Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!
All of you ESPN-loving, HBO-watching, Real Housewife-following satellite TV addicts, look away. What I’m going to say may hurt. It may be too much for you to handle. But sometimes hard conversations are necessary. Deep breath.
You need to cancel your cable TV.
Like yesterday.
This is not a drill. This is not a joke. It needs to happen. And here’s why:
There is LAC {Life After Cable}. And it is a life where you have about $100 more in your pocket each month. Satellite TV is expensive, and with so many alternatives, it’s no longer necessary. There are literally hundreds of thousands of shows, movies, news programs that you can stream online. Hundreds of thousands people.
I know, I know. You’ve had cable for so long, it’s hard to break up. Force of habit. You like what’s familiar. You love all of your preset recordings and stored shows. I get it. But even for the most TV obsessed person, it’s just not worth it. Here are some alternatives that will help you cut all ties with cable and never look back. Promise.
FREE Network Online Streaming
This one is great because it won’t cost you a penny. If you already have internet access, this one is a sweet freebie. If you are mourning the inability to watch one of your favorite network shows, simply pull up that network online and see what shows they allow you to watch full episodes of. You’d be surprised to see it’s almost every single show they air. You can stream it on a TV, computer or any handheld device, really. This is also a great way to stream the news, as most major news networks allow you to stream their channels live.
Live TV
With a small upfront fee for an antenna, you’ll have access to, on average, 35 free TV channels. You would get all of your major networks, ie. NBC, ABC, FOX, etc. While you can’t record any of your favorite shows and you’ll have to suffer through commercials {ha}, this is another great free option.
An online streaming service that allows you to watch thousands of TV shows and movies for free. You can also watch from your SmartTv or device, but that costs about $7.99 per month. This is a much cheaper {or free} alternative that still allows you to watch most of your favorite TV shows without the hefty cable price tag.
Another online streaming service. Similar to Hulu but the emphasis seems to be heavier on movies and original content. Some of the most critically acclaimed shows out right now are Netflix originals. Netflix also allows you to watch ad and commercial free, unlike Hulu Plus. The downside to Netflix and Hulu is that you can’t download content, so you have to be connected to a wifi signal to stream.
Apple TV allows you to plug in and enjoy access to a whole world of movies, TV shows, sports, music, and more. They little plug in starts at $69 and with it, you can show anything that’s on your iOS device or Mac on your HDTV with AirPlay.
We already have Amazon Prime because of how much I shop on Amazon. With that membership, we can stream thousands of movies and TV shows for free. You can also purchase single series or single episodes and download them to most devices. If you don’t have Amazon Prime, check out How to Get a Free 30-day Amazon Prime Instant Video Trial.
If you don’t have a SmartTv, you might want to look into a Roku player. They connect directly to your TV, and to your home network to stream entertainment. You choose from over 250,000 movies and TV episodes. Plus, there are hundreds of free channels, easy ways to buy or watch films from top providers, and no additional charges to watch streaming services like Netflix or Hulu Plus if you already subscribe.
If you are all about recording live TV or staving shows, you’ll need a DVR. A TiVo provides an on-screen guide of scheduled broadcast programming television programs, whose features include “Season Pass” schedules which record every new episode of a series, and “WishList” searches which allow the user to find and record shows that match their interests by title, actor, director, category, or keyword. TiVo also provides a range of features when the TiVo DVR is connected to a home network, including film and television show downloads, advanced search, personal photo viewing, music offerings, and online scheduling. There is an upfront cost and a small monthly fee, but it’s very small compared to the average cable bill.
iTunes or Google Play
Another great option if you are looking for a single episode of a show. It makes much more sense to pay for just that episode or even just that series. It will cost you a little bit, but still save you so much more than you were coughing up for that cable bill!
The Library
Seriously. Your local library is a great free resource. You can check out thousands of movies and TV shows without paying a dime. All you need is a handy dandy library card.
How Much Can You Save: $75-$100+/month {$1,200/year!}
What services do you use to watch TV and movies? Do you still have cable?
~Mavis
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}
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I got a comment from Don on Facebook asking me about tips for getting fresh produce in the kiddos diet during the winter months, and thought it was a pretty worthy topic to turn into a post. The comment/question went as follows:
Honestly, there are a lot of layers to this question for me. First, this is why I can, freeze and dehydrate fruits and veggies when they are in season. It supplements my family in the winter produce wasteland. While, I completely understand that you want to get fresh produce into your kids’ bellies {and totally salute you for it}, I too have found that some weeks, the fresh stuff just doesn’t look all that palatable. If you didn’t freeze any berries during peak season, buy a bag of frozen instead. While the texture is not the same as fresh, they were likely frozen in the height of their peak season, and will deliver nutrients.
Moving onto the actual FRESH stuff: If apples and citrus are out, not to worry. There are still plenty of “cool weather” crops that are affordable and edible this time of year. In general, in the U.S., here is a list of “in season” produce: Meyer lemons, avocados, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, grapefruit, greens, leeks, wild mushrooms, mandarin oranges, navel oranges, pears, papaya, spinach, tangelos, and tangerines. {I know some are citrus, but I included them for the citrus-eaters who might be reading this.}
You can also start some fresh stuff indoors. Kale, arugula, spinach and salad mixes will grow pretty well for you in small pots on a window sill {or even better under a 
Over the past few years, I’ve collected a couple of etched drinking glasses and small floral vases. It occurred to me that I could totally use the containers, left-over wax, and some new wicks I had sitting in my craft closet to make new, smaller candles. I plan on giving the new candles away as gifts this year.
Directions:
Then, secure the top of the wick to a pencil or chopstick {you can use tape, if needed to secure it} and lay it over the top of the container {this will ensure your wick stays in place as you pour the wax}. Pour your wax into the container and allow it to set completely.
I don’t know about you, but I think this is a way better option than tossing candles into the garbage without getting all of their use.