Quick Money Tip: Cut Subscriptions
Good mail days are the best. For many of us, that means collecting the day's mail to discover no bills in sight. For others, maybe it's finally receiving that long-awaited package or a belated birthday gift. And there's nothing quite like spotting that brightly-colored, plastic-wrapped cover - the latest issue of your favorite magazine subscription - on a good mail day.
But, let's be honest here. Following that initial excitement, how much attention do we really give to that fun-filled piece of mail? A better question yet: Is it worth the $15-30+ yearly fee? Sure, that means you're paying quite a bit less per issue than buying straight off a shelf at the grocery store (where each issue can run $2+ a pop), but, unless you're a die-hard fan of the publication you've signed up for and frequently seek out and flip through months and years-old copies hidden under the bed and in the attic, you might be better off cutting the subscription altogether. Hold up, though! That doesn't mean you can't still read every week's or month's issue for dirt cheap. Here are some ways you can still enjoy your favorite publications, without forking over several dollars year after year.
Free Trials
If you've been considering signing up for a new subscription, investigate any free trial options the publisher may offer. You'll get a taste of the content, how timely the publication arrives at your doorstep, and possibly be eligible for additional perks if you do sign up. The free trial period will help you save several dollars and give you a period of time to decide whether or not the publication is worth spending your hard-earned cash on week to week or month to month.
Secondhand
Stores like Half Price Books sell the most recent issues of magazine publications for half the price or less, and often have copies available just days after the issues are mailed out (subscribers can sell the copies they've read to the store, so supply depends on how long it takes for readers to finish the latest issue.) Better yet,secondhand shops like this mark down issues older than a month to 25-50 cents a piece!
Library
If you're already a member of the library, why not utilize that membership and check out your favorite magazines along with the books or movies you're borrowing, too? Many libraries subscribe to not only popular, well-known magazine publications, but also those more specific titles - including the maths and sciences.
Share
Know a family member, friend, roommate, or someone else in your social circle who has similar interests to yours? Maybe you already know of someone who reads the same publications as you? Suggest splitting the cost of a subscription and share.
Online
Most of your favorite magazines have their own websites. While they may not post full-length articles from the latest issue directly to their site, they tend to share similar content and extras. The benefit of a publication's online presence is that it's far more interactive, allowing you to comment on articles, sharing thoughts and feedback with fellow readers as well as authors and editors. Plus, they'll often share videos, photos, and games that you don't get from flipping through the hard copy. Not only will finding alternative ways to enjoy your favorite magazine publications save you a lot of money in the long-run, it will also save you from the clutter that ensues after months and months of tossing your already-read copies about the house!