So you’ve decided to take control of your finances and pay off your debt…great! But where to start? One solution you might want to consider in your journey to debt freedom is SavvyMoney.com.

SavvyMoney (formerly Debt Goal)is a web based do-it-yourself debt repayment plan that offers hefty tools, tips, and strategies that aim to optimize and shorten your debt repayment schedule. In fact, the only downside of SavvyMoney.com that I’ve found is that the cost ($14.95/month) is a little hard to find on their website. I’d prefer the cost to be right up front without any searching.

Other than having to drill down to find the monthly charge, SavvyMoney.com has a straightforward user interface and offers a simple-to-follow debt repayment structure.

About SavvyMoney.com

Organization – SavvyMoney.com collects all of your financial information in one place so you can see how much debt you have in total. You’re guided through this process by adding all of your financial accounts into the website’s software either electronically (with usernames and passwords) or manually (with account numbers).

SavvyMoney Accounts Page

The benefit of organization is that it helps you understand your debt situation. Knowing where you stand is the first step in the process of debt elimination. SavvyMoney.com will list all of your account balances, interest rates, and due dates in one place.

Optimize – By entering your financial information, SavvyMoney’s software learns about your current financial situation; how much you make and how much you owe. Knowing this information, SavvyMoney’s algorithm can optimize your monthly debt account payments and savings.

The benefit to payment optimization is that you end up paying more principle and less interest. As a result, the total amount you owe decreases at a faster rate than making minimum (or barely above minimum) monthly payments.

Smart Pay Plan – SavvyMoney.com initially gives you a simple payment plan to follow by setting a monthly commitment that you will pay toward your debt each month. (this is the initial step of your Smart Pay Plan™)

SavvyMoney Smart Pay Plan

You’ll choose a fixed amount that you can afford to pay toward debt each month, and then choose a payment strategy that best suits your needs. The Smart Pay Plan benefit is that you’ll save money by decreasing the principle without dramatically increasing your current monthly payments.

Finalize – To complete your Smart Pay Plan, you’ll choose a financial strategy that will lead you to the promised land of debt freedom. Your financial strategy decision will be based on your current financial situation, your desired lifestyle, and your future plans. You will always have the choice as to which debts you want to pay off first; and this can be changed and updated as you go.

“Creating a Smart Pay Plan is an intuitive step-by-step process that may take as little as 15 minutes.” – SavvyMoney.com

A few other tools available from SavvyMoney.com are monthly summaries and payment reminders, your personal Debt Free Date™, and accelerator tools to help make an even bigger impact in your debt repayment. You can also track your debt reduction progress with interactive charts and graphs.

SavvyMoney’s debt repayment strategies show you the best way to spread around your payments every month in an effort to help you save thousands of dollars in interest and get out of debt years sooner.

What can SavvyMoney.com offer you? Check out their system with a 7 day free trial.

Most Commented Posts

• Yakezie Challenge Carnival –
• 600 Money Saving Tips (Mega List)
• Blogging Bliss | 6 Month Anniversary Giveaway
• Christmas 2010 On A Budget

Is a credit card necessary for emergency purposes?

There are plenty of people who think it is. Is that because the credit card companies have conditioned us to believe this to be true? Have our parents always said that we need one “just for emergencies”? Is that what our broke friends and family memebers have said for years?

Yes to all of the above. But I just don’t buy it!!

Types of Emergencies:

Emergency: Look back at the last year and see what emergencies you’ve had. Are any of these emergencies that could have been paid for in cash? Probably. Are any of these emergencies that could have been billed at a later date or put on a payment plan if they were super large? Probably.

Car Repairs is one category that has hit me personally. There are few common car repairs that will cost more than $2,000. A well-built and maintained emergency fund can handle these repairs. If the repairs are more than the EM fund, you can move money around to get the cash you need.

Hospital Bills Ever hear about people going bankrupt from hospital bills? Yes, hospitals are the masters at billing you. But sometimes, depending on the amounts owed, you can work with the hospital to develop a payment plan so you won’t have to pay your bill in one lump sum. Besides, if you paid a mega hospital bill with a credit card, good luck paying off the interest on a few thousand dollars.

New Cloths This is NOT an emergency. Yes you have that wedding to attend this weekend, but it is NOT an emergency.

Clogged drain Mr. Rooter Plumber is fairly cheap and your emergency fund will cover it. Again Mr. Rooter Plumber is usually a small business and they will setup payment plans if needed.

Rental Cars I just went through this a couple of months ago. You’re ID and copies resent pay stubs and utility bills can getyou into a rental car most of the time. I paid with my debit card and never looked back.

I’m sure there is something I’m missing, but I’m sure you get the point. “Emergency” credit cards are a sham. I have plenty of friends and family who don’t own credit cards and are perfectly safe from financial emergencies. If you decide to get a credit card, make sure you don’t like to yourself about its usage.

What’s your take? Emergency Credit Card or Emergency Fund??

More Great Posts From DeliverAwayDebt

• Emergency Fund Help Needed
• Personal Finance Addiction – Fiscally Passionate?
• The Sacrifice of Eliminating Debt – Sweet Rewards
• How to Calculate Your Net Worth

It's hard to pay $13.50 for movie tickets

I love going to the movies, but I absolutely hate the cost of everything associated with the experience; from the ticket prices, to the concession prices, and even those darn 3D movie price-hikes.

After years of fine-tuning my methods, I’m ready to share my top 6 ways in which you can continue to watch movies on the big screen without breaking the bank. Some may call it “cheap”, but I see these tips as ammunition against price gouging.

Join the Club

Theaters like AMC and Cinemark have “Movie Watcher” clubs and cards. These programs give you pretty generous discounts on ticket prices and concessions. The more you go to the movies, the better the discounts get. There’s even a chance at free tickets throughout the year.

Joining a frequent movie program is worth it for those of us who enjoy going to the movies more than once a month. If you don’t go very often, you won’t really see much of a discount. Check your local theater to see if they have any type of frequent movie watcher discounts.

You Know, They Show Movies Before 5pm These Days

Yes your local theater is showing the same exact movies during the day time as they are after 7pm. No the theaters aren’t filled with crying kids.

If you’re not going to the movies for date night, try making time for a matinee. If you’re stuck at work throughout the week, and who isn’t, you can still cash in on the pre-5pm ticket discounts on Saturdays and Sundays.

Eat Before You Go

I feel like I could buy myself a lifetime supply of soda and popcorn for what I have to pay for exact same refreshments at the theater. Needles to say, I hate the whole system that is responsible for hiking the prices of concessions just because I want to watch a movie on a big screen.

If I go to the movies hungry, I can put away nachos, a large popcorn, some candy, and a large soda. But that costs teeters at $24.

But when I go to the movies on a full stomach, I can get through the entertainment with only a soda, or even nothing at all. Yes, some of it is a mental addiction. Who doesn’t love popcorn and candy at the movies? It’s as American as charging outrageous prices.

Or I guess you could slip some Reese’s Pieces into your pocket.

Be Selective

My movie palate has matured with my age. Yes, I still like action, adventure, comedy, and comics; but I can sniff out a rip-off a mile away. You know, those movies that are purely ridiculous, not even worth the time it takes to think about seeing the movie.

And because of the huge price difference between theater movie tickets and Netflix, Redbox, or Blockbuster movie rentals, I tend to only go to the theater for the mega-blockbuster movies.

You don’t have to be as picky as I am. But if you can group your movies into categories like “see in the theater” or “wait for dvd”, you could save a little cash by not blowing $10 on every movie Hollywood spits out.

Budget

Ok, this tip won’t actually “save” you money by itself. But it can help you free up money within your budget and give you a little pep in your step knowing that you’re not paying for your entertainment with money meant for something else, or, God forbid, a credit card.

And when you combine entertainment budgeting with the above money savers, you’ll be a well-oiled machine of movie-money-saving-madness.

Runner Up

Of course, not all money savers made my top 6. But don’t forget to employ ideas like student and senior citizen discounts, dollar theaters, using your credit card rewards for movie tickets, or asking for a voucher if your theater experience was sub-par (like a noisy theater or sound malfunctions).

Photo By EvelynGiggles

Most Commented Posts

• Yakezie Challenge Carnival –
• 600 Money Saving Tips (Mega List)
• Blogging Bliss | 6 Month Anniversary Giveaway
• Christmas 2010 On A Budget

I just blew away my emergency fund to fix my truck.

Not “blew” in the sense that I wasted it . . . having a running vehicle was necessary. But now I’m out of e-fund cash!

$970 was the total to fix my pickup and get it back into working condition, and I’m thankful we had the $1000 emergency fund to handle Mr Fix It.  But during dinner, my wife asked a very good question that I never thought of while building the emergency fund and setting up our debt repayment plan. 

The question was, “What do we do if the furnace breaks tomorrow and we don’t have that $1000 anymore?” I didn’t have an answer.  I was stumped, the guy who reads about personal finance all day long didn’t have the answer.  So I’m asking for your help dear reader.  What would you do?  How would you handle it?

Looking through my accounts, I’m sure I could piece together the money to fund the next emergency.  I could take some money from my sinking fund that is growing at the moment. 

I could move some money from my long-term accounts, i.e. Insurance, Taxes, or Christmas.  The money would only be moved for a very short period of time, because the emergency fund is now the first priority to fund. 

It sort of feels like starting over with the baby step #1.

I could borrow from my IRA account.  Nope sorry, I already did this for other stupid reasons.  I can’t afford to pay that ridiculous tax again.  I could borrow from a family member.  I guess only in an extreme case could I consider that option.  And of cause I could always pull out that Emergency Credit Card.  I’m trying to get out of debt here, not start over again.

What am I missing?  Are they any other ideas out there?  Remember bad things tend to happen in threes, or at least that is what the “old wives tail” says. I hope my wife has a better story, lol.

More Great Posts From DeliverAwayDebt

• Do Not Get Into Any Debt?
• On Paper | On Purpose- 2010 PF Goals
• Emergency Credit Cards
• Bed Bath and Beyond 20% Off Coupon

You must use, but use wisely.

I’ve been using them ever since I graduated high school (many, many years ago.) I thought I would share a commonly known frugal hack with you today.

Bed Bath & Beyond offers 20% off coupons that make gift giving more affordable. Besides using them for our household items, we have some other great uses for the coupons. Since most Brides love to register at Bed Bath & Beyond, we use the 20% coupon to purchase the gift.

We’ve used them to purchase wedding shower gifts, wedding gifts, baby shower gifts, and even Christmas gifts. If you are planning to spend $100 on a gift it is a great way to get a $100 gift for $80. In our case, we choose to purchase a $125 gift and get it for $100. I like to give as much as I can so using the 20% coupons allows us to get more for the same price.

Weddings and showers aren’t the only events you can use the Bed Bath & Beyond coupons for. Graduations are approaching fast and Bed Bath & Beyond has a ton of items for college living. Birthdays, Easter and Mother’s Day are all great events to use the coupons on. As with many coupons they are not good on all products, but Bed Bath & Beyond has so many products I don’t think you’ll even notice. Below is a list of the companies that are NOT included.

Gift cards, All-Clad, Nautica, Tempur-Pedic, Wusthof, AeroGrow, Margaritaville, The Sharper Image, Wedgwood, Lenox, Waterford, Vera Wang, Nambe, Riedel, Orrefors Kosta Boda, Oreck, Capresso, Miele, kate spade, Swarovski, Versace, Alessi, Richard Ginori, iJoy

The coupons are very easy to obtain. Follow this link to Sign up for 20% coupon. The link will take you to the Bed Bath & Beyond website to register for their mailing list. Below is a snap shot of the email you’ll receive after signing up. It took me 2 minutes to fill in my info and get the email with my 20% coupon. Once you are on the list, you will get 20% coupons a couple of times a month. The Sunday newspaper includes the coupons every once in a while too. If you need more coupons, have a family member sign up and give you the coupons.

Here’s a great shopping tip: Bed Bath & Beyond honors manufacturer’s discount coupons and even competitors’ promo coupons! Just be aware that all coupons must be used before their expiration date – starting January 1, 2010 the company no longer honors expired coupons.

TIP: Keep the coupons in your car. There is nothing worse than stopping in to Bed Bath & Beyond and not having your coupons. If you have multiple items, you can ask the cashier to ring them up separately and use a coupon for each item.

Good luck everyone

More Great Posts From DeliverAwayDebt

• A Progress Update on the Friday Frugal Tips
• Emergency Fund Help Needed
• Christmas On A Budget
• Sinking Funds

Back when the gym was fun

Instead of losing money on gym memberships and fees, take matters into your own muscular hands.

1. Use the Resources at Your Disposal

The last time I checked, the city doesn’t issue a service charge for taking a walk or a jog on the sidewalk or through the park. But you can take it to the next level with recreating some of the best exercise machines at the gym with your body’s weight. Push ups, pull ups, core exercises, using chairs for dips, or even running sprints in your back yard.

It might take some imagination, but it can totally be worth it.

2. Buy Used Equipment

We’ve all bought exercise equipment before, or at least have known someone who has. Here’s what normally happens; you buy the exercise machine, use it for a few weeks or months, get bored, get back into your pre-workout routine, get too busy to workout, you let it sit there for a few more months, then you try to sell it on Craigslist.

Instead of buying brand new equipment at premium prices, buy used or borrow a friend’s machine for a while. Besides, the depreciation on this stuff seems worse than buying a new car.

3. Suspension Training

Suspension training uses bars and straps and your body weight to intensify your workouts. You may have seen these systems being sold late at night by popular MMA fighters. Even though these commercials look a little gimmicky, the workouts really work (if you commit yourself).

4. Use the Technology You’re Already Paying For

If you have a tv, a cell phone, or the internet, you have plenty of information at your fingertips to help you fine-tune your workout. There are tons of free tips and tricks everywhere you look. You’ve heard of the show “Biggest Loser” right? This franchise offers an amazing assortment of free workout ideas and eating plans.

You can also find tips, goals, workout plans, and nutrition information by using apps on your phone.

5. Beware of the Fads and Money Traps

Two words . . . Shake Weight. Don’t throw your money down the drain on the “latest and greatest” weight-loss gadgets. Here’s what you need to drop some pounds – eat the right foods, eat the right amounts, and get some exercise. Beyond that, everyone is trying to get your money. Be sure to avoid anything that promises little to no exercise with promisesof shedding pounds.

Even if the magic pill actually works, you’ll have to buy them for the rest of your life to keep the weight off. Once you quit the pills, the weight comes back.

Photo By Kapungo

Most Commented Posts

• Yakezie Challenge Carnival –
• 600 Money Saving Tips (Mega List)
• Blogging Bliss | 6 Month Anniversary Giveaway
• Christmas 2010 On A Budget

Addiction can be simply described as a compulsive or obsessive relationship to a substance or behavior.  The most common addictions are Alcoholism, Anorexia, Drugs, Gambling, Sex, Smoking, Hoarding, and Spending.

With a list like this, it’s no wonder that the word “addiction” has such a negative connotation. But can you be addicted to something positive?

What about personal finance? Can you really become addicted to fixing and streamlining your finances?  Of course!  When people are so focused a single overriding goal they call it being passionate, that sounds better.  The first person that comes to my mind when thinking about passion is Dave Ramsey.

Crazy Like a Fox or Intense Like a Gazelle

Dave Ramsey uses the term “Gazelle Intense” to describe this passion.  Gazelle intense just means that you are doing everything in your power to get out of your financial rut.

He came up with this term after reading Proverbs 6:4–5, which says, “Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

Escaping a predator is a great way to describe how intense and focused we should all be about getting out of the oppression of debt.

Dave Ramsey is very animated while describing it (if you’ve seen him live you really know what I’m talking about).  Don’t you think Dave is a little addicted (passionate) about helping people get out of debt?  I sure believe so, just like he was when he was getting out of his own debt.

What are You Passionate About

I have turned my current situation of “Debt Prison” into an all out personal finance addiction.  I want to get out of debt and will not stop until I get there.

Do you have this same attitude?

I read at least 50 blog posts a day either through my RSS reader, or my favorite medium – Twitter.  Why do I read and read and read about personal finance?  Because I’m still learning.  If I was smart about money and the ways of the personal finance world, I wouldn’t have gotten into my debt mess to begin with.

I’m the type of person who needs to know.  I need to figure things out, I need to understand how everything fits together and works like a well oiled machine.  I crave it.

I’ve followed the tips and tricks of Dave Ramsey and countless other PF bloggers, drinking up all of the Kool-Aid – oh yeah!  I’ve been able to rock my financial world with everything I’ve learned.

More Great Posts From DeliverAwayDebt

• The Sacrifice of Eliminating Debt – Sweet Rewards
• DeliverAwayDebt on Blog Talk Radio with Ask Mr. Credit Card
• Credit Relief Act
• Emergency Credit Cards

On the way to work yesterday I saw a new billboard. I normally look at them and never give them a second thought. But this one bugged the crap out of me. It had a large eye catching phone number.  Underneath was the catch line ‘dump your debt, keep your stuff’.

Personally, this sign feels more like bankruptcy fraud than true financial assistance.

As a person trying their hardest to get out of debt, this billboard angered me.  It gives the appearance that you can shed all responsibility for getting in the financial mess you’re surrounded by.  It’s someone trying to make a buck off of desperate people by promising them the world instead of teaching them responsible financial habits.

People continue to think there is an EASY button for everything.  Here are some common examples.

• Take this pill and you will loose weight without changing your eating habits
• Follow this program and you will make a $100,000 from home while watching TV
• Use this shampoo and you’ll grow your hair back so you can get all the women you want

**Just forget about exercise, your debt to income ratio, or being able to relate to women on a personal level.

YEAH RIGHT!

Turn the Tables and Start Making the Right Decisions

It’s time to throw off the hindrance of financial hardship. Our culture has bought into this marketing for years.  We are the ones that keep these companies in business. After all, if this type of marketing didn’t work, no one would be using these tactics. 

Our constant search for the easy way out is making other people rich, and not improving our lives.  Besides, the products just don’t work.

Come on people wake up.  Working hard and having a P-L-A-N is one way to get to your goals.  I know some people have made millions the easy way, but I believe they are the extreme exception to the rule.  Stop looking for a bailout, because it’s not going to happen.

It is our behaviors that have created these problems.  We’ve bought into the hype and tried to keep up with the Jones for too long.  Time to wake up America. 

Put the TV remote down and start to make your plan.  Yes your plan. You are the only one who can change your life.  Calling the company mentioned above could solve your debt problem, but only if you are willing to have that bankruptcy on your record for life and only if you “qualify”.  

And the chances of keeping all of your stuff is slim to none.

Filing bankruptcy doesn’t change the habits that got you to that point in the first place.  Just like the magic diet pill that worked for 2 weeks, the weight and the debt will be right back where it was when you started.  Unless of course you make the changes required to keep the weigh off and stay out of debt!

Is it just me? Or do you have similar thoughts?

More Great Posts From DeliverAwayDebt

• Emergency Credit Cards
• Personal Finance Addiction – Fiscally Passionate?
• The Sacrifice of Eliminating Debt – Sweet Rewards
• How to Calculate Your Net Worth

So you’ve decided to say “Hell No” to the credit card companies. You’ve looked at your debt to income ratio and decided to make some changes. You’ve made the choice to eliminate those nagging student loans.

You’ve asked yourself, “should I pay off my mortgage?” And you’ve answered with a resounding YES! You’ve decided to grab your own bull by the horns before you seek the assistance of a debt service. Good for you, but as with all great changes in our lives – sacrifices must be made.

Want to Make More Money?

Besides finding ways to make more money, you should also be concerned with how to save money. There are plenty of financial experts out there who tout “earn more income” over “spending less”. Some have great insight and others are just trying to corner the ‘personal finance’ market by focusing on something positive (like more money) instead of something negative (like debt).

It’s so very important to know what your debt to income ratio is. And earning more income is a great way to help reduce your debt, but in my experience, making more money can’t happen as instantaneously as reducing your spending.

Even if it only takes you a week or two to find a second job or start a side business, you can start spendng less and spending wisely today.

Whatever course you take, you can’t just keep spending more than you make. You can’t eat out every night or even every other night. I know that new phone is sweet but guess what? You can’t have it.

You are on a mission now. The mission is to be debt free. Nothing is sweeter than the taste of victory. I want you to win, I want us all to win. But get ready, it’s NOT easy.

Sacrifice

Don’t be fooled by the slick talkers telling you that “you don’t have to spend less at all, just start earning more.” That’s like weight loss ads telling you to eat whatever you want without exercise and still lose weight. More often than not, it’s just a gimmick to make money for the seller.

Getting out of debt is hard.  The best place to start (before you begin earning more income from the magic money tree out back) is to take a long, probing look into your past.  How did you get here?   How much debt to you really have?  Are you the only person who’s in this situation?

Those are the easy questions, really.  The most difficult question is, “Are you ready to make the sacrifices necessary to become debt free?”  Without a strong YES answer to this question, you will not get there. Is that too harsh?  No, because all choices in life require a give and take relationship.   Let’s take a closer look at some sacrifices you need to prepare for.

Spending: You will NOT be able to spend money like you have been.  That’s why you are in debt.   Those credit cards need to be frozen, buried in the back yard, or shreded. Matt Jabs at a Debt Free Adventure wrote a great post about shredding his cards Credit Card-Close’em Shred’em & Forget’em.  Cash or a debit card is all you need.  If you don’t have the money, you don’t get the item.

Budgeting: You will need to live on a budget.   There is no other way to say this.  You need to understand the movement of your money and utilizing a budget is the single most important way to accomplish this.   Most personal finance blogs have detailed information on how they budget.  Check out as many as you can to see the wonderful variety in budgeting.

Family: There will certainly be some sacrifice in terms of your family.  Does your spouse have to go back to work to make extra money to eliminate the debt?  Is a second job in your future?   Are you ready to miss a family events because you have to work to supplement your debt elimination plan?  These are some VERY important questions to think about when starting the process.

Friends: Can you say “no” to going out with friends?  There are many ways to continue your friendships that don’t involve money.  Keep up with friends on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, E-mail, Text messages, Phone calls.   Let all your friends know about your new mission and I bet some are in the same position.  Talking with friends about money and the battles you face is a great way to get support for you efforts.

Life goals: Some goals may need to be put aside for a while.  Maybe you need to hold off on having the next child.  Maybe moving up in housing needs to put off, until you can have a large down payment.  Maybe you can’t take on that new job at work.

Whatever it is, you may need to place it on hold.  Once your debt is gone, get back to reaching those life goals.   Only now you’ll have a clear head and will be able to completely focus on reaching those goals.  Without debt on your shoulders, you’ll be much more agile to make moves in your life.

I’m Not Only the Deliver Away Debt President, I’m Also a Client

Why am I talking about these sacrifices?  Because I’m living them now.  I’ve made the choice to blow up my debt.  I want to be free of the debt that binds me.  I’ve had to learn to budget, and man do I love it now!

My wife and I had to make a choice between her returning to work or raising our two kids.   She stays at home to raise the kids because the income she could bring in isn’t worth paying the cost of daycare.   I’ve taken on the second job.  I deliver pizzas on the weekend (hence-DeliverAwayDebt).  I work at least 60 hrs/week at job one and 22 hrs/week at job two.

I choose to keep up with my friends using all the means described above.  My family is very understanding when I have to miss the events.   Most of them have been moved to the early afternoon so I can attend.  Without this great support system, getting out of debt would be much more painful.

Are these sacrifices worth it. YES!! I “flash forward” all the time and think about the thing I’ll be able to enjoy once I’m debt free.   The ultimate goal for me is to be able to live on one quarter of my current income while I start a pizza place. It will be paid in cash and having no consumer debt will allow me to build the business without having maintain my current income.

Good luck to you and your quest.  Remember-without sacrifice the goal just isn’t as sweet.

More Great Posts From DeliverAwayDebt

• Personal Finance Addiction – Fiscally Passionate?
• Net Worth – March 2010
• DeliverAwayDebt on Blog Talk Radio with Ask Mr. Credit Card
• Credit Relief Act

Libraries are the coolest; and everybody should be using them these days.

As a matter of fact, I’ve been to the library twice in the past 2 days. It’s a quiet place to work, free fast internet, tons of movies and music to check out, amazing programs for the kids, oh, and they have books too.

Out local library even has adult education and assistance classes.

My local “knowledge hole” is packed with people throughout the week, which is surprising because the weather is getting so nice here.

I would think that more people would be spending their time outside, but this doesn’t seem to be the case. I can only surmise that the library must be for the “Cool” people. Maybe not, but it makes me think about why the library is receiving so much traffic.

Why do people continue to visit their local libraries when so much information is available online?

Books

Of course everyone knows that the library is known for books. Many libraries offer an exchange system that allows members to request books from other libraries. If one library is out of a certain book, another one will have it.

Today’s libraries are ordering a ton of new books; most of the titles you see at the book store are on the shelves at the local library. These books are free, provided you return them on time. Take a look at this post from MyNextBuck.com to see what can happen if you do not return the books on time.

Audio Books, DVDs, and Music

I love books on tape. I’m able to finish a complete book in one week of driving to work and one weekend of delivering pizzas.

I enjoy music once in a while, but it can get extremely boring. I usually have 3 or 4 physical books that I read at any one time, and listening to an additional one is a nice break for my eyes.

Libraries have come a long way in the selection of audio books they offer. I just finished Thomas Stanley’s Stop Acting Rich which is a great book and one I would have normally purchased. The library saved me $20 by having it on the self.

My library also has a Value Calculator that you can use to see how much value you are getting from the library.

You can even check out DVD movies. Dramas, Comedies, Action, Horror, Family and Kids, even TV shows. Amazing!

Kids Stuff

We currently have 23 kid’s books checked out from the library. My kids love books, but usually get sick of them at the 2 week point. This is perfect because we can rotate the books through our home for free by using the library, saving even more money and shelf space.

Most libraries also have programs or story times for kids. It’s a great time to introduce children to new books and they get some social interaction. Just make sure to bring your hand sanitizer.

Magazines and More

I can’t help but think of Seinfeld every time I see a newspaper at a library. Another great advantage of the library is all the magazines they have.

The cost of magazines can really add up and having a free option is awesome. My library provides many databases to use to locate articles from any magazine you can think of. They also offer several other databases that can be searched for almost anything.

If you are a blogger, these provide a wonderful resource to help research topics. If you have kids in school, the databases are easy to use to help Junior with those science projects and book reports.

Check out some of the databases my library offers. These are available at the library or from home using your library card.

Free Admission

A while back a DeliverAwayDebt reader commented that her library had museum passes that could be checked out and used by members. I’ve checked into mine, and they offer the same thing. I’m amazed at the amount of places that can be visited for FREE with the pass.

Our pass is called the Detroit Adventure Pass and is sponsored by Macy’s. I will be using the pass in the future and of course I’ll include my adventures in a future post. Thanks to Mysti from Digging Out From Our Mess for providing the idea.

Savings

Now it’s your turn. Hop, skip, and jump over to your library’s website and see all they have to offer. All the cool kids are doing it

And the nerds.

More Great Posts From DeliverAwayDebt

• Bed Bath and Beyond 20% Off Coupon
• Lawn Care – Cut the Grass or Hire It Out?
• Netflix vs Cable TV and HBO Movies
• 600 Money Saving Tips (Mega List)