This week's frugal tips and Guest Post comes from Holly...
You might not think it possible, but it's pretty easy to live without cable. While you can find plenty of entertaining, interesting, and even educational programs to watch, cable can be a financial drain that finds you sitting in front of the television slack-jawed and wondering just when you got trapped in a "Real Housewives" marathon. Here are five things you can do with the money you were spending after the cable box and remote have been returned to their original home.
1. Save
Perhaps the easiest tip on this list, take the money you're not shelling out for cable and drop it into a savings account, certificate of deposit, or individual retirement account (a.k.a. IRA). The average cost of cable, without extras, is $50/month. By the end of the year, with no additional effort on your part, you'll have saved $600. While you won't be running out in December to buy a yacht, that money can really add up for entertainment purposes, dinners out, or college tuition.
2. Gym membership
A membership at a nice gym can set a single person back a nice chunk of change and even more so should you be interested in a family membership. Use your newfound wealth to start hitting the gym more often, to purchase equipment like side-by-side ellipticals or treadmills for your at-home gym, or to schedule sessions with a personal trainer.
3. Arts and crafts
The well-known adage of the starving artist is likely related to the fact that art supplies can be costly. Use the money you're saving to secure canvases, gesso, and paints; get clay and a potter's wheel; take weaving classes on a loom at a local yarn store; or become a glassblower during a class at your local artcenter, museum, or community center. Without money as an excuse to hold you back, you might just find yourself with a DIY solution to presenting family and friends with birthday and holiday gifts. If you really find your niche, consider opening an online store on a site like Etsy.
4. Family outings
You might be surprised at the number of short trips you can take that don't require a huge financial investment. Create experiences for yourself, your spouse, and children by taking a one-tank trip, jumping on a train for a weekend getaway in a nearby metropolis, or heading to an outlet mall a little outside of town for a shopping spree. You'll create an experience that can be remembered for years to come and spend time bonding with your family.
5. Memberships and subscriptions
Although the print media industry is suffering, there are still plenty of magazines to which you can subscribe. Flex your mental muscles with offerings like Utne Reader, The New Yorker, or The Sun. You can also purchase memberships to museums for afternoon getaways or subscribe to at-home entertainment offerings like Netflix.
Again, you're not exactly winning the lottery or rushing out to buy diamonds, but the money you save by dropping your cable service will see you pursuing passions you may have long put off in favor of zoning out in front of the TV after work. See who you can become once you break your ties to the brain drain that cable can be.
Do you have any frugal tips or ideas? Jump in and be featured by contacting me at wacki04(at)gmail(dot)com!
Holly Watson is a full-time student pursuing her doctorate in literature. She enjoys blogging for Sears and other brands she loves, is an avid runner, and fashionista She loves to bake desserts and has overcome her addiction to watching Food Network.
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