Aluminum foil is a Penny Hoarder’s BFF when it comes to preserving leftovers. But if you’re just using that handy foil to wrap up day-old food, you’re totally missing out on so many other uses for this extraordinary kitchen standby.
13 Uses for Aluminum Foil
You might be dating yourself if you are still calling the kitchen workhorse “tin foil” though it’s not uncommon to hear that phrase. Foil was made of tin until just after World War II when the stronger and cheaper aluminum became widely used.
Read on for 13 clever and money-saving uses for aluminum foil.
Scissor sharpener
Dryer sheet substitute
Lower your heating bill
Paint tray cover
Gel nail polish remover
Polishing silver
Clean jewelry
Battery replacement
Garden buddy
Custom cake pan
Grill cleaner
Ironing
Shining silverware in the dishwasher
1. Scissor Sharpener
Don’t toss dull scissors! Sharpen scissors with aluminum foil, says Rachel Timmerman, a Virginia blogger with The Analytical Mommy. Fold a piece of 10-by-10-inch aluminum foil three times. Then cut the foil about 20 times with the scissors to make them sharp.
2. Dryer Sheet Substitute
Crumble a ball of foil and toss it into your dryer, says Gladys Connelly, technical writer for The HouseWire, a product review site. This works exactly the same as dryer sheets do. “It eliminates static and fluffs up your clothing,” Connelly says.
Spray lavender oil or your favorite scent into the middle of the aluminum sheet before you crumple it to make the foil smell just as good as a dryer sheet, Connelly recommends.
3. Lower Your Heating Bill
If you have cast-iron radiators, you can DIY a heat reflector out of aluminum foil. Tape some heavy-duty aluminum foil to a piece of cardboard with the shiny side up. That’s literally it. Place the heat reflector behind your radiator or under the radiator’s top. The heat waves will naturally bounce from the foil into the room instead of going into the wall behind the radiator.
4. Paint Tray Cover
Don’t toss your plastic paint tray after each use. Keep the tray clean by wrapping it in aluminum foil. When you’re done, just pull off the foil and your paint tray cover will look as good as new, Connelly says.
You can even wrap wet paint brushes in foil in between coats to avoid washing out your brush.
5. Gel Nail Polish Remover
You can’t use acetone and a cotton pad to remove gel nail polish. Instead, you’re supposed to soak your nails in acetone. But it would be wasteful to use a bowl of acetone just to remove the polish.
So Malaika Desrameaux, a Miami content creator with Self Care Sunday Love, figured out an aluminum foil method. Here’s how:
File the tops of your gel nails to get rid of the glossy layer.
Soak a cotton ball with acetone and put the cotton ball over your nail.
Wrap your nail (with the cotton on top) with a 3-by-5-inch piece of aluminum foil.
Repeat on all fingers, and let them sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove cotton and aluminum foil, and peel off the gel nail polish.
6. Polishing Silver
No need for a special polish or even any elbow grease to polish Nanny’s heirloom silverware. Place a sheet of aluminum foil into a pan, add cold water and 2 teaspoons of salt. Put silver into the pan, and leave it for two minutes. Rinse off with water and let it dry. The aluminum causes a molecular reaction, cleaning the silver for you.
7. Clean Jewelry
Similar to the process for polishing silver, you can use aluminum foil to clean jewelry by creating an ion exchange (a molecular reaction with the aluminum). Place aluminum foil in a bowl, and fill the bowl with hot water and 1 tablespoon of bleach-free powdered laundry detergent. Soak jewelry in the solution for one minute, rinse with water and air dry.
8. Battery Replacement
You’re desperate for a battery to fire up the flashlight. Try aluminum foil, says Melanie Musson, a home safety expert with US Insurance Agents.
“If your flashlight requires two C batteries but you only have one, you can fill the empty space with compacted foil,” Musson says. It may not be at full strength, but you’ll have a little light to get you by.
9. Garden Buddy
Aluminum foil will miraculously improve your green thumb. Birds are afraid of the shiny foil because of the noise it makes. So tie foil strips around the branches of your fruit trees, you’ll keep the birds from nibbling at the bounty. Same goes for mice and rabbits. These creatures don’t like the feel of the aluminum foil, so placing bits of it on your shrubs serves as a natural deterrent.
Bugs bugging you and eating your plants? Nestle foil with soil or stones at the base of plants. Or mix a few strips of aluminum foil in with your mulch. In both cases, the foil will keep the moisture in your soil and prevent the weeds from growing while keeping the pests at bay.
10. Custom Cake Pan
Don’t run to the store every time your child wants a cake that looks like something other than a rectangle. Need a dog-shaped pan? A heart pan? Make the shape out of heavy-duty aluminum foil, and place your DIY foil creation into a baking pan big enough to accommodate the shape.
11. Grill Cleaner
Don’t bother purchasing pricey grill scrubbers when a rolled up ball of aluminum foil works perfectly well, Connelly says. The foil ball should be large enough — about 3 inches around — to hold comfortably with tongs (remember that the grill is hot). Grab the ball with the tongs and swipe back and forth across the grate before it has cooled. Food bits will be easier to remove when the grate is warm.
If you already have stubborn burnt food on the grill, then put a piece of aluminum foil on the grates and close the grill. Turn on the heat and let it run for a few minutes. Then, remove the foil, turn off the heat and try the original cleaning method. It should be easier now because the foil sheet trapped the heat to help loosen any stubborn debris.
12. Ironing
Aluminum foil is a natural heat reflector. So if you place a piece of it under the cover of your ironing board, the aluminum foil will speed up your ironing time.
13. Shining Silverware in the Dishwasher
Did you know that you can put aluminum foil in the dishwasher? Even if you can, why would you? Shiny silverware, that’s why. Carolina Mccauley, who shares home hacks with 2.7 million followers on TikTok, recommends putting a ball of foil in the silverware basket if you have tarnished silverware.
Like it does with silver and jewelry, adding the foil causes an ion exchange with the detergent that removes tarnish.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Aluminum Foil
Can You Put Aluminum Foil in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you can absolutely use aluminum foil in an air fryer. In fact, you may want to just to make cleaning up a breeze. You can wrap food in aluminum foil or line the basket like you would a baking sheet. You do want to make sure the foil is weighed down to keep it from flying into the coil though.
Is Aluminum Foil Toxic to Humans?
There is little evidence that aluminum foil is harmful to our health even though a bit of the material can leach into food. Aluminum is in other items we use in the kitchen including utensils and baking powder, plus some over-the-counter medications. It is considered safe by the Food & Drug Administration. Fun fact: Some foods have aluminum in them naturally, like citrus.
Which Side of Aluminum Foil Goes Up?
It actually doesn’t matter. The shiny and matte sides are determined by the machinery that makes aluminum foil. It does matter, however, if you are using non-stick foil. Thankfully, there’s a message embossed on the foil to tell the user which side is non-stick. If not, it’s the dull side.
Can You Put Aluminum Foil in the Microwave?
Weird, but you can technically put aluminum foil in the microwave if you follow certain safety guidelines, like making sure that the foil is smooth. Still it’s not a great idea and sparks might fly. Probably best to just not put aluminum foil in the microwave.
What is Aluminum Foil Made of?
According to Healthline, foil is made of paper-thin sheets of aluminum metal. Heavy machinery rolls and presses thicker sheets of aluminum until they are 0.2 mm thick. A sheet of paper is about twice as thick as that.
What is Aluminum Foil Good For?
Aluminum foil has many uses and the most prized is in the kitchen for both storage and cooking. It’s non-porous surface helps keep food moist. It is often used to line baking sheets and other pans to make clean up easier. It has other uses around the house including as scissor sharpener and jewelry cleaner. Bits of foil tied to a wire or rope may keep birds from nibbling on fruit growing in your backyard.
Can You Put Aluminum Foil in the Oven?
Foil is perfectly safe in the oven when it is used as a baking pan or sheet liner or if it’s covering food to slow browning and lock in moisture. We are thinking specifically about lasagna whose cheesy top can burn if it’s left uncovered for the entire cooking time. It’s not a good idea to use foil to line the bottom of your oven to keep it clean because it can stick and cause an even bigger mess. Also, don’t cover racks with foil or you will impede cooking by blocking heat.
Danielle Braff is a contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
’Tis the season to stock up on all things sweet, including ingredients for holiday baking. However, supply chain issues and other shortages mean some baking ingredients are either missing from grocery store shelves or much more expensive this year.
While American households aren’t facing the widespread shortages of pandemic days, the high cost of baking supplies can still be frustrating during the holidays. Fortunately, there are low-cost substitutions for most in-demand ingredients that can make your holiday recipes healthier and, in some cases, less expensive.
Why Baking Ingredients Are Out of Stock or More Expensive This Year
In August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that grocery prices had risen 13.5% over the last year. Of particular note were two categories of dairy products feeling the pinch: butter and eggs.
Dairy farmers face higher operating costs due to labor shortages and struggle to increase production to meet seasonal demand. U.S. storage facilities reported cold butter stores were down 22% this summer.
Due to the conflict in Ukraine, flour and oil supplies were also affected, spelling the potential for a perfect storm as the holiday season approaches. However, bakers attempting to make family recipes to bring centuries of tradition to the table can still find thrifty substitutions for common ingredients.
9 Holiday Baking Substitutions for Ingredients in Short Supply
The following ingredients promise to be in short supply this season for various reasons, from climate change to labor shortages. Fortunately, plenty of inexpensive substitutes work well in baked goods.
Note: In the substitution tables below, a 1-to-1 ratio means you can keep the measurements in the recipe exactly the same — i.e., 1 cup butter to 1 cup coconut oil — and count on a similar texture or rise. Flavor profiles may vary.
1. Best Substitutes for Butter in Baking
At $4.72 per pound, butter prices are higher than they’ve been since 2018. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a tub of butter costs up to 26% more than it did last year. Trendy butter boards and the high holiday baking demand could also cause short-term butter shortages.
Fortunately, lactose-intolerant folks have proven that plenty of ingredients provide the richness of butter called for in recipes without dairy. In addition to obvious butter substitutions like coconut oil and shortening, bakers can get creative with yogurt, banana, and even applesauce in place of unsalted butter.
Butter baking substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per pound
Coconut oil
1-to-1
$2.72
Shortening
1-to-1
$2.43
Greek yogurt
1-to-1
$2.78
Unsweetened applesauce
1-to-1
$1.00
A word of warning that applesauce results in denser baked goods and doesn’t contain as much fat as other butter substitutes. If you opt for applesauce as a substitute for recipes with melted butter, consider adding a tablespoon or two of oil to improve flavor and texture.
2. Best Substitutes for Eggs in Baking
Substituting eggs is a tricky endeavor for bakers. However, it may be necessary this season as shortfalls and record prices have come home to roost. Eggs have seen steep increases, with prices going from $1.45 a dozen last year to over $4 per dozen in many areas of the country.
Some ingredients provide the same lift to baked goods as eggs, notably baking powder and baking soda. But getting the ratio correct is complicated. Surprisingly, foodies concur that carbonated water is the best egg substitute for baked goods like cakes and muffins.
Egg baking substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per dozen
Carbonated water (club soda)
¼ cup = 1 egg
69 cents
Water, oil and baking powder
2 Tbsp. water + 2 tsp. BP +1 tsp. oil = 1 egg
$1.32
Mashed banana
¼ cup = 1 egg
$1.38
Nut butter
3 tablespoons = 1 egg
$1.64
If you don’t have baking powder, you can use a third of the same amount of baking soda.
Keep in mind that using bananas creates a different flavor profile as well as a gummier texture. But for some baked goods, the additional moisture in bananas can be a boon for your tastebuds.
3. Best Substitutes for Sugar in Baking
Don’t panic just yet, but there have been reported shortages of granulated sugar. Most are localized due to shipping delays combined with high demand. But it makes sense to stock up where you find a sale this season as sugar is currently running close to its historic high of 70 cents per pound.
While you can substitute brown sugar for granulated sugar in a 1-to-1 ratio, you should use 1 and 3/4 cups of powdered sugar for every cup of regular sugar.
Many health-conscious bakers are old hat at finding the best ingredients to add a little sweetness without the sugar high. Some unconventional sugars and syrups fit the bill, like honey, agave and even maple syrup but cost significantly more per pound.
Sugar baking substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per pound
Honey
¾ cup = 1 cup sugar
$4.48
Agave
⅔ cup = 1 cup sugar
$4.01
Maple syrup
¾ cup = 1 cup sugar
$6.40
It is recommended when using thinner syrups such as agave and maple to reduce the other liquids in the recipe by 3 to 4 tablespoons to achieve the same consistency. You may also want to reduce the oven temperature by up to 25 degrees to prevent premature browning.
4. Best Substitutes for All-Purpose Flour in Baking
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, flour prices are up 44.8% compared to last year, averaging about 55 cents per pound. Inflation combined with shortages from the Ukraine crisis means the flour cost won’t see relief anytime soon.
Although all-purpose flour is the cheapest way to make baked goods, many alternative flours exist. Knowing that cake flour is simply flour combined with cornstarch might save you a bundle at the grocery store. And if you’ve got a bag in the back of your cupboard you need to use, chickpea, rice and almond flour all make acceptable flour substitutes in baked goods.
All-purpose flour baking substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per pound
Chickpea flour
¾ cup = 1 cup flour
$6.56
Rice flour
7/8 cup = 1 cup flour
$3.24
Almond flour
1-to-1
$3.84
If you decide to use rice flour, add a binding agent such as cornstarch and xanthan gum to hold baked goods together. Almond flour can be used interchangeably with all-purpose flour but may require an extra egg for binding and rising.
5. Best Substitutes for Chocolate in Baking
Chocolate shortages aren’t new, but climate change means they’re here to stay. Chocolate hovers between $3 to $10 per pound depending on cocoa content, but lack of fertilizer and severe storms may mean you’ll pay more at the register this year.
Fortunately, substitutes for chocolate in recipes abound. Certainly, cocoa powder is less expensive (add some butter or oil with it), but that will only work well in recipes that use chocolate chips. Carob chips, chopped nuts or even raisins may do the trick and add a little something extra to your favorite holiday treats.
Chocolate baking substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per pound
Carob chips
1-to-1
$10.72
Nuts
1-to-1
$6.56
Raisins
1-to-1
$1.76
6. Best Substitutes for Yeast in Baking
Pandemic breadmaking caused a serious run on yeast a few years back. This year, yeast supplies are expected to be disrupted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Currently, buying yeast in bulk is the best money saver and allows bakers to spend about 69 cents per ounce.
If you cultivated a sourdough starter months ago, pat yourself on the back because you’re all set. For the rest of us, however, there are a few yeast substitutes that’ll do in a pinch and act as low-cost leavening agents.
Yeast baking substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per ounce
Lemon juice and baking soda
1-to-1
11 cents
Double-acting baking powder
1-to-1
31 cents
Buttermilk and baking soda
½ t buttermilk + ½ t baking soda = 1 t yeast
14 cents
When using yeast substitutes that involve buttermilk or lemon juice, you’ll need to slightly reduce the liquid in your recipe by a teaspoon or two to account for the additional moisture.
7. Best Substitutes for Milk in Baking
The same transportation and labor issues affecting butter supply are also slowing milk production. While widespread milk shortages are not anticipated, there may be some lag between demand and supply during the holiday season.
The USDA indicates whole milk prices are averaging $4.41 per gallon or about 28 cents per cup. Fortunately, several milk substitutes are relatively inexpensive and have a longer shelf life.
Milk Baking Substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per cup
Evaporated milk
½ cup water + ½ cup evaporated milk = 1 cup milk
44 cents
Plain yogurt
1-to-1
59 cents
Sour cream
1-to-1
$1.19
If you’re desperate, you can use water as a 1-to-1 replacement for milk in baking recipes. Water as a milk substitute has the bonus of being free, but be sure to put in a little extra fat for flavor.
If you have a can of sweetened condensed milk handy, you can use it as a milk substitute the same way you would evaporated milk but be sure to cut back on the sugar in the recipe.
8. Best Substitutes for Oil in Baking
Sunflower oil shortages in Ukraine pressure the rest of the world’s oil supplies. So you may discover that many of the oils you might commonly use for baking, such as canola or vegetable oil, are more expensive this year. Current consumer prices for canola oil are about 7 cents per ounce or 60 cents per cup.
If you find oil in short supply on the grocery shelves during your next shopping trip, consider one of these baking oil replacements that substitute half of the oil with fruit purees. The fact that your holiday baking will be healthier is just a Christmas bonus.
Oil baking substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per cup
Applesauce
½ cup applesauce + ½ cup oil = 1 cup oil
78 cents
Pureed pears
½ cup pears + ½ cup oil = 1 cup oil
67 cents
Mashed bananas
½ cup bananas + ½ cup oil = 1 cup oil
46 cents
Professionals recommend cutting baking time by a fourth when you use fruit purees for part of the oil in baking recipes.
9. Best Substitutes for Vanilla in Baking
The world’s vanilla supplies track closely to the success of crops and harvests in Madagascar. Weak flowering earlier this year promises a lackluster vanilla season. While the mass shortages of vanilla extract several years ago are unlikely, vanilla bean problems are here to stay. Current prices for vanilla extract are more than $2 per ounce.
Vanilla is a pervasive holiday flavor, but there are several other ways to add some zing to baked goods. You could use something like pumpkin pie spice but many spices have distinct tastes that might not jive with your recipe. Consider instead maple syrup, citrus zest or a splash of bourbon, rum or even coffee to perk up the flavor profile of your favorite seasonal treats.
Vanilla baking substitutes
Substitute
Ratio
Cost per ounce
Maple syrup
1-to-1
40 cents
Citrus zest
Zest of one orange = 1 tsp. vanilla extract
99 cents
Bourbon or rum
1-to-1
80 cents
Coffee or espresso powder
One pinch = 1 tsp. vanilla extract
99 cents
Save Money With More Baking Substitutes
As supply chains shift and climate change creates different challenges, you may find ingredients that were once plentiful in short supply at your grocery store. Learning how to adapt recipes to accommodate what’s in season and in-store can be a money-saving skill that keeps your budget trim for years to come.
Kaz Weida is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Every now and then, well-intentioned plans to save money simply fail.
You think you’re following the frugality playbook only to have it backfire. It’s when trying to be cheap ends up being expensive.
It happens to the best of us.
10 Frugality Fails to Avoid
Here are 10 situations where trying to pinch pennies can cost you money.
1. Letting Meal Prep Go to Waste
Preparing meals in advance means you won’t be tempted to grab fast food or order takeout whenever you don’t feel like cooking. But there’s always the potential of wasting a week’s worth of chopped veggies or a container full of chicken breasts if they’ve gone bad or you just can’t stomach eating the same meal several days in a row.
That’s just tossing money in the garbage.
The same thing can happen when you try to be thrifty by buying in bulk — but end up throwing out half of what you bought because it’s too much.
The remedy:Meal prep a few days out rather than for an entire week. Store food properly and freeze what you won’t eat soon. Make use of sauces and spices to add variety to staples like chicken and rice.
2. Spending a Fortune on Dinner Ingredients
Cooking at home is usually a much cheaper option than eating out at restaurants — except, of course, when you go overboard buying gourmet groceries and getting 10 unique ingredients for each recipe.
When you total everything up, you realize you could afford to dine out after all.
The remedy: Choose recipes that include inexpensive pantry staples you already have at home. If you need to buy new ingredients, make sure you can use them in multiple recipes.
3. Buying Stuff Just Because It’s on Sale
Sometimes the thrill of saving money can cloud your judgment. You load up your grocery cart with BOGO items, grab clothes off the clearance rack and buy Groupon deals — without much thought to whether you actually need or want it all.
You can easily end up blowing your budget chasing deals and discounts.
The remedy: Before you buy something that’s on sale, ask yourself if it’s something you really want or if you’re just buying it because of the deal. If there was no discount, would you still want it? Do you have a plan to actually use what you’re buying? Is it in your budget? Budgeting methods like kakeibo and values-based budgeting can help you become more mindful about how you spend.
4. Driving All Over to Find the Lowest Price on Gas
Sure, you can save 10 cents per gallon filling up your tank at a gas station on the other side of town, but you’re going to waste gas getting there and back.
The remedy: Use a gas-price app, like GasBuddy, to find the cheapest prices for fuel along your normal driving route. Take advantage of fuel rewards programs and discounted gift cards as other ways to save money on gas.
5. Going Carless Only to Spend More Money Getting Around
Car payments, insurance, gas, maintenance… it all adds up. Ditching your vehicle seems like it could help you save.
However, if you’re hailing Uber every day and renting a car every other weekend, those costs might be even more expensive.
The remedy: Before you go carless, make a plan for how you’ll get around and what the costs will be. Research public transportation options in your area. Consider carpooling or biking to work. If giving up your car is not the best option, you can still save money by swapping your current vehicle for one that’s more fuel efficient or that comes with a lower payment.
6. Buying a Used Car Without Doing Due Diligence
You’ll lose money in depreciation just by driving a new car off the lot. That’s what we’re always told.
Buying a used car isn’t much better, though, especially with today’s inflated prices. Buying used means your vehicle may not be in optimal condition. You could potentially drive off the lot only to have your check engine light come on. And if you buy from a shady seller and don’t take the time to really examine the car and dig into its history, you may end up with a money pit.
The remedy: When you buy a used car, where you shop matters. You can find certified pre-owned vehicles at legit dealerships that have been thoroughly inspected and may come with some type of warranty coverage. Check the Carfax report for accident history and past maintenance information. Conduct a thorough test drive and try to get your mechanic to inspect the car, if possible.
7. Signing Up for Free Trials and Forgetting to Cancel
It makes sense for a frugal person to take advantage of free trial offers. And for the first week or 30 days, everything is great.
The problem arises when you forget to cancel your free trials before the free period is over and you end up being charged for stuff you never intended to pay for.
The remedy: If you can cancel a free trial immediately and still take advantage of the service until the trial period ends, do that. If not, set calendar alerts to remind yourself to cancel before you get charged. Signing up for a free trial with a virtual credit card is another way to avoid getting looped into auto pay after the free trial ends.
8. Losing Time and Money on DIY Projects
Say you drop $20 on equipment and supplies at a craft store to make some home decor piece you could get at HomeGoods for $30.
You think you’re saving money — except your completed project turns out nothing like what you intended. It goes straight into the trash. On top of that, you’ve wasted hours trying to do-it-yourself, and we all know time is money. Of course, the bigger the project, the more money you could lose doing it wrong.
9. Replacing Cable With a Bunch of Subscription Services
You’re sick of paying over $100 for cable so you decide to finally cut the cord. But in its place, you sign up for Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Sling TV and more — until what you pay for streaming exceeds your old cable bill.
The remedy: Ask yourself what content really matters to you and limit yourself to a couple streaming services. And check out these free TV apps that’ll keep you entertained without having to spend a dime.
10. Getting Rewards Credit Cards and Going into Debt
Rewards credit cards lure you in with perks like cash back or points to use toward future purchases. Store cards hook you with the promise to save a percentage off each time you swipe.
But if you carry a balance on those cards, what you pay back in interest could easily negate the rewards and savings.
Reporting from contributor Lyndsee Simpson was included in this article. Nicole Dow is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this article.
Aldi is offering traditional Thanksgiving foods at 2019 prices. This promotion will continue until Nov. 29. Walmart has its own rollback discounts from now until Dec. 26, offering the same prices as last year. Matt Rourke/AP Images
Budgeting for Thanksgiving dinner later this month? You might want to shop at Aldi. From prosciutto to potatoes to pumpkin pie, Aldi is offering all its traditional Thanksgiving foods at 2019 prices.
According to the grocery store, that’s up to a 30% discount on your Thanksgiving favorites.
The promotion runs now through Nov. 29, meaning you can get your discount food items for an early Friendsgiving and a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 24. If you’ve got the pantry space, you can even head back to Aldi after Thanksgiving to stock up on Christmas dinner staples before the promotion ends.
The Rising Cost of Thanksgiving
Why is Aldi’s price drop such a big deal? With food prices at an all-time high, market research firm IRi estimates that your Thanksgiving meal will cost 13.5% more than it did in 2021, and 2021’s Thanksgiving prices were already up 14% from 2020.
This year, high inflation and continued market uncertainty mean families may be tightening their belts — right at a time when, depending on how much pumpkin pie we eat, we’re usually loosening them.
How to Get the Thanksgiving Discount at Aldi
Aldi’s press release didn’t list out every single food item that would qualify for the Thanksgiving discount, but some of the select dishes mentioned include brie cheese, prosciutto, cornbread stuffing, mini quiches, rolls, macarons, apple pie and wine.
Yep, Aldi’s even got discounted wine on the menu!
When you’re shopping in store or online, just look for the red Thanksgiving Price Rewind label to find the discounted food items.
Walmart, too? Bring on the Thanksgiving Price Wars
Walmart’s promotion is a little different from Aldi’s: While Aldi is promising 2019 prices, Walmart is advertising “This Year’s Thanksgiving at Last Year’s Meal Price.”
Still, that means major discounts on Thanksgiving hallmarks like ham and turkey. In fact, Walmart turkeys start at less than $1 per pound.
Walmart’s promotion lasts nearly a whole month longer than Aldi’s. It’s good through Dec. 26, so head to Walmart for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
Timothy Moore covers bank accounts, loans, insurance and credit cards for The Penny Hoarder from his home base in Cincinnati. He has worked in editing and graphic design for a marketing agency, a global research firm and a major print publication. He covers a variety of other topics, including travel, taxes, budgeting, pet care and automotive. He’s worked in the field since 2012 with publications such as The Penny Hoarder, Insider, Sound Dollar, Chime, SoFi, Debt.com, Ladders, WDW Magazine and Glassdoor.
As the year ends, you might be wondering about next year’s tax bill.
Will you get a refund? Or will you owe Uncle Sam money?
Even if you’ve already earned most of your income for the year, you can still make changes to soften next year’s tax bite.
Don’t worry, we’re not talking about tax evasion, but there are some totally legit ways to keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your pocket.
9 Simple Ways to Pay Less Taxes in 2023
Here are several ways to save money on taxes before the new year begins.
Step up your 401(k) contributions
Max out a traditional IRA
Contribute to a health savings account
Don’t forget your FSA or dependent care expenses
Save money for your kid’s college fund
Pay off some student loan debt
Know your itemized deductions
Take advantage of tax credits
Adjust your withholdings
1. Step Up Your 401(k) Contributions
Lowering your taxable income is one of the best ways to pay less in taxes.
The easiest way to reduce your taxable income is to contribute to tax-deferred retirement accounts, like your company’s 401(k) plan or some other type of workplace retirement plan, like a 403(b) plan.
Money you contribute to a 401(k) is pre-tax money and it helps lower your taxable income for the year you make the contribution. Less income means less money you pay to the government.
So, if you make $50,000 in 2022 and contribute $3,000 to your workplace 401(K), it looks like you only made $47,000 in the eyes of the IRS.
For 2022, you can contribute up to $20,500 for those under 50, and up to $27,000 for those 50 and older. This doesn’t include the amount your employer contributes to your plan.
Getty Images
2. Max Out a Traditional IRA
Just like that company-sponsored retirement plan we were talking about, the funds you contribute to your traditional individual retirement account (IRA) don’t count toward your taxable income.
This type of retirement account is different from a Roth IRA, where contributions are taxed today but then grow tax-free thereafter.
For 2022, you can contribute up to $6,000 to an IRA, or $7,000 if you’re over the age of 50.
You have until April 18, 2023, to max out your IRA contribution for the 2022 calendar year.
An important caveat: You may not get the full tax benefit of contributing to both a 401(k) and an IRA if you or your spouse is covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan.
If you have access to a 401(k), you need to make less than $68,000 in 2022 as a single person (or $109,000 as a married couple) to get the full IRA tax deduction. The tax benefit phases out for people with higher incomes who are covered by an employer retirement plan.
Head to the IRS website for full details on these phase-out limits.
3. Contribute to a Health Savings Account
A health savings account (HSA), is a great tax-exempt option if you have a high deductible health plan.
Your payroll contributions to an HSA are made with pre-tax income (aka you’re not taxed) and neither are your withdrawals, as long as they’re used to pay medical expenses that are qualified.
In 2022, the annual contribution limit is $3,650 for self-only coverage and $7,300 for family coverage. People 55 and older can contribute an extra $1,000 as a catch-up contribution
You can also make direct contributions to your HSA on your own and claim a tax deduction for that amount when you file your tax return. This can be a quick and easy way to reduce your tax burden before the end of the year.
Just remember: Your payroll HSA contributions and your personal contributions combined cannot exceed the annual limit.
You can leave funds in your HSA indefinitely since they’re not subject to required minimum distributions. (And if you’re like most of us, you’ll have more health care-related costs as you get older, anyway.)
4. Don’t Forget Your FSA or Dependent Care Expenses
A flexible spending account (FSA) is similar to an HSA in that you’re allowed to contribute pre-tax dollars from your paycheck each year.
And yes, that means you can reduce your taxable income with an FSA, therefore paying less in taxes.
The limit in 2022 is $3,050.
Keep in mind you’ll have to use up the money during the calendar year on qualifying expenses for you and qualifying dependents.
Have dependents — aka children or elderly members of your household — you’re taking care of? If your employer offers a dependent care FSA account, you can contribute up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars to go toward expenses such as day care, after-school care and preschool.
If you’ve got kids, chances are you’re already gritting your teeth thinking about paying for college.
According to the National Center of Education Statistics, the average cost of college tuition is about $9,400 per year at a public school and $37,600 per year at a private institution (yikes!).
To help pay these costs and hopefully save yourself some money on taxes, consider opening a 529 savings plan.
This account is an investment vehicle specifically built for educational savings. You can use it to pay for your kids’ college tuition or even to send yourself or your spouse to school.
The exact tax benefits vary by state — more than 30 states offer full or partial tax deduction or credits on 529 contributions.
Getty Images
6. Pay Off Some Student Loan Debt
Depending on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), you may be able to deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest when you file taxes.
This is an “above-the-line” deduction, which means you can take it even if you opt for the standard deduction.
If you still have a loan balance after receiving the forgiveness, consider paying off some interest on your loans before the end of 2022 to receive a tax deduction.
7. Know Your Itemized Deductions
Several tax deductions are only available if you itemize.
A majority of Americans — about 85% — take the standard deduction, which is $12,950 for single filers or $25,900 for joint filers for the 2022 tax year.
Itemizing only makes sense if you have enough deductions to exceed the standard deduction — which most people don’t.
If you itemize your taxes, here are a few deductions that can help lower your tax bill.
Major medical bills: In general, if you’ve spent more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) on qualified medical expenses, you may be able to write them off if you itemize your deductions.
Charitable donations: Looking for a way to pay less in taxes … and get that warm, fuzzy feeling? Charitable contributions are tax-deductible if you itemize your deductions. Make sure to track the estimated value of your contributions to save you time when you file.
Mortgage interest and local property taxes: These may both be eligible for partial deductions, though you’ll need to itemize your tax return.
Business-related deductions: If you’re a freelancer or you work from home, you should also look into business-related deductions, like the cost of your home office space.
You might also be able to deduct certain supplies, travel expenses and even meals and entertainment.
8. Take Advantage of Tax Credits
In certain scenarios, the IRS extends tax credits to eligible taxpayers. Tax credits count as an actual reduction of your total tax bill. (Remember: Tax deductions reduce your taxable income.)
If the tax credit is refundable, you’ll get a refund if your tax credits exceed what you owe.
For instance, if you would have owed $500 and claim $1,000 in tax credits, not only will your payment be waived — you’ll also receive a $500 tax refund.
Here are a few tax credits you may qualify for:
American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credits: Depending on your enrollment status, AGI, and how you’ve paid for educational expenses, you may be entitled to the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credits. (Check out this quick quiz from the IRS, which will tell you if you’re qualified in just 10 minutes.)
Earned Income Tax Credit: Low- to moderate-income workers may be eligible to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the federal government’s largest refundable tax credits. You could be eligible for up to $6,935 in federal income tax credits, though the exact amount depends on your income, marital status and number of qualified dependents.
You can also qualify as a single person with no dependents if your AGI is below $16,480 in 2022. (College students and retirees with part-time jobs — we’re looking at you.) For details, check out the IRS’ Earned Income Tax Credit fact sheet.
Saver’s Credit: If you’re a low- or middle-income worker, you can claim the Saver’s Credit by adding money to a 401(k) or IRA. The credit is worth up to $1,000 for single filers or $2,000 for married couples.
Your AGI needs to be below $34,000 if you’re single or $68,000 if you’re married to qualify for the Saver’s Credit. But get this: You can claim the credit in addition to any tax deduction you receive by making qualified retirement savings contributions.
9. Adjust Your Withholdings
The W-4 tax form is one you give to your employer specifying how much of your wages should be withheld for taxes.
It might seem intuitive to keep your withholdings as low as possible to keep more of your paycheck. However, if you find you owe taxes in April, you might want to go in and tweak your withholding claim so you don’t run into the same problem each tax season.
Jamie Cattanach is a former contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for many people and one of the biggest home-entertaining days of the year. There’s no need to buy gifts, wear a costume or worry about getting pinched for not wearing green.
On Thanksgiving, all you need to worry about is eating a delicious turkey dinner, watching some football, taking a nap, eating some more food, watching some more football and just chilling with family and friends.
That’s a holiday!
You might think, “That’s all well and good if you’re not the one who has to make that massive feast.” Well, you don’t have to be the one who does all the cooking this year. You have plenty of options to order Thanksgiving dinner to go from your favorite grocery store or restaurant.
It just depends on what you’re willing to spend.
Here’s Where to Order Thanksgiving Dinner to Go
So, what are your options when you want to skip the cooking entirely and let someone else do the heavy lifting?
Here are 20 places where you can order Thanksgiving meals to go — or at least part of dinner — to stuff family and friends on the big day. Plus, reduce the work in the kitchen.
Publix
If you live in the Southeast, you probably know and love Publix. It loves you right back with the premade Publix Deli large turkey dinner. All you have to do is buy it, take it home and heat it up. It’ll feed 14 to 18 people.
This Thanksgiving meal costs $124.99, which comes out to between $7 and $9 per person.
The meal price includes:
One 16- to 18-pound cooked Butterball turkey
5 pounds dressing
5 pounds mashed potatoes
64 ounces gravy
56 ounces Marshmallow Delight, a sweet fruit salad
32 ounces cranberry orange relish
And if you’re feeding a smaller family, you can get the Publix Deli turkey dinner for seven to 10 people for $64.99, or about $6.50 to $9.28 per guest.
The meal includes:
One 10- to 12-pound fully cooked Butterball turkey
2.5 pounds dressing
2.5 pounds mashed potatoes
32 ounces gravy
28 ounces Marshmallow Delight
16 ounces cranberry orange relish
Some items require up to 2.5 hours to heat because of their size so plan accordingly. Heating instructions are included for both meals.
Cracker Barrel
Nothing says “homestyle” like Cracker Barrel. With its Heat n’ Serve Holiday Family Meal To-Go, you know you’ll get comfort food — and plenty of it.
This Heat n’ Serve Feast feeds eight to 10 people for $149.99, which comes out to $14.99 to $18.75 per person.
The Thanksgiving meal includes:
Two oven-roasted turkey breasts
Cornbread dressing
Turkey gravy
Cranberry relish
Sweet potato casserole
Your choice of two country sides
Sweet yeast rolls
Pumpkin pie and pecan pie
If you’re planning a smaller gathering, Cracker Barrel’s Heat n’ Serve Family Dinner serves four to six people. At $99.99, that comes out to $25 to $16.67 per person. The meal includes the following:
Oven-roasted turkey breast
Cornbread dressing
Turkey gravy
Cranberry relish
Sweet potato casserole
Your choice of one country side
Sweet yeast rolls
It’s pricey per person, but if you pre-order and schedule your pickup on November 21-22, you’ll also receive a $10 Cracker Barrel gift card with the Feast or $5 gift card with the Family Dinner.
If you want Cracker Barrel to deliver hot food to you without having to touch the oven and all, you might consider their Hot and Ready Dinner — which actually serves the same amount (4 to 6 people) as the Heat n’ Serve Family Dinner, costs $10 less at $89.99, and is completely hot and ready for you to eat as soon as it arrives. That’s a deal!
Boston Market
Boston Market prides itself on its homestyle food, so when Thanksgiving rolls around, it’s not about to step back. It gets in on the action with its complete Thanksgiving meal for 12.
The price is $159.99, putting it at $13.33 per person.
The meal includes:
One whole roasted turkey
Spinach artichoke dip and crackers
Mashed potatoes
Gravy
Vegetable stuffing
Cranberry walnut relish
Dinner rolls
Apple pie
Pumpkin pie
Or you could go for the essential turkey meal for $139.99, or $11.67 per person, instead. This meal also serves up to 12 people and includes:
Whole roasted turkey
Mashed potatoes
Gravy
Vegetable stuffing
Dinner rolls
Apple pie
Pumpkin pie
And for smaller families (up to six people), you’ll find two meals around $120 to choose from on Boston Market’s heat-and-serve Thanksgiving dinner to go menu. If you need any additional meats, sides or desserts, you can order from the a la carte menu. All items are cooked and chilled for pickup the week of Thanksgiving.
Photo courtesy of Julia Fay Photo
The Fresh Market
Fresh Market is known as an upscale grocer, but it doesn’t stretch the budget with its Ultimate Holiday Meal. If you want variety in your meal, you’ll get it with this one.
The cost to feed 12 to 14 people is $179.99, which comes out to $12.85 to $15 per person.
The meal kit includes:
One 10- to 12-pound fully cooked turkey
3.5 pounds boneless sliced ham
4 pounds of Yukon Gold whipped potatoes
3 pounds of traditional herb stuffing
30 ounces of turkey gravy
2 pounds of roasted butternut squash with pecans and cranberries
2 pounds of green bean medley
16 ounces of cranberry relish with walnuts
24 dinner rolls
Wait, turkey and ham? That’s excessiveness we can get behind. Plus, the sides look amazing. If you have a Fresh Market nearby, this could be a great option.
If your Thanksgiving dinner will be a little smaller — as in eight to 10 people — then you can go for the Traditional Holiday Dinner for $99.99, or about $10 to $12.50 per person.
This meal includes:
One 10- to 12-pound fully cooked turkey
3 pounds Yukon Gold whipped potatoes
3 pounds traditional herb stuffing
30 ounces turkey gravy
16 ounces cranberry relish with walnuts
12 golden dinner rolls
And if your Thanksgiving table is even smaller, you can grab the Essential Holiday Dinner for three to five people. This heat-and-serve meal rings in at $69.99, or about $14 to $23 per person, and includes:
3-pound fully cooked turkey breast
2 pounds Yukon Gold whipped potatoes
2 pounds traditional herb stuffing
1 pound green bean medley
30 ounces homestyle turkey gravy
8 ounces cranberry relish with walnuts
The Fresh Market will be open Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bob Evans
Bob Evans’ Turkey Farmhouse Feast serves eight and comes with a price tag of $109.99, or $13.75 per person. They also have an option that feeds four for $74.99.
The meal includes:
Slow-roasted turkey
Bread and celery dressing
Mashed potatoes with gravy
Corn
Green beans with ham
Cranberry relish
Dinner rolls
Pumpkin pie
Pumpkin bread
If you prefer ham over turkey you can order the Ham Farmhouse Feast to feed eight people for $99.99 or four for $69.99.
You can also opt for the Premium Farmhouse Feast, which feeds eight to 10 people for $144.99. It includes:
Slow-roasted turkey
Hickory-smoked ham
Bread and celery dressing
Mashed potatoes with gravy
Corn
Green beans with ham
Cranberry relish
Macaroni and cheese
Pumpkin bread
Dinner rolls
Pumpkin pie
Double-crust apple pie
The Thanksgiving meals to go are packed cold, but heating instructions are included.
Like Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans also offers a hot meal, with no reheating needed. Their Holiday Hot Family Meal serves six and costs $85.99. This option includes:
Slow-roasted turkey
Hickory-smoked ham
House-made bread and celery dressing
Cranberry relish
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Green beans and ham
Buttered corn
12 dinner rolls
Whole pumpkin pie
Hy-Vee
If you’re lucky enough to live in the Midwest where you can shop at Hy-Vee, you have a great holiday meal option with its family feast turkey dinner. Those outside the Midwest don’t know what they’re missing from this Iowa-based grocery store chain.
The price for up to 12 people is $149.99, which comes out to $12.50 per person.
This Thanksgiving feast includes:
One 14- to 16-pound Butterball turkey
32 ounces beef or turkey gravy
Two large sides of mashed potatoes
Four large sides of your choice (including dessert)
24 dinner rolls
Other side options include buttered sweet corn, cranberry relish, green bean casserole, holiday potatoes with cheddar, sage bread dressing, white cheddar macaroni or pie (apple, banana cream, French silk or pumpkin). The instructions say to plan for 2.5 hours to reheat the meal.
Carmen Mandato/The Penny Hoarder
Whole Foods Market
If you’re ready to pull out all the stops, Whole Foods’ festive feast for 12 may be your best option. It’s not cheap, but it will blow the doors off your typical Thanksgiving dinner — as well as your belt buckles and buttons.
The price for up to 12 people is $399.99, which comes out to $33.33 per person.
It includes:
One roast whole turkey with turkey gravy
One maple bourbon ham with brown sugar citrus glaze
Creamy mashed potatoes
Traditional herb stuffing
Green beans with roasted shallots
Roasted butternut squash with cranberries and sage
It’s no surprise to find Costco on this list. Just like most things you buy here, you can expect quality and deliciousness from their Thanksgiving meal in a box.
The meal serves eight to 10 people and costs $219.99 through Nov. 20, which works out to around $22 to $27.50 per person.
This meal includes:
5-pound turkey breast pre-seasoned in cooking bag
4 pounds crème fresh mashed potatoes
4 pounds traditional stuffing
4 pounds brussels sprouts casserole
2 pounds green bean almondine
Two sides of cranberry, apple and orange relish
Two sides of turkey gravy
One baked 10-inch pumpkin pie
One unbaked 10-inch apple pie
Costco ships directly to you via UPS, and the shipping costs are included in the overall price.
If you live west of the Mississippi, Albertsons has your back this Thanksgiving. You can order a fully cooked Smoked Turkey Holiday Dinner that serves eight to 10 people for just $79.99. That works out between $8 and $10 per person!
For that low, low price, you’ll get a lot of food to feed your crew. It includes:
Fully cooked turkey
Cornbread dressing
Mashed potatoes
Cranberry relish
Giblet gravy
Dinner rolls
You can also choose a version with turkey breast (serves 6-8) instead of whole turkey or baked turkey for the same price. Albertsons also has spiral-cut ham dinner for $89.99 that serves eight to 10.
Order online from Nov. 1-21, 2022. The dinners will be ready for pickup on or after Nov. 16.
Popeyes
When it comes to Thanksgiving meals, the turkey is the main attraction. It seems deceptively simple to roast a perfect bird but how many of us have served it dried out or undercooked? Stick to making the sides and get a cooked turkey, delivered right to your door, from Popeyes instead.
Popeye’s turkey costs $94.99 plus sales tax and shipping is included. They say the bird will feed approximately eight to 12 people. The turkey is infused with Cajun seasonings, roasted, then frozen — so all you need to do on Thanksgiving day is reheat the thawed bird. Check thawing times because you should start that a day or two ahead of the day you want to heat and eat. Shipments opened Oct. 24.
If you don’t want to make your own sides either, you can pick up sides, including mashed potatoes, biscuits and mac n cheese, from a local Popeyes in your area.
Buca di Beppo
Buca di Beppo is known for its family-style meals, so what better place to get your family’s Thanksgiving dinner? Buca’s Thanksgiving Feast To-Go costs $99 for a small feast (feeds three) or $186 for a larger feast (feeds six). That works out around $31 to $33 per person.
The meal includes:
Sliced white meat turkey
Roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Homestyle gravy
Spicy Italian sausage stuffing
Seasonal vegetables
Cranberry sauce
Fresh bread and butter
Pumpkin pie
Pre-orders must be placed by Nov. 22. Buca di Beppo also gives you the option of a cold meal for pickup or delivery between Nov. 21-23 or a hot meal ready to serve for pickup or delivery between Nov. 23-24.
For much bigger groups, Buca di Beppo also offers catered meals that feed between 10 to 20 people and range in price from $330 to $560.
Harry & David
Harry & David is known for its premium foods that it delivers by mail nationwide. You can order the Gourmet Turkey Feast for your family for $249.99. They don’t specifically say how many the feast feeds but a 10-pound turkey is usually good for about six to eight people, leaving some for leftovers.
The meal includes:
10-pound oven-roasted turkey
Apple sausage stuffing
Black truffle and almond green beans
Brown sugar sweet potatoes
Classic turkey gravy
Spiced cranberry chutney
Pumpkin cheesecake
You can also upgrade to the Wow Holiday Meal for $399.99 if you’re really feeling fancy — and flush with money — this year.
Omaha Steaks
Omaha Steaks is typically known for their namesake meat, but at Thanksgiving you may want to get your hands on one of their prepared Thanksgiving dinners.
There are three options available and each can be customized. The basic feast for four people is $129.99 with choices at every turn.
Pick your centerpiece — turkey roulade en croute or a boneless ham.
Pick a mashed potato dish — smashed red potatoes or whipped sweet potatoes.
Pick a green bean side — green bean casserole or green beans in butter sauce.
Pick another side — cauliflower gratin or creamed corn.
Pick a dessert – pumpkin pie or caramel apple tartlets.
And four individual baguettes with garlic butter.
The Build Your Own Thanksgiving meal for six is $179.99 and includes all the same options with the exception of the centerpiece. You choose between a 10-pound whole basted turkey or a 3.5-pound fully cooked prime rib roast.
At $159.99 the Build Your Own Thanksgiving for eigh meal is actually cheaper than the meal that feeds six — likely because you pick from a 3.5-pound leg of lamb or a 5-pound boneless country ham. This meal also gives you double dessert with two more to choose from — pecan pie and a chocolate lover’s cake.
Omaha Steaks also offers the four dinner options between $159.99 and $199.99 that can’t be customized.
Shipping is free on all of these meals. And, for each delivery over $149, Omaha Steaks will throw in four burgers.
Hello Fresh
Meal delivery service Hello Fresh offers a complete Thanksgiving meal kit shipped straight to your door for $18.99 per person for eight to 10 guests.
You can customize your box depending on your food preferences. Choices include:
Roast turkey with garlic herb butter rub
Ciabatta stuffing with chicken sausage and cranberries
Creamy mashed potatoes with garlic and sour cream
Classic gravy
Fresh cranberry sauce
Broccoli cheddar gratin
Apple ginger crisp
You can add an appetizer — a jammy brie and charcuterie board with pear, pecans and baguette — for $24.99.
Hello Fresh also offers a roasted beef tenderloin that serves four to six guests for $24.99 per person. It includes all the same sides, sans the cranberry sauce.
As is normal with Hello Fresh meals, this meal will require some prep work. The turkey also requires four days to thaw. Your box will ship on your preferred delivery day between Nov.16-23.
Williams Sonoma
You may not think a kitchen and home retailer would sell complete meals, but Williams Sonoma is in on the prepared meal business. This includes their Deluxe Thanksgiving Dinner for those of us who have a bougie budget and a palate to match.
The dinner serves four to six people and costs $299.95. It includes:
12- to 14-pound pre-brined, seasoned whole organic turkey
Truffle mashed potatoes
Corn pudding
Mushroom risotto
Jalapeno cheese bread Stuffing
Creamy asparagus and Gruyere custard
Brussels sprouts pancetta gratin
That’s not your run-of-the-mill Thanksgiving dinner, but it obviously comes with a not run-of-the-mill price.
Goldbelly is a unique business that took off during the pandemic. They allow customers to buy meals direct from their business partners across the country, which include everything from small shops to world-famous restaurants.
To date, Goldbelly offers meals from thousands of restaurants across the country. Their Thanksgiving dinner options currently include:
Goldbelly also gives you the opportunity to simply just order a whole turkey or several sides from restaurants all over the country – such as Commander’s Palace, BLT Steak in New York, 4 Rivers Smokehouse in Kissimmee, Florida, Bludso’s BBQ in Los Angeles, Loveless Cafe in Nashville, and many other options.
HoneyBaked Ham
Of course they’re known for their hams, but HoneyBaked Ham also offers prepared Thanksgiving dinners that feature a honey baked turkey.
HoneyBaked’s Thanksgiving dinner costs $148.99 and feeds 14 to 18 people. That will run you around an inexpensive $8 to $10 per person. The meal options are more limited, but they do include:
9-pound bone-in slow smoked ham or 11- to 13-pound slow roasted whole turkey
Green bean casserole (24 ounces)
Creamy mashed potatoes (24 ounces)
Roasted turkey gravy (24 ounces)
You can also add a pecan pie for $29.99.
Shipping opened on Oct. 27. The company says their hams can be frozen for up to six weeks for future use, and turkeys can be frozen for up to 12 weeks.
Safeway
The large grocery store chain offers an affordable prepared Thanksgiving dinner that feeds six to eight people for only $59.99. That’s a reasonable $7.50 to $10 per person. The dinner includes:
10- to 12-pound fully cooked turkey
32 ounces mashed potatoes
28 ounces homestyle stuffing
24 ounces homestyle gravy
14 ounces cranberry sauce
All the dinners are fully cooked and take two to three hours for reheating.
Wegmans
Wegman’s — an East Coast-based grocery store chain — offers four Thanksgiving dinner options for carryout only, all available for pickup between Nov. 18-24.
If you’re feeding just a few people, the Holiday Turkey Meal may fit the bill. Each individual dinner is $15 and includes turkey, whipped potatoes, herb stuffing, butternut squash, cranberry relish and homestyle gravy.
For a bigger crowd, the Hand-Carved Turkey Dinner feeds six for $185 or or 12 for $325 and includes:
Hand-carved turkey
Herb stuffing
Whipped potatoes
Seasoned green beans
Homestyle gravy
Cranberry orange relish
Roasted butternut squash with spinach and Craisins
Finally, Wegmans offers a Signature Ham Dinner that serves 10 to 12 people and costs $185. This meal includes:
7- to 8-pound spiral-sliced glazed ham
Cauliflower and spinach gratin
Roasted butternut squash with baby spinach and cranberries
Potatoes gratin
Cranberry orange relish
The option to add on a pie or dinner rolls
Kroger
Kroger also offers a reasonably priced Thanksgiving dinner you can order ahead. Their Butterball Baked Turkey Meal will run you $80 and serves six to eight guests — about $10 to $13 per person. This meal includes:
A 10- to 12-pound Butterball bone-in turkey
28 ounces green bean casserole
32 ounces bread stuffing
32 ounces sweet potato souffle
24 ounces mashed potatoes
13 ounces turkey gravy
12 King’s Hawaiian Rolls
Pumpkin pie
Kroger also offers a smoked turkey variation of this meal, as well as one with a bone-in ham (both for $80) and one for $65 with fewer servings for four to six people. For red meat lovers, they offer a prime rib meal that includes all the same sides and features a 3- to 5-pound prime rib for $90.
Robert Bruce is a senior writer with The Penny Hoarder. Freelance writer Catherine Hiles contributed.
If you grew up with a handy adult around the house, chances are you’ve been familiar with WD-40 since you were a kid.
The magic water-displacing, petroleum-based spray was created in the 1950s to prevent parts of the Atlas Missile from rusting. But these days, it’s a common household item that has dozens of uses — some well known and others not.
WD-40 is traditionally used on squeaky hinges or to loosen a rusted screw or nut. But it actually has a lot of unexpected uses that aren’t listed on the can. According to the WD-40 website, a bus driver in Asia actually used WD-40 to remove a python that had coiled around the undercarriage of the bus. Now that’s some clever thinking.
24 Clever Ways to Use WD-40
You can use your trusty can of WD-40 for cleaning your home, pest control, and even keeping your clothes and car looking good. Here are just a few of the many WD-40 uses out there.
Around the House
1. Remove Carpet Stains
WD-40 can help loosen stubborn carpet stains before using a regular carpet cleaner. Give the stain a thorough spraying and leave for a few minutes to let the liquid soak in. Follow up with any regular carpet cleaner to get rid of the stain for good. Don’t leave out the step of using the carpet cleaner. WD-40 is helping to loosen the stain but it shouldn’t be left on fabric. It could stain!
Depending on the type of stubborn stains, you may need to do this more than once in order to remove the mark completely. Try this on tea stains as well as coffee and wine, or even the spaghetti sauce that dripped onto the run on the way to the dinner table.
2. Clean Scuff Marks
Scuff marks on vinyl or tile floors can be difficult to remove with regular floor cleaner. Remove scuff marks by spraying with WD-40 to loosen them, and then wipe clean. The scuff marks should vanish as quickly as they appeared.
3. Remove Lime Stains From Porcelain
Your toilet can benefit from WD-40 if you have hard water that leaves lime stains in the toilet bowl. Spray inside your toilet with WD-40 and clean thoroughly with a toilet brush before flushing to rinse the residue away.
Bonus! You can also use WD-40 on hard water buildup around faucets.
4. Remove Kid Scribbles
If you’re a parent, you know the joy of seeing that your beloved child has drawn a beautiful picture for you. You know the pain of finding it on a wall instead of a piece of paper.
WD-40 can remove crayon marks from walls without damaging the paint. Give it a quick spray and wipe off, and you should see the scribbles come off as well.
5. Remove Sticker Residue
If your kids are like mine, they absolutely love stickers. My kids stick them everywhere, but one of their favorite spots is on my kitchen cabinets. Giving them stickers provides me with a few moments of peace, but I pay for it when it’s time to remove them.
WD-40 can remove the sticky residue left. Simply spray it on the sticky patch and wait about a minute, then wipe away. The sticker residue should come off easily. This trick also works for bumper stickers on your car.
6. Banish Hair Dye Stains
You can save a bunch of time and money by coloring your hair at home. But it’s a messy process and can leave stains on towels or clothing. Trying to remove stains like this can be difficult.
If you find yourself with a stained towel, loosen the dye by spraying WD-40 on the stain, rubbing it in, and then washing the towel in your machine on a hot cycle. The stain should disappear once the towel is clean.
On the Property
7. Prevent Snow Build-Up
If the weather forecast predicts a big winter snowstorm, grab a can of WD-40 and spray it on your house’s windows before the snow starts. The water-dispensing properties will prevent snow from building up on the outside of your windows.
8. Keep Snow Off Your Shovel or Snow Thrower
People who live in colder climates know what a pain it can be to shovel snow. Snow can be heavy and hard to move, especially when it gets stuck to your shovel or in the chute of your snow thrower. A quick spray of WD-40 on your shovel blade or inside your snow thrower’s chute so you can clear your driveway or sidewalk faster and with less energy expended.
9. Remove Oil Spills From Concrete
Although your garage floor or driveway may not be your biggest priority to keep clean, oil spills can look messy on an otherwise clean surface. Luckily, your handy can of WD-40 can help remove the stains quickly and easily.
Simply spray the oil stain with WD-40 and rinse thoroughly with your hose. Once dry, the oil stain should be completely gone.
10. Protect Wooden Tool Handles
Wood-handled tools can age and splinter without proper treatment. Rubbing them with WD-40 helps protect the wood from weather damage, making them last longer and protecting your hands from splinters.
11. Remove Grease From Your Hands
If you like to work on your car, you know how hard it is to get the grease off your hands when you’re finished. A quick spray of WD-40 helps loosen the grease so you can clean your hands more easily.
Personal Care
12. Remove Gum From Hair
Chewing gum is great for keeping your breath fresh, but once it gets in your hair it’s game over. There are plenty of remedies out there for gum removal (including just cutting your hair and starting over), but one of the best is a spray of WD-40. (Peanut butter will work, too.)
Spray the WD-40 directly onto the part of the hair tangles with the gum, then comb through and rinse. The gum should come right out — though, for super-stuck gum, you may need to do this a few times.
Pest Control
13. Keep Bugs Out of Your House
Do you have a bug problem? WD-40 can help keep them at bay. Grab your can and spray the solution wherever bugs might be getting into your house, such as a door or window frame.
14. Prevent Wasp Nests
You can also use WD-40 to stop wasps and yellow jackets from building nests under the eaves of your roof. Spray thoroughly under the eaves to deter wasps and other flying pests from building their nests there.
15. Use As a Weed Killer
Traditional weed killers have a bad rap for being toxic and bad for the environment. WD-40 is a good alternative for killing pesky weeds such as thistles, which can be hard to remove at the root and come back year after year.
Spray the weed with WD-40 and wait until it dies. It should be easy to pull the weed up (roots and all) so it’s less likely to come back a few weeks (or even days) later.
16. Keep Squirrels Off Bird Feeders
You might not think of squirrels as “pests” — at least until you put a bird feeder out that ends up sustaining more squirrels than birds.
You can keep squirrels off your bird feeder by spraying the feeder with WD-40. This makes it slippery and means any squirrel who attempts to munch the bird seed will slide right off.
Clothing
17. Waterproof Your Boots
A misting of WD-40 can help protect boots and shoes from getting wet. Before heading outside on a rainy or snowy day, spray the tops and side of your boots and your toes will stay dry and toasty on your walk.
Avoid spraying the soles of your boots, though, as it could make them slippery and cause you to fall.
18. Remove Dog Poop
Stepped in dog poop on your walk? WD-40 can help remove the stinky mess from the bottom of your shoes. Spray directly onto the poopy area and use a brush (like an old toothbrush reserved for cleaning) to remove the poop completely. Make sure you wipe off WD-40 completely with a dry paper towel so that you don’t make your shoes slippery. (See No. 17.)
It goes without saying, but make sure you don’t accidentally use your actual toothbrush …
19. Loosen a Zipper
Have you ever purchased a new pair of boots, only to find that it’s almost impossible to unzip the zipper? I speak from experience when I say that WD-40 works well to loosen stuck zippers on boots, and likely on jacket zippers as well as backpacks, computer cases and luggage.
Spray the zipper with WD-40 and zip up and down a few times to get the zipper moving. Once it’s loose, it should be easier to unzip moving forward.
Automotive
20. Keep Locks From Freezing
When temperatures fall, your car door lock can freeze and prevent you from unlocking your parked car. But if you proactively spray WD-40 into the lock, it’ll prevent moisture from getting inside and freezing, so you can get into your car without any hassle.
21. Remove Dead Bugs From Your Grille
There’s a lot to look forward to in the warmer months as pools open and there’s more opportunity to spend time outside. But summer comes with bugs, and deceased bugs on your car grille can be difficult to remove. But if you have a can of WD-40 on hand, you can prevent the bugs from getting stuck there in the first place.
Before going out for a drive, spray your grille with WD-40. The lubricant will mean the bugs will slide off rather than splatting on your grille and getting stuck. A little preventative work can save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run.
22. Lubricate Your Gas Cap
Your gas cap probably isn’t something you think about often … until it becomes a problem. A quick spray of WD-40 a few times a year can prevent the gas cap from rusting and ensure you can easily open and close it when you refill your tank.
Just make sure you wipe up any residue, because the WD-40 could harm your car’s clear coat.
23. Get Rid of Paint Smudges
Paint smudges on your car are no match for the power of WD-40. My daughter always opens her car door right onto the wall of our garage, so the edge of her door is caked in white paint.
To remove paint rub stains from your car, spray the affected area with WD-40 and wipe away. It’s that simple!
And Then There’s Baseball
24. Break in that New Glove
The leather on a new baseball glove can be stiff. To break it in, spray with WD-40, place a baseball in the palm of the glove, and fold the glove over the ball. Use a rubber band to tie it in place and leave overnight. When you remove the rubber band and the ball, the glove will be softer and will have a little ball-shaped pocket in the center perfect for catching a fly ball.
Ohio-based Catherine Hiles is a British writer and editor living and working in the U.S. She has a degree in communications from the University of Chester in the U.K. and writes about finance, cars, pet ownership and parenting.
If you were rich, what kind of car would you drive?
A Bentley? A Porsche or a Ferrari? Maybe a $100,000 Tesla Model X? How about a Lamborghini, to be really obnoxious?
Ah, but here’s a little-known fact: Most rich people don’t actually drive fancy cars.
It’s true. When Experian Automotive pondered which cars the wealthy favored, the number-crunchers dug into their massive database of 600 million vehicles and came up with a surprising answer. They found that more than 60% of people who earn $250,000 or more aren’t driving luxury cars after all. Instead, they’re buying the same Toyotas, Hondas and Fords as the rest of us.
Sure, some of the rich are tooling around in luxury vehicles. Mercedes, Lexus and BMW are particularly popular brands among the well-to-do, Experian found. But the other models in their rich people’s top 10 included three Hondas, a Toyota, an Acura and a Volkswagen.
Now, what can we learn here? Here are three financial lessons that we’re taking away from this. It’s all about:
Living within your budget.
Avoiding today’s freakishly high car prices.
Getting a car that’s not too expensive to maintain.
1. The Rich Don’t Need to Show Off, and Neither Do You
When it comes to the wealthy, you could argue that not spending gobs of money on flashy things is how they got to be rich in the first place.
Most of the truly wealthy in this country don’t live on Park Avenue and snack on caviar and guzzle champagne as they go to the opera in their chauffeured Rolls-Royces. Instead, they amass their wealth through consistent work and smart choices and frugality — yes, frugality.
Got a raise? Don’t succumb to the temptations of lifestyle inflation. Instead, continue to live within your current budget and sock away the extra money.
2. Today’s Car Prices Are Insane, so Plan Accordingly
Nowadays, car prices are through the roof.
First of all, there’s been an overall shortage of new cars due to a global microchip shortage plus a slowdown in production during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the automotive market is still recovering from all that mess.
Second, runaway inflation is hiking up the cost of everything, including sedans and minivans and SUVs.
The average new car in America sold for $48,301 in August 2022 — a fifth straight month of increases and a record high, according to Kelley Blue Book. Holy sticker shock, Batman!
3. Get a Car that Won’t Be Too Expensive to Maintain
When we’re buying a shiny new car (or shiny used car), we rarely think about the cost of future maintenance. Because who wants to dwell on that when you’re trying out the reclining seats and basking in the new-car smell?
It’s actually pretty important, though. You’re probably going to own that car for a long time. A lot of those frugal rich people know that a Toyota is less pricey to maintain than, say, a Maybach or a Bugatti.
Research studies from automotive websites typically find that the cheapest cars to maintain include various Toyotas, Hondas, Kias and Nissans.
Pro Tip
Kelley Blue Book has a car-cost calculator that includes estimated maintenance and repair expenses so you can narrow things down to your individual make and model.
We have a whole article on how much to budget for auto maintenance and repairs. You can’t see into the future to know exactly when your car will break down, when it’ll need to be serviced and how much it’ll cost, but you can prepare for the inevitable.
Think Like a Rich Person
Only 5% of American households bring in more than $250,000 a year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
If run-of-the-mill Hondas, Toyotas and Volkswagens are good enough for them, they’re probably good enough for your daily commute.
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. He drives a Honda Odyssey minivan.
It could be a long winter with rising prices, so now is a good time to figure out what you can do to afford to stay toasty. Between food prices, gas prices and now power bills, we could use a break.
A little preventive maintenance and some other easy fixes can help keep costs down. We have 21 ways to help you hold onto more of your cold, hard money while staying warm.
21 Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill
From closing off unused rooms to simple maintenance checks and fixes, these tips to avoid sticker shock from your electric bill are worth your efforts.
1. Get a Free Home Energy Assessment
Many power providers offer free home energy assessments or home energy optimization kits. Xcel Energy, which serves much of the northern midwest and mountain regions of the U.S., provides a free virtual visit with a Home Energy Squad member, followed by a free kit to optimize your residential electrical usage.
2. Seal Cracks and Leaks
Don’t let any precious warm air escape due to drafty doors and leaky windows. Seal these money-draining spaces with inexpensive draft tape, often ranging from $9 to $15 on sites like Amazon.
3. Upgrade to Efficient Equipment with a Rebate
Although upgrading HVAC systems and thermostats can be pricey, many electrical companies offer rebate programs. ConEd, which serves New York City, offers rebates on smart thermostats. Check with your energy provider to see if rebates are offered in your area. This could mean more than $100 back in your pocket.
4. If You Have a Smart Thermostat, Use It
For those who already have a Nest or other programmable thermostat in your home, take the time to program it. Smart thermostats offer zonal and timed heating and cooling, which on average will save most homeowners 10-12% on heating bills and up to 15% on their cooling bills.
5. Take a Timeout on Energy Consumption
To cheaply lower your electric bill, consider adding an outlet timer to appliances. These helpful gadgets cost $10 to $20 and will make your home more energy efficient and limit the amount of “phantom power” (the power your devices leech from outlets even when not turned on) contributing to monthly energy bills.
6. Invest in One-Time Duct Cleaning
A major cause of ineffective or inefficient home heating may be from clogged ductwork. Over the years, debris like dust, pet hair and dander can accumulate in vents and make it difficult for air to flow smoothly throughout your space. Cleaner ducts = less need to turn up the heat. Fortunately, HVAC system maintenance is pretty affordable, and a one-time vent cleaning will only take $200-$300 out of your home maintenance budget.
7. Change Your Air Filter
Air filters do just that — filter out tiny particles and debris generally undetectable to the human eye. This provides us with clean air circulating in our homes. However, these filters need to be changed about every six months in order to work properly. Clogged filters inhibit effective air flow and can lead to higher energy costs due to forcing your air systems to work harder to pump out warm air.
8. Run Appliances at Night
Some electric companies charge higher rates during the day (aka peak hours) and lower rates at night (aka off-peak hours). It can help save a few bucks here and there to run larger appliances like dishwashers, clothing dryers, and washing means while you’re getting some shut-eye.
9. Make the Move to LED
LED bulbs can save consumers as much as $225 in energy costs per year, according to the EPA’s Energy Star Program. If you want a lower electric bill, it’s time to make the switch from incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs.
10. Insulate Hidden Areas
Any item in your house that has pipes behind it (toilets, sinks, etc.) likely is simply sitting in an open hole in the wall with no insulation. This means that in the winter, warm air could be leaking out or cold air could be seeping in. Consulting with a professional to learn more about how adding insulation behind toilets and sinks can help make your home more energy efficient by eliminating these air leaks across your house.
11. Close the Door
If you live in a multiroom home, closing the doors to unused rooms will consolidate your heating usage to fewer rooms, and it will keep that room much warmer. Pick a room or two to hang out in for the majority of the day, and shut the doors to the others. A painless way to lower your electric bill.
12. Check the Seals
Weather stripping for doors and windows is key to retaining heat in the winter (and keeping it out in the summer). If your windows and doors are letting too much heat out, replace the weather stripping.
You can buy weather stripping for around $15, and it could save you big-time on heating bills.
13. Reduce Phantom Power
Even if something like a lamp or TV are not turned on, the fact that they remain plugged in means those items could be leeching “phantom power” from your home, and jacking up your electric bill. Phantom power refers to the electricity consumed by objects when they are off or in standby mode. This allows them to quickly turn on, but means your electric bill pays the price. Consider unplugging lamps, appliances, and more when not in use to save on your next energy payment.
14. Add an Energy Efficient Power Strip
While you’re unplugging unused objects, think about adding in an energy efficient power strip to cut down on your bill. Some estimate that installing energy efficient power strips (which are only $20 to $30 each) can decrease home power use from 20 to 48%, which translates to more than just a few dollars back in your pocket.
15. Lower the Hot Water Heater Temperature
The default temperature for water heaters is 140 degrees, which wastes between $36 and $61 a year, according to the Department of Energy.
According to the DOE, lowering the temp to 120 degrees is perfectly fine for the majority of the population. If you or a member of your household has a chronic respiratory disease or a suppressed immune system, though, it may be best to keep your water heater set to the default temp.
16. Decrease Door Drafts With a Draft Stopper
Using the aptly named draft stopper on your doors can further prevent air leaks throughout your home. For only $8, you can keep warm air circulating in your space without losing it to wasteful door leaks. Another painless way to save money.
17. Use Exhaust Fans
Exhaust fans are those that are generally already built into your home, like the kind above a stove or shower. These fans do an exceptionally good job at circulating air. Running these fans even when not cooking or in the shower can improve air circulation and decrease the need to crank up the heat and your power usage.
18. Go Through a Checklist
Owning or renting a home comes with all sorts of maintenance. It can be hard to keep track of what to do at what time of year in order to keep your space clean and efficient. Referring to a home checklist like this one can ensure you are ticking off the correct boxes to prepare your home for every season, potentially saving you some dough on electric bills.
19. Rearrange Your Furniture
Go through the house and check that you don’t have beds, dressers, bookcases or other furniture block heating vents (especially taller items like bookshelves). If the vents are blocked and air isn’t evenly distributed, this may cause you to turn up the heat unnecessarily.
20. Eat at Home
When you cook in your oven and on the stovetop, heat emanates into your kitchen and surrounding rooms. Crack the oven open after turning it off to let the remaining heat filter out into your home.
21. Use a Space Heater
OK, so you’ve turned the heat down, closed off unused rooms and bundled up in blankets, but you’re still feeling chilly. A small space heater might do the trick — and you can get one for less than $30 on Amazon or at a home goods store.
Running a little bit of heat in one small area is more affordable than heating your entire living space.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Electric Bills
We answer some of the most asked questions about electric bills and what makes them so high.
How Do I Reduce My Electric Bill?
To reduce your electric bill, take stock of how many hours of electricity you use a day (some things like water heaters and refrigerators will always be running, and that’s OK) for things like the dishwasher, washer and dryer, floor lamps, and accessories such as stereo equipment. Then, begin to see where you can limit the amount of time those home furnishings are in use. This will slowly but surely start to reduce your home electric bill.
Most electric bills are tabulated by multiplying the rate you pay per kilowatt of energy by the total hours of device and electricity usage that month. This gives you your total electric usage in kWh — kilowatts per hour. From this formula, we can see that electric bills are based on how many hours of electricity you use each month.
Why is My Electric Bill So High?
There can be many reasons as to why your electric bill is so high, including inefficient appliances, infrastructure in need of repair and poor insulation. Another reason could be that you leave all your appliances plugged in all the time. This is called “phantom energy costs” or “vampire energy costs,” meaning that even when a device is not directly in use, if it is plugged in it is still using a bit of energy. There may be things that can be unplugged like computers or entertainment systems.
If appliances such as dishwashers are decades old, it’s likely that those models are no longer the most energy or water-efficient on the market. Although no one wants to purchase a brand-new major appliance, this can save you money in the long run.
Poor insulation can be a huge drain on energy efficiency. If you have major cracks in your window frames, walls, baseboards, and more, you are basically watching your hard-earned dollars fall through those gaps. Likewise, if doors are left open (especially the garage door or patio door) haphazardly you are bleeding cold or warm air (depending on the season) through those areas, causing your home heating or cooling to work harder, thus costing you more money on your electric bill.
What Costs the Most on My Electric Bill?
The most costly items on an electric bill are the culprits you probably already guessed: air conditioning, heating, and large home appliances come in at the top of the list. This is why it makes it all the more important that your home is energy efficient with updated models of each home appliance.
Some sneakier money-eaters on your electric bill are incandescent bulbs, hair dryers, and space heaters. A hair dryer consumes about 1,200 watts per hour of usage and costs 12 cents an hour to operate while a fridge generally only consumes 1,000 watts and costs 10 cents an hour to run. While you may not be using a hair dryer for an hour, you can see how daily use of such an accessory could add up.
This is where a free home inspection by your local utility company may come in handy, if such a service is offered. Energy experts can let you know if your appliances are up-to-date from an energy standpoint as well as what other surprising items in your home may be contributing to an overly high electric bill.
Colorado-based writer Kristin Jenny focuses on lifestyle and wellness. She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this post.
Is the rent going to keep going up like this forever? Can it even do that?
This is an important question because rents are rising a lot faster than wages, and are taking an increasingly big bite out of our bank accounts. For America’s 120 million renters, it’s tough to take.
We keep seeing reports of people’s rent skyrocketing, getting hiked up to 20%, 30% and even 40%. Millions are falling behind on their rent and are facing potential eviction.
We bet you’re wondering:
Is the rent going to keep going up like this?
Is the rent going up everywhere? Is there any place where rents aren’t rising so much?
Is the rent going to start going back down anywhere?
Seriously, when will this nightmare stop?
To get answers, we reviewed rental rates in the United States’ 384 metropolitan statistical areas — namely, large- or medium-sized cities and their surrounding suburbs. We wanted to see where rents are rising the fastest and the slowest.
We asked financial and real estate experts about what they think rents are going to do next, and their advice for what renters should do now.
Where Are the Priciest Place to Rent? The Cheapest?
The most expensive places to rent? No big surprise here — Silicon Valley, New York City, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and Boston.
The typical rent in these cities ranges from $2,900 to $3,400 for apartments and houses.
The cheapest places to rent? Wichita, Kansas; McAllen, Texas; Akron, Ohio; Little Rock, Arkansas; Des Moines, Iowa; and Milwaukee.
Rent in these cities ranges from $1,000 to $1,280.
We gathered figures for this article from Zillow’s Observed Rent Index, which Zillow uses to measure the typical market-rate rent in 384 U.S. metropolitan areas. Those are all marked on our interactive map. We focused on the 100 largest metro areas.
Where is Rent Up the Most? The Least?
In the past year, the 100 largest metro areas have seen a wide range of rent hikes — from about 2% to nearly 19%.
The places with the fastest-rising rent? They include four cities in Florida: Miami, Orlando, Cape Coral and Deltona (it’s about halfway between Orlando and Daytona). Also on that list is New York City, San Diego, and, perhaps surprisingly, Knoxville, Tennessee (where demand is up but apartments are scarce).
Rent in these cities has gone up a whopping 14% to nearly 19% in the last year.
The cities where rent has risen the least? That would be Spokane, Washington; Baltimore; Minneapolis; Las Vegas; and Fresno and Stockton, California.
Rent in these places has only risen by a comparatively low 1.8% to 4.5% over the same time.
What’s Going On With Rents?
Nationally, Zillow says the typical rent has gone up 11% compared to one year ago — although your mileage may vary.
Unfortunately for renters, most of the experts we consulted are predicting that rents will keep rising faster than inflation next year. It’s because sky-high mortgage rates are preventing people from buying homes, forcing them to keep renting and driving up demand for rentals.
“I believe that rental rates will continue to rise in the long run, due to continuing demand from would-be home buyers who can’t afford to purchase a property,” said Jennifer Spinelli, CEO of Watson Buys, a home-buying business in Denver, Colorado. “However, there are some signs suggesting that rent hikes are cooling off, at least in some cities. So it’s really a mixed bag.”
That’s true: A couple of reports came out recently showing that rents nationwide actually declined in September compared to the previous month.
And both of those reports — one from Realtor.com and the other from the real estate brokerage Redfin — found that rent hikes appeared to be starting to slow down.
Maybe there’s hope for renters after all.
“U.S. rental rates are cooling off in most of the country and are largely stabilizing, with some smaller markets seeing a 5% to 10% decrease. This is largely due to the initial burst and subsequent drop in rental demand,” said Dennis Shirshikov, a strategist at Awning.com, a real estate investment company in California.
“In certain cities like Miami, NYC and Austin, Texas, rents continue to rise because those cities are growing much more quickly than new housing can become available.”
Will the Rent Keep Going Up Next Year?
Most of the experts think rents will keep going up in 2023, forcing some renters to make hard choices.
“The signs showing rent hikes cooling off are just temporary, and renters should brace themselves to pay more,” said Tennessee financial consultant Bill Ryze, a board advisor for the financial services company Fiona.
Looking for places in areas that are less in demand is just one way to find a deal, according to Danny Marshall, a mortgage broker and real estate agent for the website Mortgage Rate Guru.
“Another option is to look for units that are available for short-term leases,” he said. “These leases can be more affordable than long-term leases, and they can also be more flexible if your situation changes.”
Ultimately, it mostly depends on where you live.
“Rental rates will go up, down, sideways, or stay the same throughout the country, depending on the area that the rental is in,” said Tomas Satas, founder of Windy City HomeBuyer real estate investors in Chicago. “Housing markets vary from city to city, and neighborhood to neighborhood.”
Mike Brassfield ([email protected]) is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
An Amazon Prime membership has become a staple for many households, with an estimated 157.4 million subscribers in the United States. Still, the price of an Amazon Prime membership has risen over the years, costing up to $180 per year ($139 if you pay annually).
Amazon Prime includes access to a vast wealth of features, but whether the service is worth it comes down to whether you use what’s available. We’ll look at the cost of a membership and everything that comes with it to determine whether Amazon Prime is worth it for you and your household.
What Is Amazon Prime?
The world’s largest e-commerce giant, Amazon offers its customers a collection of additional features and deals through a subscription program known as Amazon Prime.
When Amazon Prime launched in 2005, its primary focus was to offer customers free two-day shipping, but today, the program includes many more features.
As we take a closer look at Amazon Prime, we’ll inspect each of the included features and services, so you can decide if a subscription suits you and your household.
What Does Amazon Prime Cost?
Amazon Prime costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year, but new members can test Prime with a 30-day free trial before committing. Those who canceled their Amazon Prime membership and haven’t been members for at least 12 months can also retry Prime with a free one-month trial.
College students and individuals on qualified government assistance can receive 50% discounts on their Prime membership thanks to discount programs from Amazon. College students also receive an extended six-month free trial before payment is required.
For those on qualified government assistance, such as SNAP or Medicaid, you’ll need to upload a photo of your EBT card or eligibility letter to Amazon.
What Are the Benefits of Amazon Prime?
Amazon Prime was once a straightforward subscription service that offered two-day shipping. Now, Amazon offers up a collection of Prime benefits, from fast shipping to a video streaming service and free Kindle books.
Here are all the Amazon Prime benefits you can expect from a subscription.
Prime Delivery
Amazon continues to tout Prime’s fast, free delivery service as it has since day one; however, the service has evolved to include additional delivery benefits.
Prime now offers free one-day delivery, so you can get over 15 million products the next day without having to wait. If that isn’t fast enough, Amazon Prime also offers free same-day delivery for select items in eligible cities across the United States.
Subscribers also gain access to free two-hour grocery delivery via Amazon Fresh in select U.S. cities. If you aren’t home, Amazon can leave products in your garage via the Amazon Key program or in a local pickup locker for more secure delivery.
Prime Video and Music
Amazon Prime members have free access to Prime Video and Prime Music, enabling them to access entertainment at the tap of a finger or the click of a remote.
Amazon Prime Video is available on your computer and your favorite streaming devices, giving Prime members access to over 26,000 movies and 2,700 television series. Top Prime Video picks include “The Peripheral,” “The Lord of The Kings: The Rings of Power,” “The Boys” and “Thursday Night Football.”
If you’d prefer to kick back and listen to music, Amazon Prime Music hosts over 2 million ad-free songs. The service even allows members to listen offline — perfect for that next flight or road trip.
Prime Gaming
If you love jumping into a good video game, Amazon Prime Gaming offers benefits each month, including free in-game content and free PC games.
In recent months, Prime Gaming has offered free in-game content for Lineage II, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Apex Legends, League of Legends and Pokémon GO.
When it comes to free games, Amazon hasn’t been holding back, giving subscribers free downloads for Fallout 76: The Pitt, Hero’s Hour, Horace, Total War: Warhammer II and Middle-earth: Shadow of War.
If you prefer to watch others play video games, Amazon also provides subscribers a free subscription to a Twitch channel of your choice each month. It’s an excellent way to support your favorite creators and receive exclusive benefits.
Prime Reading
Those who prefer to cuddle up with a good Kindle book will love the benefits Prime subscribers receive with Prime Reading. You can access a rotating catalog of ebooks and audiobooks for no additional cost — what’s better than free books?
At the beginning of each month, Prime members can choose one free pre-release ebook from a selection of editors’ picks. It’s a great way to read new stories from various genres before they are available to the general public.
Magazine and comic books are also included with Prime Reading.
Amazon Photos
You probably have hundreds or thousands of photos on your smartphone, but are they backed up? If they aren’t, you may want to take advantage of Amazon Photos, which offers free unlimited photo storage and 5GB of video storage for Prime members.
You can automatically back up your full-resolution photos and videos using the Amazon Photos app on your iOS or Android device. Once backed up, you can sleep more peacefully at night knowing they are safe if your device is damaged.
Amazon Photos can also sync your content across multiple smart devices, including the Amazon Echo Show and Fire TV, where they can be used as personal screensavers. You’ll even receive free shipping on every order if you want to print your photos.
Prime Try Before You Buy
One of Prime’s most exciting new offerings is Try Before You Buy. Aimed at those who love to shop online for clothing, the service lets you try outfits before paying for them. You can then return anything you don’t like to Amazon at no charge.
Prime members begin by selecting up to six items from Amazon’s Try Before You Buy program. The items will then be shipped to you. Customers have seven days to try out the items before being charged for what they keep.
If you order something you don’t like, Amazon will provide you with multiple return options.
Prime Discounts and Deals
A Prime membership wouldn’t be complete without exclusive deals for members. Amazon has ongoing sales throughout the year available to members only, so check out the savings page if you jump on board the Prime train.
Notable is Amazon’s Prime Day, a “once-a-year savings event,” which is akin to a Black Friday sales event and has traditionally dropped at the end of spring or the beginning of summer.
We typically see significant discounts across various products, including Amazon’s brands, Fire TV, Echo devices, Kindles, Fire tablets and Blink home security hardware.
As with many questions in life, there is no straightforward answer as to whether Amazon Prime is worth it for you and your household. But you can start by determining how many of Amazon’s Prime benefits you use.
Paying for high-speed shipping can quickly add up; if you find yourself ordering from Amazon half a dozen times a month, the monthly price tag of Prime to obtain same-day and next-day shipping could be worth it from the start.
Most video and music streaming services will run you about $10 a month (not including Netflix, which charges up to $20 a month), so the monthly Prime price tag could be worth it just for accessing Prime Video and Prime Music.
If you are already an Amazon Prime member, be sure to explore the benefits offered by the program and take advantage of everything you are provided.
Some members may not even know about features such as mobile device photo backups via Amazon Photos and the ability to try on clothes via the Try Before You Buy program.
Of course, you can always cancel your Amazon Prime membership and see how much you miss the service; your needs decide the actual value.
Is the Amazon Prime Card Worth It?
Amazon also offers its own Prime Rewards Visa Signature card to qualifying members. Benefits of the card include 5% back when you shop at Amazon.com and physical Amazon stores (Prime membership required), as well as rewards at other qualifying locations.
When shopping at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores, you’ll receive 2% back when using your Prime card. Other purchases can net you a 1% savings. Prime members can also earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com.
If you’re a frequent shopper with Amazon, the Prime card could certainly be worth it based on its rewards program. Before diving in, read our article on understanding credit card rewards, so you can get the most out of a Prime card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Is the Point of Getting Amazon Prime?
An Amazon Prime membership unlocks various discounts and features, including free same-day, one-day and two-day shipping on millions of items. Prime also gives subscribers access to programs such as Prime Video, Prime Music and Amazon Photos.
Is Amazon Prime Better Than Netflix?
An Amazon Prime membership does include its own video streaming service, Prime Video. Which service is better depends on what content you enjoy watching.
Netflix offers exclusive series such as “Stranger Things,” “13 Reasons Why,” “Peaky Blinders,” “Ozark” and “The Umbrella Academy.”
Meanwhile, Amazon Prime offers “Good Omens,” “Bosch,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
Why Is Amazon Prime So Expensive?
An Amazon Prime membership has become more expensive over the years, but the number of benefits has also expanded.
No longer is Amazon Prime limited to two-day shipping; it now includes access to thousands of free movies, TV shows, novels, magazines, comics and more.
Michael Archambault is a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.
If you’re anything like me, then one of the biggest challenges in your budget comes down to one little problem: the bone-deep need for a good cup of coffee.
As someone who’s been addicted to the bean since before high school, and is now old enough to make that statement feel embarrassing, I know what it’s like to have a coffee budget, but also to break that budget many times over for the sake of a barista-made pick-me-up whenever the mood strikes.
But here’s the thing. While a fancy cuppa would have only cost you three or four dollars a few years ago, it’s likely now closer to five-plus bucks per cup. Just last month, it was reported that Starbucks increased the prices of all their menu items from anywhere between $0.30 and $0.70 per item, which comes out to a roughly 10 to 20% increase since last year.
Add to that the upcharges for flavor shots, milk alternatives and all the other jazz, and you’ve got yourself an $8 coffee, at least that’s how much I paid last week in a local café that my friends and I fondly (but also bitterly) call the “ten-dollar latte place.” (With tip it comes pretty darn close).
So how can you stop blowing your hard-earned dollars on coffee drinks? By learning how to make them even better at home, for a fraction of the cost. Here’s my guide to making “ten-dollar lattes” at home, for a third of that price. Yes, a third.
How Much Can I Save Making Coffee at Home?
The answer is, quite a bit. In fact, if you skipped buying expensive lattes 47 times you’d have enough to buy a $330 plane ticket. Now because I’m a nerd, and also because I’m actively fighting the good fight against the ten-dollar latte, I did a bit of math to reach this conclusion.
And here’s what I found. Using this recipe for a Brown Sugar Oat Milk Latte, which has some pretty expensive ingredients including cinnamon and vanilla extract, my homemade lattes — with oat milk and good espresso beans — still only cost me $2.70 per cup.
If you don’t need the milk alternatives and fancy flavors, you’re looking at $1.16 per cup, assuming you buy a gallon of regular milk at the going rate of $4.41 per gallon and use roughly 18 grams of coffee beans from a 12-ounce, $16 bag of beans. If you can cut those costs further, either by buying cheaper beans or just drinking black coffee, you’ll spend even less.
Because here’s the thing: You can always save money by cutting corners. But that’s not what this is about — it’s about making delicious, barista-worthy coffee drinks at home, for a fraction of the cost, because we all know that if it’s not as good as the drink you can buy, you won’t want it.
Ready for my best tricks from one coffee snob to another? Let’s dive in.
Tip 1: Buy Good Beans
If you’re trying to stop frequenting your regular cafe, it’s worth it to invest in good coffee at home. The reason? Because if the choice is Folgers or a $10 latte, I can tell you which one we’ll both pick, every single time.
Good coffee starts with good beans, period. No matter how much you jazz it up with different milks or flavors, fresh whole-bean coffee shines through in a way that grocery-store ground coffee doesn’t. And there’s a pretty simple reason for that.
While whole beans can retain their flavor and shelf life for months, ground coffee goes stale pretty quick. So even if you’re loath to spend $16 on a bag of beans from your favorite cafe, do yourself a favor and at least make a commitment to buying whole beans from the store. Many grocery stores will carry beans from local or national brands that are pretty delicious, and they usually usually have a grinder onsite you can use to avoid buying one. On the flip side, any cafe selling beans should also be able to grind them right there for you, to your exact specificities (for espresso, french press, pour over, etc.).
Otherwise, you can look into buying coffee online, with fresh beans delivered to your doorstep. This might make sense if your favorite bean-selling cafe is a long drive from home, and if you already have a good coffee grinder at home. My current favorite for buying coffee online? The Pennsylvania-based Happy Mug.
Tip 2: Get Yourself Some Coffee Gear
Now I realize the point of this is to save money, not buy a bunch of expensive coffee accessories, but the simple truth is — if you’re going to make barista-level drinks at home, you’re going to need some coffee gear.
If buying an espresso machine isn’t within your budget right now, consider getting a Moka, $30. This stovetop coffee pot brews rich dark coffee that can be drunk by itself, or paired with your favorite milk to create a delicious latte.
Another affordable coffee maker I love? This cold brew bottle from Amazon for $24. I’ve owned one of these for years now, and once you figure out the proportions of coffee to use, (ie. how strong you like it) this is a super affordable way to make a reliable iced coffee drink.
When it comes to hot drinks, it’s worth investing in a milk frother. You can heat up your milk of choice in the microwave or in a pot on the stove, then use this Zulay Handheld Milk Frother to achieve the perfect foam-liquid ratio. This $15 frother has the added benefit of being easier to clean than some of the more expensive vessel-type frothers.
Another coffee purchase to consider is a Nespresso machine. I was against these until I spent a few weeks at my in-laws’ house in France and realized how convenient it is to be able to make a frothy, dairy-free decaf or caffeinated drink at the touch of a button. The company even sends you bags you can mail back to get your used pods recycled. The flavor profile of these espressos isn’t for everyone, so my suggestion would be to visit one of the company’s stores and try a few cups before investing in a machine.
Last but not least? If you’re a black coffee person (but like a really good cup of black or lightly sweetened coffee) consider getting a french press or a pour over. Pour overs are best for single cups of gourmet coffee, with the added benefit of instantly making you feel like a pro.
A French Press makes more sense in households with more than one heavy coffee drinker (so you’re not making individual cups all morning), and it’s also a better use of coffee. If you do buy one, invest in a metal one like this. I can’t tell you how many glass French Press beakers I broke before finding this metal one, which I’ve had now for years.
Tip 3: Get as Homemade as Possible
Once you’ve got good beans and a few kitchen coffee tools, the sky’s the limit for how many different coffee drinks you can make really well. But another tip is to get as homemade as you possibly can in your recipes. What do I mean by this?
Well, if you have a drink that calls for pumpkin spice, go to the store and actually get a bottle of pumpkin spice, like the one you’d use to bake a pie. Not only can this save you money in other areas like baking, but it will also likely taste better and be slightly healthier than any of the faux pumpkin flavor substitutes you can find in stores or online.
You can also experiment with things like canned pumpkin, homemade vanilla extract or a homemade mocha sauce. The key here is to get as homemade as you can, while still making things convenient enough that you’ll actually choose this over the drive-through.
Another thing to keep in mind if you like flavored drinks is that it’s actually really easy to make your own syrups. I made a homemade lavender syrup this summer for my cold brew, which I came to enjoy even more than the $10 version in my local cafe. One reason for this is that by making my own syrup I could actually control the sweetness of it — I like my drinks to be less sweet but packed with flavor.
Tip 4: Use a Few Good Premade Ingredients
So I know I just said go for homemade, but some days this coffee addict just isn’t in a Betty Crocker mood, and I imagine the same is true for you. The other thing is that there are some pretty darn good coffee fixings in grocery stores these days, and while they’re more expensive than making everything yourself, they’re still a lot cheaper than buying individual coffee drinks. The point here is to balance convenience with savings.
I personally prefer oat milk in coffee over almond (too watery), or soy (too hard to digest), but you should experiment with what tastes good to you. If you’re not dairy averse, the answer might simply be to get a good whole-fat milk and splash some into whatever drink you’re currently vibing on.
Tip 4: Do the Math
I could talk about coffee for many, many more pages than what’s been said here, but here’s the bottom line: If you want to save money on your coffee, spend some time doing the math. Pay attention to how much you’re paying for a cup of your favorite coffee drink, then calculate how much it costs you to make at home.
Try thinking about your savings in the long-term as well. As in, if I skip this many coffees, I’ll be able to pay off my debt by this date, or buy this plane ticket for my dream destination.
The Last Drop
Let’s be honest, fellow coffee lovers. You’re not going to completely stop buying those $10 lattes, and neither am I. But you may as I have come to buy them a whole lot less. And like me, you may also start studying what your barista does to make those fancy drinks taste so good — a secret dash of cinnamon, anyone? And you might just take that coffee prowess back home to make yourself a delicious and satisfying drink that costs a third of the price.
Contributor Larissa Runkle specializes in finance, real estate and lifestyle topics. She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
The expense of decorating your place can come as a shock.
A couple of throw pillows, an area rug and some curtains could total up to more than a month’s rent. But you shouldn’t have to drain your bank account or go into debt adorning your home.
Sure, you’ve probably already thought of big-box retailers like Walmart, Target and Bed Bath & Beyond, as well as the online behemoth Amazon. But there are lots more options for finding deals on home decor.
Top 20 Cheap Home Decor Stores
Here are 20 cheap home decor stores and websites to help you save money as you outfit your place.
1. At Home
At Home is a Texas-based chain that operates more than 200 stores in 40 states. According to its website, the large, warehouse-like stores “take unnecessary frills out [to] pass all of those savings on to [the customer].” Sign up for At Home Insider Perks for special discounts and information on new products and markdowns.
Pro Tip
Check with each store about options such as curbside pickup or contactless delivery and for info on any shipping delays.
2. Big Lots
Big Lots is a chain that sells a variety of merchandise, including furniture and home decor. The company operates over 1,400 stores in 47 states. Budget-conscious shoppers can enjoy the store’s everyday low prices and free shipping for online orders of $59 or more. The BIG Rewards membership program offers exclusive coupons and savings.
3. CB2
CB2 is Crate and Barrel’s less expensive offshoot brand. Shop the “sales and offers” section of the website for discounted prices and get free shipping on over 1,000 items. CB2 also has more than 20 locations in major cities including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Miami — where you can meet with a home design specialist.
4. Dormify
Dormify has all you need to outfit your college dorm or first apartment. Get free shipping on orders over $100. Shoppers can join the retailer’s referral program and earn rewards for referring friends.
5. H&M Home
H&M is not just a retailer for jeans and T-shirts. You can find H&M Home in select H&M locations — plus there are standalone stores in eight cities across the U.S. H&M Home sells a variety of affordable products for your bedroom, living room, bathroom and more. The company’s membership program offers savings and perks for those who sign up.
6. Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Getty Images
Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a secondhand store that sells home improvement materials, furniture and appliances. The stock at each of the 900-plus retail locations changes regularly as stores rely on donations from the community. In addition to scoring cheap deals at Habitat ReStore, you’ll also be supporting the nonprofit’s efforts of building homes for those in need. Check other local thrift stores if you don’t have a Habitat ReStore near you.
7. Hayneedle
Hayneedle is an online retailer specializing in home decor and furniture — with a large selection of products to spruce up your outdoor area. Enjoy free shipping on all orders.
8. The Home Depot
Power tools or gardening supplies might come to mind when you think of The Home Depot, but this home improvement giant also has a nice selection of home decor options. Shop for furniture, wall decor, lighting, rugs and more. The Home Depot has over 2.300 locations and offers price matching, special sales and virtual DIY workshops.
9. HomeGoods
HomeGoods, a sister store to TJ Maxx and Marshalls, stocks its stores with products like bedding, housewares, rugs, furniture and decor — all for low prices. Shop online and get free shipping on orders over $119, or visit one of the more than 800 stores nationwide.
10. Ikea
The Scandinavian chain Ikea is well-known for its ready-to-assemble furniture, modern housewares and Swedish meatballs — all at affordable prices. There are over 400 Ikea warehouse stores across the world. Join the Ikea Family membership club for discounts and rewards.
11. Kohl’s
Kohl’s is a department store that sells various home decor products from brands like Food Network, Sonoma and Scott Living. Shop everyday deals, enroll in the company’s rewards program and earn Kohl’s Cash to help you save on future purchases. If you’re not shopping in person at one of the 1,000-plus stores, you can get free shipping on online purchases of $49 or more.
12. Lowe’s
Lowe’s is another home improvement store that sells a selection of home decor products. You can find furniture, wallpaper, window treatments, home accents and more, online or in store. Use these tips to save money at Lowe’s.
13. Michaels
You may think of Michaels as just an arts and crafts store, but you can also buy home decor items that don’t require any DIY skills. Michaels has a great selection of seasonal decor, frames, wall art, floral arrangements and more at its 1,250 locations and online. Become a Michaels Rewards member to get deals and information about upcoming sales promotions.
14. Nordstrom Rack
At Nordstrom Rack, you can find discounts up to 70% off original prices. Although the store is mostly known for its clothing and accessories, it also sells a variety of affordable home decor. There are about 350 locations in the United States and Canada.
15. Overstock
Getty Images
Overstock is a popular online retailer for discounted home decor and furniture. Its loyalty program, Club O, costs $19.95 a year and comes with free returns, 5% off every purchase, price match guarantee and more.
16. Tuesday Morning
Tuesday Morning is a discount retailer that operates in more than 450 locations across the country. The no-frills stores buy name-brand closeouts to pass along the savings to customers. Tuesday Morning Perks members get special offers.
17. Uncommon Goods
Uncommon Goods sells unique, hand-crafted products from around the world. Prices vary, but shop sale items or join the Uncommon Perks program for $19.90 a year to enjoy benefits like free shipping.
18. Wayfair
Wayfair’s claim to fame is that it’s got just what you need when it comes to decking out your home. The online retailer regularly promotes sales and offers free two-day shipping on thousands of items over $35.
19. World Market
World Market sells merchandise from around the globe at affordable prices. The company operates nearly 250 stores nationwide or you can shop online. Sign up for the World Market Rewards program to earn additional discounts.
20. GoodwillFinds
Instead of making your way to one of Goodwill’s 3,300 stores, now you can just click on your favorite bargains and have them shipped to you, via its website GoodwillFinds.com. Find more ways to find thrifty finds for your home in this story about Goodwill’s online stores.
Nicole Dow is a former senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors contributed to this post.
Subscription prices across the entertainment industry are rising, and Apple is joining the party. Apple announced that subscription prices for Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple One will increase immediately.
According to Apple, its music service is increasing in price due to more expensive licensing costs. Apple says artists and songwriters will, in turn, “earn more for the streaming of their music.”
Apple Music subscribers will see individual membership prices increase to $10.99 a month from $9.99 a month and family memberships increase to $16.99 a month from $14.99 a month. Any individuals on the annual plan will see an increase from $99 a year to $109 a year.
If you’re using Apple Music and Apple TV+ on an outdated iPhone, check out our iPhone 14 upgrade guide to see if a new device is a good fit for your digital life.
Apple TV+ was introduced at a relatively low price compared with other streaming video services at only $4.99 a month.
Monthly Apple TV+ subscribers will see their subscription price increase from $4.99 to $6.99. Those on an annual subscription will see an increase from $49.99 to $69.
Apple says the price increase is in line with the service’s increased selection of “award-winning and broadly acclaimed” content.
Apple Music and Apple TV+ Price Increases
Apple Service
Previous Price
New Price
Apple Music (Individual)
$9.99/month
$10.99/month
Apple Music (Family)
$14.99/month
$16.99/month
Apple Music (Individual Annual)
$99/year
$109/year
Apple TV+ (Monthly)
$4.99/month
$6.99/month
Apple TV+ (Annual)
$49.99/year
$69/year
Apple One (Individual)
$14.95/month
$16.95/month
Apple One (Family)
$19.95/month
$22.95/month
Apple One (Premier)
$29.95/month
$32.95/month
Apple One is the company’s all-in-one bundle program, allowing subscribers to access Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and iCloud+. As a result of the Apple Music and Apple TV+ price increases, the Apple One bundle will also increase in price across all tiers.
Individual accounts will increase from $14.95 a month to $16.95 a month, while family accounts will increase from $19.95 a month to $22.95 a month. If you are subscribed to the company’s premier tier with Apple Fitness and Apple News+, you’ll see an increase from $29.95 a month to $32.95 a month.
Apple Music and Apple TV+ may have raised their prices, but their offerings remain competitive in the industry. At $6.99 a month or $69 a year, Apple TV+ is still one of the cheapest 4K ultra high-definition, ad-free streaming video services available.
Apple Music now costs $1 a month more than Spotify. The service continues to offer exclusive features, including high-resolution lossless audio and its surround-sound spatial audio experience for select tracks.
Michael Archambault is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.
A bathroom remodel would sure be nice but unless you’ve got a spare $8,000 (at least) lying around, a gleaming, newly tiled shower with a luxury spa-grade rainfall shower head will just have to wait.
But don’t go crying into your threadbare bath towels just yet. There are ways to pull off a budget bathroom makeover, creating a refreshed look without draining your savings.
You can spend nothing but time or a couple hundred dollars depending on your space and budget.
Budget Bathroom Makeover: Free or Cheap
A free or cheap makeover idea? Simply create more counter space — especially in a small bathroom — by organizing drawers and cabinets to hold more things.
“The visual clutter takes a toll on us and impacts us emotionally even without knowing it,” said Allison Marshall, a certified professional organizer.
But many of us dread the task of organizing a bathroom. Marshall breaks the task into three steps.
1. Pull Everything Out
“The first thing is to pull everything out and put it into categories,” Marshall said. “Teeth stuff, hair stuff, skin care, makeup.”
Then go through each of those piles and decide what you really use.
2. Purge
Have a bag for trash and a bag for giveaway at your side. If there’s a lipstick or tanning lotion you paid good money for but found you hate the color, put the purchase behind you and get rid of it, Marshall said.
3. Organize in Containers
“Once you get it sorted, the containers are the last step,” she said.
There are inexpensive plastic baskets and boxes found at dollar stores, Target and Walmart. But you can skip that step and use shoe boxes you cut down to fit your drawers or empty plastic food containers from your kitchen.
Budget Bathroom Makeover: Free to $50
Here are some basic steps for a luxurious yet cheap small bathroom makeover.
Get New Linens
If it’s been a while, you could probably use a new set of bath towels, hand towels and washcloths. White is bright and can stay bright by washing with bleach or vinegar.
“Changing out your linens is one of the least expensive things to do that makes a big difference,” said Sarah Shields, an interior designer in Arizona.
Add a Robe
A soft, fresh robe is a touch of luxury. Hang a hook for that special robe so you always have a place to keep it clean and dry.
Create Comfort
A “squishy” bath mat gives you a little extra foot comfort when you step out of the shower or brush your teeth. Spring for one with memory foam.
Make the Ordinary Look Better
Keep essentials close at hand in attractive containers instead of crammed in a drawer in their original boxes. You can buy decorative boxes for a few dollars each from dollar stores. Or try washing out a few mustard jars for a matching set of three glass containers to hold cotton balls, Q-tips and flossing picks.
Bring on the Candles
OK, maybe don’t go overboard but placing a candle on the counter, by the tub or on the back of the toilet with boxed matches can be a nice touch.
Budget Bathroom Makeover: $25 to $50+
A bathroom can give you a relaxing feeling as well as make you smile.
“I like subtle things that show a sense of humor when you walk in. I have a little figurine of someone who is actually flashing you in one of my planters. It’s a quarter of an inch tall,” said Shields, the Arizona designer. “You should have things that make you smile.”
She likes Society6.com to pick up a fun shower curtain and complementary accessories at good prices.
Bathroom décor can be functional too. Shields is a fan of light shelves, a simple piece of wood hanging in front of a window. If you fill it with small items, they don’t block light from outside and actually bounce light onto the ceiling and back down.
“In a bathroom a light shelf can hold extra self-care items such as candles, a diffuser or beautiful bath soaps in a glass jar,” she said.
You could even make some wall art to finish off your DIY bathroom refresh.
Budget Bathroom Makeover: $25 to $300+
A spruced-up bathroom requires a small investment that more than pays for itself when the home sells, said Judy Anderson, a real estate agent with Re/Max Action First in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“For older bathrooms, I always suggest getting a stand-alone credenza with a sink from one of the big-box home improvement stores,” she said.
Small vanities including sinks start at around $95 at Home Depot and Lowe’s. If a new vanity isn’t in your budget, consider painting what you have and replacing the faucet. (Pro tip: Look for cabinet paint, not wall paint.) A quart of cabinet paint and faucets both start at about $25.
You could even replace the light fixture over the vanity. Expect to spend $20 to $50.
“Chipped, faded or dated tile doesn’t have to be replaced — it can be reglazed,” Anderson said.
Prices vary, of course, but tubs can start around $250. Reglazing the tile around a tub is another $300. If the existing tile is white or bone, you can pick any color for the new glaze.
Contributor Katherine Snow Smith is a veteran newspaper reporter and editor who covers lifestyle topics, workplace issues and ways to make money for The Penny Hoarder. She is the author of “Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker: Missteps and Lessons Learned.” Assigning editor Johna Strickland updated this article.
It sounds simple in theory, but in practice, it’s much more complicated.
Spending is built into our daily habits, from our morning trip to the coffee shop to unwinding at happy hour after work. We treat spending as a pastime when we’re bored, dropping hundreds with a few taps on our phone.
Even when we try our best to stick to a budget, it’s easy to get sucked into buying stuff, leaving our savings to suffer.
Sometimes the best way to shake up our shopping habits is to go on a spending freeze. A no-spend challenge can help you reset your spending habits and pad your savings. It’s kind of like a crash diet, but in a good way!
What Is a No-Spend Challenge?
Despite the name, a no-spend challenge doesn’t mean you sit on your hands and spend no money whatsoever. After all, you don’t want to fall behind on your bills, and there are some necessities you simply can’t do without.
The basic premise of a no-spend challenge is to cut out non-essential spending for a certain amount of time. It could be for a week, a month or even an entire year.
The purpose is to greatly limit your cash outflow so you can watch your savings build up.
What You Can Spend Money on During a No-Spend Challenge
If you need to purchase something during your no-spend challenge, it should be something that’s necessary and you absolutely can’t do without.
So groceries, yes. Candy bar in the checkout line, no.
Also, no new iPhone, even if you’ve been dreaming about an upgrade. No new shoes, even if they’re on a huge sale. This is not the time to make excuses to buy stuff you don’t really need.
Consider these as acceptable items to purchase during a no-spend challenge:
Groceries
Toiletries
Lightbulbs
Batteries
Toilet paper and paper towels
Medicine
Doctor’s copays
Gas
Tolls
Parking
You also want to keep up with bills that are due. The goal of this challenge isn’t to make life harder on yourself by cutting out spending on essential expenses.
What you’ll be putting a pause on, however, is unnecessary spending in these categories:
Entertainment
Clothing
Beauty and self-care
Eating out
Travel
Hobbies
Gifts
The Financial Benefits of a No-Spend Challenge
A no-spend challenge can be a big boost to your financial situation.
You can use the extra money you normally would have spent to build up your emergency fund. You could use it to pay down debt. Or you might want to put the money toward other financial goals, like saving for a new car or an upcoming vacation.
While no-spend challenges are designed to be temporary, you can always extend your challenge or — extra points for this — treat it as more of a lifestyle change.
Ideally, your no-spend period will help break poor spending habits. Perhaps going without making vending machine purchases at work will help you realize you don’t need to buy those snacks on a regular basis. But be careful not to deprive yourself so much that you binge spend once your challenge ends.
Getty Images
6 Steps to Implementing a No-Spend Challenge
It may seem daunting to commit to a no-spend challenge, but don’t fear. These steps will help you halt spending unnecessary money.
1. Figure Out When You’ll Do Your No-Spend Challenge
Fans of alliteration may choose to do a No-Spend November, and build a nice savings reserve right before jumping into the holiday season. However, you can choose to do your no-spend challenge any time of the year.
Pick a time when you don’t anticipate needing to do a lot of shopping. If you have kids, for example, you may not want to do a no-spend challenge during back-to-school season or the month of your kid’s birthday. You might want to avoid doing a no-spend challenge during major holidays.
2. Decide What Your No-Spend Challenge Will Look Like
There isn’t just one way to do a no-spend challenge. Gear your challenge to what works best for you. Here are four different ways to approach this money-saving strategy, but keep in mind, you can also create your own no-spend challenge.
Ban Spending for a Set Amount of Time
This is probably what comes to mind when most people think of a no-spend challenge. This approach involves banning all spending on non-essential items usually for an entire month — though you could do it for less time or more to switch up the difficulty level.
You might want to start off with a no-spend weekend challenge or a no-spend week challenge, if you’re not ready to stop spending money for an entire month.
If you’re able to stick to a no-spend month challenge with ease, you might stretch it out to last two or three months.
Track No-Spend Days
An easier way to incorporate a spending ban in your life is to establish a certain number of days per month when you won’t spend money. You can start small with five days or try something more challenging, like 15 days.
Track your daily spending so you can take note of — and celebrate — each day when you don’t spend a thing.
The upside to this approach is that you don’t have to ban spending for a long stretch of time. You can scatter the days throughout the month in a way that feels natural, so you hardly even realize you’re going without spending.
Just be careful not to overspend on the days that aren’t no-spend days.
Target Your Weaknesses
You know your shopping weaknesses. Maybe it’s buying new clothes, ordering take-out too often or overspending on Amazon. This approach focuses your no-spend challenge on a particular type of item or retailer, rather than banning all discretionary spending.
Since you’re just focusing on one or two things — like no makeup or no video games — you might want to make your challenge longer than a month to have more impact (and help you save more money). Try going 90 days or maybe even six months without indulging your vices. (And don’t pick up any other bad spending habits in its place.)
Freeze Spending During Special Occasions
It’s easy to fall into overspending during special occasions. Try prohibiting spending around holidays, birthdays or other celebrations.
Challenge yourself to celebrate in new ways or set new traditions. You could commit to a year of DIY presents. Or look through your belongings to find something you can regift.
Volunteer with friends and family rather than exchanging presents. Or share a fun experience together that doesn’t cost any money — like having a movie marathon or singing karaoke at home.
3. Set a Savings Goal
Before you kick off your spending freeze, determine how much money you hope to save during your no-spend challenge.
Look at your budget, or bank statements from the past few months, to get an idea of what you normally spend on eating out, entertainment and all the other categories you’ll temporarily nix. Transfer that amount into your savings account.
In addition to knowing how much you want to save, it’s important to know why you’re undergoing this challenge in the first place.
Knowing the “why” behind your spending ban will help you power through the days when all you want to do is go out and buy a latte. Whether you’re saving for a big expense or to become debt free, keep your financial goals on the forefront of your mind to encourage yourself to keep saving.
Savings Calculator
! A valid starting balance is required.
! Starting balance must be less than $2,147,483,647
! A valid monthly contribution is required.
! Monthly contribution must be less than $2,147,483,647
! A valid annual interest rate is required.
! Interest rate must be less than or equal to 400%.
Calculate
Final balance: $0
4. Let Others Know About Your No-Spend Challenge
Tell your spouse, partner or roommate about your money-saving plans before beginning your no-spend challenge. Switching up your shopping habits will likely affect the people you live with. Hopefully, they’ll be on board with the reason behind your spending ban and can encourage you to stick with it.
You may also want to notify close friends or family members so they’ll understand why you might have to decline invitations to places or why you don’t plan on exchanging gifts during a special occasion.
5. Plan Ahead
Some advanced planning can help you avoid spending money during your no-spend challenge.
You might want to stock up on food so you don’t have to step foot in a grocery store. If you do have to go to the grocery store, create a list before you go so you don’t fall victim to impulse purchases.
Another smart tip is to plan meals. Meal prep will help you avoid the temptation to order takeout after a long day at work.
6. Don’t Let Setbacks Ruin Your Progress
Give yourself some grace if you slip up and buy something from your restricted list during your no-spend challenge. Nobody’s perfect.
Continue with your challenge. Don’t let a slip up be an excuse to stop your savings progress.
Getty Images
Tips to Avoid Spending Money During Your No-Spend Challenge
They call it a challenge for a reason. Cutting off spending can be hard, especially when swiping your debit card everywhere you go has become second nature.
Here’s some helpful advice to get you through your no-spend challenge.
1. Become Part of a Community
Bonding with others on a no-spend journey can help you stay committed to your efforts — whether it’s a group of your friends who also want to save money or an online forum where like-minded strangers share their triumphs and failures. Joining The Penny Hoarder Community is a great place to get started.
Just because you’re not spending money doesn’t mean you have to sit at home doing nothing, counting down the days until you can rejoin society. It doesn’t have to cost money to have fun.
Exploring the great outdoors, engaging in a hobby, spending quality time with friends and family and attending a free event in your city are just a few suggestions to entertain yourself at no cost.
4. “Shop” at Home
Take inventory of stuff you already have at home but have long ignored. You can probably make a couple meals out of the food in your pantry and freezer. Laying out all the shoes you own may help you realize you actually don’t need to buy another pair. You might even discover you have unopened makeup or clothes with the tags still on them.
5. Swap, not Shop
Exchange goods and services with neighbors, friends and family without exchanging money. Organize a clothing swap or exchange kids’ toys. Volunteer to babysit your neighbors’ kids in exchange for them cutting your lawn.
6. Avoid Temptation
Leave your credit cards at home. Delete those sales promotion emails from your favorite stores. Don’t tag along with a friend to “window shop.”
Make it easier on yourself by not putting yourself in situations where you’d be tempted to buy something.
7. Keep a Wish List of Items You Want to Buy
If you find yourself wanting to buy a non-essential item during your no-spend challenge, write it down on a list rather than buying it immediately. After the challenge is over, review your list. After giving it some time, you may find there are many items on the list you’re not compelled to buy anymore.
Nicole Dow is a former senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. Deputy editor Tiffany Wendeln Connors updated this post.
It’s hard to believe it’s slipper season once again. But as the leaves start to fall and the weather turns chillier, now’s a great time to make sure you have everything you need for the cold season ahead, especially when it comes to everyday comfort items, like your go-to slippers.
While it’s tempting to buy the first pair of fuzzy slippers you find on sale, we all know the maxim “you get what you pay for” has never been truer than when it comes to footwear. So rather than settling or splurging, we compiled this list of the best quality slippers you can buy for under $90.
Whether you’re looking for a cozy pair of daily slip-ons, some rugged indoor-outdoor slides, or even a pair of post-shower fuzzies, this list has something for everyone. Here are nine of the absolute best slippers you can buy for less than $90.
Memory foam isn’t just a great material for mattresses, it’s also a pretty rad base for cozy slippers. And if you’re looking for a pair of comfortable, quality slippers at a great price, these two-tone memory foam slippers from RockDove are pretty hard to beat.
“As a remote worker and freelancer, I spend a lot of time at home, so it’s essential that I have something comfortable to wear on my feet,” said Mario Cacciottolo, PR & Branding Manager at SBO. “I absolutely love my two-tone memory foam slippers from RockDove, they’re lightweight, hardwearing, and practical, and the rubber soles mean that I can wander into the garden for my morning coffee without having to change.”
There’s no denying the high price, but if it’s fuzz you’re after, there’s really nothing quite like the Fireside slipper by Dearfoams (currently on sale for $50). I’m personally in my second year with these super fuzzy slippers, which also come with moisture-wicking temperature regulating soles.
Translation? These slippers are perfect for shoulder season and freezing winter temps alike, because your feet are less likely to sweat, even with the ultra fuzzy interior. These slippers are also equally cozy with or without socks, and while I wouldn’t recommend wearing them to the grocery store, the soles are durable enough for quick stints outdoors (like grabbing the mail).
When it comes to buying orthopedic anything, you can expect to pay a little more. But these orthopedic slippers are still pretty fairly priced, especially considering how well-rated they are online, with over a thousand five-star reviews.
“Whenever I’m looking for a good orthotic shoe, I look to OrthoFeet,” said C.T Price, CEO at Life Grows Green. “The Charlotte Orthotic Slipper is my recommendation for this category, because it offers arch support and promotes healthy posture. While it is $89, this slipper is known to alleviate pressure on the feet, and comes with removable arch support insoles, and extra cushioning in the heel.”
For those who frequently go in and out all winter long, it’s worth investing in a pair of slippers with soles that were made to withstand the elements. For that, Tim Schroeder, founder of Learn About Shoes, recommends L.L. Bean Mountain Slippers.
“L.L. Bean Mountain Slippers pass my standard checklist for a sturdy slip-on pair,” Schroeder said. “They have a warm and cozy fleece layer quilted inside the shoes. The memory foam helps provide excellent arch support for everyday use.”
If you live in a truly frigid climate, you’re going to want wool slippers that go the extra mile to keep your toes warm. For that, we like the Haflinger Freddie Slipper. While many all-wool slippers cost well over $100, this pair is much more affordable at only $69.
“I’m personally a fan of the Haflinger Freddie Slipper,” Price said. “I’ve always loved wool slippers, but used to worry about comfort, wool can be scratchy! The interior lining of this slipper shields the foot from the outside wool without sacrificing the warmth the wool offers.”
Don’t like lots of bulk on your feet but still looking for an extra cozy layer? Then you might just want to try a pair of Bombas, which makes some of the best and most affordable slipper socks on the market.
I personally love these sock slippers for their slender profile, grippy bottoms, and cozy lining. But probably the best thing about Bombas is how easily they can be folded away and stored for the off-season or in your suitcase—making them the perfect budget travel slipper.
Whether you live in a warmer climate or just want something cozy to wear right out of the shower, these fuzzy sandal slippers have thousands of 4.6 star reviews on Amazon, and they’re currently on sale for $20.
“Nothing beats the soft sensation of a comfy, fuzzy slipper,” Price said. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about these slippers from friends who say they’re very soft, and great quality for the price.”
For when you want something that covers more than just your toes, nothing does it quite like a pair of booties. These Recycled Ela Booties from Acorn are made of high-quality recycled berber, with suede uppers and grippy rubber soles.
Unlike a lot of other booties, these ones can actually withstand some light outdoor wear, while still providing that soft wool warmth of an indoor slipper. One reviewer said, “They’re extremely comfortable and warm. A nice amount of cushion, with enough support on the bottom that I can step out into the yard without the bottom of my feet getting wet.
Contributor Larissa Runkle frequently writes on finance, real estate and lifestyle topics for The Penny Hoarder.
Last year saw a 70% increase in scams in the U.S. and more than $5.8 billion was stolen, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
And scammers are scamming this year, too. The credit report bureau TransUnion, reports that 38% of Americans have been targeted by digital fraud so far in 2022.
Scams are on the rise, but we’ve got tips to help you identify scams and ultimately, avoid them.
Who Gets Scammed?
You might assume senior citizens are most likely to be a victim, but people of all ages are vulnerable. Scammers rely on both hope and fear to get money out of you. Many scams are geared toward identity theft.
Federal Trade Commission data shows people aged 30-39 have been scammed the most so far this year. Almost one out of every 10 in that age group reported scams, losing an average of $600. They were most frequently contacted via social media, and they lost money through cryptocurrency scams and online shopping scams.
Second-most scammed are people aged 20-29, who have lost an average of $550 this year, often through money app and debit card scams.
Seniors are not defrauded at the same rates, but they lose higher average amounts of money, between $1,000 and $1,800 on average. Seniors over 70 reported getting phone call scams and lost money through gift card scams, online shopping scams and tech support scams.
Children can be victims of identity theft, too. Scammers use their social security number to open credit card accounts, rent homes and more. The Federal Trade Commission has great information on how to prevent child identity theft.
Too Good to be True
Scammers will text, email, call, and mail you misleading information, offering something that sounds too good to be true. It is. Here are ten of the most common scams.
Phishing
Phishing is when someone poses as a reputable company to get your personal information. They might pretend they are from an official government organization, your bank, or a business you have dealt with before. They will ask you for your bank account number, social security number, passwords and other information that legitimate companies never ask for.
Another common phishing fraud is telling people they won money. An example sent via email:
We Notice that Your $𝟐𝟓,𝟎𝟎𝟎.𝟎𝟎 Settlement Check Has arrived Confirm Now by 10/11/2022 – Due to your involvement in a class action or injury lawsuit, a settlement payment may have just came in at the following webpage. Go there now to accept what is reserved in your name.
Don’t do it! People don’t notice you getting settlement checks, they just want to steal your financial information. Sweepstakes scams are done the same way.
Family Emergency
This is one of the crueler scams. These fraudsters call to say a family member is in trouble, or pretend they’re a relative and need money desperately. This scam often targets older people, with information gathered from social media posts. They swear the victim to secrecy, and put pressure on them to send money immediately. Red flag!
Utilities
A scammer will call to say that your power, gas or water will be turned off immediately if you don’t pay the balance. They will direct you to go somewhere with cash, or do a wire transfer — methods that can’t be traced — to pay the bill. Small businesses are often the targets of these types of scams. Always call your utility company in these cases before taking any action.
IRS or Other United States Government Agencies
You get a phone call telling you to send money to the IRS or Social Security immediately or you will be jailed. That is a lie. However you feel about the IRS, they can’t just jail you. Be extra suspicious if they offer to let you pay with gift cards, cash or a wire transfer.
Money App Scams
Scammers will pretend they are contacting you from Venmo, Zelle, Paypal, Cash App or another payment app, telling you that they need to reconnect your bank account or credit card. They might send you to a website that looks legitimate. These scams affect up to 6% of money app users, usually younger people. Never give information to anyone on the phone, and always go to the official websites to check information.
Tech Support Scams
A scary pop-up on your computer or a message on your phone tells you to contact your tech company immediately through links they send. Or they might warn you that they have to scan your device remotely. Don’t allow either — it is highly unlikely that a tech company will contact you that way, and they would never ask for money remotely.
Natural Disaster Scams
Scammers target people at their most vulnerable times. After a hurricane, flood or fire, they might seem like they are helpers. They could claim to be from an insurance company, FEMA, or another government agency and ask you for personal information to get FEMA money, and then pay to have it expedited. This isn’t how it works.
Shopping Scams
People of all ages get suckered by shopping scams. It might be an email that seems like it’s from a known retailer. Here’s one sent via email:
To show our gratitude to our loyal customer we made rewards for them. If you received this email, that mean that you’ve been selected to be rewarded. Take 30 seconds to complete the steps and confirm your reward. Reward: iPhone 14 Pro
The phone is “free,” but there’s a catch: You have to give your credit card information to pay taxes.
These are some of the most common shopping scams. They might offer gift cards, trips, discounts and other temptations to get information on your financial accounts. Look for an increase in these types of scams in advance of the holiday season.
Banking Fraud
These are pretty well known scams. A Nigerian Prince wants to give you money, or they won a foreign lottery but need your help collecting it. It’s simple: Just pay the fees and you get the money.
In some cases, a scammer sends cashier’s checks for you to deposit and return a portion, but they turn out to be counterfeit checks. By then you are out the money you returned and could be charged with intent to commit fraud.
Dating Scams
It seems extra terrible to rip people off by playing with their hearts. These scammers will create fake profiles that flatter the person and then eventually ask for money. They may make a profile alleging they have an intimate video, and threaten to reveal it unless you ante up. There are also fake dating sites that gather your financial and personal information. Often victims are too embarrassed to reveal that they were targets of fraud.
How to Prevent Getting Scammed
There are many other scams, including employment, mortgage and student loan payments, debt relief, home repair and more. If something sounds amazingly beneficial, do your homework first. There are always warning signs.
Scammers want specific information from you. They want your financial information, account numbers, sensitive information like passwords, birthdates, social security numbers or a credit card number. Businesses and government agencies have secure websites for these types of information.
Don’t ever give sensitive information to a website that doesn’t have an https in its URL. Check the URL to make sure it is really the correct website, and not a fake but similar looking one. Never share PINs or passwords, and don’t use the same password for all your logins.
Scammers also use time to pressure you to do something, so you won’t have a chance to research them or think about what they are offering.
A reputable company will never ask you to send money by wire transfers, cash or gift cards. Nor will they ask you to have your tax refund sent to them.
What to Do if You Have Been Scammed
The first thing to do is report scams to both local law enforcement and to the Federal Trade Commission Fraud Report. Some people might be hesitant to report scams. A 2020 European Union report showed that 79% of people suffered emotionally or physically from fraud, and 24% suffered financially.
Change your passwords if you think a scammer obtained them. Contact your bank if your debit card was used or your account information was given out. Contact your credit card company if something was charged to your card. If you sent a wire transfer or used a gift card, contact those companies as well.
If you were scammed online, check your computer with antivirus software for malicious software or malware. You can contact a credit report company to make sure your rating isn’t affected.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do I Identify a Scam?
Be suspicious if someone is asking for your social security number, bank accounts, passwords, etc., and if they want you to pay with cash, wire transfers, or gift cards.
What Types of Scams Are There?
Identity theft, phishing, online shopping, banking, tech support and many more.
Who Is a Likely Target of a Scam?
People in their 30s report scams most frequently.
You can try working with the banks and companies to get your money back, but it’s not always guaranteed.
The Penny Hoarder contributor JoEllen Schilke writes on lifestyle and culture topics. She is the former owner of a coffee shop in St.Petersburg, Florida, and has hosted an arts show on WMNF community radio for nearly 30 years.
For those setting up house or party people getting ready for the holidays, making mixed drinks at home can be an expensive endeavor. While it’s undoubtedly cheaper to fill your cup at home instead of hitting the bar, keeping the liquor on hand to be your own mixologist can be costly.
Professional bartenders say the trick to saving money on your own home bar is to make a plan before you load up on hundreds of dollars worth of bottles. Like going to the grocery store hungry, strolling the aisles at the liquor store without a list can be a liability to your budget.
How Much Does It Cost to Stock a Home Bar?
The cost of building a well-stocked home bar varies widely depending on what you already have on hand. If you’re starting from scratch, a basic home bar setup should set you back somewhere in the $250 to $500 range depending on your taste in liquor.
How does that compare to the average cocktail budget in most cities? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey says consumers spent an average of $478 on alcohol in 2020, down $100 from 2019. This cost rises dramatically during the holidays and for younger people who raise a glass more often than others.
Elliott Clark, the founder of Apartment Bartender, reassures cocktail enthusiasts that many cocktails can be made at home with anywhere from three to five ingredients.
“The most expensive part is the spirit, and that doesn’t have to be expensive at all,” says Clark. “Spirits ranging in the $20-$35 range are great for home cocktails.”
How to Stock a Home Bar on a Budget
Beginning with the end in mind is helpful when deciding what to buy for your home bar and what to leave on the shelf. There are two basic approaches to stocking a home bar on a budget.
If you’re new to making mixed drinks at home …
It’s best to sample and try a few different cocktails before you settle on what you want to invest in for your home bar.
“There are a few different ways you can go about stocking a home bar,” Clark advises. “The easiest — and most cost-effective way — is to stock your home bar with what you enjoy imbibing.”
If gin and tonics are your vibe, you’ll need a few types of gin, some quality tonic water and some herbs or citrus for garnish. If you’re an old-fashioned enthusiast, a selection of aromatic bitters, bourbon and rye whiskey, and some sugar cubes or simple syrup is a great place to start.
If you’re stocking (or restocking) a home bar for a party …
Grab a selection of liquors that cover the bases for a handful of classic cocktails. If you want to be on trend, Liquor.com says the most popular cocktails in the United States are the bourbon-based old-fashioned, the Manhattan, margaritas of all types, Long Island iced teas and various versions of martinis.
Stock Your Home Bar in 5 Easy Steps
Need a blueprint for starting the perfect home bar or filling your bar cart ahead of the next party? Follow these steps recommended by professional bartenders.
Kaz Weida/The Penny Hoarder
Step 1: Start With the Right Tools for the Job
“Having the right tools of the trade makes crafting cocktails at home a lot easier,” says Clark. These are the home bar tools professional bartenders recommend to mix up cocktails at home.
Cocktail shaker
Saeed “Hawk” House, bartender, bar consultant and founder of Cocktails by Hawk, says the cocktail shaker is the cornerstone of any bar setup.
“As someone who has worked behind the bar for 10 years and has had experience using all types of cocktail shakers, I always recommend the metal-on-metal Boston shaker,” House insists. “This shaker is tried and true, and there is a reason why all working bartenders use them.”
Pro Tip
Don’t have a shaker? A mason jar or a protein shaker bottle will do in a pinch. Just don’t forget to secure the lid before you start shaking.
Hawthorne strainer
This type of strainer fits across the top of a cocktail shaker (or a glass) and filters out ice, herbs, pulp, and any other bits you don’t want in your cup. Hawthorne strainers have tight coils that make the work of filtering easier.
If your shaker already has one built-in, you could skip the Hawthorne strainer. However, it’s an excellent long-term investment for your home bar or bar cart.
Jigger
There are many things your home bar setup can do without, but House warns that a cocktail jigger isn’t one of them.
“There is a reason why cocktail recipes have exact measurements,” he explains. “Every cocktail recipe is balanced, and if you want to maintain the integrity of that balanced cocktail, you need to measure the ingredients appropriately.”
If you can’t locate a jigger and are desperate, a tablespoon is a ½ ounce. The small pour on a jigger is 1 ounce, while the tall pour is usually a 2-ounce measurement.
Bar spoon
The long-handled spoons in bar sets are very handy for mixing and muddling ingredients. And since they’re inexpensive, there’s no good reason not to have one.
If you’re stocking a home bar on the fly, choose an alternative to a muddler lying around your kitchen, like a wooden spoon or a rolling pin.
Pro Tip
Want to get the tools of the trade for cheaper? You can buy a good bar set for around $35 or less. They also make great gifts for home bartenders.
Photo courtesy of Saeed “Hawk” House
Step 2: Buy These Home Bar Essential Liquors
Stocking a home bar or bar cart from scratch? House recommends beginning with one bottle of each of the following seven liquors:
Vodka
Gin (London Dry Gin or other)
Rum (dark rum, light rum or white rum)
Tequila
Bourbon
Single-malt scotch
Cognac
Suppose you want to pare down the selection a bit further. In that case, Clark of Apartment Bartender advises choosing four to five bottles divided evenly between aged spirits, like bourbon and reposado tequila, and unaged spirits, like gin and vodka.
How much should you spend per bottle for these base spirits?
“I’d say a $150 to $200 investment (total) is a great start here,” Clark clarifies.
That’s a modest budget of around $30 to $50 per bottle.
Step 3: Mix in the Essentials
Sipping tequila straight isn’t for everyone. The good news is you can mix plenty of flavor into your favorite cocktails with just a few simple ingredients from your fridge.
Simple syrup
Lemon juice and lime juice
Fresh juice (apple, orange or tomato juice)
Club soda or tonic water
Soda (ginger beer, Coca-cola, etc.)
Sparkling wine (optional)
Remember that simple syrup, one of the most essential mixers, is just sugar and water. Most bars infuse simple syrup with herbs and other flavors for fun variations on popular cocktails.
Bitters are another must-have that might cost a little upfront but should last a long, long time. House suggests having the three main bitter varieties on hand: Peychaud’s, Angostura and orange bitters.
Kaz Weida/The Penny Hoarder
Step 4: Garnish From the Garden
Garnishes play an outsized role in the flavor profile of any good cocktail. Fortunately, most of what you’ll float in your drinks is edible, cheap and readily available.
Some common garnishes to keep on hand include citrus fruits (limes, lemons, oranges) and sprigs of herbs like rosemary or mint. Cinnamon sticks and nutmeg are also popular garnishes for seasonal cocktails.
Remember to keep some salt and sugar on hand for rimming glasses. You can also upgrade your home bar setup with a small cutting board, knife and juicer to feel like a real professional.
Step 5: Stock a Few Liqueurs or Aperitifs (Optional)
With a little extra room in your budget, you can expand your home bar selection into a pretty sweet setup. House advises branching out into a few basic liqueurs or aperitifs when you’re ready.
“I suggest stocking a Cointreau, Campari, Aperol, an Amaro and absinthe of your choice,” he says. “Feel free to get seasonal by adding an all-spice dram, elderflower or melon liqueur when the time is right.”
Take a look at your favorite alcoholic drink and invest in one bottle of the featured spirit such as Triple Sec, Grand Marnier or even something seasonal like Peppermint Schnapps.
A Word About Bar Glasses
While it’s nice to have a full bar with complimentary glassware, you don’t need martini glasses or Collins glasses for most cocktails. Home bars focused on mixing drinks usually need basic wine glasses, a highball glass for slightly taller cocktails and a few rocks or lowball glasses.
Stock Your Home Bar on a Budget With This Money-Saving Tip
Thirsty for a deep bench of the best bottles but don’t have the budget yet? Don’t worry. When stocking a home bar, House advises finding a balance between saving and splurging with two bottles.
“My advice on how to balance cost with quality is this: Splurge more on the things you enjoy drinking for your home bar,” House explains. “For me, I usually stock two of every core spirit. One is dedicated to cocktails (my call bottles), while the other is to sipping neat or on the rocks (my top shelf bottles). When entertaining and making cocktails for your guests, use your call bottles. If you like your guest, let them sip from your top-shelf stash.”
So next time company calls, don’t fall back on that reliable bottle of red wine. As you build a deeper bench of spirits in your home bar setup over time, you’ll naturally find an approach that satisfies your guests and your budget.
Kaz Weida is a senior writer with The Penny Hoarder.
Netflix is testing higher prices for sharing passwords with people outside your home. AP Photo/Jenny Kane
If you’re sharing your Netflix account with friends and family, you’ll soon see additional fees on top of your regular monthly subscription price.
Netflix recently announced that they would soon charge subscribers an additional fee for extra users on their accounts.
If you have a family member, friend or ex-partner still using your Netflix login, now may be the time to cut them off.
If you wish to continue supporting individuals outside your household on your account, Netflix will ask you to create a sub-account for them. Netflix has not announced how much a sub-account may cost in the US, but estimates place the fee at around $3 to $4 per person.
The proposal of a sub-account is not new for Netflix. The company recently cracked down on password sharing in other countries, including Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru. Apparently, initial testing has gone well.
The password-sharing fees will go into effect in the United States in early 2023, although we don’t have a precise date at this time. We would recommend beginning to remove any authorized users from your accounts now to prepare.
Go to the Netflix Account Settings page and take these steps to remove unauthorized users from your account:
Delete any unwanted profiles from your account by clicking on your profile icon in the top right corner, then selecting Manage Profiles.
Choose the Change Password option to create a new password for your account, locking out anyone you may have shared your password with in the past.
At the bottom of the page, choose to Sign Out Of All Devices; this will log out anyone who may be using your account. To regain access, they will need to sign back in with the new password you just created.
Users losing access to an account can use the Transfer Profile tool to transfer their data to their own accounts.
If anyone you remove from your account needs a more affordable way to access Netflix (or you’re getting kicked off someone else’s account), the service recently launched a new ad-supported tier. Starting this November, for $7 a month, users can sign up for a Basic Netflix account with advertisements.
Michael Archambault is a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.
