Canceling Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions
When your income in low, the first things that get cut out of your life tend to be entertainment expenses such as newspaper and magazine subscriptions. Cutting expenses like this can really have an effect on you emotionally because you feel deprived. Instead of feeling this way, find alternatives.
Most local and major newspapers have an online version. Search for your local paper and see if they are included. My local paper has an RSS feed which keeps me updated of local breaking news throughout the day. No more waiting for the next day’s newspaper to find out about things that have happened.
If you’re only interested in national or world news, try a website like CNN.com, FoxNews.com or MSNBC. They all have RSS feeds also so you won’t have to visit the site multiple times a day to keep updated.
Magazines aren’t as easy to replace, but I have found a few solutions. I really enjoy reading about celebrity gossip, cooking, decorating, organizing, and beauty. My first step was to find online sources of reading. Here are some great sites I’ve found:
- Celebrity Gossip: The Superficial, PerezHilton, TMZ.com
- Cooking: Menus 4 Moms, Epicurious, Food Network
- Decorating: Real Life Decorating, HGTV, Home and Family Network
- Organizing: FlyLady, Menus 4 Moms, Organized Home
- Beauty: www.makeup-care.info, Lady’s Home Journal, Elle
If reading online just isn’t for you, you can find the magazines at little or no cost. How? Well, here are some ways that I do it:
- Friends & Family - Whenever I’m visiting and I see a magazine or newspaper, I take some time to flip through it. A great time to do this is after a meal when everyone is full and sleepy. My Mom & Grandma will even save their back issues for me so I can take them home and read them.
- Dollar Store - I was shocked the other day when I saw a magazine rack at my local dollar store. They only had like 2 or 3 magazines, but for a dollar, the value is great!
- Doctor/Dentist Office - Next time you’re waiting at an appointment, grab a magazine and start reading. Just be courteous and don’t take it home with you!
- Library - This is the greatest. The library carries a ton of magazines and newspapers! My old library would let you check out the old editions of magazines, but most libraries keep them in-house like a reference book. So take a couple of hours and spend an afternoon at the library to catch up on your favorite magazines and browse through the current newspaper.
- Thrift Store - I’ve been spending more and more time at thrift stores and have found some great magazines. Some of them are older, but those are the ones with the great recipes!
Cutting subscriptions out of your budget can save a lot of money, but doesn’t have to be hard on you. Try out some of these solutions and enjoy the savings!
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I agree it can be really hard to give up magazines. My local library lets you check a mag. out for a full week…but if you want they sell a years worth of older mag. for as little as 12 for $1.00. I will usually buy a years worth of martha stewart living or southern living and then when i am through with them i donate to the drs. ofc or nursing home etc…
When my husband lost his job, we cut out the newspaper right away. As avid paper readers, it was hard at first (but the fact that it was the newspaper that my husband had worked for made it a bit easier ;)). We’ve gotten quite used to reading the news online now. I still buy the paper on Wednesday and Sunday for the ads and coupons, and I recoup the cost in the money I save at the grocery store.
As far as magazines, just visit forums dedicated to finding great deals. I like Fishing for Deals, but there are others out there. The people on those forums often find deals on magazines for pennies or even free. It’s been a long time since I’ve paid full price for a magazine.