⚡️ Check how much you’re paying: Everywhere you turn, it’s a buck or more a month. Check your subscriptions for increases with what I use: Rocket Money.
9 quick and easy ways to save money on tech
I’m a cheapskate. There, I said it. I go digging for ways to save money in my tech life, and I’m happy to pass them along to you, too.
1. Use a tool to find coupons: Searching online leads to codes that don’t work or, worse, malware-infected sites. I like Honey. It runs in the background to look for deals on what you’re already buying. CamelCamelCamel will alert you if there’s a price drop on something you’re eyeing on Amazon.
2. Try free versions of expensive software: Unless you absolutely need Microsoft 365, don’t waste your money. I’ve recommended LibreOffice, the free, open-source office software suite, for years, and it just got a major update. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux.
3. Check your phone provider perks: T-Mobile includes free Netflix, Apple TV+ and Hulu (with ads). Verizon customers get the Disney bundle, Walmart+, Paramount+, Apple One, Netflix and Max.
4. Get something for nothing: Open Facebook or Nextdoor and search for “buy nothing” and your town or city name. Pick the one closest to you. Voila, you’ve just found a group of folks who give things away for free. You can offload stuff you no longer need and pick up a thing or two. Freecycle is another good option.
5. Use one of my favorite Amazon tricks: If there’s something I want but am not ready to buy, I add it to my cart, then click Save for later. Every now and then, scroll that list. When an item goes on sale, you’ll see it there.
6. Cancel what you’re not using: I use Rocket Money* for that. It’s an app that quickly finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel those you no longer want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $360! Why Barry had three paid weather apps, I’ll never know.
7. Trade your email for discounts: Brands email special deals to their newsletter subscribers. If there’s a brand you love, go to their website. Trust me, they want you to sign up, so the forms will be front and center.
8. Get paid to play: Apps like Swagbucks let you take surveys, play games, watch videos and scan grocery receipts to earn rewards. You can cash ‘em out for gift cards starting at just $1 or save up to $250 to receive that amount of cash in PayPal deposits. There’s also a $10 welcome bonus. Download on Android or iOS.
9. Shop refurbished or open-box items: Amazon Warehouse is an excellent source for video games, appliances, power tools, cameras, school supplies and electronics. You can use your Prime benefits for free shipping, and there’s a good return policy. Just check the item’s condition so you know what you’re getting. Apple sells refurbished gear, too.
🤣 What do you call a cheap wig? A small-price toupee. (You laughed!)
Don’t get left behind – Stay tech ahead
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
- National radio show: Find your local station or listen to the podcast
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- Watch: On Kim’s YouTube channel
- Podcast: “Kim Komando Today” – Listen wherever you get podcasts
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Money tip: Easiest way to cancel your unused subscriptions
Is there anything worse than reviewing your monthly bank statement to find your bottom line significantly lower than you thought?
Random subscription services probably get you more often than not. Old streaming accounts, in-app purchases made by accident, and other monthly fees you’d rather leave in the past. Tap or click here for tricks to saving money on streaming services.
I saved $456.76 in 5 minutes using an app that finds subscription services
Do you ever look at your monthly bills and wonder where some of those crazy numbers come from?
I’m willing to bet some of those costly digits come from subscriptions you’re signed up for. Do you use all of them enough to justify the expense? That’s money automatically being taken out of your account every month or year.
Is it worth it? Must-have apps vs. the money drains
Seeing a charge come through for a streaming service you forgot you even subscribed to is a special kind of frustration.
This is bound to happen if you sign up for free trials but never set a reminder to cancel before you’re charged. Here are the simple steps to stop this from ever happening again.
Stop paying for things you don’t use: It might sound counterintuitive, but with many streaming services, you can cancel immediately after subscribing (or let Rocket Money* do it for you!) and still enjoy the entire trial period. Just check their policy first. Perfect for when there’s one movie on your to-watch list.
Save some cash: If you’re trying to get a handle on all your streaming services and other subscriptions, use Rocket Money. It helped me save $532 a year by canceling services I wasn’t using and had forgotten about. So smart!
It takes forever to find all your subscriptions — Use this shortcut
It’s not easy to stay on top of all the apps and services you’re spending money on each month. Individually, they might not be much — but together, they probably add up to a big chunk of change.
If you’re struggling to keep track of subscription costs, you can certainly look over your expenses the old-fashioned way. But we’ve got to warn you. It’ll take more time than you realize. That’s why we like Rocket Money, a sponsor of Kim’s national radio show.
Streaming services from most to least expensive
Wouldn’t it be great if all your favorite shows and movies were on the same platform? Sadly, all the good stuff is scattered across different apps, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and HBO Max. If you’re juggling multiple subscriptions, these streaming services can burn a massive hole in your wallet.