Frugal Browsing: Cut Your Entertainment Costs with these Free Online Tools

We’ve all started to feel the effects of the slowing economy, and are looking for ways to cut costs. While we all know that it’s wise to remain frugal in tough economic times, it can be hard to convince yourself that you don’t need certain things that you’ve become accustomed to. The trick is to make small adjustments to your spending without it making a big impact on your lifestyle. Whether you’ve been recently laid-off or are just looking to start putting more money into savings for a rainy day, these tricks will help you eliminate some of the pain that comes with cutting down on your entertainment spending. All you need is a reliable internet connection and you’re on your way to saving some pennies without losing out on the good stuff.

1. Cancel your cable. You’re probably paying upwards of $35 per month for just a basic package. Use sites like Hulu and Fancast to watch your favorite shows. You can watch your favorite shows with limited commercial interruptions for free. If you have a premium package, consider a Netflix membership to get your movie fix. Netflix lets you watch an unlimited number of films online in addition to their basic home delivery DVD program.

2. Hit the stacks. Instead of buying your favorite magazines and books, head to your local library and check them out for free. Most library systems have an online catalogue that you can use. So find what you want and get it sent to your local branch if it’s not already there. Reserve a few items without ever leaving your home and then head over to pick them up when you’re in the area.
3. Shop prepared. Don’t go to the grocery store without a list. And definitely don’t head to the store hungry. You’ll end up picking up more than you came for and potentially spending more money than you’ve budgeted. Try selecting recipes and saving them to a shopping list on MyRecipes.com. It will automatically generate a printable list that only includes what you need for the meals you’ve selected.

4. Love to shop? Sign up to receive the mailing lists of your favorite stores to keep up-to-date on their sales and special deals. Register for sales alerts at sites like Shopittome.com to get notifications on specific products.

5. And while this isn’t entertaining to most, you should think about using an online budgeting solution to help you keep track of where your money is going every month. Myspendingplan.com has an excellent comprehensive web-based system that you can use to keep your finances in order. If you hate doing budgets, think of it as a tool you can use to find some spare dollars for your next shopping spree!