Frugal AND USEFUL SITES,Websites and apps
“The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality: that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them everything.”― Benjamin Franklin
“There is no dignity quite so impressive,and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.”― Calvin Coolidge
"Before I became a minimalist, I purchased random things anytime I saw something I thought was cute or trendy. And it would add up to a lot of money during the course of a year. Don’t waste money on these types of items. Consider carefully each purchase you make. Be thoughtful with your money." Clark Howard
"Before I became a minimalist, I purchased random things anytime I saw something I thought was cute or trendy. And it would add up to a lot of money during the course of a year. Don’t waste money on these types of items. Consider carefully each purchase you make. Be thoughtful with your money." Clark Howard
Best apps to get the most when shopping online:
Rakuten
cash back monitor
honey
price scalp
camel camel
use credit card points too
70 Valuable Things You Can Get for Free
There Are Billions Of Dollars In Unclaimed Money. Here’s How You Can Claim Yours
Benefit finder : The Benefit Finder search tool will help you identify what assistance programs are available. The questionnaire can help you find federal or state benefits you may be eligible to receive and direct you to the appropriate agency to apply.
Are you using a recalled product Use recalls.gov to find out: How to find recalls with Recalls.gov. You use multiple products in your daily life from cleaners in your home to cars when driving your kids to school. You may be using a recalled product and not know it. Keep your family safe by learning about recent recalls and signing up for notifications to never miss a new alert.
2022 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Guidelines: If you’re making good money, this may seem irrelevant to you. However, there is a good chance that at some point in your life that could change. And even if it’s never relevant to you, there is a good chance that it may be relevant to someone in your life. Everyone should have at least a vague familiarity with the U.S. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines, as no less than 31 federal programs use them (or a multiple of) to determine eligibility requirements and assistance. Additionally, many state and local programs use them as well.
Explore the government contact information directory: Find contact information for U.S. federal government departments and agencies including websites, emails, phone numbers, addresses, and more.
Trim analyzes your spending patterns to find ways that we can take action and save you money. 3. You feel good about your money. Sit back while we continue to monitor for opportunities and get you more savings. 2. Then Trim does the work. Trim negotiates cable, internet, phone, and medical bills, cancels old subscriptions, and more.
NerdWallet makes it simple to find the best deals on credit cards, insurance, mortgage rates and more. They'll help you save time, reduce your monthly payments and rest easy knowing you’ve made the best financial decisions for you.
Truebill - Find Subscriptions, Track Bills, and Cancel Recurring Charges: It checks your bills for any automatic billing you don't want anymore and they can cancel them for you
Save money on monthly bills with BillCutterz expert bill negotiation or a similar service like BillFixers.com: they will call your utility providers on your behalf to see if they can get your monthly bill reduced.
The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators is holding billions of unclaimed stocks, dividends, life insurance proceeds, bank accounts and other assets that are unclaimed. To find out if any of these assets are yours got to www.missingmoney.com or www.unclaimed.org . They do not charge any fees for the service.
USA.GOV: USA.gov helps you locate and understand government benefits, programs, and information. When you are facing major life events, you want to find all the benefits you are eligible for in the fastest way. Let us take care of finding help for you
GSA Auctions : Place your bid on items from the government. Looking to bid on something in your area? The GSA Auctions website allows you to filter items by locations nearest to you.
Unclaimed baggage: Although airlines and airports do their best to return lost items to their owners, not every piece of luggage finds its way home. So what happens to goods that are never reunited with their owners? Since 1970, the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, has found a novel solution. It purchases unclaimed items from U.S. airlines and resells them online and at a 50,000-square-foot outlet store. (Some of the things left behind may surprise you — everything from a suit of armor to an Egyptian burial mask.
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Use This Free Tool To Find the Best Prices on Amazon
Discover the possibilities and place your bid today at GSAAuctions.gov.
Is the Seduction of 'Free' and 'Cheap' Hurting Your Finances?
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Wirecutter: New Product Reviews, Deals, and Buying Advice
Consumer reports: Consumer Reports, formerly Consumers Union, is an American nonprofit consumer organization dedicated to independent product testing, investigative journalism, consumer-oriented research, public education, and consumer advocacy
12 Things You Never Knew You Could Get From Your Local Library
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Why Some Rewards Programs Don't Benefit You
This Simple Trick Will Help You Avoid Spam Emails
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Find Out if You Qualify for Financial Help From the Government
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Save Money With Apps From Walmart, Target, Dollar General, and Others
Learn what services and programs many public libraries offer and how to locate a branch near you.
50 Free Apps for Apple and Android Phones
Is the Seduction of 'Free' and 'Cheap' Hurting Your Finances?
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Which Dollar Store Gives the Most Bang for Your Buck?
How to Get Free Stuff From a Buy Nothing Group
5 Reasons To Go to an Estate Sale (Even If You're Not a Collector)
some tricks for curbing impulse buys.
Goodwill Launches New Bargain Shopping Website
This Government Auction Site Is Packed With Cheap Buys
The Financial Truth about Thrift Stores
20 Price-Saving Tricks for Amazon Shoppers
Looking for Coinstar Alternatives? Check Your Local Credit Union
Who Do I Contact To Get Financial Help?: State Social Service Agencies
5 Tips for Spending Less on Your Next Amazon Order
Should we trust online reviews?
Pirate Ship Review: Pros & Cons of This Cheap Shipping Service
AAA Membership: Is It Worth Your Money?
12 Things You Never Knew You Could Get From Your Local Library
Credit Karma’s Hidden Features and Services
Ibotta Review: 4 Things To Know Before Earning Cash Back
10 Tools To Get the Best Deal on Membership Programs
Capital One Shopping: Automatically applies coupon codes for free
5 Ways to Save Money on Amazon You Probably Don’t Know About
Earn 4% Cash Back on Clothes, Food and More With This App
5 Sneaky Ways to Spot Fake Amazon Reviews
Beat Inflation and Save Money Shopping With Honey
how you can get free stuff and save the earth
How to Tell if Amazon Reviews Are Fake: 5 Sneaky Tricks
7 Ways Facebook Helps You Save Money
5 Ways Facebook Costs You Money
You Asked, Benefits.gov Answers: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) FAQs
Learn the Difference Between SNAP and WIC Programs
Is Amazon Prime Worth the Money? -2022
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10 Secrets of Thrift Store Shopping
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How to Find Your Unclaimed Cash
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5 Things To Do Before You Sign Up for a Free Trial
Unclaimed Money from the Government
How to Find and Claim Missing Money in Your Name
7 Best Retail Comparison Shopping Engines & Sites to Find the Best Price
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Cash Back App Review: Earn Money on Groceries, Gas and More!
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Introducing the Benefits.gov Chatbot: The Chatbot can answer your questions about using Benefits.gov, help you find benefits you may be eligible to receive, help you find benefit applications, or direct you to contact information for the state or federal agency that oversees the benefit you are asking about.
See What Government Benefits You May Qualify For
Save money on refurbished electronics: 6 Things To Know About Amazon Renewed
Your search for great deals and coupon savings ends here. Find the best bargains and money-saving offers, discounts, promo codes, freebies and price comparisons from the trusted Slickdeals community.
We explore the financial truth about thrift stores.
7 Times Buying Cheap Can Cost More
Swagbucks: Is This App a Legit Way To Make Extra Money?
Use This App To Get Rewarded on Everyday Purchases from Amazon, Walmart and More!
https://clark.com/shopping-retail/amazon-renewed/
Ibotta Review: 5 Things to Know Before Downloading the App
4 Things To Know About Earning Cash Back With Rakuten
Finding Financial Assistance on Benefits.gov
Need Expert Advice? Get It Here for Free
Find food assistance, help paying bills, and other free / reduced cost programs in your zip code, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic.
7 Ways to Save Money When Shopping Online
10 Retailers That Allow You To Stack Coupons and Maximize Savings
A Calendar for Smart Seasonal Shoppers
9 Costly Mistakes Many Bargain Shoppers Make
Look for missing money - I do this every year or so, just in case
27 Things You Should Never Pay For — and How to Get Them for Free
Online Shopping Guide: How to Get the Best Price Possible
9 Best Deal Sites: Slickdeals, Woot and More
12 Best Group Buying Sites & Apps for Daily Deals and Online Coupons
Trustpilot Review: Is Trustpilot Legit?
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Online Shopping Guide: How to Get the Best Price Possible
The Financial Truth about Thrift Stores
18 Ways to Save Money at Amazon
Amazon shoppers, take note: What NOT to buy from third-party sellers
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The Secret to Getting Dollar Store Items for Free
Save money with this handy online shopping-comparison tool
How to Use Google Shopping to Get a Great Deal
Online shopping tip: How to spot fake reviews
20 Generic Brands That Amazon Created
7 Free Tools for Saving Money at Amazon
7 Ways to Save Money When Shopping Online
Unclaimed Baggage— a retail company that buys, repurposes, recycles, and resells unclaimed baggage from the airlines—is now offering online shopping
3 Websites That Pay You for Shopping
How to Get the Most Out of Your Fringe Benefits
How to Sell on OfferUp to Make Extra Money
How to Coupon at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods - CouponCabin.com
Wikibuy Review: Free Tool to Help You Find the Best Deal
This free tool can find you discounts on everything from gaming to pizza delivery. It's basically free money: Honey: https://www.joinhoney.com/page/DR-US-Simplified-Yellow-General/
How to spot fake reviews and star ratings when shopping on Amazon
Need Expert Advice? Get It Here for Free
10 Best Money Saving Apps for 2020 - Frugal Rules
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15 Ways to Find the Best Deals Online | DaveRamsey.com
Wikibuy While you shop, wikibuy evaluates other sellers like Walmart, Target, eBay, Jet, and others you might find with a Google search.
InvisibleHand: Home InvisibleHand gets you the lowest price on shopping and flights. Automatically. InvisibleHand shows a discreet notification when there are lower prices available ...
Online Shopping Guide: How to get the best price possible ...: To find the best prices every day, shop on the right browser. Did you know the browser or device you shop on can affect the price you pay? Some major retailers employ 'dynamic pricing' to serve different prices based on the browser you shop on.
NerdWallet makes it simple to find the best deals on credit cards, insurance, mortgage rates and more. They'll help you save time, reduce your monthly payments and rest easy knowing you’ve made the best financial decisions for you.
Stop robocalls and telemarketers with Nomorobo: is a free, third-party service that can reduce robocalls and automated telemarketing calls to your Phone home phone. Nomorobo identifies incoming calls from known robocallers and hangs up the call before you answer.
70 Valuable Things You Can Get for Free
Warning: New Report Exposes the Downside of Free Trials
This Startup Helps Food Stamp Recipients Make Their Benefits Last
Stop paying for subscriptions you don't want or need. Use Unroll.Me (disconnect app after use... see below) and SaneBox.
Smartplanner: Created by award-winning financial expert Jonathan Pond, Smart Planner has distilled the wisdom of 25 years of financial advising practice to provide a powerful online financial planning tool that is confidential, secure, and extremely affordable. Smart Planner will help you and your loved ones address pressing personal financial matters such as retirement, investments, insurance, debt, income taxes, budgeting, estate planning, and saving for college, among others.
5 Alternatives to Unroll.me That Are Free and Safe to Use
https://emailmate.com/blog/2018/11/alternatives-unrollme-free-safe/
Unroll.me is a service that many people have used over the years. You give it access to your email inbox, and it goes through and identifies all of the email newsletters and mailing lists you're subscribed to. You can then go through and choose which ones to keep and bulk unsubscribe to the rest of the automatically. For those of us with email addresses over 10 years old at this point, it's a ...
See What You Can Find at GSA Auctions: Where can you buy a used car, a laptop, and a lighthouse all in one place? GSA Auctions! Bid online for property that the federal government no longer needs. You can find items up for auction throughout the country. Browse by location or category, and check new auctions as well as closing ones. Recent auction items include:
Cars, trucks, and vans
Smartphones
Boats
Furniture
A lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay
Visit GSAAuctions.gov to place a bid today.
QUOTES:
A Shopping Order To Maximize Savings: I use the following order when shopping for anything but food items. This method makes sense and has worked for me for years, helping us to save enough to be out of debt. When I am looking to buy something specific, I go to the stores as follows, looking for the item I want. This is in the order of the cheapest to most expensive:
Craigslist: I used to start with yard sales but fewer people have them anymore.
Thrift stores: Items are usually donated to them and they are cheaper than resale.
Resale shops: These are a little more costly, but more organized.
Dollar stores: These are no longer just a dollar but still cheap.
Dollar General or Family Dollar: You'll pay less than at a discount department store like Walmart for many things. Check their sales flyers.
Discount department stores: I rarely shop above these prices, as we have no brand-conscious teens in our homes.
If you do this, you will be assured to get the item for the cheapest available price.
Nancy from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Cheaper? Or Better?: Sometimes "living better for less" means spending more upfront. It's not being penny wise and pound foolish. If you buy better quality things, they last. You save by not having to replace over and over. Especially something that is used daily like pots and pans. I've had my quality cookware for almost 15 years. I have taken care of it. I bought the set on sale and have never regretted the purchase. My sister bought cheap stuff and needs to replace it every few years. Michelle S. from Dollar Stretcher Tips
When A Good Deal Isn't Really a Good Deal: Over the last year, we have started living more frugally in order to pay off a huge amount of debt. Yet, in my desire to be a wise shopper, I have been buying a lot of things in bulk just because it is a "good deal." No wonder I have no place to store my seven cake pans, nine cookie sheets, four frying pans, or the 16 packages of Dixieware that I bought! I now know a true wise shopper knows that a deal is only a deal if you need the item now or in the near future. Laura G.from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Confessions of a Thrift Store Addict: I'm addicted to thrift stores, but I don't need any more stuff in my home. Now I only allow myself to buy things that I can use as Christmas and birthday gifts for my family. Often I can find great things for their hobbies or interests for just a few dollars. It allows me to shop without spending a lot on things I don't need. And, when the holidays come, I have most of my Christmas shopping already done! Susanna
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
Are You Eligible for Government Benefits?
Finding the right benefits for you and your family can be a complicated process. Benefits.gov is here to help. This easy-to-use website guides you to different programs and helpful government benefit information.
What can you expect to find?
The Benefit Finder Tool: Check your eligibility for over 1,000 federal and state programs through an interactive quiz.
Benefit Categories: Browse benefits by category like education, housing, and volunteering. Filter results by state and federal agency.
The Newsroom: Explore the latest updates related to benefit programs.
Help Center: Get answers to your most pressing questions.
Your Path to Government Benefits :The official benefits website of the U.S. government informs citizens of benefits they may be eligible for and provides information on how to apply for assistance. Find more than 1,000 Federal and state benefits including housing, food/nutrition, education, grants/loans, disaster relief and Medicare/Medicaid.
Curious about finding more resources on Benefits.gov? Check out our recently released video on using the Benefit Finder on YouTube or use the Benefit Finder to check your eligibility for over 1,000 different assistance programs!
If you are over 55 and looking for government assistance for yourself or your family, go to www.benefitscheckup.org to find out which programs you qualify for. The benefits are generally administered by local and state agencies. You may find out that you qualify for help with the costs of groceries, prescription drugs, Medicare premiums, healthcare, utility bills and in home services.
Government Surplus Auctions - govdeals.com: GovDeals is the place to bid on government surplus and unclaimed property including heavy equipment, cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, and so much more. Government SurplusAuctions - govdeals.com For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript.
2-1-1 provides free and confidential information and referral. Call 2-1-1 for help with food, housing, employment, health care, counseling and more. Learn more about your local 2-1-1 by looking it up here http://211search.org/
https://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/What-is-311.html
311 is a non-emergency phone number that people can call in many cities to find information about services, make complaints, or report problems like graffiti or road damage. Since its inception, 311 has evolved with technological advances into a multi-channel service that connects citizen with government, while also providing a wealth of data that improves how cities are run. To go to a specific city just put the initials of the city in front of 311.
Need Expert Advice? Get It Here for Free
How to Track Down Unclaimed Funds Owed You
Missing Money and National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators are a database of governmental unclaimed property records.
Common types of unclaimed property include:
Bank accounts and safe deposit box contents
Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends
Uncashed checks and wages
Insurance policies, CD's, trust funds
Utility deposits, escrow accounts
Simply click on any state you have lived in and it will take you to the states' website where you can search for unclaimed money and unclaimed property for free. Unclaimed Money from the Government
Log on to www.silverjewelryclub.com and get greatly reduced jewelry. The items are displayed for only 15 minutes or until they sell out.
If you are missing dishes or flatware you can complete your set by logging on to www.replacements.com
Get freebies and other perks with purchase at www.Ulta.com
For free advice and reviews
www.EWG.org/skindeep have data on the safety of hundreds of beauty products. www.GoodGuide.com science team – chemists, toxicologists, nutritionists, sociologists, and lifecycle analysis experts – rates products and companies on their health, environmental and social performance.
www.sittercity.com If you are looking for a babysitter, pet sitter, house sitter, tutor, or someone to help care for an elderly relative, then Sitter City might be a good place to start. At Sitter City, you can look at profiles in each of these categories. You can also see if anyone has left a review of the sitter, or if a background check has been done. Sitters can register and list themselves for free, as long as they are at least 17-yrs-old. People who would like to make contact with a sitter can either pay an annual fee or go monthly.
www.picasa.com is a free software download from Google that helps you locate and organize all the photos on your computer. You can edit and add effects, share photos with others through e-mail, print them or upload them to the web.
www.packandfind.com is a free online service that helps you catalog the contents and locations of all your stored items.
Find the cheapest clothes at www.thefind.com
QUOTES:
Before You Buy...:When watching the TV infomercials, we are sometimes swayed to buy. Before doing so, go online and see if you can get feedback on the item. I was tempted recently to purchase an "As Seen on TV" item, but after reading the poor ratings, it made my decision not to buy very easy. Callie from Dollar Stretcher Tips
"You can go to your local Environmental Services office and get all the free paint stain, varnish, thinners, and often even general housecleaning supplies that you want. In our community, when you no longer need remaining touch-up paint or didn't like a product for whatever reason and you can't dispose of it in the normal fashions, you bring it to Environmental Services. They store it, in hopes that someone else can use it. They have everything from pints to five-gallon pails of paint. I haven't bought spray paint in years! Check and see if this service is available in your community." Donna from Dollar Stretcher Tips
"I use both the "Free" section of craigslist and freecycle (everything is free on freecycle). I check them at least once a day, then act quickly when I see something of interest. Freecycle requires membership, which is free, while anyone can look at craigslist. Both sites guide the user in locating the nearest group. Don't be discouraged if all you see is "free dirt" or some such. That's a common offer where I live, but there are lots of other things, too. I also see home renovation leftovers of all kinds, household goods, clothing, bicycles, fencing, plants, nonperishable food, and other things. You can give away things you no longer want, too, so long as they are in good condition. I've had no problems with picking up items or having them picked up from my porch, but if you're hesitant, meet in your local police department's parking lot." B. from Dollar Stretcher Tips
Be sure to check out the Freecycle.org online, Buy Nothing groups or Trash Nothing groups (Facebook) in your area. I've given good things and received many good things, from clothes still with tags to lamps and unopened foods. All three groups have saved me hundreds of dollars. Liz from Dollar Stretcher Tips