If you're struggling to pay all of your varied expenses while still having some extra cash for decorating your space, you are most certainly not alone. A low salary and the basic costs of living make for a tight budget, with very little wiggle room. One easy way to cut down on expenses, though, is to buy a few subscriptions. Almost anyone can find a subscription that would save them at least a few dollars in the long run. If you're looking for new ways to save money, check out these 7 subscriptions and memberships that may help you pinch some pennies:
If you're an avid online shopper (as many budgeters are), you may find becoming an Amazon Prime member to be very worth the $99 per year membership fee. Amazon Prime offers a whole host of money-saving benefits, including free two-day shipping. For those of us who buy enough online that shipping charges easily add up to more than $100 a year, that already makes Prime worth it. But the membership service also includes great perks like access to a number of free streaming movies and TV shows, unlimited music streaming, and free e-books that you can borrow for as long as you want.
Amazon Prime isn't the only great subscription from the online company– Amazon Subscribe and Save is another great service that can save members money. The service allows members to have everything from food items to toiletries to other home necessities (think toilet paper and toothpaste) delivered to their house on a set day each month. The great part is, on top of Amazon's already low prices, the service offers free delivery, extra discounts, and 15% more deducted from the delivery total if you're getting more than five items delivered on one day.
Magazines are probably the first thing you think of when you hear the word "subscriptions." That's because magazine subscriptions have been saving people money for years and years. If you find yourself picking up a couple magazines here and there throughout the month, you're likely paying more than you would on a magazine subscription that will only cost you $15-30 a year. The caveat here is to only buy magazine subscriptions if you know you will actually have the time and energy to read them.
Online TV streaming services are wildly popular for being inexpensive and convenient, with sites like Netflix and Hulu leading the way. Thousands of television shows and movies are available at the touch of a button, which means you can watch whatever you want, whenever you want. Streaming memberships can help save quite a bit of money, especially if they're used to replace an expensive cable TV package.
For those who love new beauty products and trends, a Birchbox subscription is a good idea. If you're already spending a lot of money each month at stores like Sephora and Ulta, a Birchbox subscription may be a good way to limit that expense. For $10 per month, Birchbox sends a selection of exciting sample-sized beauty and lifestyle products and gives you the chance to try each one out before deciding to purchase it.
Bulk-shopping warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club are a proven way to save money if you can afford to buy in bulk and you know how to shop smart.
Because they offer bulk items, warehouse clubs are a little more cost-effective– if you have roommates, you may want to consider splitting a membership and buying items for everyone in the apartment.
If you don't have roommates, even a membership card at your local grocery store will likely save you money. Most grocery store chains offer members-only deals or coupons that could end up saving you a lot in the long run.
Spotify is the music lover's answer to not wanting to buy every new song they like. For $9.99 per month, members of Spotify Premium can listen to any song they want at any time, even without access to the internet. Members can also create playlists of their favorite songs and avoid advertisements and other restrictions.
Anyone with a car should consider becoming an AAA member because it's a great way to save money. AAA memberships begin at $47 per year, which includes 24/7 roadside assistance for things like flat tires and breakdowns.
You get more than just roadside assistance. Being a AAA member can gets you exclusive deals on concert tickets, restaurants, stores, and deals with many other companies.
Almost all of these subscriptions are a great way to save money, but to limit your spending even more, consider asking for one as a gift!