Comments on: Subscription Optimization and Per Use Cost

By: T.

T. — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:56:25 +0000

Also look at whether or not you’re actually reading all those dead-tree editions that come into your house. If you find you like a publication, but just aren’t reading it, cancel the subscription and read it online. Most articles will be available online within a few weeks of publication for free.

By: T.

T. — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:54:25 +0000

You may be able to sell or transfer the membership to someone who wants it. That’s how I got my membership a couple of years ago. They don’t lose a customer and the new member gets to take advantage of older (and cheaper) prices. Have the buyer pay the transfer fee – I think mine was $20, and I ended up paying $20/mth less than the current rate. Just a thought.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:28:08 +0000

Here’s a scenario that is purely a waste of money:

My fiance signed up for 2-year membership at Bally Total Fitness about 4 or 5 months ago. Since then, we moved, and it is (extremely) inconvenient for her to drive to workout. She is essentially going 0 days a month.

Let’s do the math: $40 / 0 = infinity? Ooops!!!

Unfortunately, she signed a contract: She’s locked in for the next year and a half, without any way to cancel her membership.

By: Yana

Yana — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:54:36 +0000

I can’t imagine paying for magazine subscriptions. We get several through Rewards Gold for free. They constantly send (e-mail) us offers, and we pass most of the links on to others. I don’t even read all the ones I’ve signed up for. The only magazine I like that wasn’t offered for free is Consumer Reports. I get Forbes, Business Week, Prevention, and my husband gets Car & Driver, Road & Track, Motor Trend, etc. When you join the place by accepting a particular magazine, you fill out a form about your interests. Then you get offers based on them.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:33:09 +0000

Thanks for the clarification Claire, I’ll have to take another look at them. Thanks!

By: MissMartha

MissMartha — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:37:07 +0000

When I was living alone in NJ (before my roommate moved in) I looked at differences in cost between getting a cable/internet/phone package and getting a replacement service of sorts. I couldn’t afford to get the $100 bundled package for cable/internet and phone however I could afford the Netflix subscription at $20/month! It turned out that using my cell phone and just watching old Sopranos episodes was a much better deal than paying $100/month for the internet. I used the work internet when I needed to pay bills or get an airline ticket and everything else was taken care of.

It was a much better deal, espeically since Netflix allowed me a two month free trial. (I think you only normally get a two week trial but when the trial period would lapse I would call to cancel and they would extend my free trial).

By: JC

JC — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:14:20 +0000

One thing you might consider as an alternative to a Netflix subscriptions especially if you’ve already used redbox. Every Monday and Wednesday you can find a promo code for free rentals for redbox at slickdeals.net (among other great deals people post). Simply do a search for redbox.

By: Claire

Claire — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:01:08 +0000

You’re wrong about prepaid cell phones. There is one in particular that offers a data plan (I think it’s through AT&T) and they all do text-messaging, as long as your phone has that feature.