How You Can Try Products Without Buying Them First

Oh, the joy of getting something for free. Ever wondered how to get free stuff to sample.  The allure of samples is hard to resist especially when you want to try new products but don’t have the means or courage to spend your money on an item that you may or may not like.  So, how do you adopt a try-before-you-buy mentality when it comes new items?  The following list will show you how you can try products without paying full price for them first.

Here are a few for you to consider:

1. Product Samples.  Acquire them in the store or through offerings online.  Take the sample and put it to use.  Note that there is usually a coupon included with the freebie as a way of encouraging you to buy the product you tried.  If you liked what you used or consumed, by all means, purchase a larger box, bag or bottle for your home.
2. Subscription Boxes.  I love, love, love my online subscription box service.  I’m particularly fond of Conscious Box because I live in a small town and have to travel a great distance to get healthy vegan products.  With my monthly subscription, I’m able to try a variety of health and beauty, household, and grocery items and purchase what I liked online.  I consider this the best $20 I spend each month because there’s a whole lot of wonderful crammed into each box I receive.
3. Product Reviews.  If you’re lucky enough to work for a well-known publication or have a blog with a lot of traffic, companies will come to you with their products in exchange for a review many times.  You’d be surprised to learn just how many businesses rely on word-of-mouth marketing to increase their sales.  If you have a product that interests you and the medium to publish a honest review about it, send a quick email to the publicity department of the company and see what transpires.  Instead of receiving small samples like a normal consumer, you’ll often get full-sized products to try and enjoy.
4. Coupons.  Companies often encourage customers to try new products by enticing them with a coupon for a free or deeply discounted item.  If you’re in the habit of using coupons when you shop, make sure to pay special attention to these opportunities to try new products.  You’d be pleasantly surprised at how many new items you get to sample when all is said and done.  Look for coupons that read FREE or FREE with purchase and carry them with you in your binder for easy access. You could always get into extreme couponing as well to help you get free items.

You don’t have to spend your hard earned cash on things that may not be a good fit for you and your lifestyle.  With a little work and effort, you can scout out free samples wherever you go.  You’ll be less shy about asking to try before you buy a certain deli product or ice cream flavor because you know if you like it, you’ll buy it.  Companies know this as well and that’s why they’re willing to give you free samples and coupons to get you through the door or onto their websites for more information.

The adaptor itself was on sale for $9.  It came with a year’s worth of service for free.  There’s nothing for me to lose considering I don’t have cable and rely on Hulu.com, Netflix.com, Amazon Prime, and Redbox.com to entertain myself.  The cost of being a member of all of those sites is enormous in comparison to Rabbit TV.  I’m going to give it a chance for 30 days and report back to you, our readers, with a review of this service.

Upon first glance, it looks like you can watch popular shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Big Bang Theory, Community, and more.  There are also movies like Weird Science, Sedona, and National Security.  I like the fact that you can view live events from all over the world as well.  Because I’m not too familiar with all the different websites and networks providing stream-on-demand entertainment, I’m glad I found Rabbit TV.  It’s taken the guess work out of finding something to watch or listen to whenever I have an evening off.

The registration process takes a few minutes and does not require a credit card number to get started.  Even better, you can use the same adaptor on different computers so the whole family can enjoy Rabbit TV.  You just need to make sure to log out each time or else you won’t be able to use the adaptor on another PC.  An annoying pop-up message will remind you of this if you make this mistake.  Avoid it by logging out of your Rabbit TV account each time.

The biggest appeal of a product like this is that I can watch entire seasons of TV shows at a time versus watching one episode as it is aired each week.  Considering I haven’t been much of a TV watcher throughout the years, I have a lot of programs to choose from.  I also don’t have to worry about monthly subscription fees because for the low price of $9 a year, I have access to all the TV programs, movies, and music I can stand to watch and listen to.

Like with every new product I run across, I like to give it a month of use before reporting back on it.  That’s what I intend to do next month so if you’re interesting in learning more about Rabbit TV and want to make sure it’s worth the time and money you spend to use it, check back here for an updated report.  If you’re spending a good amount of your budget on entertainment, it may be worth it for you to give this device a try.

Have any of you tried or heard of Rabbit TV? The reviews on Amazon don’t make it look that good here.

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1. Cancel a Service

Look at your monthly bills and see if there is somewhere to cut back. Perhaps you don’t need so many movie channels, or you can cut cable television altogether. Or maybe you find you no longer need a landline for the house. By canceling just one service, or switching to a prepaid cell service, you can see major savings.

2. Watch Hidden Fees

Be wary of hidden fees that add up. Don’t pay extra ATM or banking fees. If need be, speak to a bank representative to find out where you can cut some of these costs. And late fees, for utility bills or credit card payments, can really hurt you in the long haul. Plan ahead and learn how to predict when these hidden or unexpected charges will hit, to keep from shelling out unnecessary cash.

3. Set Up Deposits

If you find yourself struggling to put away a chunk of change to save, have it taken out of your paycheck automatically. Choose a certain amount, say five percent, and create a special savings account to have this money funneled into. You can arrange with your bank to have this amount direct deposited into your savings, so it will feel like money you’re not even missing out on.

4. Try Monthly ‘Freezes’

If you feel yourself spending more than necessary each month, try a monthly “freeze” Make a vow to not spend any cash on extras like movies, eating out or shopping. Set a budget for groceries, bills and household expenses, then make a game out of keeping the wallet zipped for all other purchases. It might feel grueling at first, but it can actually turn into a fun and competitive game.

5. Use Cash

Whenever possible, use cash for daily expenditures. All too often it’s easy to fall into the plastic trap, and you don’t actually feel where the money is going. By having to actually pull bills out of a wallet, you might think twice about an expense. Or better yet, put a certain amount of cash in your wallet each week and only let yourself spend what’s there. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

6. Have Spend-Free Outings

Challenge yourself to think of free and thrifty ideas for weekend or date night outings. Every city has free things to do, you just need to know where to look. Check local papers and magazines for free listings of concerts or theaters. Poetry readings at coffee shops often have no cover. Or visit a library and spend hours cozying up with the latest thriller. You can visit parks and plan a picnic for a romantic date. The possibilities are endless.

7. Talk Down Bills

Sometimes, even bills you are currently paying can be lowered. Negotiate with a landlord to bring your rent down or call your Internet company to talk about lowering your monthly bill. You can even refinance your home and try to get your mortgage down. By making your current bills lower, you immediately put cash in the bank.

8. Negotiate a Raise

Just like negotiating bills down, think about negotiating your income up. Bringing in more money annually will have just as positive an effect as the best money saving tips. Think about how long you’ve been at your current job–you might be due for a review. Go ready with reasons why you feel you deserve a raise, and make clear the contributions you make to deserve that extra bit each pay period.

9. Think Coupons

Don’t overlook the benefits of coupons, they are a time honored tradition for a reason. Coupons come in all forms, from grocery store coupons to restaurant or even gas station coupons. Keep an eye out in newspapers and magazines, and don’t forget to look online. You’ll be surprised to see how much money you can save with just a little time and effort.

10. Get the Family Involved

Saving money doesn’t have to be a solitary pursuit. Get your entire household involved. Set family goals and budgeting challenges, and help keep each other in check. Allocate allowances for each member of the house. By working together, you’ll reap more than just monetary rewards.

It is important to asses where our money goes. Many of the best money saving tips you will find as you are being mindful of your money.

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People with laptops that need writing done for their businesses, can contact you through the site and make an offer.  Once you’ve found a suitable laptop, you can make a counteroffer and agree on what you would be willing to write in exchange for the electronic.  The other member then agrees to your counteroffer and accepts it.  You then make your exchange.

Verify Your Account for Added Security

Every member must go through the verification process before trading.  This ensures that everyone on the site has good intentions and will follow through with their exchanges.  The onetime fee for verification is $9.99 which is a small price to pay for years and years of bartering.  To learn more about the verification process, refer to the BarterQuest FAQ page.

Benefits of Bartering

In addition to being a useful way to acquire goods and utilize services without earning and exchanging money, bartering also offers the following benefits:

1. Provides you with warm sense of community and purpose.
2. Gives you the satisfaction of knowing that useful items are not going to the dump and winding up in the landfill.
3. Offers you the opportunity to build your skill set.
4. Allows you to make use your talents and encourages you to pursue interests that you might not otherwise be able to afford.

Regular barterers agree that a cashless system of exchange is not only better but more enjoyable.

When Bartering Becomes Taxable

Bartering becomes taxable in areas of the United States and Canada if the goods and services that you receive are worth $100 or more.  You can refer to IRS.gov for more information about reporting bartering as “income” on your taxes.

Bartering is a great way to stretch your dollars.  You acquire the goods and services that you need to make your life easier which frees up your income for other things.  Bartering also supports the local economy, allows people to showcase their skills and talents, and keeps goods from the garbage.  It’s a win-win situation for all parties involved.

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I live in a small town with a handful of clothing stores.  That’s why I was thrilled when a local business owner announced she was hosting a clothing swap at her hip store Willow.  I gathered up a bag full of unwanted items from my closet, entered the date and time on my calendar, and sat back and waited only to learn that the event was rescheduled.

Although I wasn’t able to attend the clothing swap the following week, I continue to keep my eyes open for Facebook events and additional opportunities to trade clothes and accessories with my friends.  As a lover of all things thrift and bargain-priced, there’s nothing more enticing than a clothing swap.

For one thing, swapping saves you money.  It also gives you an excuse to finally clean out your closet and get rid of the things that you never wear.  Last but not least, clothing swaps are good for the environment.

So many useable items are discarded long before they’re worn out.  You can take the things that no longer fit or flatter and give them to someone that can use them.  With upcycling being so popular, even the dullest attire can be repurposed into other useable goods.

Here are some websites online that let you swap clothing, accessories, and other items:

• Rehashclothes.com – Although the name implies otherwise, this site allows you to swap books, housewares, and pet clothes along with gently used garments from your own closet.  Bid on the item of your choice by offering an item of your own in exchange.  You can also post a description of an item you’re looking for and see if anyone responds to it.  
• Dignswap.com – This easy-to-use website has two search options.  You can browse by category or by specific product names.  Although the site is free to join, each swap costs $1 plus shipping.
• Swapstyle.com – The global site allows its users to take pictures of the things they no longer want or need.  When they find something on the site that interests them, they offer a trade and see what transpires.  The other party has the option to choose anything you have listed in exchange for the item you want.  If you want access to clothing and accessories from other countries, this is a great place to look.
• Zwaggle.com – This site is the place to go for kids’ clothes and gear.  You earn Zoints every time you refer a friend or send items.  You can even donate your unused Zoints to charity.  How awesome is that?

You can also check out MeetUp.com to see if there is a local group in your area.  With 90,000 members on the site, there’s a good chance you can start your own clothing swap group and get a good turnout each time you meet.

Don’t let those clothes from last season stay in your closet any longer!  Take advantage of all the different swaps online and get some new clothing to wear this summer.  You never know how easy it is until you try it out yourself.

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What is Baking Soda?

Baking soda is Sodium Bicarbonate.  It’s a white solid that comes in powdered form.  It is used for cooking as well as medicinal purposes like treating aspirin overdose and uric acid renal stones.  Ancient Egyptians used it as a cleaning agent much like soap.

How Much Does a Box of the Miracle Stuff Cost?

I just picked up a few large boxes of baking soda at the Dollar Tree for 56 cents each.  You can often purchase the miracle stuff for even cheaper but it does require you to shop around.  I plan to stockpile several boxes a month until I have a good amount of baking soda around.  There is no end to its uses and it is a staple in my household because it has a long shelf life.

What Do You Do With It?

Here are twenty-five different uses for baking soda:

• Make your own toothpaste and mouthwash.  Here’s an exceptionally simple and cost-effective homemade toothpaste recipe.
• Exfoliate your face and body.
• Use it to ease a sour stomach.
• Remove shampoo residue by sprinkling a small amount in your hair.
• Clean your brushes and combs.
• Freshen stinky sponges.
• Polish silverware.
• Clean the oven.
• Clean the microwave.
• Clean coffee and teapots.
• Remove dirt and grime from tile floors.
• Give your laundry detergent a boost.
• Clean cloth diapers.
• Deodorize your fridge.
• Deodorize garbage disposals.
• Deodorize lunch boxes which retain odors.
• Deodorize and clean dishwashers.
• Neutralize pet smells including litter boxes.
• Deodorize smelly sneakers.
• Freshen linens and stuffed animals.
• Extinguish fires.
• Scrub fruits and vegetables naturally. 
• Clean batteries.
• Clean cars.
• Remove oil and grease stains.

Books on Using Baking Soda

The following books offer even more tips on using baking soda on a daily basis:

• Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought Of by Vicki Lansky
• Baking Soda Bonanza, 2nd Edition by Peter A. Ciullo
• The Magic of Baking Soda by Emily Thacker

As you can see, baking soda is very beneficial.  The next time you find yourself shopping, make sure to pick up a box or two to take home with you.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how useful it really is.

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Consider this your guide to a fun and free Valentine’s Day. The following suggestions use the items you already have around the home to make gifts for your spouse and children. All that is needed is a few simple supplies and a bit of creativity. Who says you need to spend money on Valentine’s Day?

Here are some ideas that will make everyone around you feel loved:

• Candlelit Dinner. Make your significant other’s favorite meal. Follow it up with a delicious dessert created from a recipe that you found on AllRecipes.com. Light some candles. If you don’t have any lying around, create your own easy-to-make lantern using a small vessel like an oyster shell or saucer, olive oil, and a shoelace or piece of twine. You could also make one out of a lidded candy tin or glass canning jar. Here are a few tutorials that you will find helpful.
• Candy Kiss Roses. Do you have a jar full of candy kisses available? What about colored plastic wrap or tissue paper? If you answered “yes,” you can easily make roses for your loved one for a fraction of the cost of fresh flowers. Beautiful and edible, these roses look great and taste even better. Best of all, they won’t cost you anything extra because you already have the supplies for them in your home! Crafts Unleashed offers a simple tutorial at http://www.craftsunleashed.com/index.php/seasonal/crafting-candy-kiss-roses/.
• Handmade Cards. Gather up some old magazines, a pair of scissors, some paper, and a glue stick and create one-of-a-kind cards with special meaning. Create each card with its recipient in mind. You can also use these Vintage Valentine’s Day cards and make them your own or create your own Message in a Bottle.
• A Photo Montage. Arrange a heart shaped photo display on a wall for your spouse or children. Pay special attention to color. You want it to look as visually appealing as possible. It’s also best if you use double sided tape or mount the photos to posterboard. Martha Stewart has great tips on photo montages. You can read her suggestions by visiting her site.

A memorable Valentine’s Day is within your capabilities and you’ll have far less dead flowers, stuffed animals, and empty chocolate boxes to contend with! On behalf of Generation X Finance, we hope your holiday is both frugal and memorable!

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One man, Mark Boyle, decided to conduct a yearlong experiment living without money. In his book, The Moneyless Man, he states, “I don’t see myself as a hugely spiritual person in the traditional sense. I try to practice what I call ‘applied spirituality’, in which I apply my beliefs in the physical world, rather than them being something abstract I talk about but rarely practice. The less discrepancy there is between the head, the heart, and the hands, the closer you are, I believe, to living honestly. To me, the spiritual and physical are two sides of the same coin.”

Mark’s strong beliefs about the world around him and desire to live a simpler lifestyle led him to conduct an experiment where working for and using money was strictly forbidden. He was able to acquire the things he needed by foraging, dumpster diving, and skillsharing. Although his modest dwelling wasn’t furnished with the latest flatscreen TV or gaming system, he did have access to a laptop computer and solar panel which he used to record his day-to-day experiences. This allowed him to share his experience with the world.

He notes just how long it takes to wash and dry clothes in the winter, to travel across Ireland by hitchhiking, and warming his modest dwelling using a rocket stove. He speaks highly about the people he encountered throughout his journey and the ways that they made an impression on him. Although Mark did without money, he certainly was rich in so many other ways. That’s what made me want to read his book in the first place. His head and his heart were in the right place throughout his year of moneyless living. There’s a lot to be learned from his experience, that’s for sure.

A year is a long time to do without money. Yet, millions of people live on less than the equivalent of one US dollar a day. Mark sums up the lessons in the last chapter of his book. Here are a few that I can appreciate:

• Don’t underestimate others. There are far more supportive people in the world than you can imagine.
• Communal-sufficiency is better than self-sufficiency. Small numbers of people who work interdependently are ideal because they have more to offer one another.
• You have to be prepared. Although Mark believed that things like carpentry and vegetable-growing were essential, he soon learned that “physical fitness, self-discipline, genuine care and respect for the planet and the species that live on it, and the ability to give and share, are the ‘primary skills’ for this way of living.”
• Community is security, money isn’t. Giving freely with no expectations of receiving strengthens faith.
• Money isn’t everything. Living without money allows you to take advantage of local goods and materials, makes you more aware of your community’s needs, and gives you a deeper appreciation for the things you do have.

If you’re overemployed or underemployed or unemployed, there is a lot you can learn from The Moneyless Man Mark Boyle. You can pick up a copy of his book on Amazon or better yet, see if your local library has it for you to borrow. Chances are, you’ll be like me and disappointed every time you have to set your copy down without finishing it.

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It may seem ridiculous at first when you think about how cheaply these items can be acquired by shopping sales and extreme couponing but I’m more concerned about the impact my consumerism has on the environment.  For very little money, I control what goes into my cleaning products and it will allow me to reuse plastic bottles and tubs.  This eliminates the amount of waste I create and gives me a clearer conscience.

Creating a large supply and stockpiling it until it is needed also prevents me from burning gas and making unnecessary trips to the store.  Making these items by hand is therefore a win-win situation if you ask me.  For the extra time put into creating these concoctions in my own home, I get the satisfaction of knowing that my shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste is pure, cruelty-free, and cost effective.

Kelly and Erik offer their spin on Homemade Tooth Powder, Four Natural Shampoo Alternatives, Hair Rinses, and Deep Conditioners that use products commonly found in your pantry.  Items like baking soda, extra-virgin olive oil, and vinegar are all items that can be used on your body as well as in the foods you eat.  Rather than buy separate products for my hair and teeth, I can purchase the ingredients I need from the store and make up small batches of shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste to use whenever I need them.

Books like Making It are valuable resources because they stress a back-to-basics mentality that is both cost-efficient and environmentally sound.  Because I am trying to cut back on spending while trying to maintain my values, I find the less removed I am from the products I use on a day-to-day basis the better.  There is no doubt in my mind that the shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste I will be using will be better for me in every way imaginable.

Making It can be purchased on Amazon.com or through Rodale Books.  The 310 page book retails for $19.99 US and can also be found in the House & Home or Sustainable Living sections of your local bookstore.  The authors also wrote The Urban Homestead which was called “the contemporary bible on the subject” by the New York Times.

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Congratulations! You’ve arrived to a place in your life where you’re ready to embrace positive changes regarding your finances. Some people never reach this point so you should be proud of yourself. You should not delve too deep into frugality without knowing a thing or two about it first.

Here are a few tips to living on the cheap without feeling the pangs of sacrifice. Feel free your own tips to the mix. Trial and error is the key to making frugality a lifestyle choice not a fleeting trend. Start slow and build your confidence as you go along. Making drastic changes right away can leave you feeling unhappy and deprived. You want your new habits to stick not go by the wayside.

Tips for Adopting a Simpler Lifestyle

Here is some of the best advice I have to give about adopting a simpler lifestyle. You may want to try one or two tips on for size before plunging headfirst into a frugality:

1. Remember that it takes up to thirty days to make a habit stick. For example, if you want to give up soda as a way of saving money, make sure that you gradually wean yourself off of it. Instead of drinking one a day, have one every other day. Then every third day until you no longer miss it.
2. Keep a positive attitude. Know that the changes that you’re making will benefit you in the long run. Your stick-to-itness will afford you more time and greater freedom. Remember this every time you start to question your motive.
3. Do not invest a lot of money into trying to be frugal. The idea is to save money not buy the most expensive lunch bag or reusable water bottle you can get your hands on. Find alternate ways to acquire the items that you need and you’ll be on your way to a simpler lifestyle in a matter of no time.
4. Enlist the help of family members, friends, and neighbors. Have them hold you accountable. Barter services and share with them as much as possible. This will give you more financial freedom and happiness.

The key to living a frugal lifestyle is to be flexible and willing to take things slowly. Change is often a necessary evil and although you may at first be reluctant to scaling down and cutting back, you’ll one day see that your life is better because of the choices you have made.

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