Unanticipated Membership Plans that Surprisingly Cut Down on Your Expenses
Unanticipated Membership Plans that Surprisingly Cut Down on Your Expenses
With an increasing number of companies adopting a subscription-based model, we're often swamped with multiple monthly expenses just to access bare essentials. The average American maintains around 4.5 subscription services that cost them roughly $1,000 annually. Many of us have even more. But why not? Subscription services promise convenience, and if they prove to be not justifiable for the expense, you typically have the option to terminate the service.
Some of these subscriptions end up being more expensive than the traditional methods, yet some subscriptions can actually help you save money, despite the initial monthly cost, if utilized appropriately.
Car care
Regular car maintenance including washing remains crucial. A comprehensive clean removes salt and other impurities that could potentially damage your vehicle's components, improves visibility, and even prevents rust. It's generally advised to wash your car at least every two weeks to maintain its cleanliness and keep it in optimal condition. The cost for a basic car wash ranges between $10-$20 ($20-$40 per month or up to $520 annually), but detailed services with add-ons may increase the cost to $200 or more ($>5,000 per year).
To save money, consider opting for a monthly subscription that costs less than two washes per month. An unlimited subscription would save you even more if you wash your car more than twice a month.
Used literature
New books can be rather pricey – some paperbacks are now sold for $15.99 or more, while hardcovers can go over $30. Reading could become an expensive hobby if one chooses to buy their books instead of borrowing from the library. Opting for used books can help you save significantly, provided you have an accessible source. Alternatively, you could sign up for "Used Books Monthly."
If you read about four books each month, you can select a preferred genre and receive randomly selected books every month. The cost for one book per month is $5.49, two will set you back $9.99, and four books per month start at $16.99 yet decrease to $15.74 if you pay upfront for an entire year. This plan could save you a substantial amount of money if you're buying a multitude of new books to fulfill your reading passion.
AARP
The investment return offered by AARP isn't exactly a secret, but many are unaware that anyone aged 18 or above can join. The annual membership starts at $12 for the first year and then $16 thereafter. Since AARP collaborates with a variety of partners, the membership is generally easy to recoup within the initial month, and the subsequent discounts you receive are essentially freebies.
Children's clothing
Raising a child is rather costly – the average cost for raising a child born in 2015 until they reach the age of 17 is approximately $310,605. Clothing costs $800 annually on average, or around $65 per month.
A subscription to rent children's clothes could prove to be an economical solution for numerous parents. For instance, "Rent-a-Romper" subscriptions start at $32 per month for seven items (up to $47 for fifteen), allowing you to personalize the items and swap them whenever desired. Your child is always dressed in well-fitted and preferred clothing, and you save a bit of money – at least until they reach the age when their clothing preferences become problematic.
Subscription management
You might not think that adding another subscription could actually help you save money, but subscribing to a service that manages and tracks all other subscription services can help you save cash. One survey revealed that 42% of individuals have inadvertently paid for a subscription they had forgotten about, effectively wasting money.
Services like "Rocket Money" or "Trim" can make this process more manageable, helping you eliminate unused subscriptions and keep an eye on spending. Trim charges $99 per year but promises to save you money through its budget-management features. Rocket Money offers a free version and a seven-day free trial for its premium plan, with its basic subscription costing only $72 per year – making it advantageous when it comes to managing your budget in all ways.
In the context of managing multiple monthly expenses, a subscription service that tracks and manages all other subscriptions can help prevent accidentally paying for forgotten subscriptions, potentially saving you money. For instance, services like "Rocket Money" or "Trim" can be beneficial in this regard.
If you're looking to save on car maintenance costs, considering a monthly subscription for unlimited car washes can be more cost-effective than paying for individual washes, especially if you wash your car more than twice a month.