One-Minute Searches That Can Save You Money
Savings are everywhere if you take the time to look.
My sister recently used her skills to find a home that cost $80,000 less than others in the neighborhood. The sellers hadn’t gotten many requests for tours, and Sherie almost wrote off the house, too. The online pictures made it look like a money pit, but she thought something different could be going on: poor marketing by owners who needed to sell asap. It turned out she was (mostly) right.
By building a habit of searching for savings, she’d trained herself to spot a deal that most people overlooked.
We’re always told that if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. People who consistently find true bargains know something more valuable: don’t wait around for someone to sell you their “bargain.” The best savings are usually the ones you create or discover for yourself.
A quick search is always worth the effort, because there are so many discounts offered by energy companies, cell phone providers, pet stores — you name it. There are even more ways to save that aren’t spelled out, but that’s a whole different topic.
If you’re spending money on the same thing every month, chances are that there are ways to get it for less, and sometimes for free.
While the financial wins might be small at first, developing a habit of reducing costs is what leads to larger savings. Here are a few small searches that have helped me tone my money-saving muscles.
Find free digital books and audiobooks on library apps.
The cost of books can really add up, especially for bookworms on a tight budget. Before buying all of those titles, it’s worth checking a library app to see if there’s a free digital copy available.
There are many apps out there, but I’ve been using Libby for a couple of years now. It’s easy to use and has several good features, including a reader and the ability to link student/school accounts. I usually find the books I’m looking for — even current titles.
Every library builds its own digital collection, so once you connect your library card, you may need to do a few searches by author or book title to get an idea of how big your local collection is.
Online ordering from Amazon and other stores has become so automatic, it’s easy to forget about the digital library. But if your budget’s tight, a quick library search before you buy is an excellent way to get instant, free access to thousands of reads.
Get into museums for less — or free.
Speaking of the library, many have museum pass programs that allow members to “check out” free tickets with a library card. Our library offers passes to five museums in the state, including a lighthouse, a planetarium and a whaling museum.
I only discovered this when friends told me they attended an expensive event on a historic ship for free, using tickets from their library. Other libraries, like this one in Connecticut, offer reduced admission.
Although they don’t advertise it, some museums list a “suggested admission” amount on their websites. This means that if you can’t afford the price listed, you may pay a lower amount of your choice. (I’ve never seen this option printed at admissions counters, so it’s best to check their websites before you go). When you reach the admissions counter, simply let them know the total that you’re able to pay.
We did this several years ago, when we couldn’t afford the full cost of admission, but wanted our daughter to experience New York City’s museums.
Find free or reduced prices (almost) anywhere.
Want free movie tickets? One way is to get tickets to advanced screenings by plugging in your zip code and seeing if any movies are available through websites like advancescreenings.com, lionsgatescreenings.com, and more.
If you have no luck finding free advanced tickets, try checking the local theater’s website for a loyalty program discount or half-price days. AMC offers $5 movies on Tuesdays, and Regal offers value days.
A quick google search of “free admission to __” will pull up offers easily. Entering “free admission to the Bronx zoo” shows they offer free admission on Wednesdays. Our local aquarium offers free birthday admission. While the local adventure park doesn’t offer free admission, a search shows they offer a 50 percent discount through Groupon.
Speaking of Groupon: everyone knows you can find good deals there. We always look when planning ahead, but it’s also worth scanning Groupon after a last-minute decision to stop for food or an activity.
I’ve found and bought Groupons while waiting in lines for golf and for food at Panera. The trick is remembering to search.
Reclaim money you forgot about.
Do you have forgotten cash sitting out there? People have found money from uncashed paychecks, store credits and more by checking unclaimed.org. One woman’s search uncovered $50,000 from her late brother’s life insurance policy.
I just discovered that I’m owed a $13 refund from Staples, and $30 from an old EZ pass account.
This doesn’t necessarily fall under money savings, but does prove the financial power of a quick search.
Billions of unclaimed dollars are held by state governments and treasuries in the United States, according to The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). The money is held for between 1 and 5 years, and sometimes longer, depending on the state and the type of unclaimed property.
The money I claimed is from 10 years ago when I was living in Massachusetts, which holds money for up to 15 years.
If you live in the U.S. or certain provinces in Canada, you can check to see if you’ve left money behind by going to NAUPA’s website at unclaimed.org and doing a free search. Simply follow the link to your state’s database, type in your name and see if any results come up. If they do, it’s a quick process to claim the money.
After entering my contact information online, within an hour I received an email from the unclaimed property program in Massachusetts showing how much money I was due. There was a short form to complete in order to receive payment.
If there’s money to claim, you’ll be asked for your social security number and a copy of your driver’s license, so just make sure you’ve followed the secure, legitimate link directly from the email or from NAUPA’s website.
Each state handles the process slightly differently, and it can take up to 6 months to receive a check. But who can complain about waiting 6 months for money you forgot was there?
Build a habit of searching for savings.
It’s hard to get into the habit of quickly searching for savings before buying. I often forget, even after three years spent turning our finances around.
You never know where a quick search will lead. Sometimes you’ll waste time, sure. But building a research habit and an eye for bargains sets you up for good-sized payoffs that most people aren’t aware of, or simply pass by.
Let’s keep in touch.
Colleen Wright has a tendency to take the path less chosen, and likes to share unique perspectives on personal finance, living frugally and more.
