Frugaling

Fortune Magazine is 43 Percent Ads

Read more about the consequences of advertising: Remove Ads for More Money, Health. Also, are you curious how much advertising is in Wired Magazine?

Today, I opened my mail and found – to my surprise – a brand new copy of Fortune Magazine. The July issue features a cover story on LinkedIn. As I began to leaf through this free subscription, I quickly realized why they were giving it away.

Advertising is the only thing keeping most news and media outlets alive. Subscription rates – at least to hardcopy products – have plummeted. Much like free newspapers rely on local advertisers to pay for the difference, Fortune Magazine and periodicals like this are inserting more advertising space than ever. By giving away subscriptions, they can inflate their readership and draw in more exclusive advertising. The result is a heinous excuse for a magazine.

Without covers (back/front), Fortune Magazine is 108 pages long.

46 pages are dedicated ads (not including partials).

The magazine is 43 percent advertising.

Being exposed to this amount of advertising can be dire to a frugal budget. Sometimes removing exposure to these sources can help.

What Are The Best Sites For Freebies?

By Frugaling 22 Comments

My Mom always says, “Nothing in life is free.” In a way, she was correct. Even the laudable Google products – often considered free – are heavily ad-supported. For the price of free, Google’s algorithms decode our behaviors, messages, and actions to better sell others’ products.

The loss of information privacy has led to a data-based growth in marketing. Fair or not, by exchanging personal information with companies, prices decrease – sometimes they become free.

Fortunately, “free” isn’t limited to the digital world. Every couple weeks I receive yet another freebie from a company looking to promote a new food or magazine. Last week, I opened my mailbox to find Rolling Stone and Wired Magazine. Today, I received a six-pack sampler of instant coffee. All three were free.

There are ways…to snag loads of samples, perks, swag, and other promotional goodies at no cost—and with little or no risk (Time).

I’ve been receiving these samples and subscriptions for years now. There’s no magic secret or private list that requires special membership payments. All you have to do is find the right sites and be quick to grab the free offer. I recommend checking out these three sites.

3 Best Sites For Freebies

1. Reddit (r/freebies+efreebies)

Reddit is the “front page of the internet.” It is the catch-all website that has thousands of different categories – subreddits – and topics to choose from. Reddit is the 119th highest trafficked website. Because of this incredible audience and user base, the site is a hub for freebies and ways to save. The crowdsourced nature of Reddit allows regular users to post new content and ideas. The freebies+efreebies is the first place I look for updated offers. This combined subreddit includes both digital and physical freebies. New products are being offered every day – check back regularly.

Link: http://www.reddit.com/r/freebies+efreebies

2. Hey! It’s Free (HIF)

Hey! It’s Free (HIF) prides themselves on deals that require no credit card or donation to acquire. The site has been an active site for freebies for the last 6 six years. Through HIF, I’ve found numerous deals for free magazines: Rolling Stone, ESPN Magazine, and Wired. The quality of these freebies tends to be strong and the effort is minimal.

Link: http://www.heyitsfree.net

3. Hunt 4 Freebies

Similar to HIF, Hunt 4 Freebies writers are scouring the net for freebies. Once they find some good ones, they post them directly to their site. By the time I check out this one, there’s usually quite a bit of overlap. But, sometimes there’s a hidden gem. Yesterday, I applied for a free bottle of lens cleaner and contact case. It wasn’t featured on either of the other two. Using a diverse group of sites helps to make sure you find all the freebies you can.

Link: http://hunt4freebies.com

Participate, Prevent Student Loan Interest Increases

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We’re days away from student loan interest increases. The near-apocalyptic $1 trillion of debt from student loans may entirely collapse if Congress doesn’t act to stem interest rates and come up with real solutions. The expiration of current rates for undergraduate students would shift interest from 3.4 to 6.8 percent.

Student loans and the interest associated are stemming home, car, and retirement savings for an entire generation. The Great Recession Kids are an entirely new sub-generation, raised under the auspices of biting unemployment, burgeoning debt, and corrupt markets. This American economy trusts and relies on the consumerism of many. But, what if our debts prevent us from contributing like this?

EDUCATION MUST BE
ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE.

We are a country that promotes and prides itself on accessibility to quality education. But this is semantically motivated. We do have an exceptionally accessible education, but it’s not affordable. Student loans are the bridge to a top-notch education. Unfortunately, the bridge is widening – the tuition rates are escalating and students are suffering. We cannot continue with the status quo.

Even if government acts to prevent an increase in student loans for one more year, this will only kick the can a little further. We need real, substantial solutions. Education must be accessible and affordable. Without the two, it will eventually disintegrate.

Whether you’re a student, parent, friend, educator, or family member, I’m urging you to contact your Representatives and Senators. We can make a difference on this issue. The easiest way to contact them is by clicking this link: http://www.capwiz.com/apapolicy/issues/alert/?alertid=62718336&type=CO. Fill out your zip code and it will automatically pre-populate letters to Congress.

All you have to do is email. Make your voice heard. This isn’t just about my interest, it’s in your interest, too.

Is Frozen Juice Cheaper?

By Frugaling 10 Comments

According to the USDA, one glass of orange juice contains nearly 15% of your daily value for potassium and over 200% in vitamin C. My nostalgic childhood memories sometimes harken back to a morning with a full glass of orange juice.

As I began to identify with the frugal life, I looked for anything and everything to cut back on, switch to, or remove. Rather than excise this wondrous nectar from my morning meal, I decided to opt for frozen juice concentrate versions. But, was it cheaper?

What exactly is frozen juice concentrate?

Juice is turned into concentrate by subjecting it to high heat under a vacuum (ModernMom.com).

Water is removed from the concentrated versions, with 65% sugar by weight leftover. After being concentrated, water is added back to the frozen solid and stirred. This replenishes the natural water levels and balances out the flavor.

The shelf-life of frozen juice concentrate lasts far longer than pre-made, liquid versions. In this frozen state, some can last a year or more. Stocking up on orange juice is as easy as buying a few cans – no longer having to run to the store as frequently for fresh juice.

What tastes better?

In my non-expert opinion, there’s no difference between boxed, liquid orange juice and its frozen counterparts. The mixing process can be a bit arduous for some, but after the juice is reconstituted and settled, it tastes like any other orange juice.

The goal is simply to save by making it yourself. To some, that’s enough not to buy it. But the couple minutes of extra time may make sense if you’re looking to save each time.

What’s more frugal?

Now, to the most important question of all: Is frozen juice cheaper? The answer: It depends. In my most recent visit to Target, I assumed that the frozen orange juice concentrate would be cheaper. The can cost $1.84. The box cost $2.44. The price difference seemed clear to me.

Unfortunately, it’s only by doing division that we find a different answer. The box is 64 fl oz. The can makes 48 fl oz. Dividing the box ($2.44) by 64 equals $0.0381 per ounce. Dividing the can ($1.84) by 48 equals about $0.0383 per ounce.

In my case, the winner was boxed orange juice. Target didn’t have a store brand, generic frozen juice concentrate. If it did, the price would’ve most certainly made concentrates the more frugal option. Make sure to find a generic option to save big.

What do you buy? Frozen or liquid? Concentrate or not-from-concentrate?

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This is part of the “Money Mistakes” series, which documents frugal myths and strange purchases.

Frugaling

What Are The Best Sites For Freebies?