Mostly Eastern Iowa based business that I like doing business with. Even though I did create a page on Non-commercial values if I have to buy something these are the places I would. another
page for getting started in life on the right foot
Page I setup for where to Donate Things but also could be a good place to get things Free or cheap :)
Page I added for Student Discount
Page for Low Income Resources
I based the below list off of this the list on this website moneyforpoet.com
and also http://www.johntreed.com/shoppinglist.html
"The number of options are simply overwhelming. Even if you somehow have money for all them, you don’t have the time. Here’s a sample:"
I have a page all about this called get health get food.
Bauman & Co
A small independent shop that has been around since 1909 they have good quality clothes and a nice amount of big and talk since it will fit someone over 6 ft 5 and large :)
(319) 895-8692
124 1st Street SW
Mount Vernon, IA 52314
https://www.baumansofmtvernon.com/big-tall
Theisen's
They make good work clothes for men women etc...
JC Penney
khakis - Foundry or Levi’s New Freedom Big & Tall Men (flat front)
Gold Toe white quarter socks size 12-15 ( in black too & crew)
Kohl’s
Khakis - Croft & Barrow Big & Tall Men (flat front)
100% cotton sheets (best), not microfiber (cheaper)
100% cotton quilt (cool, not hot) - polyester is hot
Online clothing options
They have good amount of plus size options.
environmentally friendly clothes for men.
https://www.goldbond.com/en-us/products/friction-defense
Shoes
New Balance 990 Made in USA 990v6 they are about $200 https://www.newbalance.com/990/ Reddit with more INFO HERE
Superfeet run support low arch (carbon) https://www.superfeet.com/products/run-support-low-arch-new Size Men 13.5 - 15
Inspired to sew has a good mending class lots of resources in Cedar Rapids.
I have an old Husqvarna Viking model 5000 I went to some meetings of the local chapter of the American Sewing Guild https://www.asg.org/ they all spoke highly of the Vinton Sewing center for low cost and helpfulness.
Inspired to sew
Phone: (319) 373-0334
Vinton Sewing Center
(319) 472-2660
Barbers Etc. great prices, great people, have been going for years By Appointment Only (319) 393-7981 https://www.barbersetc.net/ I also built this website. If you would like a website like the barbershop reach out to me :)
Midwest Computer Brokers Link http://mcbia.com/
for used computer & accessories you can get a good used laptop for $100 I tend to get top tier ones for around $300
Located in Walford you can call them at (319) 845-2075
Darrel's Video City
Specializes in used & New TVs along with repair they closed :(
They are in Marion you can call them at (319) 377-5621
TV I have Samsung 40" TV is UN40H5003AFXAZ This is the only TV I have ever bought and its in my living room hopefully it will last a long time.
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."
I have ta Free Google Voice number I mostly use Google Voice because it integrates with my web broswers and can have one voicemail that I never need to empty out and get emails of voicemails sent to me along with emails of text people send etc..
Top 3 phone options
1) AT&T
I like the annual 16GB of data a month and unlimited talk and text plan from AT&T Prepaid.
its $327 upfront for a year of AT&T Cellphone service it gets me on their network so its not on T-moblie.
https://www.att.com/prepaid/multi-month-plans/
https://www.reddit.com/r/NoContract/comments/e5yn2l/att_prepaid_300_for_12_months_promo_advice_when/
Why would I pick AT&T I like their network and to have them as a backup to my T-mobile hotspot
2) Redpocket
The cheapest plan for a year of service by far and why I would say ... Always have 2 phones esccapically if you have a side hustle or something
Your 1st phone line is considered your personal line so for that option you would want to get the Redpocket $30 a year plan.. So you could get phone service for just $32 a year with all taxes and fees this would be a good backup line and the idea line to use for your personal line. $2.50/Mo Red Pocket Prepaid Plan: 200 Talk 1000 Text 200MB you can get it only on eBay Link
I also think the above is a good option for someone who doesnt like to talk or text much and would perfer email or socail media as a way to reach them or just wants to be mostly left alone. This along with Google Voice i think could be doable for people on a low income or low contact level.
3) US Moblie
This looks like the cheapest price for unlimited talk and text at a gross price of $96 a year when paid in full for a year of service.
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
Two Independent service providers
South Slope Cooperative Communications A member owned co-op that offers fiber to the home. https://www.southslope.com/
ImOn has Fiber to The Home (FTTH) http://www.imon.net/
FCC Rate Cards
https://www.southslope.com/residential-broadband-labels/
https://www.imon.net/broadbandlabels/fiber
backup of above data
https://web.archive.org/web/20250425110458/https://www.imon.net/broadbandlabels/fiber
https://web.archive.org/web/20250320081007/https://www.southslope.com/residential-broadband-labels/
Otherwise see if your town has a co-op.
Other main providers in Iowa would be Mediacom they used a hybrid fiber coax or (HFC) built plant. A lot of times their network sucks because the last mile of connection is on a shared bandwidth pool and when little Johnny is playing world of Warcraft or some such game good luck watching Youtube etc..
CenturyLink was Northwest Bell back in the Ma Bell days in pre 1980's divestiture era. The staff was union and they were the only choice for phone service there was no cellphones. They offer DSL service and if you are close enough to a CO or central office you can get some good speeds but if you are far away then good luck.
Over the Air TV is a great way to get free content after a cheap setup. If you can get a roof antenna your picture quality will greatly improve.
https://www.channelmaster.com/ FLATenna 35 I bought a few of them for $20 each and give them out to people in town who could use them. I like my room top one but I think for most people that cant put one on their roof this would be the best option its good to have it for weather or when the internet goes out so you have some form of live media I mostly watch live weather https://www.kcrg.com/weather/ sometimes I will watch PBS or some other Live show but I only watch maybe 10 hours a month wroth of OTA TV.
getting some sort of DVR could be good. I used the one below but I don't really DVR much.
Simple and cheap offline DVR setup that can be setup for under $100
WH 150 Homeworx DVR
https://www.amazon.com/Mediasonic-HomeWorx-Converter-Recording-HW-150PVR/dp/B00I2ZBD1U
misc. free TV and data
free to air international channels FTA via a Ku band dish
Dreamcatcher satellite data radio on L band https://othernet.is/
If its at a restaurant or grocery store etc. here is a link to the page I did on getting food and getting health
Bus Service
I cover this a lot more in the Student Discounts page.
Cedar Rapids City Bus Website
info about times rates etc...
After Hours bus services
NTS (Neighborhood Transportation Service) operates a curb-to-curb van service, and provides affordable night and weekend transportation to work, school, or life skill classes during times when the fixed route city buses do not operate. http://www.horizonsfamily.org/how-we-help/transportation/
Gray hound Used to be (in 2021 even) $30 each way for a trip from Iowa City to Chicago now it closer to $100 each way.
Megabus to Chicago or most other major Hubs around the Midwest Website
Cedar Rapids Allegiant Air is a low-cost airline that fly's out of
Hotels Service
Super 8
Its interesting on how the pricing and deals work out with out with different hotels
Senior Citizen Service Providers
I am a life member of the Elderly Consortium of Cedar Rapids they have monthly meetings plus networking events. With my business being senior ciztion tech support this has been a really good group and able to meet a lot of the other providers in the area no one else does the work that I do tho. https://www.crelderly.org/
Landlords of Linn County and Iowa
I am a vendor for this group it has paid for itself with being able to talk at the start of each meeting and plug my services. If anyone wants to get started in real estate in the Cedar Rapids metro area being a service provider for this group doing power washing painting etc is a way to get your foot in the door and yearly fees are $100 https://landlordsoflinncounty.org/
Speed dating
I have gone to a few speed dating events they cost $50 and have been a way to meet new people https://scottsdalematchmaker.com/
Alter Ego Comics
http://alteregoia.blogspot.com/
Independent comic book shop in Marion
Mindbridge Game Library
a nonprofit group that promotes gaming website
https://www.cardsagainsthumanity.com/
https://store.tesacollective.com/products/co-opoly-the-game-of-co-operatives
I try to look at the utilitarian value one receives. I buy as many things as I can used. I have only bought my bed, recliner & Cosco tables new everything else I have i got for next to nothing.
Beds are used a lot of hours so are desk & chairs if you are at your desk at a computer.
I have about a half dozen of these tables I use them as most of my table tops. 20" x 48" Vinyl Upholstered Steel Frame Folding Table Black
https://www.walmart.com/ip/43266546
Lebeda Mattress http://lebeda.com/
Marion Iowa based Mattress company good quality beds.
Welter Storage Equipment Co Inc http://www.welterstorage.com/
Good deals on new & used office equipment based out of iowa
Iowa City futon
Full size house special... not sure if they are open but replaced my mattress with them.
http://www.iowacityfutons.com/
My chair
The Joshua rocker recliner from La-Z-Boy is
https://www.slumberland.com/p/joshua-rocker-recliner/La-Z-BoyJoshuaRockerRecliner.html
I mostly buy used stuff at garage sales
Stuff etc and Salvation Army are good places to look for used furniture.
A Green Lawn solution Lawn Mower Fiskars reel mower Link to Review.
the company that is great for putting https://tricounty-iowa.com/
The best type of roofing materials malarkey class 4 shingles they are well built and get you an insurance discount after the derecho of 2020 I paid an extra 2k over what insurance was going to pay to get them upgraded
Balloons Etc. And The Costume Emporium http://crballoonsetc.com/
Independently owned and operated over 3,000 thousand costumes & lots of other interesting things.
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.
other low cost sports to play. http://www.budgetsaresexy.com/2013/01/9-cheap-sports-of-the-un-rich/
YMCA
Low income under 20k a year $26.60 a month or $300 a year. https://www.crmetroymca.org/join/
or
the MAC the best gym in the CR area. https://the-mac.com/
You should also check this plan with the https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/ for the discount plan
https://www.activeandfitdirect.com/ Its $28 s month with that discount
I love the Public library network in the area great books lots of education to be had :)
Overall I avoid magazine or many other types of monthly Subscriptions. I use Free email subscriptions.
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.
Dance places around CR
https://www.tcdanceclubcedarrapids.com/
Phone 319-365-1275
https://ballroomofeasterniowa.com/
https://www.czechheritagefoundation.com/
I would not say I boycott but I tend to go to other places if the option is there. I added this after black Friday 2023.
Target
Target has higher prices and less section than Walmart they act like they are the better place to shop but are still very exploitative and leave lots to be desired. They also are so woke but then they are weak they back down and just piss everyone off ;) I have bought many things online from Walmart and Amazon and have not had many problem overall but the few times I have gone on site or bought online from Target it was just a lame frustrating time.
DO Not shop here you can find it at better prices and easier at other places.
TEMU
I bought a few $100 dollars worth of things from them between super bowl 2023 and the summer of 2023 the more I learned from what they did and the quality of the products the spyware of the apps etc I stopped buying from them I bought some hats glasses etc but I got electric toys some tools etc I think most of it I bought because it was so cheap it was not things that I was looking to get so it mostly added more junk in my house so not sure what the value of that is.
Costco
I really wanted to like this place I have only been here 2 times in my life and only bought one thing from them. I think they get good quality stuff and pay living wages etc... but I had a problem with my membership I order the product below and Discover Card canceled that order I called Discover up and had them allow that order to go thru but they still had my membership canceled which I did not know at the time. I then went to Costco a few months later and wanted to get my member card printed and it was there that I found out I was not billed and did not have a membership. I am closer to Cedar Rapids than I am to Iowa City so it is easier for me to just go to Sam's and that is what I do. I have a lot of info about getting the most out of Sam's club on this page how I get free memberships etc...
Firman 7500W Running / 9400W Peak Tri Fuel Generator link
Walmart*
I only go 1 or 2 times a year on site to Walmart in Cedar Rapids or one of the "Big Cities" in Iowa. I still order things online and have them dropped off at my house about once a month or so. I will go to some of the small town ones when I am out and about in those areas but I don't make a special trip for them. *so online only and small towns.
I will add more to this list as I think of stores or businesses I will not do business with.
A program that can save you money on LED light bulbs.
Save even more with Be Bright: Iowa utilities’ lighting discount program Be Bright is a program sponsored by participating utilities. http://iowabebright.com/whatisbebright
I have a page all about this topic.
I have a number of pages that can help with this
When money is tight checkout my Free page and my Low Income page
I am working on a Cremation and Celebration of life page on the site for setting something like that up.
Death and celebration of life of life planning page
Donate your body to U of Iowa
https://medicine.uiowa.edu/acb/dbphowtodonate
prepaid burial plan from Iowa cremation
for under $2,500 you can get this paid off and taken care of.
https://www.iowacremation.com/
l setup a page about the above topic too.