Ellen PhillipsQ: I enjoy your tips for saving money, but do you know of particular items or services we needn't pay for at all? - Fiona Free
Dear Ms. Free: Unnecessary splurges aside, if consumers use their eyeballs and brains, the savings opportunities can be truly amazing. And speaking of eyeballs, take a gander at the following ideas, compliments of allyou.com and years of accumulation within my own dwindling brain:
' Banks: Fees may be exorbitant when noncustomers use banks' ATMs. In fact, your own bank might charge you for going out of network. Hitting the nearest ATM is certainly the easiest method, but these fees add up. Plan one weekly withdrawal from your bank's ATM or use the no-fee cash-back option at grocery stores or drugstores. If you have a smartphone, download your bank's mobile app or the free allpointnetwork.com (among others); these apps pinpoint your bank's closest ATM.
' Books: Books for adult or kid readers cost a mint at book stores. Even used books for only a penny on Amazon add up because of the $3.99 shipping and handling charge for each title. Local libraries are key for the reading public, whether checking out the latest best sellers or the most recent DVDs. Another route is the Internet. Book-swapping sites, such as paperbackswap.com or bookcrossing.com, have become more commonplace. For those who prefer e-books, try gutenberg.org to peruse more than 49,000 free e-books.
' Drugstores: Drugstore reward programs and/or manufacturer's coupons often result in free products. For example, vigilant coupon shoppers know not to be happy with a 25-cent coupon. Rather, stack a manufacturer's coupon with a store coupon to often pay zilch. Drugstore reward programs make it easy to obtain freebies, such as toothpaste, deodorant or the like. Just register online at your favorite drugstore sites to obtain a rewards card.
' Old coupons: Speaking of coupons and as a reminder of recent advice, don't ditch all those out-of-date Bed Bath & Beyond coupons; not only does the company still honor them but, also, will allow buyers to use one coupon for each item purchased, which is almost an unheard of practice.
' Cable: Cable bills, which I featured as last year's Sept. 21 column and so won't delve into detail here, may become a modern dinosaur. With a digital antenna or online TV subscriptions, including Netflix, Hulu, etc., viewers can enjoy a variety of programs and movies minus commercials without exorbitant monthly fees. Check out antennaweb.org for accessible channels.
' Car care: Car washes run from less than $10 to upward of $25, depending upon the level of available service. (This is one of those "Do as I say, not as I do" suggestions, as I'm both unable physically and unwilling mentally to wash my own vehicle!) Check out cars.about.com, which has lots of great tips on how to clean and preserve Ole' Faithful. Do this regularly, and pocket the savings.
To be continued next week
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.