Saving Money

A lot of the items below will save you green and are also green for the earth... I am putting this on its own page now it was part of the Shopping page for years but I felt that I had so many different things to cover that this would be the best way to go about it.

Get it FREE

Mostly Free software, Media but also Air, condoms, etc... check the page out.

Lowering Food & Health cost free food etc...

If its at a restaurant or grocery store etc. I did a page on getting food and getting health. A page so you can print your list for Free https://www.freeprintablegrocerylist.com/

Housing

1# one cost

Housing is the largest cost for 90% of people This is why I put these in this order starts with Health then home and then transportation etc....

Owner Occupied Duplex

This is my personal favorite as it is something that I have done since I have owned my 1st and so far only home. I like the tax breaks and the income. Page about Duplex.

Small apartment unit in town

This is another thing I did I lived in a small one bedroom apartment I was able to get a great location at a low rate because it had a bad view and was small. I would not have wanted to own this as a condo because then I would have had too much money vested in that place. It was nice to be able to walk away. If you want to live downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa I would recommend the place I stayed at http://riverviewcr.com/ I think the rents have gone up a lot since I was there. Its a good location and good place. I did not have a car when I lived and worked down there. it was $600 a month back in 2016.

House in rural area

With taxes and values being lower this could be another option especially if you can work fully remotely and just want a cheap low cost quiet area to live in then check it out. I am not going to list places but Iowa has many. If you have to drive in town or go to one of the big cities in Iowa then this may not be worth it at all.

Career

Day Job

See what you can find for work try to find something local. its better to be fully remote and free or at least within walking or 1 bus route (don't try to play transfer the bus ) I have more Career info on this page.

Places you work for can offer some good deals, I have gotten:

Free or discounted gym memberships, Free or most likely subsidized Health Care, Free internet, Dollar for Dollar Matching on 401(k) with immediate vesting some additional corporate deals and discounts.

Looking for work at linkedin.com or https://www.corridorcareers.com/ could be good to get an idea of the jobs that are out there.

Lots of Free sites and places that you can build your resume on here is one site https://www.instantresumetemplates.com/

side hustle / small business

Door Dashing, restaurant work, house cleaning and so many other things fall under this group. I think its better to have a self-employed 2nd job than trying to work a 2nd job for someone else. the tax breaks and options for making money are endless then you have control over your schedule and are able to keep the profits you would have to pay sales and self-employment tax etc but this buys you freedom and a way out.

Transportation

Bus Services & non-car ownership

I cover this a lot more in the Student Discounts page. On the living without a car page. low income page I talk about the City bus and how you can get free fare with disability or low income.

Car Owners

Pick the right time and the right place to fill up I know some independent gas stations have a day a week where gas is 7 cents off a gallon. Gas Buddy can be your Gas shopping Bud too to help lower gas cost too. Sam's Club and Costco is also an option if you are not too far away from one they are discounted rates and if you are already there picking stuff save on gas too.

Volunteering Groups and activities

Mindbridge Game Library & Events

MindBridge is a nonprofit group that promotes gaming website They also have some convention that are local to eastern Iowa you can pre-order a membership at a much lower rate than at the door. Anime Iowa has done in the past a black Friday online sale https://animeiowa.com/. They do Gaming Sci-Fi and Anime one in the fall spring and summer.

https://iowa-icon.com/

I go to ICON Iowa every year its in Cedar Rapids and its easy to get to I like to help with it.

Volunteering for 20 hours during the convention will get you a free membership to the next convention.

There are a few areas where you can earn double hours, including setup, teardown and Friday registration desk.

Note that if you expect to get to 20 hours after teardown,

you should let the registration head and/or the volunteer coordinator know before clean-up begins, and remind them afterward to make sure you get credit for clean-up.

Friends of the Library

I have been a member of a number of friends of the library groups its one of my favorite groups that I have been a member of. I have a life membership at 2 local libraries one in Marion and the other Hiawatha Library because I have been a member over 15 years+ and have done so much with that group. You can get free and discounted books media and more that the group wants to discard. I help with the book sale days as well as the donation days. We will have lunch after the event. Here is my page on Libraries. they also have some good event pages worth checking out.

https://events.crlibrary.org/events?

https://marionpubliclibrary.org/programs-events/

https://www.hiawathapubliclibrary.org/events?

Church's and other groups also offer things like the above these are just the groups that I have done the most with. I have gone to different dinner bowling and other social events with different groups.

Free Theaters & Musical Shows

USHERS at Theatre Cedar Rapids

https://www.theatrecr.org/support/volunteer-opportunities/

Our largest single group of active volunteers (more than 250) are TCR ushers. They take tickets, hand out programs, and/or assist our patrons to their seats. It’s a great way to see TCR shows at no cost! You may also call the box office at 319-366-8591 or email tickets@theatrecr.org.

Work at VenuWorks

So I will have this listed as a way to make money too.

You can get paid with this option. I've done this work volunteering with the Jaycees and with some other groups. It doesn't pay the best at $9.50 an hour but I thought it would be something to at least interview for and look at and see how flexible they are because you get paid to go to events basically. The minimum events they want you to go to each month is 2 but then that can get you out of the house and paid to do something https://www.creventslive.com/p/jobs/part-time

This has been something that I have wanted to do for a while I think the social aspect of it would be fun the fact that the event is free then and it really makes it more of a community Theatre vibe.

Cedar Rapids Opera

https://www.cropera.org/contribute https://www.artsiowa.com/orchestra-iowa/support-us/volunteer-opportunities/

Meals on Wheels I have done volunteer work here off and on for years I had an internship in high school with Horizons credit counseling and then worked an hour in the kitchen to get a free meal at a phone company I worked at once a month they would delivery meals to people in the area with their trucks

https://www.signupgenius.com/nonprofit/volunteer-opportunities-ideas.cfm

https://www.nextavenue.org/volunteering-retirement-how-get-great-freebies/

https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/comments/159nkyn/volunteering_and_all_the_freebies/

https://www.signupgenius.com/nonprofit/volunteer-opportunities-ideas.cfm

https://volunteer.iowa.gov/volunteering/individuals/find-volunteer-opportunities

Freemasonry

Most Masonic stated meetings have a meal before the meeting you can donate a few bucks to the meal and get a good meal and fellowship. I tend to go to the lodge I am a member of and a few other lodges a year as well. The member dues are around $130 a year or so so about $10 a month and the brotherhood has been very good to me over the last 15 years. For more info you can go to their website or reach out to me or check out my page on Freemasons.

Fitness

Home Gym or Membership etc.

tTe MAC is the best gym in the CR area.

You should also check this plan with the Iowa Farm Bureau for the discount plan You have to join the Bureau but it only cost $40 per year.

https://www.activeandfitdirect.com/ Its $28 a month with that discount but that is weekend only access and limited use. So to really use it you need to have Gold Access which is another $10 Bi-weekly or an additional $260 a year.

So for the cost of everything

Farm Bureau membership $40 a year

$10 X 26 payments =$260

$28 a month X 12 =$336 a year

Total is $636 + tax, fees and more a year its basically $60 a month.

This is 1 of the more expensive things I pay for each year but I like the health and social aspect of it and have been a member for over 10 years. Full Market Rate would be $1,200+ a year about 6 of those years I got it either free or below market from old jobs. https://jointhe-mac.com/7894-m-a-c-xtreme/

Sporting Equipment

I bought a bowling ball & shoes some years ago from a Bowling Shop in the area the shoes have paid for themselves with not having to pay shoe rental fees. I have page all about the ROI of my shoes.

other low cost sports to play. http://www.budgetsaresexy.com/2013/01/9-cheap-sports-of-the-un-rich/

Shopping

I have a page all about shopping on less Link

I also have a general shopping list page too link

Thrift Stores & 2nd hand shops

I have a whole page on places to donate too and that also make a good place to shop at as well. If you can get it for less go there. I think the price and the deals used to be lower cost and better deals but it just depends on the place what you have and price etc...

Get Power

Rechargeable Batteries

I like chargeable batteries you buy them once recharge with time of day billing at night so that you can use the lower cost charging time. Then you don't have to throw them out after one use they can keep going and going :)

Panasonic K-KJ17MCC82A 4-Position Charger with 2 AAA & 8 AA eneloop Batteries & 2 C & 2 D Spacers link

check your power levels

emporia vue gen 2 https://shop.emporiaenergy.com/products/gen-2-emporia-vue-whole-home-energy-monitor

Kill A watt

Solar on the roof

This is something that has interested me for a long time I don't mind paying the 15k up front to then have free power for the next 30 year I know the tax breaks and other factors are helping with this product but I feel like its empowering even if its not the best return on investment ROI.

Utilities & Things around the house that save...

Roof insulation upgrades

This can be a fair amount of money upfront but over the long hall has a goo ROI. my Roof went from R11 to R49 I had an energy audit done after the insulation was added and each unit only loess less than $40 a year in energy cost. But it was still 4K or so upfront to make this happen.

https://critterstop.com/post/roi-when-replacing-attic-insulation/

Opening Windows VS AC VS Window Fan

a compromise could be a window fan

Comfort Zone CZ319WT 9" Twin Window Fan with Reversible Airflow Control, Auto-Locking Expanders and 2-Speed Fan Switch Its around $35 or so for this link to it.

If the humidity level outside is much above 65%, you are usually much better off keeping your windows closed at night and using your AC instead.

A Green Lawn solution Lawn Mower Fiskars reel mower Link to Review.

Bathroom & water use

TP in bulk at Sam's club

LUXE Bidet NEO 120 - Self-Cleaning Nozzle, Fresh Water Non-Electric Bidet Attachment for Toilet Seat, Adjustable Water Pressure, Rear Wash Link

LOKiVE Toothpaste Tube Squeezer Dispenser, 9 Pcs Plastic Tube Squeezer Holder Toothpaste Clips for Saving Toothpaste etc Link

Dollar Tree has 2 piece Mesh Strainers Kitchen Sink that work great for the bathroom sink and show/tub to keep things from going down em and its only $1.25

Navy Showers can lower how much time water etc is used to wash.

Misc. Water

I don't have a dishwasher nor an Ice maker just use I trays. but I only drink water so I don't use Ice that much.

Use cold water to wash most of your regular clothes, only use one rinse cycle.

Calendars

Calendars on your phone are the idea option but having an Needlepoint Hand Crafted Perpetual Calendar is a nice one to have all the wall its a green option so you never need to buy one or use one the Free ones that come in the mail it only takes a few minutes to switch over each month and then it lets think out the month.

This site has Free printable calendars https://www.rocketcalendar.com/ some places that I have doanted to once in my life send me a free calenar each year so I dont need to print or pay for any.

Outdoor clothes line & non-electric washing machine

I use both of these every so often its nice to be able to dry clothes at the cost of FREE and this came with my duplex. No power needed just let it all air dry.

Wonder Wash I got it for under $70

I use it for small batch of clothes' to clean and

Cleans laundry in 1 to 2 minutes

Pays for itself within 60 days.

Fully portable, no hookup required

https://laundry-alternative.com/products/the-wonderwash

Fire Pit

Can burn stuff cook for Free just need a lighter and stuff to burn tree scarps paper etc... All you need is a lighter and you are good to go to get started

Furniture & Appliances

Iowa City futon

Full size house special

http://www.iowacityfutons.com/

Appliances

Toaster ovens & microwaves can save you more money than just using a standard oven.

Misc

24 Pieces Charger Cable Saver, Silicone Flexible Cable Wire Protector, Mouse Cable Protector, Suit for All Cellphone Data Lines Link

Flip It Bottle Emptying Kit, Single Pack-Kitchen/All-Purpose Link

Spatty Daddy Kitchen Spatula Set (6 and 12 Inch Blue) Link

Media

TV Movies & News

Over the Air TV is a great way to get free content after a cheap setup. If you can get a roof antenna get one your picture quality will greatly improve I was able to get one and have it installed for $200 or so.

If you are looking for a basic OTA antenna this one cost me $20 once and is a really good one.

https://www.channelmaster.com/products/flatenna-35-indoor-tv-antenna-cm-4001hdbw

Getting some sort of DVR would be good.

Simple and cheap offline DVR setup that can be setup for under $100

WH 150 Homeworx DVR Works nice no internet needed link

I only watch PBS and weather otherwise I don't watch TV much.

https://www.freeblockbuster.org/

lots of free movies DVD's that you can checkout for free.

Little free libraries is another project that I have done a lot of work on.

Do free word search with https://www.freewordsearch.net/

Music

Iowa Public Radio nonprofit noncommercial radio iowapublicradio.org

YouTube has some of the best music and its free and easy to download the videos as MP3 files to listen anywhere. I have mostly old Motorola phones you can download the Motorola's radio app and listen to FM radio service from your phone without paying fees or seeing ads you still hear ads on commercial radio though.

Most phones either had this app on them or I was able to get it added to them and then I could record the radio. I could get the data that the radio would send through and it turned the old phone into an FM radio. It would even work on some stations without the headphones plugged in, but it's a pretty cool application with that

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.motorola.fmplayer

Media Free Online

Project Gutenberg - Free books https://www.gutenberg.org/

Internet Archive Music Books website way back machine https://archive.org/

LibriVox - Free audio books https://librivox.org/

Educational sites and tools online as

YouTube is a great site to start at.

Printable things

If you have a printer here is some cool things to print off

Printers and Ink

it maybe best to just go to the library and pay per page you need to print there then that way you dont have to take care of the overhead of a printer etc

the local library near me charges Library offers printing for 15¢ per page black and white (letter sized) and 50¢ per page in color (letter sized). Printing can be paid for in cash. Cash is preferred but card payment is also accepted. they also have some remote options for most people who dont print things off that much this may be the best option. HP charges customers 10 cents per page to print

but if you do get one get a Brother Laser Printer

https://www.inkowl.com/page/brotherlaserprin/

https://www.printableconstitution.com/

https://www.printableprotestsigns.com/

https://www.heroprintables.com/

https://www.adultcoloringpages.net/

don't pay for the Hallmark moment print your own :) dollar tree could be a good backup option too tho. https://www.dollartree.com/expressions-from-hallmark

https://www.birthdaycardsprintable.com/

https://www.freeprintablegreetingcards.org/

https://www.swifttips.com/

https://www.freeprintableflags.com/

https://www.printableboardgames.net/

https://www.freeprintablegifttags.net/

https://www.printablepaperdolls.net/

https://www.freewritingprompts.net/

https://www.exampletoasts.com/

https://www.instantmonologues.com/

Computers Tech & Telecom

Cell Phone Service

is one of the cheapest phone providers out there. I have them along with a Free Google Voice number I mostly use Google Voice because it integrates with Google hangouts so I can use it cross platform.

https://www.google.com/voice/

If you don't talk much Red Pocket could be a good pick for phone service at $30 a year I use it as my backup phone line. Red pocket is now $45 a year which is still a good deal but unless its a 2nd phone maybe best just to spend the extra $50 or so and get unlimited.

I am looking at options for phone service where it cost $100 a year and you get unlimited talk and text with some data. I think US mobile maybe the most bank for your buck for the fact that its about $100 for unlimited talk and text

Internet

The best deal out there spend $750 get Join the Calyx Institute after the 1st year its $500 each additional year for unlimited 5G internet. On the back end it runs on T-Mobile network

https://calyxinstitute.org/

Used Tech

Midwest Computer Brokers Link http://mcbia.com/

for used computer & accessories you can get a good used laptop for $100 I like the $300 range right now and can get something almost as good as a brand new $3K+ PC.

Now is a good time to swtich over to Linux Mint I am using that right now on an old dell latuine laptop the price for these laptops will drop as windows 11 becomes mainstream but less people will be buying new PCs but the market will be flooded with these windows 10 laptops that will no longer work. I have enjoyed the linux Mint PC it can do 90% of what I wanted to do on windows

New Tech

Kirkwood Eagle Tech http://bookstore.kirkwood.edu/eagletech

a great place to buy a New Apple product or other new tech thing with a warranty & discounts

"You'll get them tax-free and at the same academic pricing we offer our full-time staff, faculty and credit students."

Smartphone's

I like buying Android phones new because of the software updates security and just overall performance I use my cellphone way more than I use my PC most days and it seems that the tech for Cellphones is moving at a much faster rate. A functional phone can be had for under $100 but an Ideal phone would be around $300 or so

Subscriptions

Overall I avoid magazine or many other types of monthly Subscriptions. I use Free email subscriptions.

Bankruptcy Planning & Advanced buys

Most people do not plan to go bankrupt but millions do each year and its good to have an understanding and basic plan in place should something like that happen to you health care cost are the number 1 reason this happens to people. Chapter 7 tends to be the best way to go that just gives you a clean slate. If you shop till you drop you may need this :) This was growing with so much info that I created a whole page about it. https://www.letterofhardship.net/