"The greatest wealth is contentment with a little." - English Proverb

SavingAdvice.com Blog

Bridging the gap between saving money and investing

Subscribe

 

Join Now or Login

Vicky Monroe

5 Ways To Purchase Electronics on a Tight Budget

By Leave a Comment

Purchase Electronics on a Tight Budget

In today’s fast-paced economy, it’s necessary to own at least a few electronics. You need a cellphone and computer at minimum to apply for jobs and work from home. But if you don’t have much discretionary income, it can be hard to save up enough cash to buy a laptop. Here are some tips and tricks to help you purchase electronics on a tight budget. 

How to Purchase Electronics on a Tight Budget

Buy Refurbished Models 

Buying a refurbished cellphone or laptop instead of a new one is a great way to save money. Pre-owned electronics are sold for up to 30% off and many are in like-new condition.

However, you need to be careful when buying pre-loved electronics. Private sellers may simply repackage phones with defects and sell them to unsuspecting buyers.

So make sure you only buy refurbished phones from trusted brands and retailers who certify that their products are in good working order. Check the return policy as well to ensure you have enough time to inspect the item and send it back if there are any issues. 

Buy Last Generation Products 

If you’d rather have a new phone than a refurbished one, look into buying last generation products. Phones and computers are sold at a premium when they first hit the market, but usually go on sale when the next model becomes available. If you buy the second newest version instead of the most recent release, you can save a nice chunk of change.  

Skip the Extended Warranty 

Extended warranties for electronics can cost up to $150, making them an expensive add-on. And according to Consumer Reports, they’re usually not worth the money. On average, repairing a phone or laptop costs about the same as an extended warranty.

One in five consumers is also dissatisfied with the quality of the repairs they receive under warranty. You may be required to send your phone to a certain repair shop even if they have bad reviews and long wait times. So unless you think you’re going to break your phone multiple times during the warranty period, extended coverage usually isn’t worth the price. 

Some credit cards also give you free extended warranty protection on electronics as a membership benefit. You can use an app called Sift to see how long certain credit cards will cover your tech purchases. If your credit issuer offers this type of insurance, then you definitely don’t need to purchase an extended warranty for your phone. 

Ask Friends For Old Phones 

If you have a friend or family member who’s always upgrading to the latest technology, ask if they have any old phones or laptops lying around. Since they’re not using the devices anyway, they may sell them to you for a low price or give them to you for free. 

You can also ask your local Buy Nothing or Freecycle group if anyone has electronics they’d be willing to give away. Although they may not be in mint condition, you’ll be able to invest some money into repairing them since you got them for free. 

Shop Sales 

Stores usually discount electronics a few times during the year. Right before the Superbowl, many retailers lower the price of their TVs hoping that sports fans will scoop them up. TVs are also discounted on Black Friday because they’re a popular Christmas gift. 

If you follow the sales cycles, you may be able to get a great deal on a compute or phone that fits in your tight budget. 

What are your favorite tips for saving money on electronics? Let us know in the comments section below!

Read More 

How Much Does an Eye Exam Cost at Walmart?

5 Cheap and Natural Ways To Unclog a Drain

How to Retire Well by Moving to Another State

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. 
Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

How Much Does an Eye Exam Cost at Walmart?

By Leave a Comment

How Much Does Eye Exam Cost at Walmart?

Walmart Vision Center is a convenient place to buy new glasses or contact lenses. You’ll be able to pick up groceries and get your annual eye exam all in one shopping trip. But if you’ve never been there before, you may be wondering, how much does an eye exam cost at Walmart?

Here’s everything you need to know about Walmart Vision Center to prepare for your first trip. 

Making an Appointment at Walmart Vision Center 

If you have an updated prescription, you can visit Walmart Vision Center during regular business hours to try on frames or purchase contact lenses. Although hours can vary by location, the Vision Center is usually open from 11 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and weekends. However, they may close early on Sundays. If those hours don’t work with your schedule, you can shop online 24/7. 

If you’re due for an eye exam, you’ll need to call and make an appointment before stopping by. You can use this store locator tool to find the contact information of your local Vision Center. 

Eye Exam Cost at Walmart Vision Center

The cost of an eye exam may vary depending on where you live and which Walmart you visit. So if you want the most accurate pricing, you’ll need to contact your local store. 

However, you can usually expect a basic eye exam to cost between $65 and $100. Contact lens exams are around $125. The exams are done by licensed optometrists or ophthalmologists, so you can feel confident you’re getting a quality service for the price. Many locations also accept vision insurance, which can help lower the cost of your exam and any contact lenses or glasses you purchase. 

Glasses and Contacts Pricing 

Walmart Vision Center offers a range of prescription eyeglasses including sunglasses, reading glasses, and even contact lenses. You can shop in-store or online as long as you have an updated prescription. Keep in mind that your vision insurance will only apply to in-store purchases. 

If you want to get some new glasses after your eye exam, you can generally expect to pay between $20 and $165 for frames. The price will vary depending on which brand of glasses you choose. Designer options like Armani and Michael Kors will cost significantly more than off-brand frames. 

No matter which style you choose, every pair of frames comes with clear, plastic lenses with an anti-scratch coating at no extra cost. Other options like transition or tinted lenses will cost extra—usually between $40 and $65. 

If you prefer contact lenses, you can pick them up in-store or online for as little as $20 per box. 

Walmart Vision Center Return Policy 

Walmart Vision Center has a generous return policy, so you can get your money back if you’re not happy with your glasses.

If your eye doctor changes your prescription within 60 days of your eye exam, Walmart will replace your lenses for free. You can also return frames and lenses purchased in-store for up to 60 days. Any products you buy online only have a 30-day return window, so keep that in mind while shopping.

You can get your cash back for defective contact lenses for up to 365 days after purchase. So there’s no risk that you’ll end up stuck with a faulty product. 

Walmart makes it easy to fit getting new glasses into your busy schedule. Now you can get an eye exam at the same place you buy your groceries. 

Are you going to try out Walmart Vision Center? Let us know in the comments section below! 

Read More 

Lowest Property Taxes in Alabama

Tips on How to Retire Well With a Single Income

5 Cheap and Natural Ways To Unclog a Drain

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. 
Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

How to Retire Well by Moving to Another State

By Leave a Comment

Retire Well by Moving to Another State

Although it’s possible to have a great retirement where you currently live, many retirees relocate for lower taxes or warmer temperatures. In 2020 alone, 400,000 retirees made a major move, with 38% relocating to another state. Whether you want to move to be near your kids or save money on housing, relocating may enable you to enjoy your golden years more. Here are our tips on how to retire well by moving to another state to help you decide where to live. 

Choose a State with Low Taxes 

Choosing a state with low taxes can help your nest egg stretch further. Unsurprisingly, one of the most tax-friendly states for seniors is Florida. It doesn’t have any estate, inheritance, or income taxes, allowing you to hold onto more of your money. Georgia is also a good choice for retirees because it doesn’t tax Social Security payments and doesn’t have an estate or inheritance tax. 

If you prefer a colder climate, Wyoming and South Dakota are great places to retire because they don’t have a state income tax. Wyoming also has some of the lowest sales and property taxes in the country, which can make it easier to live on a fixed income. 

Other tax-friendly states worth considering include: 

  • Mississippi 
  • Alabama 
  • Arkansas
  • Oklahoma 
  • West Virginia 
  • Alaska 

Research Housing Prices 

Another factor to consider when choosing a place to retire is housing costs. If you’re planning to purchase another home, picking a state that has lower property values than where you live now may enable you to buy your next house in cash. Being mortgage-free in retirement will leave more room in your budget for travel and other luxuries. 

Some of the cheapest states to buy a house include: 

  • West Virginia 
  • Mississippi 
  • Arkansas 
  • Oklahoma 
  • Iowa 
  • Kentucky 
  • Alabama 

However, you shouldn’t move to a state just because it has the lowest property values. It’s not worth it to live in a place you don’t like just for lower housing costs. Even if you end up in a state with slightly higher property taxes or home prices, there are ways to offset those costs. 

Communities for people 55+ tend to have lower, more affordable home prices. You could also buy a multi-family home and rent out the other units to cover the cost of your mortgage. 

Consider Transportation Costs 

Another way to retire well by moving to another state is to consider transportation costs. Some states have high insurance rates and gas prices, which can strain your finances. Michigan is the most expensive place to own a car with an average annual cost of $5,413. 

On the other end of the spectrum, New Hampshire is the cheapest state for vehicle owners. It costs just $3,344 per year to own a car there. You can also drive a car without breaking the bank in North Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, Missouri, Ohio, Montana, Mississippi, and Alaska. 

Wrapping Up 

Relocating to another state that has cheaper taxes or housing prices can help you make the most of your retirement income. No state is perfect and will have everything you’re looking for. But with some research and planning, you should be able to find a place to live that meets your lifestyle needs and budget. 

Read More 

Here’s How to Retire Well on 60K Per Year

How to Retire Well in Virginia

How to Retire Well in Vermont

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. 
Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

Tips on How to Retire Well With a Single Income

By Leave a Comment

How to Retire Well on a Single Income

Many retirees are married and have two Social Security checks coming in during retirement. This can make it easier to maintain a comfortable lifestyle after exiting the workforce. But if you’re single or married with a dependent spouse, you can still enjoy your golden years while living on a smaller nest egg. Here are our best tips for how to retire well on a single income.  

Save as Much as You Can 

Since you won’t have two Social Security checks, it’s important to save as much as you can while you’re still working. Experts suggest single income households set aside at least 15% of their pay for retirement. You can try saving via an app that makes you save like Digit.

If you’re 50 or older and don’t have much of a nest egg yet, try to take advantage of catch-up contributions. In 2021, you can put an extra $6,500 in your 401K and an additional $1,000 in your IRA. 

Keep a Big Cash Buffer 

Another tip for how to retire well on a single income is to keep a big cash buffer on hand for emergencies. Since you’re living on one income, your budget probably doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room for unexpected expenses. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a large emergency fund so you aren’t forced to take on debt if your car or furnace breaks down. 

It’s usually recommended that single income households keep between nine and twelve months of living expenses in a savings account. Before you retire, you may want to increase your emergency fund to two years of expenses. That way you won’t have to sell your investments at a discount if there’s a recession.

Reduce Your Car Payment (Or Go Car-Free)

Your car payment is likely one of your biggest monthly expenses. On average, Americans spend between $376 and $503 per month paying off their auto loans. Studies have shown that many people also upgrade their vehicles shortly after paying off their old one. Constantly having a car payment puts a huge drain on their budget.

If you’re single and don’t have children, it may be easier for you to go without a vehicle and take public transportation to reduce your expenses. The money you save on gas and insurance can be invested to give you a bigger nest egg in retirement. If you continue to go without a car after you stop working, you’ll also need significantly less money to live on, which will help your savings go further. 

But if you live in the suburbs and need a car to get around, try to purchase affordable used cars in cash. Foregoing a car payment will enable you to put more money into your 401K and live on a smaller retirement nest egg.

Live with Roommates

The cost of rent rises by 3% to 5% every year, which can make it hard to afford housing on a single income. Even if you own a home, the cost of shouldering a mortgage may prevent you from enjoying your golden years. 

Luckily living with roommates can reduce your monthly housing payment so you have more room in your budget for fun. One out of every five seniors lives with a roommate to save money, so you’ll be in good company. You can find other retirees to bunk with by searching on websites like Roommates 4 Boomers, Silvernest, and Senior Homeshares. 

Living on a single income can make it harder to save for retirement and enjoy your golden years once you quit your job for good. But luckily making a few tweaks to your lifestyle and financial plans can help you invest more and stretch your nest egg further. 

What are your tips for how to retire well on a single income? Let us know in the comments section below!

Read More 

Here’s How to Retire Well on 60K Per Year

Here’s How to Retire Well on $50K a Year

How to Retire Well in Utah

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. 
Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

Is The Post Office Open on Columbus Day 2021?

By Leave a Comment

Is the Post Office Open on Columbus Day?

Columbus Day is a federal holiday that commemorates Christopher Columbus landing in the Americas. However, many states have changed the holiday to Indigenous People’s Day to honor Native Americans. No matter which holiday you celebrate, you may be wondering, is the post office open on Columbus Day? If you need to mail some packages, here’s everything you should know about the post office’s holiday hours. 

Is The Post Office Open on Columbus Day 2021? 

Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 11th this year. Since it’s a weekday, you may need to run some errands and mail some letters. But unfortunately, you won’t be able to visit the post office on Columbus Day. Since it’s a federal holiday, the post office closes to observe it. 

But luckily your local post office will be open the next day (Tuesday, October 11th) during its usual business hours. And if you can’t wait to send out your packages, here are some alternatives to USPS that you can try. 

Post Office Alternatives 

Although the post office is closed on Columbus day, UPS and FedEx will both be open during their regular business hours. Every store has a different operating schedule, so you may need to use the online store locator tool to find out when your local UPS or FedEx will be open.

You can also drop your letters in USPS mailboxes even though the post office is closed. If you need stamps, you can get them at grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies, which are usually open on Columbus Day.

You can also access your USPS.com account on Columbus Day. So you’ll still be able to order stamps and shipping supplies, print any shipping labels you need, and schedule package pickups. 

Post Office Holiday Schedule 2021 

Driving to the post office and realizing that it’s closed for a federal holiday can be a big headache. That’s why it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the USPS holiday schedule. The post office is closed on Columbus Day as well as nine other holidays throughout the year, including: 

  • New Year’s Day 
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day 
  • Presidents Day 
  • Memorial Day 
  • Fourth of July 
  • Labor Day 
  • Veterans Day 
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day 

The post office is also closed on Sundays. But luckily your local UPS may be open even if the post office is closed. UPS only shuts its doors on four holidays: New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Most UPS locations are also open on Sundays, so you’ll still be able to send out important packages and letters that can’t wait until Monday. 

Although it’s inconvenient that the post office is closed on Columbus Day, now that you know you can plan ahead. And if you really need to mail something on Columbus Day, you can head to your local UPS or FedEx instead. 

Read More 

4 Ways You Can Earn From a Farmland

What Are the Best Paying Jobs in Connecticut?

Is Target Closed on Columbus Day 2021

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. 
Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

4 Ways You Can Earn From Farmland

By Leave a Comment

Ways You Can Earn From a Farmland

Do you have so much farmland that you don’t know what to do with it? You can turn your acreage into cash by leasing it out or starting a farming business. Here are four ways you can earn from farmland to help you generate some extra income from your vacant plot. 

Sell Goods at the Farmer’s Market 

One of the best ways you can earn from farmland is to sell homegrown produce, eggs, honey, or meat. Consumers are often willing to pay a premium for fresh, local food, so farming can be quite profitable. You can sell your wares at farmer’s markets in your area or set up a roadside stand on your property if you live on a busy street. 

Lease the Land 

If you don’t want to farm your land, someone else in your area may want to. Farmers and ranchers often lease land to grow crops or graze animals. Depending on the value of farmland in your area, you could earn anywhere from $50 an acre to $200 an acre per year. If you own a large plot, this could amount to thousands of dollars of passive income every year.

Finding someone to lease your land is easy now thanks to the internet. You can let farmers know your land is available by posting on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or farmland leasing marketplace like Tillable or LandLease. 

Another option to consider is leasing your farmland to hunters during hunting season. However, you can only charge about $10 to $50 per acre for a seasonal hunting lease. So you’ll earn more money by renting your land to farmers rather than hunters. 

Rent the Land to RV Owners 

Many people have decided to live in RVs, vans, and tiny homes as a way to save money on rent. But they often need a place to park their vehicle when they’re not on the road. If you have utilities on your land, you can rent spaces out to RV owners and charge a couple hundred dollars per month. 

Even if you don’t have water and electric, some tiny homes and RVs are set up to operate off-grid. So you may still be able to rent your land to RV owners who don’t need utilities. 

Set Up a Campsite 

Another option if you don’t have utilities on your farmland is to set up an off-grid campsite. You can either provide tents or just give visitors a place to pitch their own for a few days. However, the more amenities you offer, the more you can charge.

You may only be able to command a few dollars a night if all you’re giving guests is a patch of grass to sleep on. But if you create a more luxurious glamping experience, you may be able to up your rates to $100 a night. 

Consider investing in nice canvas tents and building wooden decks so visitors don’t have to sleep on the wet ground. Adding a cot, rugs, and some small decor touches can make the tents more comfortable, enabling you to earn more money from your campsite. 

How do you make money off of your farmland? Let us know in the comments section below! 

Read More 

What Are the Best Paying Jobs in Connecticut?

Low-Cost Living: Here’s How You Can Save Money in The Home

Is Target Closed on Columbus Day 2021

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. 
Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.