Category Archives: Money

There’s a Book of the Month for YA Lovers, PLUS How to Become an Affiliate

For all of those who love books and subscription boxes, Book of the Month just recently launched a spin-off just for YA lovers called Book of the Month YA.

I’ve been a loyal subscriber of Book of the Month for over a year now. I have to say that every single book has been a great read. No disappointments whatsoever!

After reading so many mediocre and bad books over the last few years, it is nice to find a reliable service that suggests five titles every single month and does not disappoint. So now that there is a YA version of this subscription box, I am even more excited to share this with everyone!

How it Works

For $14.99/month, you will receive one credit for one book each month. At the start of every month, Book of the Month YA will post up their five picks for the month. You get to pick from the list. Usually, these titles are not even released yet.

If you want more than one title, it’s an additional $9.99. If you don’t like any of the titles, you can save your credit for another month.

Now, for the bibliophile with serious FOMO (fear of missing out) when it comes to books, this is a great way to get the title before it’s release for a much cheaper price than you would pay at any bookseller.

There is even a bonus! After one year, they give you an extra book credit, plus perks for BFFs.

YA Lovers can get an extra $5 off of their first box. Just check on their site for the current coupon code.

As for my first box, I chose “House of Salt and Sorrows” and “The Downstairs Girl.” I can’t wait to dive into these two stories.

How to Get Free Books & Get Paid

For all of you Bookstagrammers and Book Bloggers out there…become a Book of the Month YA Affiliate and you can get your box free PLUS earn commission on each referral. Click on this link to become an affiliate.

You can earn cash for each new enrollment and partner referral. And yes, you do get a free book to help promote the box. You can promote it wherever you talk about books.

For those who don’t Bookstagram or promote books, you can still get free books by encouraging your friends and family to join Book of the Month YA. Just send them your unique referral code after you sign up. Each new referral equals one free book for you.

The Codes

Book of the Month– To join the coolest book subscription box around.

Book of the Month YA – To join the YA version of the coolest book subscription box around.

Book of the Month YA Affiliate – To become an affiliate of BOTM YA.

[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I received a free book from BOTM YA for promotional advertisement.]

Amazon is Selling Counterfeit Books

In another big exposé, the New York Times reports that Amazon is selling counterfeit and plagiarized books…and they don’t care.

People may think that there is nothing wrong with buying counterfeit. That is why we see fake designer handbags out there. People accuse major designers of exorbitant pricing, so they deserve it. But is it really okay to punish the book industry?

Amazon is a topic of discussion at the Book Expo every year. Even though Amazon Books has their own booth, each year there is always talk about the problem with Amazon.

Amazon controls upwards of 50%+ of the book sales in America. People hear the argument every day that Amazon is putting brick and mortar shops out of business. Barnes & Noble is coming close to being the next casualty. People have heard the arguments against Amazon, but it does not stop them from buying the cheaper priced book, even if they love their local bookstore.

Why Buying Counterfeit Books is Bad

First, the quality is bad. The pictures in the New York Times gives an accurate depiction of the bad quality. From smudged charts to books that have no formatting (no paragraphs or indentations), this is what you can expect from counterfeits. In some cases, you are getting a bound photocopy of the real book.

Second, the author spends a considerable amount of time creating this book. As a fellow writer, I know how difficult it is to write a book. All writers lament having the same issues while creating a literary masterpiece. It is not easy.

Put yourself in their shoes. With all of the work and the hours you put into creating a finished product, you find out someone is stealing your sales. You can see the number of books sold, but it is not reflected in your royalty check. What is going on?

Ends up the book sold did not come from your publisher. Someone stole the book and put out their own version of your book so they could reap the sale (not you or your publisher). Usually, they charge a lower price. The consumer thinks they are getting a good deal, not knowing they are getting a counterfeit, not the real book.

As a result, that hurts both the publisher and the author.

If you look at the bigger picture here, what happens to the publishing houses in the long term if Amazon keeps selling these counterfeit books? Remember, Amazon is putting booksellers out of business. Next up, it will be publishers. Is that why they created Amazon Books (their own publishing house)?

Where will authors go? How will they be able to publish books that won’t be stolen, plagiarized and sold over their own authentic work?

For book lovers, how can you choose to hurt the publishing houses and authors that you cherish just to save a few pennies?

Amazon Does Not Care

I feel like we are back to the Backpage dot com argument. For those who don’t know, Backpage dot com was selling children on the internet. Trafficked children were sold for sex and there was not a single court in America that could stop them.

You are probably thinking, “but that’s illegal.” Until last year, it was perfectly legal to do this ON THE INTERNET due to a law called CDA 230.

Back in the day when the internet was new, Congress enacted a law that allowed a free for all on the internet in order to help boost the internet into the mainstream. It held companies blameless for whatever they decided to do on the internet. If a third party decided to use their platform to sell children, it was not the company’s fault.

The media discovered that Backpage dot com was making money from the sale of children for sex on their platform. Their sales increased dramatically as they changed how people could post these ads on their site. They even changed the wording of the ads to thwart law enforcement.

When the victims and their parents tried to seek justice for what happened to the girls, every court dismissed their claims because of CDA 230. The law protected Backpage dot com.

When members of Congress read the media reports, they decided to change CDA 230 to protect women and children from sex trafficking on the internet. BUT guess what? This law is also the same law that protects Amazon.

Amazon can say they are not responsible for what third party sellers sell on their site, even though there are copyright and trademark infringements. Amazon is protected under CDA 230.

CDA 230 has been problematic in that it allows what is illegal throughout our country to be perfectly legal if the act is conducted on the internet. So if some third party wants to sell illegal stuff on Amazon, it is not Amazon’s fault. That is why they do not care.

If publishers and authors bring suit against Amazon, they will find that this is like Backpage dot com all over again. It would take an act of Congress to change the law.

[For more on Backpage dot com, see the movie “I Am Jane Doe.” This film is available on Youtube and Netflix.]

What I Am Doing

It is disappointing that Amazon decided to take the “don’t care” route in this problem. I am a loyal Amazon everything. Amazon literally controls my entire existence. But when it comes to books, I have to take a step away.

After reading this article by Jessica Mizzi on Read It Forward, I started to think differently about how I purchase books. I generally do not purchase books often because I receive the majority of my books from publishers and the library. I’m also a big fan of Book of the Month. They supply a lot of the bestsellers I may have missed from the publishers.

But when you see articles about the purchase and restructuring of Barnes & Noble, you start to re-think how you are buying books. My only issue with BN is that I’ve already read everything they are pushing or I have it in my to be read pile already.

Thankfully, I found a way around this. Like Jessica Mizzi is doing, I am purposely going to buy at least one book from Barnes & Noble every month, as well as from other local bookstores and reputable websites that are not Amazon.

Cats like to be read to. Who knew?

Just last week, I ventured into the children’s section during my last visit to Barnes & Noble. I was there for a book launch, but I ended up buying a few children’s books for Matthew (the Maine Coon). Ends up, cats like to be read to. Who knew?

As far as this site goes, until Amazon changes their ways, I will be promoting the sale of books through other booksellers. I spent most of today contacting booksellers to work with them from now on.

You will find the PW Book Shop has changed. If you follow me on Goodreads, the books I’ve reviewed throughout the years are featured in the Book Shop, along with my Goodreads review.

For future book reviews on the site, I’ll be promoting other booksellers and not Amazon (unless it is an Amazon Book title or a self-published title). For other book bloggers out there, I recommend you make the switch to different affiliate platforms.

This is a slippery slope Amazon is on. We need to take a stand now.

Looking for Your Next Book? Try Book of the Month


Do you ever wonder what you should read next?  There are so many titles to choose from, but what book should you get?  Have you seen the prices of books?  No wonder why Amazon is putting bookstores out of business…

Wait…maybe I went too far.

Let me take this back a little.  A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine visited me.  We went into Barnes & Noble so she could pick up a few magazines.  I perused the books on all of the tables, but I didn’t pick up any books.

I said to my friend, “I’ve either read everything here or I have the book already.”  She responded, “That does not surprise me.”  She’s seen my library and all of my advanced copies of books.

Technically speaking, everything I need to read, I already have.  I don’t really buy books anymore, except once in a blue moon while I’m on Amazon looking for an answer to what ails me.  There are some titles that I am not able to get my hands on because I make it to the publisher’s booth too late (for instance, I missed out on Celeste Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere” last summer).  I have a serious fear of missing out when it comes to books.

So while I was looking for a title I did not own already, I flipped the paperback over to see the price and almost fainted at how much a book costs these days.  Now, I understand why Amazon is putting bookstores out of business.

The Answer to My Fear of Missing Out



So every now and again, there’s a title that for some reason does not make it into my hands and I am left going…I kind of need that book!  Well, the answer to my fear of missing out now comes in the form of $14.99/month from the Book of the Month club.  Not only was I able to get my hands on a new title, I was able to get Celeste Ng’s book for free by using the July code: SUGARHIGH.

When you look online, the hardcover is over $20 for “The Summer Wives.”  So $14.99 for a new hardcover book is a serious deal.  Plus, the more people you refer, the more credits you can receive for more free books.

The way it works is that at the beginning of every month Book of the Month releases a list of 5 new titles that should be the “IT” books for the month.  Of the 5, you can pick one for your monthly membership.  You can also choose additional titles for an additional $9.99, or you can use credits).

What I love about Book of the Month is that this is a perfect way to start up your very own Book Club.  No more fear of missing out on what everyone else is reading.  You can stay on top of your reading game.  So get your girlfriends to join, your mom, your aunts, cousins, etc.  Maybe you can share the different titles between your little network.

So far, I am enjoying this club.  It’s every bibliophile’s answer to keeping on top of all of the latest IT titles.

To Join: BOOK OF THE MONTH

P.S. I’m thinking of having our own little book club here based on BOTM titles.  If interested, comment below and I’ll work it into next month’s title rotations.

How to Save Money at the Movie Theaters this Summer

It’s that time of year when all of the really awesome movies come out.  From the much anticipated Avengers: Infinity War to Solo: A Star Wars Story, if you are like most movie lovers, you want to see all of the big movies up on the screen.

But the thing you may not like are the ticket prices.

MoviePass – Not Such a Smart Investment



In the past, I promoted MoviePass as your way to save the most money when you go to the movies.  But they made a big mistake last year when they decided to drop the membership price down to $10/month.  While anyone can see this is an awesome deal, the movie theaters did not.

When I went to my local theater, the manager told me they no longer accepted MoviePass, even though the app listed the theater as a ‘participating’ theater.  The reason why had more to do with the theater not getting the money and the business model of MoviePass did not allow mom and pop style theaters to survive.

It did not stop there.  AMC 25 in New York City would not give me AMC Stubs credit for the movies I purchased using MoviePass.  Then they started marking my ticket MP when I purchased tickets.  I knew something was up.

A couple of months later, MoviePass released their new terms, which meant that all of the theaters that did not want to be part of MoviePass were taken off of the app and the theaters stopped taking MoviePass.  While MoviePass would like to say that it was their decision to do that, it was the theaters that asked them (via a lawsuit) to be removed from their program.

Based on the news reports of MoviePass’s current financial situation, they are losing millions and unless they have a turnaround with investors, plan on this ‘good idea’ failing soon…as in, it won’t last the year.  Most financial analysts give it 3 months max.

MoviePass should have kept the membership the way it was.  It was the $10/month deal that pissed off the theaters and brought this ‘too good to be true’ deal to an untimely end.  For those who still have MoviePass and can use it, enjoy it while it lasts.

Life After MoviePass

Knowing that AMC was going to lose a lot of their loyal moviegoers after many (not all) of the theaters stopped accepting MoviePass , they devised a new plan.

If you are an AMC Stubs member, you can now get movie tickets every Tuesday for $5.  Becoming an AMC Stubs Premiere member has its rewards.  For every dollar you spend, you receive 100 points.  You can use those points towards movie tickets and concessions.  The points add up very quickly.

Also, being an AMC Stubs Premiere member means you have VIP status.  There are separate lines at the ticket counter and at concessions for Premiere members.  That long line…I can’t tell you how many times I bypassed that line and was the next person served.

On days like Tuesdays, you are better off purchasing your $5 ticket directly through the AMC Theatres app, because even the VIP line becomes extremely long.  Purchasing through the app means you go directly to the ticket taker.  Show them your ticket on your device and you are on your way.  [I like simplicity.  And if you’ve been in NYC as long as I have, you really hate lines.]

So if you are looking to take your family of 4 to the movies, consider an AMC Stubs Premiere membership.  Make Tuesdays movie night.  Tickets for the four of you will cost $20.  And always be on the lookout for concessions deals on the app or on their website.  [For instance, right now, teens can get a Frostee + bag of popcorn for $5 when they show their student ID.]

[Note: There are two AMC Stubs memberships: Insider and Premiere.  Insider is free, but not worth it.  The Premiere membership is usually around $15/year, and they do sales on the membership often to entice you to keep renewing (as of this writing the membership is 20% off, i.e. $11.99).  Premiere members get free passes to advanced movie screenings 3-6 times a year.  They also have VIP status.  Trust me when I say the VIP status is everything.  You also earn points faster.  100 points for every dollar versus 20 points for every dollar spent as an Insider.  Generally, I get my money back from the membership in a couple of months or less (if I go to the movies on a weekly basis).  The Premiere membership is totally worth it.]

To Save Even More

Every now and again, Groupon and other discount sites offer movie gift certificates at a discounted price.  When you see your movie chain being offered, purchase it!

The best way to make sure you get notifications for these special deals is to download the Groupon app or sign up online.  I usually receive an email or a notification when these deals go live.

Also, check to see if your workplace offers perks like Plum Benefits or Perks at Work.  These websites offer businesses special corporate discounts for many things, especially movie tickets.  For sites like Perks at Work, you can earn WOW Points that can be used as currency towards future purchases.

For most movie chains that use apps, you can easily upload the gift certificate information to the app.  That makes purchasing movie tickets so much easier.

Disney Movie Rewards

If you are not a Disney Movie Rewards member yet, sign up.  I know most of you reading this will probably go to a Marvel or Star Wars movie.  Disney owns the rights to both.  So why not rack up points every time you go?

When you head to the movies, keep your ticket stub and upload it to Disney Movie Rewards to get points to use towards either Disney related merchandise or gift certificates for movie concessions, movie tickets or Starbucks.

For a family of 4, that’s around 300 points each time you go to a Disney/Marvel/Star Wars movie.  Currently, it’s 550 points for a $5 concession certificate and 1100 points for a $10 movie certificate.

And don’t forget to read their email newsletter.  They always give away a few free points in the newsletter every single month.  Every point counts.

Also, as an added bonus, if you have a Regal Crown Card, you can connect your account to Disney Movie Rewards for extra points.

Go Local

For those who have access to local non-chain movie theaters, please go.  Sure, it is not like the experience you will get from the big chain theaters, but they will offer cheaper prices.

For instance, my local movie theater only charges $8 for movie tickets.  Concessions are half the price as the chain theater.  Because I go so much, the manager usually comps tickets for me every now and again.  If I’m the only person in the theater and I am late, he will restart the movie for me.

There are less previews and ads prior to the movie (usually only one preview and then the movie begins).  One movie preview is so much better than sitting through 20 minutes of previews.  Yes, the previews in the chain theaters run for 20 minutes now.

What I love about local movie theaters is that you are giving back to the community when you choose to go local.  Not only are you saving money, but you are also keeping a neighborhood icon alive.  Trust me, you will miss it when it closes down.  That’s why you need to help keep these local businesses alive.

Movie Deals

Always check out your favorite movie theater’s website for deals.  Many theaters do special family deals during the summer.

For instance, all summer long, participating Regal Cinemas theaters offer $1 movies at 10:00AM on the weekends.  Most of the movies are already out on DVD or television, but this is a good way to get the kids out and into some air conditioning surrounded by other kids for a couple of hours.

There are a lot of movie chains all across America that offer these little programs.  Just check their website.  Some offer special ticket discounts on certain days.  Others offer discounts on concessions.

I haven’t paid $16+ for a movie ticket in a very long time.  I find every avenue I can to go at a cheap price.  The discounts are out there.  You just have to know where to look.

September Edition: A Note from the Editor

A Special Note from the Editor

Fashion. Books. Home. Food. DIY.  These are all things this site promises to deliver, but it has not really lived up to doing just that.  Or perhaps, it was something I always wanted to deliver, but needed some sort of direction on how I would deliver that to you.

When people ask me about this site, I never really passionately talk about it.  Perfectionist Wannabe  has not been in a place I was proud of yet.  I was honest about that with the people I met.  I did not know how to find that sweet spot where I was content with what I was putting out there.

So I went on a mission to discover what exactly I loved about magazines.  Blogs were no longer the answer to what I was looking for.

The Bold Type

As I flipped through a stack of magazines, Freeform’s The Bold Type, a show about three young women working for a fashion magazine, played in the background.  The show centers around a writer, a secretary turned stylist, and a social media director.  As the girls go from one disaster to another, it is the wisdom of their editor that resonates.

1) Write from your own perspective in life.

2) Print is dying.  The electronic age is making print media obsolete, so it is important to focus only on that.

Taking these two points, I began to see a clearer vision of what I wanted.

Book Reviews

To get a better handle on how book reviews should be done, I went to the best source: O Magazine.  As I read through the book reviews, I saw the importance of writing about experiencing the book.  Describing feelings eloquently is what ultimately gets people to read a book.

I read about one reviewer’s morning before she even sat down to read the book.  She made me experience her morning with her.  There was nothing extraordinary about it.  Her morning was a regular morning, just like anyone else’s morning.  But by the time she sat down to read the book, I  wanted to read whatever she was reading, even though she told me so little about the book.

What made this particular review stand out is that it was written incredibly well.  That is the beauty in writing a good review.  The writer made me see reviews, not just book reviews, in a whole new light.

The Voice

Finally, it began to occur to me what I was unhappy with.  I was dissatisfied with the voice I used on this site.  I was mimicking other bloggers and what they were doing instead of focusing on what I ultimately wanted to do with this site.

In the back of my mind, my friends who are well read, played in the back of my mind.  Their comments on fast literature (i.e. the books saturating our market), started to bring me down.  As much as I shared their opinions on great literature, it made me ask if what I write is great literature.  Would they even think I was good enough?

This is where that sense of wanting to be perfect comes in.  There is that fear of never being good enough for my friends to recommend my work to others.  They are brutally honest (which I respect and need).  What if what I was doing did not live up to their standards?

In our opinion, discovering an author or a book that is well written is difficult to find these days.  If you think about blogs in this context, it is not so often you will come across a lot of well written blogs.

Magazines and newspapers house many of the best writers that live up to these standards.  Yet, these types of publications are failing because of the saturation of mediocre or poorly written content flooding the market.  That means there are a lot of incredible writers out there that go undiscovered by the masses.

Branding

There are a lot of blogs out there I love that are both inspiring and beautiful.  I like their brand.  Even though many of these bloggers are the first of their kind in their niche markets, there are many who try to emulate that same voice, which in turn creates a problem.  That brand’s voice is copied, and then it becomes overdone, watering down the original voice.  I know, because this site started to do the same thing.  I ultimately did not want that.

The direction this site lacked was always something very simple.  It was missing my voice and the way I wanted to write and present my views of the world.  I spent too much time trying to be like the other bloggers.  As a result, I forgot why I created this site to begin with…to share my own adventure into learning how to be a better version of myself.

A Sense of Direction

Most noteworthy of this entire adventure are the opportunities that presented itself to me over these past few years.  From Martha Stewart’s American Made to Tribeca Film Festival to Book Expo America (BEA), the universe gave me every single tool I needed to discover how to create my vision for Perfectionist Wannabe.

As a result of those experiences, I learned that even though I believe I am not doing enough, the industry communicated the exact opposite.  Publishers explained to me at BEA that I was doing the right thing.  I did exactly what they were looking for in order to work with them.  They decided who they were allowing into the BEA this year, and I was among the select few they allowed in.  [Of all the publishers I spoke with, they only counted three bloggers that were allowed to attend, unlike previous years where the expo was saturated with bloggers.]

What all of these incredible experiences tell me is that I was always on the right track.

AHA!

I finally had an AHA! moment somewhere between flipping through the magazines and binge watching The Bold Type.  This site is my resumé.  In the end, this site is about a brand.  These past few years of discovery was about defining that brand.  That is the only thing it’s been about.  In a sense, this site is turning into a better version of itself.

So what can you look forward to?  Better content.  More continuous posts.  A more active social media experience.  Better inspiration.  More importantly, my voice.

xoxo,

Michelle Kenneth

 

WiseMoney: Are You Using All Methods to Save the Most?

Are you using all methods to save the most money when you shop?  There is a documentary on Netflix called “The Ultimate Guide to Penny Pinching.”  The show follows a few different people saving money in their own way.

There are segments for the extreme couponer, the family that does extra research to maximize savings, a couple using cost effective ways to spend less than £1500 for a wedding, and one guy who collects and eats roadkill.  These people are finding ways to scale back on spending to maximize their savings as much as they can.

Even though the movie was based on stories from the UK, there are similar stories in the US of how people are saving money in the exact same way.  After watching the film, I decided to apply some of their ideas to my own life (except for the roadkill…that’s not going to happen).

In the past, I shared how I use my MoviePass membership to go the extra mile with rewards and savings.  As an addendum to that story, ends up my AMC membership went VIP.  That means I don’t have to wait in the long lines to buy tickets or food.  I can go straight to the VIP line and get served ahead of everyone else.

I didn’t have to pay anything extra for the VIP privilege.  I just went to the manager to complain about the long lines and how none of the kiosks were available when she informed me I didn’t have to do all of that because I was VIP.  My kind of membership!

Yes, you can be VIP, too.  Just buy the membership.  If you already have an active AMC membership, you should check to see if they upgraded you when they switched to their new system.  That’s how I was upgraded.

Now, onto the other stuff.  Today, I’m going to talk about the different ways you can make your purchases go the extra mile.


Start With a Discounted Gift Card

When I need to go to Target or buy a new gaming system at Game Stop that is not on sale anywhere, I buy a few discounted gift cards at Gift Card Zen.

My brother wanted the PS4 Pro for Christmas.  It was not on sale anywhere.  It was a firm $399 (plus tax).  I went to Gift Card Zen and purchased $420 worth of gift cards and paid only $375.48.  That’s a savings of $44.52.


There’s an App For That

After I made my purchase, I uploaded my receipt to Ibotta and because Game Stop had a special $5 rebate for $75 purchases, I got $5 back.  I was able to get $5 back from the purchase I made the day before at Game Stop too.  Ibotta had an earnings bonus reward and gave me another $5.  That’s $15 back for shopping at Game Stop.

I also uploaded my Game Stop receipts to Receipt Hog to get points that can be later used towards Amazon gift cards, cash or magazines.

Other apps I use are Checkout 51 and MobiSave [use PROMO CODE: IGNUXTMX to get $1 when you sign up at MobiSave].

The great thing about these apps is that you can use the same receipt (especially for groceries) on each of the apps.  Most of the time, they are running the same rebate specials.  For example, you see bananas appearing on the Ibotta, Mobisave and the Checkout 51 apps.  You can get rebates on each of the apps from that one receipt.

If you’re heading to Target, make sure you peruse their Cartwheel app for additional savings.  You can use the Cartwheel app with physical coupons for double savings.  If you have the Target debit or credit card, you can get an additional 5% off your purchase.


Matthew Lucifer loves money.

There’s a Site For That

Want a way to earn points towards coupons, magazines, gift cards, etc.?  Try Recycle Bank.

You can learn ways to be more eco-friendly while earning points to use towards coupons at Target ($5 off of $50) or magazine subscriptions.

Another site I came upon that is amazing is Living Rich With Coupons.  They’ve completely simplified the entire couponing process for you.  They find the deals, tell you what coupons are needed and which coupons you can stack to get the product for next to nothing or FREE.  Just make sure you pick up the newspaper every Sunday to clip your coupons and print out the ones they link up to.

I love that sometimes they know the store deal + coupon before the new flyer comes out in the Sunday paper.

Also, if you are shopping online…ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS go through the Ebates app to get cash back.  Those surprise checks 4 times a year always come in handy.


Ways to Earn Free Gift Cards

For those who live in or near metropolitan cities and dine out frequently or make reservations a lot, use the Open Table website to book all of your reservations.  Why?  You get points for dining out.  You can turn those points into restaurant gift cards or an Amazon gift card.

If you want to do a little work on the side to earn Amazon gift cards, try Amazon Mechanical Turk and pimp yourself out.

For those who use Bing as your search engine, make sure you are hooked up with Bing Rewards.  For Chrome users, use Google Screenwise to earn gift cards just by searching on the internet.

If you use Chrome as your search engine on your phone, make sure the Google Screenwise app is on your phone so you can earn money while you do your regular internet searching.




There are always new ways to maximize saving money.  The way I look at it, if you can get the same stuff for free, why pay for it?  What tips do you have that helps maximize saving money?

Disclosure: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work.

Give More Than What You Take – A Life Lesson

give-more-than-what-you-take-a-life-lessonWhen Warren Buffett released his tax returns after the second Presidential debate, one thing stood out to me: how much he donated to charity versus how much he made in 2015.

He wrote:

OMAHA, Neb.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Answering a question last night about his $916 million income tax loss carryforward in 1995, Donald Trump stated that “Warren Buffett took a massive deduction.” Mr. Trump says he knows more about taxes than any other human. He has not seen my income tax returns. But I am happy to give him the facts.

My 2015 return shows adjusted gross income of $11,563,931. My deductions totaled $5,477,694, of which allowable charitable contributions were $3,469,179. All but $36,037 of the remainder was for state income taxes.

The total charitable contributions I made during the year were $2,858,057,970, of which more than $2.85 billion were not taken as deductions and never will be. Tax law properly limits charitable deductions.

My federal income tax for the year was $1,845,557. Returns for previous years are of a similar nature in respect to contributions, deductions and tax rates.

I have paid federal income tax every year since 1944, when I was 13. (Though, being a slow starter, I owed only $7 in tax that year.) I have copies of all 72 of my returns and none uses a carryforward.

Finally, I have been audited by the IRS multiple times and am currently being audited. I have no problem in releasing my tax information while under audit. Neither would Mr. Trump – at least he would have no legal problem.





Did you see how much he donated to charity? $2.85 billion.  Even more interesting is that he never claims his charitable deductions on his tax returns.

Did you notice his 2015 adjusted gross income?  $11.5 million.  Wow, right?

Buffett’s current net worth is $66.4 billion.  The amount he donated to charity overall in 2016 was only 4% of his overall net worth.  Even though he earned an income of $11.5 million, he still donated way more than he earned that year.  Can you imagine doing something like that?

The Key to Wealth

You see, that is one of the most valuable keys to creating wealth – to give way more than you take in.  That wealth is not limited to just money.  It is in everything we do in life.  If you give more love than you take, you will receive more love than you put out there.  If you give more food to others than what you take for yourself, you will receive a bounty of food from the most unlikely of sources.

That latter part is something I witness daily.  I give food to the homeless whenever I can.  I have way more food than I know what to do with.  I don’t expect anything in return when I give.


As a reward from the universe, neighbors knock on my door to deliver plates of food on their best china.  People pick up chocolates when they travel to give to me as a gift.  Just the other day, someone dropped off a large jug of vinegar just because I commented that I loved the salad dressing my neighbor makes.

The rewards for showing kindness, expecting nothing in return, creates even more wealth according to what you give.  That is the key to having a wealthy life.  Give way more than what you take for yourself.  Give without wanting anything in return.  In Buffett’s case, he gives way more than he makes in a year, and still continues to grow his wealth in other areas (investments, interest, etc.).

The most important thing is that he never claims those charitable acts on his tax returns, because to take a credit on your tax returns for charitable giving means that the act of giving was not so selfless.  You still got something in return for doing a good deed. That does not equate to giving without some sort of strings attached.  The universe does not reward you for those types of actions.

The Lesson

So the lesson learned here today is to give way more than you take in without expecting anything in return.  For those who need guidance in growing your monetary wealth this way, start by tithing 10% of your gross income to charities and those who need help.  Give selflessly.  As your wealth grows each year, donate more and more and more.  Don’t claim your charitable contributions on your tax returns.  When you have more than enough money to sustain you and your loved ones, start donating more than you take in.  This is your way of sharing the wealth and thanking the universe for the wealth it gave to you.




PS Must Have: June 2016

Popsugar Must Have June 2016
Popsugar Must Have June 2016

The June 2016 Popsugar Must Have box is one of my favorites, including items I can definitely use.

What’s in the Box

All of the items are pictured on top of the Hat Attack Neutral Diamonds-Printed Sarong (Retail: $58).  The sarong is definitely my favorite in this box.

The Sriracha Pressels (Retail: $1.29) are so good.  They’re like eating toasted bagel chips.

Pacifica is one of my favorite cosmetic companies.  I’m a big fan of their Brazilian Mango Grapefruit perfume.  I’ve never tried deodorant wipes before, but I think it would be great to keep at the office for those ‘just in case’ days when I forget to put deodorant on in the morning, due to lack of coffee stimulating my brain.  (Retail: $9)

The deodorant wipes come in three scents.  The one pictured above is currently out of stock on their site.

The Sisters of Los Angeles have created a cute “Cheers” Gold Bottle Opener that would be great to add to your bar cart. (Retail: $12)

For your beach needs to freshen up your sunscreen/makeup, the Knock Knock compact is perfect to take to the beach with you.  (Retail: $10)

I can’t wait to play Ridley’s Games Room “Who Am I?” Quiz the next time I have guests staying over.  This is a perfect game for a night in from being tourists in the big city.  I’m going to also order the Movie Buff and Sing it Back card games.  Those games can be a lot of fun around the holidays.  (Retail: $5.50 -$11.00)

This Born on the 4th NCLA Nail Lacquer is my favorite.  I love all of the sparkles and glitter in the polish.  I don’t normally wear polish, but I plan on wearing this.  (Retail: $16)


How You Can Subscribe

Like what you saw in this box?  Well, you can buy each item individually or become a Popsugar Must Have subscriber and get a box of curated items that are new to the market (and will be a conversation piece among bloggers and fashionistas everywhere) valued at over $100 for $39.95/month (+ tax).  The cheaper option is definitely to become a subscriber.

I’ve been a subscriber for a few years now and Popsugar Must Have is definitely my favorite subscription box.  They lead the pack in deciding which products will be the next “IT” thing on the market.    I used to give away 3/4 of the box, but this past year, I found that I keep all of the items now.  They have really upped their game by sending out qualitative products that I can find at a lot of the places I already shop.

Join now.  I think you’ll enjoy the service.


Frugal Fridays: Earning Cash & Gift Cards

Want to earn some extra cash? Try these apps to earn gift cards toward purchases. Bonus: Free E-book from a Major Financial Adviser
Want to earn some extra cash? Try these apps to earn gift cards toward purchases. Bonus: Free E-book from a Major Financial Adviser

Want a way to earn a little extra cash and gift cards, especially for the holidays?  Here are a few apps I’m using to earn gift cards and credits towards Google Play.

Perk 

Perk comes with a few different apps you should download.  First, you’ll need to download Perk Wallet. This is the app that will serve as the source where you can pool all of your points together from the various Perk apps to use them towards gift cards or cash.  (Please note, as of now, there have been complaints about using the points to cash out, there are no complaints re: gift cards.  Until the issue with cashing out is resolved, use all Perk apps for gift cards only.)

After downloading the Perk Wallet app, you’ll need a few apps with which to earn points (green tokens) that you can save up to use towards gift cards.  There’s Perklinko, Perk Scratch & Win, Perk TV, and Perk Word Search to name a few.  My favorite is the Perk Scratch & Win.  All of the games are fairly simple to use.


In a get rich quick scheme world that we live in, many of you are going to be impatient and want to rack up as many points as you can as quickly as you can so you can get your rewards.  Don’t waste your time doing this.

My strategy has been to play each day until I reach 50 points.  After that, I turn off the game, because I have better things to do.  The goal is to save the points to use at Christmastime, so I’m not in any rush to get anything now.  It’s the equivalent of putting a little bit of savings away for the holidays.  That’s roughly 1500 points a month…maybe more if I hit a jackpot of 100-1000 points (which has happened).

PROS: Win points to cash in for prizes.  Easy to use.  Games can be a lot of fun.  Good way to come up with some extra money to purchase holiday gifts.

CONS: Takes a long time to rack up enough points for a good prize. Cash out has a lot of issues (stick to gift card option).  A lot of ads.

BONUS: Get 50 bonus points when you sign up to PERK by using the code: 75c0b672.


Surveys

Google Opinion Rewards is a good way to rack up some money to use toward purchases on Google Play.  It’s great to use towards games, books and movies.  All you have to do is take surveys as they become available.  You are only rewarded a few cents each time, but it can quickly turn into enough money to purchase items at Google Play.  In the first week of using the app, I was able to generate a little over $10.

PROS: Free money to use towards Google Play.  Surveys are short.

CONS: Only awarded a few cents per survey.  Takes a while to rack up enough money to purchase items on Google Play.

The Panel App is a good way to earn points for gift cards by taking short surveys.  You can save up your points towards gift cards, or you can use the points towards sweepstakes for bigger prizes.

PROS: Free gift cards.

CONS: Takes a while to accumulate points.


BONUS: FREE E-Book

My favorite financial adviser, David Bach, is now coming out with an updated version of his book “The Automatic Millionaire.”  BUT good news!  You can get it for free on his site.  Even if you’ve read it already, you can also download a free copy of his e-book “Finish Rich Quickstart System.”  It’s a good way to refresh your finances.

In all honesty, I think the last time I refreshed my financial records was the last time I read “The Automatic Millionaire.”  This little refresher is a good reason to go through and update your financial records, reassess your goals, and plan for your future.  Things have changed since the last book, especially for me, so this was a nice refresher.

HINTS

The trick to all of these apps is to remember that this is like creating passive income.  It will take a while to earn those gift cards.  But keep at it.  Spend a few minutes a day on each app and then turn it off.  Take the surveys as they come up.  If an app isn’t working for you, try something else.

For those using the Perk Scratch & Win, the trick to winning coins and points faster is to use the scratch off that costs the most (1,000 coins per game).  You win bigger in those games.  If you’re low on coins, play the free scratch offs (one of the three that is for gift cards/prizes).  Play until you get enough coins and then switch to the bigger payout scratch offs.

On Sundays, Google Play tends to offer a lot of surveys.  It won’t always alert you, so go into the app and right above the dollar amount that shows your Google Play credit, it will say there are surveys available.  Just keep clicking until there are no more.  I earned $9 one Sunday over the course of 5 minutes.

Also another major hint: try and share the apps.  You get more points when you share and others join.




Reading Material: What I Read (May Books)

For those who are challenging yourself to read more, I wanted to share with you a few of the books I’ve read this past week.


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1. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  With the trailers coming out for the new Tim Burton movie, this story looked absolutely fascinating, so I ordered the first three books.  I finished the first one in the series last week.

I will say the first book was a little boring.  I think he spent too much time setting the story up in this first book, so I’m hoping that the next book really gets into the adventure.

I do like what the author is doing as far as these characters are concerned.  Consider the first book the background that lays the groundwork to the adventure.  The second book (so far) is starting the kids off on that journey.


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2.  31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses: Less Stress. More Savings.  As part of a new series I’m starting here, I wanted to do some research and get some new tips on being frugal.  I always like to stay abreast of what people are saying about personal finance and how to be more frugal.  While I incorporate a lot of the author’s tips, I did learn a few things along the way.

I really liked her “Household Wish List” suggestion.  I also tend to splurge during Christmas.  While having a Christmas Savings Account is nothing new, it made me think that it’s not such a bad idea to buy Christmas gifts throughout the year, but also create a savings account for all of those big ticket purchases.

It’s definitely worth a read and FREE to read if you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber.


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3. Six Dollar Family.  What I love about this book is how it got its name.  The author started off with $6 to her name, living in a homeless shelter to now on her way to her first 6-figures.  A lot of her tips are drastic, but I was just so amazed.  I loved how she incorporated her DIY for medicine and toiletries in the book.  She takes the all natural approach to those DIYs, which end up working out so much better than the expensive stuff at the store.

I downloaded all of the apps she suggested + more.  The way I look at life is that you need to bleed every single dollar…make sure you get as much as you can out of every single dollar you spend.  Who knew that I could get double the rewards back if I use the Ibotta app and Checkout 51 to report my shopping receipts?  You didn’t know either?  That’s what I’m saying about this book!

She took being frugal to a whole new level.  I learned so much and even bookmarked her website: Six Dollar Family.

A definite must read for those looking to save money and be even more frugal than you already are.


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4. Resthaven.  I have not put up my review of this book on Amazon.com yet for a reason.  It’s because the detailed review will come from this site first.  I also want to read the other book by Erik Therme before doing an interview with him (yes, that was a teaser).  Note that I gave this book a 5/5 stars.  Why?  I got to the very last sentence of the book, flipped the page and did a “Whaaaaaatttt?”

The next page was the author page.  I flipped back to the last page and re-read the last two lines and did a “Whaaaatttt?”  Then I did an “OMG.  I need the next book!”

Yeah…that’s how good this book was.  I definitely recommend this.  It’s a thriller and mystery all wrapped up into one.  Loved it.


How to Save Big During Summer’s Movie Blockbusters

How to Save BIG During Summer's Movie Blockbusters
How to Save BIG During Summer’s Movie Blockbusters

Are you a cinephile?  Oh, I am.  I definitely am.  Summers are always the best time to hit the theaters.  It gets you out of the sweltering heat and into a nice air-conditioned room for a couple of hours.  A lot of times, that’s worth the $16.  But to do that more than a few times a month, movies can become pretty expensive.

Well, someone out there created MoviePass.  For around $30/month (I pay $34.99/month), you can see 1 movie every 24 hours.  For people in NYC, the monthly membership pays for itself in a little over 2 movies a month.

I’ve been using Movie Pass for almost two years now and I love it.  Everyone I know that is a member loves it!  I’ve never had an issue with it.  The way it works is you apply online for the membership, and they send you a MoviePass credit card which you will use to purchase your movies at the theater.  This card can only be activated by checking into a 2D movie on the MoviePass app on your phone.  You’ll have 30 minutes after checking into the movie to purchase the ticket.  The app is what activates the MoviePass credit card for that movie ticket purchase.


The card only works for 2D movies.  There are restrictions that you should familiarize yourself with, so read the fine print to learn how to get the most out of MoviePass.  Follow the rules and you’ll have no problems enjoying this great membership.

If you go to the movies every week, this would be a perfect money-saving option for you.  I try to go to the movies 2-3 times a week.

MoviePass is Only the Beginning of Savings

Make sure you sign up for movie rewards at each of the theaters you go to.  Combined with the MoviePass, you’ll rack up rewards much faster.

For instance, I just recently renewed my AMC Stubs card for $12.  Most people would kind of flinch and turn down paying $12 for a rewards card.  To me, I’ve gotten my money back plus more.

They sent me an email recently saying that if I renewed now, I could get $5 to spend in my account, so I renewed and got $5 to use at concessions.  I’ve also received other special offers via email that rewarded $5 to my account (so it pays to actually look at the emails they send).


Another great thing about AMC Stubs is that once or twice a year, they’ll give away free passes to a pre-screening of a movie.  I try to go every year they do this.  This year, it was Criminal.

Now here’s the trick to the savings with loyalty cards:

In order to get that first $10 rewards from AMC Stubs, you need to spend $100 at AMC.  The cheapest way to do that is by using your MoviePass.

Using MoviePass, that’s $15.99/movie applied to the AMC Stubs card.  In a little over 6 visits, that equates to a $10 reward added to your AMC Stubs account.

In order to get that $10 reward without MoviePass, you’d end up spending $100 out of pocket to get to that $10 reward.  With MoviePass, it’s around $34.99 to get to that $10 reward by seeing 6 movies in one month.  That’s a savings of $65.  That is the cheapest way to get to those rewards without spending any extra money.

But of course, many people like to stop at concessions to get their popcorn or drink.  Just make sure you are earning points with those purchases.  Remember, order the size down, because with AMC Stubs, it is an automatic upgrade to the next size.

Regal Crown Club is FREE to sign up.  They work on a point system.  You get points for movies/concessions which you can later redeem on concessions, free tickets and other exclusive movie items.  They reward you for becoming a frequent guest.  The more you check in during the year, the more points you’ll be able to earn per movie.


So whatever theater you frequent, make sure you sign up for their loyalty card program.  Free movie tickets and concessions are in your future.

The Rewards Don’t Stop There

My friends usually laugh when they see me pulling out all of these reward tickets and cards when we go to the movies.  Last week, I not only got a free ticket to see “The Huntsman,” but I also got a free small popcorn.  I don’t eat movie popcorn, so I gave the reward to my friend who was able to upgrade the small to a large for only $2.  I still got points added to my account for that $2 upgrade.

The thing is…they have no idea that the savings and rewards doesn’t stop there for me.  I get more points to use towards other rewards.

Are you a member of Disney Movie Rewards?  If you see Disney movies, Star Wars movies, Marvel movies, or even buy them…you are missing out on extra points you could be using towards Disney/Star Wars/Marvel items, gift cards (Starbucks, etc.), trip vouchers (Delta Vacations), or even photo processing gift certificates.  It’s completely free to join.  You can use your qualified movie tickets and DVD/Blu-Ray purchases to get points to use towards rewards.


I spend the year racking up as many points as I can get.  In November, I use the points to purchase gifts for children who would not have a Christmas if it weren’t for the generosity of strangers.

Sony Rewards is another rewards program.  You can rack up points in a variety of ways (fast track to getting rewards is to apply for their credit card and earn points that way).  The rewards?  They have everything from DVDs/Blurays on up to TVs, cameras, film equipment, etc.  You can even use the points towards Ultimate Rewards for concert tickets, etc.  It’s free to sign up and to make it easier to register your points…there’s an app.

Extras

For those 3D and 4DX movies that cannot be purchased by using the MoviePass, purchase your tickets through Fandango.  Make sure you’ve signed up for Fandango Rewards.  While some may be lamenting the fees involved with purchasing your tickets through Fandango…hear me out.  You’ll find that purchasing 4DX tickets will sell out very quickly.  [If you have not tried out 4DX, it is a must.  It is worth every single penny.  It is an experience in and of itself.  It’s like you are in the movie.]

I went to see Captain America: Civil War’s first showing, which in NYC, starts at 7PM the day before the actual release nationwide.  That morning, there were only 5 seats available for the 4DX showing.  I grabbed my ticket right then and there through Fandango.  As far as getting points, because it was a Marvel film, Disney Movie Rewards is connected to the Fandango account, as well as the Regal Crown Card, so I don’t have to do anything extra after the movie to make sure I got my credits through the rewards programs.  It was already taken care of.


Now, this is why I mention Fandango Rewards, I’m going to introduce you to an app called Fandango Now.  You can rent, buy and stream movies through the Fandango Now app.  Points from your Fandango VIP Rewards can be used towards a percentage off on your purchase at Fandango Now.  You get points through your purchases at Fandango Now (no points are rewarded through buying tickets at Fandango.com).

Fandango Now is still new to me, so I’ll explain why I am suggesting this app.  I use Cinema Now and Fandango Now to buy and rent movies.  Fandango Now has offered a lower sale price than Cinema Now on rentals.  Last week, the rentals for a variety of titles (many new and not on DVD yet) were $1.99 each.  I took an AmEx gift card I had received and bought up a few of the titles and streamed it on my tablet.

The Good Dinosaur was available on Fandango Now, but not on Cinema Now.  They had gotten the release before Cinema Now, so I got it through them.  That’s where Fandango Now has a little bit of an edge over Cinema Now.  You can view many movies before they hit DVD and before other streaming services get the titles.

Now, here’s the downside…The Good Dinosaur was not in Ultraviolet.  That means that I can’t put the title in my Ultraviolet library to watch in other Ultraviolet friendly apps such as Cinema Now.  That means you can only view the movie on the Fandango Now app.

Keep in mind that Fandango Now is limited in how it can be used.  It will work on your mobile devices, tablets and computers.  For televisions and streaming equipment, it only works on a few select devices.  Make sure to look closely at whether your Smart TV or streaming equipment is supported.  If it isn’t, you’ll only be able to watch your movie/TV show on your devices and computer…unless you get the electronics Fandango Now works with (I’m hoping this changes soon and they get more licensing deals with other platforms like Microsoft to use on Xbox One).

If you stream movies all of the time on your computer and devices, then this snafoo does not apply to you.  When purchasing titles, if you want to add it to your Ultraviolet library, make sure the title says ULTRAVIOLET on it.  If it does not, you will only be able to watch the movie through the app.

For those wanting to save money on a movie night, check between Fandango Now and other streaming movie apps.  Check their sales.  Movie night at home could only cost $1.99 for a family of four on a release that just left the theaters and hasn’t hit DVD yet.  I like that Fandango Now has titles not yet released through other streaming services.  For those cinephiles that can’t wait…Fandango Now may be your better option.

SAVE BIG

So what have you learned?  MOVIEPASS.  This is a membership that pays for itself if you are a cinephile that goes to the movies a lot.  If you’re an occasional movie goer, this isn’t for you.  If you go to the movies 3 or more times a month (or would like to go that many times), then this is the membership for you.

Use your movie reward cards to earn rewards towards concessions, movie tickets and other memorabilia.  For me, I am always earning rewards to use at the concessions every month.  Sometimes it is a free dinner!

Sign up for Disney Movie Rewards and Sony Rewards.  You may think you’re not watching a Disney movie, but if you love Star Wars and Marvel, then you’re actually at a Disney movie!  Earn points to use towards gift cards and merchandise!  

For streaming services, try Fandango Now.  With the Fandango VIP, you can redeem points to earn a percentage off on rentals/movies.  Fandango Now has releases before most streaming services.  So if you want to see a title that just left the theater, they are your best bet.  Also, make sure to check the sales between all of the streaming apps before purchasing.  You may end up finding a better deal!  

I hope you found this informative.  This is how I watch movies.  I try to bleed as many rewards out of that movie ticket as I can.  This is how you can watch movies frugally.  You can keep that $34.99/month (or less, depending on the region where you live) in your entertainment budget and reap the rewards of the various programs out there that can net you free concessions, free movie tickets for friends/family, and exclusive entries into sweepstakes. 

And in the summer heat…this could be your little relief every single day.  Happy Movie Watching!


Money Matters

Over these past few months I’ve been shifting my financial house in a new direction.  I’ve paid off 60% of my debt, maximized savings, maximized my 401k and started budgeting (living by the envelope method).  But even though I’m doing what’s best to push my financial dream in a new direction, I’m constantly revising what I’m doing to see if there are better ways of doing things.

So why talk about this on “Diary of a Perfectionist Wannabe?”  Well, it has more to do with becoming a little bit better at making financial dreams come true.  Here are a few things I’ve come across recently that has saved me time, money, and hassles.  It’s made my life more convenient and helped me to reach my goals.  It’s also helped me to find new places to get a better deal for the things I love most.

BUDGETING

After all the bills are paid, I set aside a certain amount to spend on food, laundry, dry cleaning, eating out and other miscellaneous expenses.  It’s from this budget, I have to figure out the best way to get more bang for my buck.

I joined Amazon Prime this year.  I am actually grateful that I did because I’m seeing that there are a lot of benefits to this membership.  First, I don’t shop in stores often.  I shop online.  What’s great about Amazon Prime is that I can order the monthly items (like cat food, treats and litter) for a much lower price than I would find at Target.  I don’t even have to pay for shipping, because technically, I already did.  It cost me $105.93 for a year long membership, but if you divide it up by 12, that’s $8.83/month.  If you think about how much it would cost to ship a 20 pound bag of litter plus 2-3 cases of of cat food every month…you’re actually getting a severe bout of savings.

Normally, I’d have to take a cab or an Uber car to/from Target.  That’s $30-$40 round trip.  If I have it delivered by a grocery delivery service, that’s a $20 delivery fee, plus another $4.95 service charge.  If I pick it up at KMart by Madison Square Garden, I’d have to do all the schlepping plus the cost of using public transit to go from Point A to Point B and go up and down a lot of stairs.  Amazon has saved me a lot of money, time and hassle just to get these items to my home.

For those who drive, factor in your car payment, insurance and cost for gas for the entire month.  Divide the total to how many times you use your car during that month to get a better idea of how much each trip costs you (not to mention the amount of time you spend in the store and traveling to these places).

Prime customers also get access to Prime Pantry where you can fill up a box of groceries for a flat rate of $5.99.  I’ve used Prime Pantry for the 20 lb bags of litter and then added in some additional items on the side (they separate the stuff up into 2 internal boxes inside of 1 big box).  I also plan on using this to order and ship boxes out to my brother’s platoon.  It saves so much time at all of the stores, going to the post office, etc. and it saves me $10 in shipping costs to ship to an APO.  Once again, another cost savings.

Another amazing benefit to Prime is that members get access to Prime Instant Video, Prime Music, Prime Photos and 1 Kindle Book a month.

For those who like streaming movies and TV shows at home or on your devices, you’ll have access to hundreds of thousands of movies and programs.  It’s unlimited.  Netflix and Hulu Plus both start at $7.99/month…and you don’t get access to free shipping on stuff you’re probably ordering from Amazon already.

I also added Kindle Unlimited and Audible memberships to my entertainment budget.  I am addicted to the Books with Narration from Kindle Unlimited.  You can read the book, but when you have to stop and bookmark it because you have to walk from one place to the next, just switch it to the narration and you can listen to the book while you’re moving.  For those who commute, this is an incredible feature.  I was able to get through a 246 page book in 2 days.  I usually do 1/2 of that just sitting down to read because I have to keep putting the book down.  Being able to switch to narration while I’m walking around keeps the book going.

My goal of getting through 52 books this year is more feasible now.

I added Audible as well because it gives me access to more audio books that Kindle Unlimited doesn’t offer.  For me, this is mainly for those Book Club books that haven’t become available on Kindle Unlimited yet (or when I want a book that just came out).

I took the suggestion from a fireman friend who suggested I start listening to audio books, especially since I’m having problems getting back into reading.  Audio books have been a godsend because I can actually listen to “War and Peace” instead of forcing myself to sit down to read a chapter.  Now, I can just listen to it while I’m walking around.

Another great feature from Kindle Unlimited are the reference and self-help books available to customers.  While I’m at the office and have some down time, I’ll read books that help with my job.  Like this week, I read “Math Made Easy” (which is basically a cheat sheet on how to do math in your head very quickly), and I read a book on Passive Income.  Today, I plan on reading a book on organization.   Truthfully, these aren’t books I’d spend money on or take time to take out of the library, but make them available to read online and I’m more apt to read them to better myself.

All in all, by using these new services from Amazon, I’m saving a lot of money and time by simplifying my life in many aspects.  Sure, I can get library books and DVDs from the library for free, but the convenience of downloading the book I need where I can both read and listen to it?  I’ll stick to these two services.  [Note: Audible is only for Audio Books.  Kindle Unlimited offers the book/narration option, but not all books offer narration.]

For Movie Going Lovers

Another part of my entertainment budget I keep in is Going to the Movies.  These days, it’s about $15 a pop.  Even more if you want to go to IMAX.  There is a solution to this.  MoviePass offers a membership for movie going lovers.  It’s $34.99/month.  You can see 1 movie per day.

Before signing up, I strongly urge you to see if the movie theater you go to takes this membership.  For me, I can use it at every movie theater I go to, including the artsy community one across the street from me.  These days, it pays for itself in 2 movies a month.  I recommend waiting until the summer months to really take advantage (technically May starts the hot Hollywood films of the summer).

In order to get more bang for your buck, sign up for the movie theater’s membership club as well.  Those tickets you’re purchasing through Movie Pass can be turned into points which can be turned into money you can use at the movie theater for concessions and even movie tickets (like if you want to see an IMAX film or use the extra ticket for a friend who isn’t a Movie Pass member).

The downside?  You can see 1 movie every 24 hours.  They are strict on the 24 hours.  It used to be that it just reset itself every night (which was perfect)…and then it went strictly 24 hours down to the very last second.  Another downside for some is that you can only watch the movie once.  You can’t go see the same movie more than once while it is still in the movie theater and use the Movie Pass card.

How does it work?  First, you need a smartphone in order to download the app.  They’ll send you a Movie Pass credit card that is activated only after you check in to the movie through the app.  You can only use it to purchase that 1 movie ticket.

If you go to movies frequently, I highly recommend this.   It seriously cuts down the cost for movie lovers who love to go to the movies but don’t go because it’s just ridiculously too expensive these days.  If you go to just three movies a month…the membership is more than paid for.  If you went to one movie every day, each movie would cost a little over $1 each.  It’s $34.99 for me because I’m in NYC.  It will be less for people not living in major metropolitan areas.

FOR THE DESIGNER ADDICTS

I have a confession.  I’m a bit of an addict when it comes to buying designer accessories.  I have a rather large designer handbag collection.  A couple of years ago, I decluttered the handbags down to only major designers, getting rid of all of the lesser names.  Now, I just buy what I like to add to the handbag collection.

Currently on my radar is the Fendi fur bag bugs (aka Monster) collection.  In my search, I came across a site called Tradesy.  I took a look around and let’s just say I went on a bit of a spending spree.

I netted a Chanel, Hermes and Dior bag and purchased a pair of Louboutin and Fendi shoes.  My friend did a delayed double take when I said, “So I bought an Hermes bag.”  She couldn’t believe it, so I showed her my cart and lo and behold, my closet said I purchased an Hermes bag.  No, I didn’t spend $20,000 on a birkin.  I found a Herbag for $500.  That’s half off what you’ll find at other consignment places.

Luckily, they were having a friends and family event, so I was able to take additional money off.  You can get $25 off your purchase of $100 or more by using my special link: TRADESY.

outnetP.S. As of right now, The Outnet is having their semi-annual clearance sale.  This is a great time for fashionistas to stock up on all their favorite designers for up to 80% off the retail price.  [My major score were a pair of Adidas by Stella McCartney ballet flats for $18.  After all was said and done, I’d saved $2,286.75 on my entire order.  That’s some serious savings.]

Also, for designer addicts that frequent Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom…trust me when I say you can get your coveted designer accessory for less.  For instance, the Fendi monster tote bag is $1500 at Saks.  That same bag is $999 at Overstock.com.  The exact same bag.  {Also, if you’re a Club O member, you can earn rewards from your purchases.  I’ve been able to score free Fendi sunglasses thanks to all of the reward dollars I earned from shopping at Overstock.com.}

Other places you should look: Century 21 shops (they have an online store), TJMaxx (yes, they are finally online), Loehmann’s (they may have closed all of their stores, but that’s because they went e-commerce) and Modnique.  I’ve found that a lot of these shops have the same merchandise, but you never know if they’ll have a special sale on top of their already discounted prices.

THE FIVE ACCOUNTS

I was reading in “The Little Secrets of Passive Income: How You Can Create Passive Income With Little Or No Money At All” by Raiden Steven that everyone should have five accounts. 1. Financial Dream; 2. Basic Savings; 3. Education; 4. Basic Necessities; and 5. Other.

The book is a quick read, so I highly recommend taking a look at it just to get your brain moving in a direction of earning passive income (I don’t recommend doing what he suggests, but it’s worth a read to understand what you can do to grow passive income) [it’s a free read with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited].

I want to touch on the Education part.  This is why I recommend Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited…he suggests putting away 10% of your income to the education fund.  I never put 10% away to an education fund mainly because I already had my schooling and frankly don’t have time to do continuing education courses.  I also don’t have kids, so really, this was an account I could do without.

I started to think about it and then realized just how much money I’m saving by using the Kindle Unlimited membership, especially if I take the membership fee from the Education account.  During the day, I’m pulling up books that will better myself.  I even have books written by scientists discussing their various theories.  There are even books on Photoshop, photography, etc. that I can read during the day.  In other words, Kindle Unlimited has opened the door to a world filled with resources where I can better educate myself.

I spent a lot of time on Wednesday doing math problems just to jog my memory of how to do math in my head.  I’m glad I did, because it forced me to re-memorize addition and multiplication tables (something that I had forgotten post-op).  By really diving into complex math equations I started looking at the equations and answering them in my head in half the ‘short steps’ the author was suggesting.  To me, this meant that math was back in my head again.

In other words, sometimes you just have to challenge yourself, especially when it comes to forgetting how to do things that are as important as math.

There are so many things out there to learn.  That was the point of the Education account.  You have to constantly challenge and better yourself.  If you don’t, you won’t be able to command good salaries or keep working.  After all, I’ve seen what happens to people that didn’t learn how to use a computer.  They’re barely making it.  You never want to be left behind, so continuously better yourself through education.  It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.

Who knows?  By all the money I save in the Education account, maybe I can just use it towards an educational trip or an archaeological dig somewhere.

Just something to think about…but I highly recommend reading the Passive Income book.  It will give you a new idea on how to budget yourself in order to earn income, and take a hard look at how you’re living.  Re-doing the way you do your budget is interesting.  It’s the 50-30-20 lifestyle, but that 30-20 is changed to 30% savings and 20% doing whatever you want with the money.  Previously, it was vice versa.  You’d save 20% and use 30% to do whatever.  Personally, I like this new take on budgeting.  What he shows you is how to use 10% of that 30% towards increasing your passive income…that’s what makes it worth the read.

12 Ways to Save Money on Everyday Items

There are a lot of people out there that believe that living in New York is outrageously expensive.  Well, it all depends on how you choose to live.

If you’re careless and don’t do your research…yes, this city is damn expensive.  But after 7 years of being in this city, I’ve started to learn the tricks of the trade in not only just being in NYC, but also just being a recessionista.

1.  CLIP COUPONS.  This is a rather new trend for me.  I’ve been getting a lot of email blasts from David Bach (financial guru) about the crazy women throughout North America that clip coupons and get so much stuff for practically free.

Well, I took the articles to heart very lightly.  While I was in Target, I picked up a few of the frozen pizzas by the slice (since they’re easier to take into work).  I open it up and find that if I send in the UPC, along with my receipt and information form, I can get another pizza for free.

I bought two…so I get two more slices for free.  That means that altogether, I spent only 99 cents per slice.

I cut up coupons from the Sunday paper and then flipped through the flyers to find that not only can I get Carefree pantiliners for free that week…I have 5 coupons, so I get 5 packages for free.  Tylenol heating pads…on sale for $5 this week…with the $5 coupon…all 5 boxes are free.  Finesse shampoos…on sale, buy one get one free.  I have $1 coupons for each bottle.  Oh, and I’ve got a $2 mail-in rebate for each product I buy.  So I’ve got $10 coming back to me.

Mail-in rebates…I’ve got a few of those, and I already have a coupon for the product.  Throw in Up-Rewards at Rite Aid…and it’s like I just got paid to shop.

Very weird how the coupons just add up left and right.  But hey, that’s what extreme couponing will do.  The funny thing is…I just got started on this couponing adventure…I haven’t even gone super extreme yet.

I decided to clip the stuff that I don’t want.  If I can get it for free…I can donate it to the community kitchen to give out to those less fortunate.

Also, make sure to check with your local grocery stores to see if and when they allow double or triple coupons (up to 99 cents).  You could save even more money on your purchases that way.

2.  TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROMOS.  Social media is starting to become a big thing with retailers.  I originally wasn’t going to go to Vegas for the NHL Awards.  I had just finished talking to one of the guys at the NHL corporate office about foregoing the Awards this year.

I came back to my office and saw that Orbitz had just tweeted that if you are the next 10 people to book at an MGM Resort, the flight was on them.  So I booked…and I got my flight for free.

What’s also nice is that they used my preferred airline, Continental, to book the trip, which means that I’ll be getting miles after I fly to Vegas.  I can even upgrade to first class (how about them apples?).

Total cost of going to Vegas is usually around $800+ for me.  Now, it’s $200 for both the hotel and flight (and I’m not staying at some cheapo motel).

It’s always best to follow retailers like Orbitz or the Orbitz gnome on Twitter and Facebook.  They give away hotel deals, flights, etc. all of the time.  It worked for me.  I got a free flight to Vegas.

I’ve also scored Rebecca Minkoff tickets to her fashion show, a Minkoff outfit, and free lunches at Fresh & Co. (they love me there).  Let’s not forget scoring a Valentino dress for $2 from The Outnet.

They put it out there…so why not take advantage of the freebies retailers and companies are giving out?

3.  RECYCLING HAS ITS REWARDS.  So the princess (aka Surita) has been getting her luxury Fancy Feast meals for free lately.  How?  A lovely thing called Recyclebank.  By clicking on links, taking challenges, recycling various products (like my Blackberry), I get points.  I can use those points to get coupons for free cat food (and various other things).

I prefer to use my points for cat food, because I wouldn’t buy Surita those Fancy Feast meals unless they were handing it out for free…oh wait…they are.

She’s a happy kitty thanks to those RecycleBank points.

They also have ways to get $10 off of $50 at Macy’s, etc.  There are so many coupons and gift cards on there that can be used.  All you need to do is gather up the points.  [They also make it fun and educational.]

4.  CASH BACK FOR SHOPPING.  How would you like to shop and get some of that money back?  Ebates.com allows you to get some of that money back by shopping through their links (where you can also find coupons for select retailers throughout the site).

I recently used them to get 5% cash back on my purchase of the Flip Cam.  Those babies are not cheap.  I found a $10 coupon online, and $225 later, I’m still getting 5% back on my purchase (in cash).  It may not seem like it’s a whole lot, but after you shop and shop and shop through the links at places you would normally shop with online (Best Buy, Target, etc.), it all adds up.

Plus, when you refer friends, it’s like getting an extra $10 back via CASH.

For instance, if a blogger refers up to 425 people, they get $5000.  Not bad in this recession just for recommending a site, right?  But to make it easier on others, just 10 referrals nets you a $100 gift card to your choice retailer.  Not bad, right?  So recessionistas and recessionistos…start referring (and using the services).

I had heard about Ebates on the radio.  Just an interesting way to get some of your money back when you shop, and make some dough on the side.

5.  TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INTERNET COUPONS.  All weekend, I kept saying…I think my good friend’s birthday is on Monday.  By Monday morning, I get the alert that my intuition was correct…her birthday was on Monday.

I’m always the worst at trying to find the right gift for a good friend and end up giving out shitty gifts.  Well, not this time.

Thanks to GiltCity.com I found not just one perfect gift for my friend, but two gifts.  For $100, I ordered a gift certificate to Fresh.  My friend can get a facial and $125 worth of Fresh products.  That was a $250 value that I picked up for $100.

I also ordered a Milk and Honey manicure/pedicure for her from Blush Nail Lounge.

Considering my friend is bogged down with so much stuff at home (and she’s trying to declutter), these two spa gifts, plus $125 worth of Fresh beauty products (a line she loves and always gives out as presents) is the perfect emergency birthday present for a good friend.

This week, I’m heading to Justin Timberlake’s Southern Hospitality to load up on beer and ribs.  I paid only $30 for the voucher.  For all you can drink beer and ribs…that’s a damn good deal.

Throw in movie tickets for $7 (as compared to $13) and I’m all set.  I hear Thor was a pretty hot commodity this past weekend. 😉

Prudential Center has also hooked up with them to provide discounted ‘experiences’ as well.  They’ve really taken a liking to these Groupon type places.

What better way to get a great experience (and great gifts) by paying only a fraction of the cost for an exhilirating experience in NYC.

6.  TAKE A CHANCE.  Ok…so I seem to be a bit on the lucky side lately.  I’ve won hotel stays at 5 star hotels in NYC, free airfare, free NHL stuff, free this, free that…the list goes on and on and on.

But you know why I win?  Because I take chances and just enter contests and take advantages of promotions.  What do you have to lose, right?  Well, apparently I keep winning stuff left and right (I’m on a serious lucky streak right now).  I don’t hope to win stuff.  I just enter it and say, “I’m winning this.”  And lo and behold…I win it.

Granted, I think this has more to do with my good karma than anything else. 😉

7.  SIGN UP FOR REWARDS CARDS.  It doesn’t hurt to sign up for rewards cards at your local grocers, pharmacy, etc.

Just recently, after all of my gift shopping, candle buying, and Vera Bradley stationary shopping at Hallmark, I finally got a $6 gift certificate to use.  That took about a decade!  But then again…I didn’t start using the card a lot until this past year.

KMart has a shopping reward card.  They’re also linked with Land’s End, Sears, etc.  One card does it all.  It’s free to sign up.  It’s also worth all of the discounts that come from the card.

Target’s debit card (which you can then control how much money you are spending at the store) saves you 5% each time you use the card at the store and online.

If you are a frequent Target shopper like I am, this allows you to monitor how much you are spending, as well as save 5% off of your order.  [Since my Target also sells groceries, 5% off could have taken another $30 off of my order (on top of all of the coupons I used).]  Every penny counts.

Some drug stores like CVS and Rite Aid have UP rewards where you can earn extra dollar awards for the next time you shop.  Luckily, those UP rewards are during sale weeks and you can get bonus dollars.  If you play your cards right, one shopping trip along with all of those coupons you used can net you anywhere up to $50 in UP Rewards to use on your next shopping trip.  What’s nice…you can use those rewards on just about anything.

For Shoprite, I have the card linked up to my Continental mileage account, which means after a certain amount, I can earn miles from my Shoprite rewards card, on top of all the discounts at the store.

Then again…you would be nuts to go to the grocery store and not have a rewards card for that store.  Most of those sale prices are actually for rewards members.

You should also register your card online for extra savings.  At Food Emporium, you can add coupons online to your savings card.  No need to print out coupons, just print the shopping list and take it with you to the store.  The amount you’re saving is listed to the side of the shopping list.  Just make sure to bring in any of your extra coupons to also apply to your purchase.  Those coupons you linked to your card will be automatically deducted from your receipt.

8.  SHOP SAMPLE SALE SITES.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to shop at sample sale sites.  The whole “refer a friend” can net you credits to buy whatever you want on the site.  Sometimes I save up the credits and use them around Xmas.  A year’s worth of credits basically covers your entire shopping list.

What I also like about Gilt City, when you refer a friend, you get 20% off your next Gilt City order.  $10 credit for sample sale sites.

You can get great deals on nice, qualitative (and designer clothing) for up to 85% off.  That is much better than what you can do in the store.  Trust me.

9.  Yard/Garage Sales.  Someone else’s trash could be someone else’s treasure.  It’s now springtime and that means there are a lot of yard/garage sales around.

Last summer, I found antique mason jars (with the flip top and glass lids) for $1 each.  Online they are $10.99 each.  To get the kind I purchased…try $35 each.

I also scored a beautiful crystal bowl for $3 (excellent for large floral arrangements), and a large crystal tray for $2.

I’ve found decorative Asian pieces for $8 and a Cheer Bear Care Bear for 50 cents.

Why spend an arm and a leg for things you need for your home when you can probably pick them up from a yard sale for next to nothing?

The rule of thumb for yard sales…only buy what you know you’re going to love.  Everything I’ve picked up are items that I love and use.  Don’t clutter up your home with nonsense.  Make sure you’re buying things that you have a legitimate use for.  Those mason jars are used every single day.  I love them.  You can’t find this style anywhere (and so eco-friendly).

The Care Bear was a childhood relic that I have out and look at every single day.  The Asian decorative pieces go well in my home.  That vase…I use it all of the time.  It’s a vital part of my living room.  It pulls the entire room together.

Buy what you are going to use and appreciate.  If you bulk up just because it’s cheap you’re going to have to have your own yard sale to get rid of it.

10.  Don’t Overdo it.  The key to being a successful recessionista/o is to bulk up on the things you can use and only those things.  Don’t overdo it.

Lately, I’ve been decluttering my home.  The rules are 1) if I don’t love it, it’s gone, 2) if it doesn’t have a home, it’s gone.

The thing about decluttering a home is that too much can be overwhelming.  If you want a happy home you need to keep it free and clear of clutter.

I know some people do the one item in, one item out.  That doesn’t work for me.  I’ve been collecting books for a long time and building up both my book library as well as my DVD library.  I don’t have cable and every now and again I like to sit back and watch a movie, or let a cartoon put me to sleep at night.

I hit up book sales at the Library and shop for books only in June at Barnes & Noble when they have their annual clearance of clearance books sale.

But lately I’m faced with the dilemma of too many books and not enough bookshelves.  You have to have the right storage, drawers, baskets and shelves to store your items.  As I’m still revamping my office, new bookshelves are on order to house my enormous collection of classic books.  What goes?  Magazines on fashion and books I’ve read that I don’t want to keep.  They head to the Library to be shelved or resold.  Trust me, they all find a new home.

As eco-friendly as I am, I don’t have the heart to buy a Nook or other reader.  I just don’t see them surviving the apocalypse (please insert laughter here).  Truthfully…it’s easier to take a book into another country than it is to take an electronic reader into another country.  Sometimes remaining simplistic is better than moving with technology.  Besides, I like to turn pages, hold the book in my hands and smell the pages.  That’s what makes books so precious to me.

The point is…if you love it…keep it and your collection.  But store it properly so that it will last a lifetime.  Don’t overbulk up on items (like toilet paper, soap, etc.) unless you can store them properly.  I have a closet reserved for all of the extra soap, etc. I’ve picked up on sale.

There’s nothing wrong with bulking up on the things you need.  Just don’t overdo it.  Make sure you have the room for it or a space for overstock.  If you don’t…you’ve overdone it.  Just scale back on purchasing that product until you’ve created a serious dent in it.

When it comes to food items, I bulk up on canned tomatoes, beans, rice, ketchup, mustard, frozen veggies and salad dressing.  But be cautious.  Some of those items have expiration dates on them.  It’s best to stick to the canned and dried goods in these instances.

I have shelves for these overstocks.  I never overdo it.  That’s how I keep my kitchen stocked at all times with the essentials (ketchup is the #1 item I go through the most, that means that when ketchup is on sale, I bulk up).

Always keep plenty of water on hand, because the number one item that most households need in an emergency situation (like a tornado or flood) is water (because there is usually a shortage of clean water).  Also, it’s best to bulk up on batteries too for flashlights.

Make sure to have an emergency survival chest on hand for those just in case of emergency moments.  In this day and age, you’re going to end up using it.

11.  Bring Your Own Bags.  When I first started shopping at Target on a monthly basis, people kept following me around because I carried around a huge bag (or brought a suitcase).  I finally started just bringing my $400 Just Cavalli tote so they would know…I have money so quit following me around like I’m shoplifting!

What I’m carrying in those huge totes are extra bags to carry home my purchases in.  By doing that, they give me a credit of 5 cents per bag.  Even if I wind up taking a couple of bags, I still get .25 knocked off the bill for bringing my own bags.

Getting back to the clutter…it’s taken me 2 years to get through all of the plastic bags I’ve been socking away at home.  That’s a lot of plastic bags that I’ve been trying to reuse!

A lot of stores welcome customers bringing in their own bags. If you add up how many times you bring in your own bags, I’m sure it will save you a lot more money on your bill in a year’s time.

You can also recycle your plastic bags (including sandwich bags, Ziploc bags, etc.) at Target and many local grocers.  Ziploc will give you RecycleBank points when you buy their products and recycle them.  More incentive to buy Ziploc and recycle!  For me…that’s free cat food!  😉

12.  Dollar Stores Are Your Best Friend.  When I first moved into the apartment I live in now, I had to cut back on a lot of expenses for the first few months until I could completely furnish the 2 bedroom apartment.  I was coming from a shared apartment (for the first 6 months after moving to NYC) to my own place.

Jack’s 99 cent stores filled my refrigerator for a long time.  I had to learn how to cook with different ingredients based on what was in the store that month.  But it was a good thing, because I learned how to create new dishes.

The Dollar Tree is also great for holiday items (especially if you’re starting with ZERO Xmas items to decorate with).  I used to love buying plates and dishes from them.  They’re cute and they last a long time.  You can’t go wrong when they’re all $1 each.

Don’t let a dollar store scare you off.  They have been my lifesaver for years.  Dollar General stores are still one of my favorite places to shop.  Lots of cool stuff in there.  I still have soup bowls, margarita glasses, coffee mugs, etc. that I got from them…all for $1.

My millionaire aunt taught me that just because you got it at the Dollar Store doesn’t mean that anyone else has to know you got it from them.  Just buy the qualitative, expensive looking items.  No one will know. 😉