Would you spend an extra dollar to save $12.50?

It sounds crazy but when retailers offer coupons there are times when you must spend a certain amount in order to get a free item or to use a discount coupon. Yesterday I went to a body products store and had a coupon for a free item up to $13 if I spent $15. There were very few restrictions and the sales clerk even told me that I should get the highest priced item for free. “I don’t have to pay for the higher item.” No, as long as your total is at least $15 then you will be able to get an item of up to $13 for free.

I selected two sale items and a bag totaling $14. Then I bought a new item that was one dollar so I could get my free item. The dollar item is a new lotion fragrance that I am not particularly fond of, but will probably give someone as a stocking stuffer for Christmas.

Some stores only allow you to receive the item of lesser value for free. A craft store that I frequent offers 40% off coupons often and will allow you to choose which item you want to use the coupon for. Using the coupon for the items that are the highest price is the best deal and can save you money.

The extra dollar that I spent was well worth it because the free item was something I really wanted. Even though I had to spend a dollar to get something I can use as a gift, the $11.50 difference was definitely worth it to me.

Can you get a good workout for free? Or  at least cheaper than a gym membership?

There are many people who walk, run, jog or bike if they live near a safe park. Since the economic downturn, many people have given up the gym memberships and decided to take matters into their own hands. When returning form a long walk I have had neighbors say to me, “I should cancel my gym membership since I hardly ever go.” Spending money on something that you hardly ever use is rarely a frugal move. Though if people aren’t motivated to exercise at a gym, they may not be motivated to work out outside especially when they are subject to outside temperatures.

“People are choosing not to spend $3,000 to 4,000 on a treadmill,” said Colleen Logan of ICON Health & Fitness, the largest manufacturer of home fitness equipment. “But we’re seeing steady sales of treadmills for under $1,000.”

The home fitness market is roughly three times as big as the institutional market, according to SGMA [Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association].
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Logan says that while sales to health clubs and specialty stores may have plummeted, the home fitness market is down, but not devastated, as consumer habits change with the times.

“People are saying, ‘Do I really need that gym fee?’” she explained.

Paying for a gym membership is only half the battle if you aren’t going to use it, then you may as well not pay for it. Though if you have to wait a long time for the machine you want, you might think hey I can buy a machine and use it when I want. People are still exercising, but exercising differently. Even if you take public transportation instead of driving you are getting some exercise into your daily routine. When I worked in a midrise office building several years ago, there were a couple of men who would climb the stairs during their lunch breaks for exercise all without having to leave the office building.

Home equipment has increased in quality over the past five years or so and people care able to get a good workout for less than the price of an annual gym membership though exercising alone may not be what motivates people. If you have no motivation to exercise in solitude then a gym membership may be non negotiable. Other people may enjoy being outside in the fresh air even where there is a chill in the air. The question remains: how much are exercise, health and physical well being worth to you?

Anyone thinking of selling their gold might want to reconsider after reading this article on Money.com.

If you decide to sell your gold, make sure that you have delivery confirmation or a way of tracking your package, if you can’t sell it in person. Also, investigate the company that you are selling your gold to – how are complaints from customers handled?

Quietly, my cable service added more interesting features for free as part of their video on demand service. I can see more than just television shows, but also movies for free. Since I haven’t paid anything for the movie watching something that I am interested in at home is easier than going to the library or even to Redbox.

The best deal, for newer features is using Redbox. Even though the cable company claims that they have movies available on the same day that they are released. Redbox allows you to rent a movie for $1 plus tax while the cable company charges $5 plus tax. Of course there are pros and cons to Redbox, your movie might not be available, but you can go online to reserve it and you can return it to any Redbox. If you live near one, this is definitely a bonus.

Borrowing movies from the library is sometimes a difficult proposition. Horror fans may be out of luck because according to CPS librarians horror titles are often the stolen. Also some popular releases are difficult to obtain.

I haven’t tried Redbox yet, though several friends have said that it is very addicting and easy to use. The closest Redbox is over a mile away from my house which requires a special trip to get there even though factoring in the cost of gas, the movie rental would be less than the $5 charged by the cable company.