The Frugal Free Gal

Frugal Living, Money Saving Tips, Freebies, and More!

  • Selling Your Used Phones or Tablets

    sell my ipad

    Do you like to keep up with the latest trends in technology? I have several friends that like to have the latest gadgets in the market and they will pay full price to get them! I’m a little different, though. I wait until the product is a bit older and wait to snag it at a much lower price. I guess that’s just my way of being frugal!

    If you like to buy products such as smartphones or tablets and want to keep up with the newest one out there, you may have older versions sitting around at your house. What do you do with them when you no longer use them? My guess would be that you sell it to a friend or find some place online to sell it.

    If I were selling my used products, I would try to make sure I sell my ipad, Kindle Fire, smartphone–you name it for the best price I can get for it, but low enough so that there will be a buyer! I would hope that some of the money earned from selling the product would help pay for the newer version out there (or the money could always go directly into a savings account!)

    Just be sure to do your homework before you decide to sell your used gadgets. You want to make sure that you trust the source where you list or sell your product. Do a search and make sure the site is reputable and read reviews before you sell. Also, make sure your product works well and that you provide a great description of the product you intend to sell.

    Don’t leave your used gadgets collecting dust in your home when you could earn money from them!

  • Five Ways to Save on Expensive Smart Phone Costs

    Hey smart phone users: Remember when your cell phone bill was around $40 a month and you thought that was high? But now that you’re a smart phone user and your bill comes in around $100 a month. That’s right, you pay $1,200 a year – for phone service. (Don’t worry, I pay that much, too.)

    The problem is, once you make the switch to a smart phone, it’s pretty hard to convince yourself to switch back to a regular old cell phone in order to save money. That’s why you won’t see “get rid of your smart phone” in the following list of ways to cut phone bill costs.

    DITCH THE CONTRACT – Signing a two-year service contract might mean you’ll get a $600 phone for just $200, but you’ll pay for that savings with $100-per-month bills. Instead, opt for a pre-paid cell phone plan, which can cost only $50 per month. The catch? You’ll have to pay full price for the phone, but the monthly savings mean you’ll be out of the hole after only eight months.

    FREE APPS = LOWER BILLS – Honestly, I haven’t bought an app in about two years. With the number of free apps available, you really don’t need to. Even apps that cost money often offer a free version in exchange for dealing with a few ads.

    BECOME A WI-FI HOUND – Overage charges on your data plan are one of the easiest ways to make an already high phone bill even higher. To get around this, connect to wi-fi whenever you can – at home, in train stations, at coffee shops. On wi-fi, you won’t be using your cell phone network’s data plan, which means you can watch all the YouTube videos you want!

    CUT YOUR DATA PLAN – After you learn to take advantage of the unlimited data plan known as wi-fi, consider downgrading your phone’s current data plan to a more affordable option.

    GET INSURANCE – Or not. The choice is yours. AT&T and Verizon both cost between $7 and $10 a month, which covers the replacement cost of your phone (minus a $200 or so deductible) if your phone is lost, stolen or damaged. You might also consider services like Protect Your Bubble, which costs $7.99 a month and has a deductible of only $120.

  • Exchanging Gifts? Follow These 5 Tips for a Hassle-Free Return

    Previously, we talked about the business of day-after-Christmas shopping. One of the main reasons for that hustle and bustle: People flocking to stores to return unwanted gifts. Last year, it was reported that more than $46 billion worth of gifts would be returned after the holiday. About $20 billion of those returns were ugly sweaters from well-meaning aunts.

    If you’re headed out to exchange ugly sweaters on December 26 (or later, if you heed the third tip below), follow these five steps to make the experience as pain-free as possible:

    KEEP IT INTACT – Most stores will accept returns on items that have already been opened, but to increase your chances of a hassle-free exchange, you should resist the temptation to open the box that unwanted toaster oven is packaged in.

    KEEP THE RECEIPT – If the gift-giver is truly thoughtful, they’ll have included a gift receipt with your present. You’ll need it when you trade in your gift, and you should include the same gift receipt with the items you give to loved ones this year.

    TAKE YOUR TIME – You don’t have to return unwanted gifts on December 26. Save yourself the headache of waiting in lines by waiting a few days before exchanging your items. But don’t wait too long, or you might be stuck with the gift. Do yourself a favor and check your store’s return policy – most give you anywhere from 15 days to a full year to make the swap.

    EXCHANGING ONLINE GIFTS – Many retailers allow you to return gifts to a store even if the item was purchased online. Keep this in mind when planning your trade-in strategy.

    BE HONEST ABOUT THE RETURN – No, I’m not talking about coming clean with the person who purchased the gift for you (although you might). I’m talking about explaining your reasons to the store clerk at the returns counter. They’ll appreciate the honesty and, in most cases, be more than happy to make your post-Christmas exchange a little easier.

  • 5 Ways to Save on Gift Wrapping this Holiday Season

    Wrapping Paper

    I’m not a huge fan of buying wrapping paper. There’s just something about spending $3.99 for something so beautiful, only to have it torn to bits and thrown in the fireplace in about 4.5 seconds. And the torture of having to actually wrap all those gifts … don’t get me started on that.

    I mean, who invented this whole “gift wrapping” thing anyhow? Why can’t we just hide gifts behind our back and then sloooowly reveal it to the recipient. It’d be a heckuva lot easier and cheaper, right?

    But, alas, that’s not how gifts are exchanged. Until then, we’ll have to play by the rules and spend four hours on Christmas Eve wrapping presents until our fingers are bloodied with paper cuts. One thing we don’t have to do is spend a fortune on wrapping paper. No sir. Here are four ways to save on wrapping paper until my behind-the-back idea catches on.

    WRAP GIFTS IN HUMOR – In our grandparents’ day, people used to wrap presents in the Sunday comics. They’re colorful, they’re entertaining, and they’re – oh, what’s the word? – that’s right, free!

    SCORE FREE WRAPPING – Most department stores have a gift wrapping section and many of them offer free wrapping on items purchased in the store.

    PUT THOSE OLD MAPS TO GOOD USE – Remember maps? They were those paper things your father would pull out of the glove box in the car and swear at on family vacations. Turn those curse words into smiles (and savings) by using those old maps as wrapping paper.

    BUY YOUR PAPER AFTER THE HOLIDAY – You know those 75 percent off sales that happen on December 26? That’s the only time you should be buying wrapping paper.

    MAKE YOUR OWN PAPER – Want a no-frills option that you can decorate yourself? Try wrapping your gifts in plain white or brown paper. Once the non-Santa gifts are wrapped, give your kids some markers, stamps and paints and let them go to town while you sip an eggnog and treat your paper cuts.

  • Save Money By Printing Coupons

    Save Money By Printing Coupons

    save money by printing coupons

    Save Money By Printing Coupons

    After having my baby girl 8 months ago, couponing was pushed aside. However, I’ve found a routine with the baby and find time to sit down to find printable coupons. I have no excuses now when it comes to printing coupons. I post long lists of new and existing coupons on this website regularly so my goal now is to make sure I actually browse through the lists myself, print the coupons I need, and have them ready for my next shopping trip. I love to save money by printing coupons.

    For my most recent shopping trip, I had all of my coupons saved up, organized, and ready to use. I no longer use a coupon binder for my coupons. I choose to use a small accordion style coupon holder that fits in my purse easily. I am not into extreme couponing anymore, but I do use coupons regularly.

    Above, you will see my receipt from my last trip to the grocery store. I only used coupons on items that we buy on a regular basis. I didn’t buy anything for the sake of getting it cheap to free. I even had three free coupons to use.

    I saved a total of $21.98 after using my coupons.

    I recommend when printing coupons that you set your printer to the “Black and White” and “Quick Print” settings. This will help you to save money on printer ink. I do this every time I print coupons and my coupons are always accepted at the grocery store without any problems.

    Do you want to save money by printing coupons? See my list of the best places to find online printable coupons.

    Do you save money by printing coupons?

  • How to Save Money When Traveling By Car

    How to Save Money When Traveling By Car

    Going on a vacation soon? Traveling by car? Before you pack up and get on your way, have you thought about how you will save money along the way? Here are a few tips that will help you save money on your vacation and how to save money when you travel by car.

    1. Plan ahead! Make an itinerary with the places you plan to visit or see. Then, search for coupons online that may help you save money at those locations. Request brochures several weeks or months in advance or check for free travel guides. You don’t want to waste time when you get to your location by trying to find things to do, so be sure you plan ahead.

    2. Find deals on places to stay. If you really want to save money, the best bet is to find a friend to stay with that lives near your destination. If you don’t have any friends to stay with, then you will most likely have to book a hotel room. Compare prices at hotels. Research the services and amenities the hotel offers. Do you want it to have a free continental breakfast? A pool? Free wi-fi? Make sure parking is free, too. There are hotels that do make you pay for parking! Find hotels that travelers trust. If you don’t want to stay at a hotel, you can also try camping out at a state park.

    3. Before you go, make sure you check that car is running well to avoid mechanical fees along the way. Check the tire pressure. Get an oil change if needed and make sure your inspection and registration is up to date. Carry your license and car insurance cards with you when you travel, too. While driving, make sure you watch your speed. You don’t want to end up with any tickets along the way!

    4. Carry extra cash with you for emergencies.

    5. Bring maps or your GPS and make sure you know how to get to your destination before you leave. You don’t want to waste time or fuel because you got lost.

    6. Pack up plenty of snacks and drinks. Pack up a small cooler with water, juice, or milk for the kids. If possible, try to eat before you go so that you don’t have to stop shortly after leaving to get a bite to eat. To save even more money and if you have room, pack a picnic and stop at a park or rest stop along the way. Let the kids run around and get some energy out. To save on ice, refill empty water bottles and freeze them and use them to keep food and drink cool.

    7. If you are traveling with kids, make sure you have everything ready to go: DVD player with adapter, bottles or formula, snack bags, wipes for easy clean up, plastic trash bags for trash, toys, books, etc.

    8. Take your medicine or prescriptions with you. Take an extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts just in case they get broken or lost.

    9. Make sure everyone uses the restroom before you go! This will avoid a “Mommy, I have to go potty!” after only 5 minutes into the trip, saving time and money.

    10. If possible, try to find cheapest gas. Check GasBuddy.com to compare prices in major cities.

    How do you save money when traveling by car?