Patience Pays
Exercising a little patience can pay off in a big way. After just six months, that $60 new release can often be found for $40 or less. A year after they hit the shelves, it’s not uncommon for me to find some games for $30.
Patience can also pay off especially well when you also keep an eye out for sales. CAG is your best friend here. Check out their forums, or set up a Google Alert that search the whole site if you’re looking for a specific title.
If you’re a PC gamer, it’s also worthwhile to keep an eye on Steam, where they frequently throw down major sales on all sorts of popular titles. Another trend that has cropped up lately is indie game companies teaming up to offer sweet discounts on bundles of great indie titles.
Tip: Patience pays off in another way, too. If you wait instead of buying a game the day it’s released, you have time to get reviews, both from the pros and from other users. This can keep you from spending on a highly-touted game that turns out to be a dud.
Buy Used, But Avoid the big chains.
While some prominent gamers have recently raised potentially valid philosophical arguments against buying used games, one thing you can’t argue with is that buying used saves you money.
Personally, I don’t waste my time with a certain major brick-and-mortar used-game shop since their used games are usually priced only a few bucks cheaper than new. Instead, I tend to find most of my used games on Glyde.com, where I am frequently able to pick up games in excellent condition for 50% or more off the new retail price. I have also used Glyde successfully to sell games that I no longer play, which is another great way to keep costs down.
Craigslist can also be a good place to find cheap used games, if you are patient and make heavy use of their RSS feeds. I picked up the original Assassin’s Creed for $20 from someone I found on Craigslist, while the game still retailed new for $60.
Can’t Give up the new releases?
If you’re not the patient type, you can still enjoy games as soon as they come out while still not paying full retail price. In order to get people in the doors, retailers will often offer gift cards with the purchase of a new release during its first week. I even saw some stores giving gift cards with Starcraft II when it came out a couple months ago.
Don’t forget indie games, either. New release games from independent developers are often much cheaper and just as fun as the big-name blockbuster titles. Two of my personal favorite developers are Telltale Games and Twisted Pixel, but your choices in indie gaming are nearly limitless.
Who Says You Have to BUY Your Games?
Another method that can work well for playing new releases when they’re still fresh is using a game rental service like Gamefly (essentially Netflix for video games). This has the added advantage of helping you avoid accumulating stuff.
Speaking of monthly subscriptions, don’t hesitate to drop a gaming subscription if you find you aren’t playing it enough to get your money’s worth out of it anymore. Got an MMO that’s debiting your savings account $6 every month for a game you haven’t touched in half a year? Cancel it!
Frugality is Not a Form of Asceticism
Just because you’re smart with money doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. If you’re into video gaming like me, there’s no need to resign yourself to breaking the budget to enjoy your entertainment. With a little patience, some smart shopping, and a sharp eye for discounts, gaming can be a relatively inexpensive hobby.
The holidays are about six months away. Why wait until the last minute to shop? Answer: You shouldn’t. And you won’t have to if you have a decently stocked gift closet. Some people I know keep their eyes open starting on Dec. 26 and are finished by mid-summer.
It’s more than just the December holidays, though. A small selection of “evergreen” gifts (non-perishable, non-trendy) means you’re prepared for any birthday, anniversary or new baby that comes along.
Building your gift closet doesn’t have to cost much. I always trot out the example of the puzzle depicting the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the perfect gift for a jigsaw-loving relative. Still shrink-wrapped when I found it on half-price day at a thrift shop, it set me back a whopping 35 cents.
If you wait until the last minute, you’re likely to spend more. On the afternoon of the baby shower, you might be tempted to stop at the first store you see and grab the item that’s closest to the door. Compare that with, say, the 89-cent newborn outfit that I bought at a post-holiday clearance sale.
(It wasn’t junk, either, but made by Carter’s. And it was cute as hell. I made the girl-noise when I saw it.)
Incidentally, it doesn’t really have to be a closet. I keep my stash in a cedar chest that I bought for $15 at a garage sale. Not only are my gifts cheap, they’re guaranteed moth-free! Here are some ways to build an evergreen gift stash without breaking the bank.
Clearance tables. Both post-holiday and everyday “last chance” sales can yield amazing finds. In late December the department stores want to get rid of unsold hat-and-scarf sets, gloves, slippers and “executive” gifts (e.g., day minders or business card holders) — and all of these can be held until next year’s Christmas or this year’s Father’s Day. Classic toys (stuffed animals, puzzles, books) can be had for a song if you’re patient enough to wait until Target or Walgreens really wants to get rid of them. (I’ve seen discounts as deep as 90%.) Remember that clearance sales happen in a lot of places: hardware stores, craft shops, drugstores, souvenir stands, supermarkets, office-supply stores.
Tip: If you see a gift set (foodies, spa items) wrapped in a Christmas-y way, break it down and repackage the elements for a January birthday or for Valentine’s Day.
Deal sites. Dealnews, Eversave, My Bargain Buddy and other money-saving sites can be dangerous if you’re a compulsive buyer. Pick your spots, though, and you might see a lovely package of fancy teas that would be perfect for your sister, or a swell set of socket wrenches that would be perfect for your other sister. You’ll spend relatively little to get them, especially if you get site credits for having referred other members.
Social commerce sites. Whether you’re buying a gift item or a discounted gift certificate you can use to buy a gift yourself, Groupon et al. can really stretch your buying dollars. Recently I saw a $20 Old Navy gift certificate for only $10, which could translate into shorts, tank tops or other items (especially if you wait for clearance sales). You could also give the certificate itself, if it has a decently distant expiration date — a massage or a spa day would be a great gift for a babysitter, housecleaner or teacher. And a middle-school-aged niece or nephew might love to get $20 worth of buying power at Old Navy.
Thrift shops. It’s amazing what you can find in the secondhand store — and as noted above, some of it has never been opened. Extra frugal points if your finds are “tag color of the day” specials or found during half-off sales.
Note: GRS readers discussed at great length whether it’s okay to give thrift-store gifts. If this really makes you uncomfortable, don’t do it. But here’s my advice: Get over yourself. Nobody has to know where you bought the present unless you choose to tell them.
Yard sales. We’re heading into the prime garage-sale season. I’ve found beautiful books, stationery and card sets, candles, book-and-toy combos, journals and other items — all new or seemingly unused — that became birthday or Christmas gifts. None of them cost more than $1.
Tip: Toward the end of the day, go back to the yard sale — they might be ready to haggle.
Rummage sales. The ones held indoors are even better than garage sales, because you’re not sweating in 95-degree heat while you shop.
Social media giveaways/contests. Companies will do anything to get noticed — including hand out free clothes, books, sporting equipment, jewelry, TVs, computers or big bundles of cash. (Believe it or not, I once saw a contest whose prize was a year’s worth of health insurance.) To find such contests, try using Twitter hash-tag searches (“#giveaway” or “#freebie”) or checking a Facebook app called “Wildfire.” Or do it the easy way: Find yourself a good freebie blogger and watch for the giveaways you really want.
Tip: Free software such as Roboform will fill in contact info automatically, making your entries more efficient. Also: Google “second-chance drawing” — contest junkies, aka “sweepers,” know that the odds are much better than in the initial drawing.
Take online surveys. You have to be choosy, since some companies ask for a lot and give back relatively little. But some people make a decent little side income answering questions. Depending on the site, you can redeem points for physical prizes, gift cards or even cash. I’ve had a lot of luck with Clear Voice Surveys and Valued Opinions, through which I’ve obtained dozens of Amazon gift cards in the past few years. (These days I don’t keep them, though; I give them away on my website.)
Rewards programs. Got a credit card that gives points? Cash some in for gift cards you can use to shop or that you can give outright. Or join a rewards program like Swagbucks or MyPoints, which let you earn gift cards, prepaid debit cards and other items. I’m particularly fond of Swagbucks, myself; right now I’m squirreling away Amazon gift cards until Black Friday. I’ve also given Christmas gifts obtained through My Coke Rewards: magazine subscriptions, a NASCAR hat, a set of barbecue tools, T-shirts, movie tickets.
Tip: Ask family or friends to save My Coke Reward points for you. Check the recycle bins at work, or outside your apartment house, too.
Gift swaps. Got a gift you don’t want? So do a lot of people. Invite family and friends to bring over items, then trade to your hearts’ content. Try not to be sad, though, if someone brings a package of teas or socket-wrench set that look awfully familiar.