Good morning everyone!!! And Happy Halloween! 🎃

One of Bob Marley’s coolest sayings…

“some people are so poor, all they have is money”

Just a quick reminder… although we talk a lot about money tactics and stuffing your investment accounts to the brim, a wealthy and full life involves more than just dollar bills and numbers going up on a screen…

Relationships, experiences, memories, love, time, health, peace, etc. Those treasures matter even more.

They can’t be bought, so don’t forget to consciously build them into your life 😉

TO DO

Defrost Your Freezer ❄️

If you’ve got more than ¼ inch thick layer of ice in your freezer, it’s time to defrost that sucker! Otherwise, your freezer/fridge is working too hard, using up more electricity and making your bills more expensive!

This week: Unpack & repack your freezer to clear any ice buildup. (While you’re at it, pick out and cook a frozen meal you may have forgotten about in there!)

FRUGALITY

Tightwad Tips from the 90’s 🧐

Back in 1990 (this was before blogs & social media existed) a gal named Amy Dacyczyn launched a newsletter called The Tightwad Gazette.

The publication ran for six years, and it featured hundreds of frugal living tips, money-saving ideas, DIY guides, and general “tightwaddery” advice.

Better yet — folks from all over the country wrote to Amy and shared stories on how they save money, many of which still apply today…

Here are a few snippets from the tightwad gazette community…

• “Dryer sheets do not require a full sheet to reduce static. I've found I can tear one sheet into four strips and use just one strip per load, thus making one box last four times as long” — Deb from Westbrook, ME.

• “When replacing a roll of toilet paper, I stomp on it first so it's no longer round like a circle but "creased" instead. Circle rolls let children pull miles of paper at a time -- but creased rolls turn just a few times and then break off easily. This saved money, trees, and a stuffed up sewer line” — Mary from Jamestown, NY

• “I recently discovered "price adjustment policies"... If I make a purchase and then the item goes on sale, within 30 days, I can take my receipt to Customer Service for a cash refund of the difference” — D.T. from Loma, CO

• “My neighbor and I exchange meals once a week. She cooks for me on Tuesday and I cook for her on Thursday. We just do the main dish, adding a salad or whatever. Since she lives right next door, delivery is simple, and we both enjoy our night off” — Lucy from Ypsilanti, MI

• “My Mom and all the children put on red lipstick, take a plain piece of paper, and have each person kiss it. Sign if desired, and frame for gifts” — Beverly from Nashville, TN 💋

• “Saving tip: Always obey the speed limit! Not only will this save you gas, stress, wear and tear on your brakes, etc, and reduce the chance of costly accidents, but a speeding ticket can be a penny pincher's disaster. I should know: I got one and now our auto insurance is going through the roof” — Alida from Bath, ME

• “We have a large extended family newsletter that goes out quarterly. We now include a "swap shop" which is an itemized list of all the treasures taking up space in attics, garages, barns & sheds for giveaway, trade, or Christmas gifts” — Bernadette from Lusby, MD

• “In our local paper, dry cleaners advertise they will sell clothes for almost nothing. They get rid of clothes left for 60 days or longer. You just go into the dry cleaner and there is a huge rack of clothes, usually they sell for what the dry cleaning price was. It's worth checking in other cities when traveling as well” — Christi from Durham, NC

• “My friend has found a way to get "free" membership at a local health club. She works a 4-hour per week shift in the child care room (the club provides free child care to members) and she takes her kids along to play. The club is always looking for moms to do this in exchange for membership!” — Jan from Davis, CA

• ”As soon as you make your plans to visit Disneyland/World, shop at garage sales and thrift stores for souvenirs. I was able to stockpile hats, t-shirts, waste bags, and stuffed characters for $4.70 (the retail was $114!). These were doled out over the week as the "i wannas" struck” — Kathy from Mendham, NJ

Even if only a couple of these apply to your situation, it’s always cool to read about how frugality is being practiced across the country!

Ps. Have YOU got a cool frugalism or tip to share? Hit reply, we’d love to collate and share w the group!

Related stuff:

• 📖 900+ Pages: The Complete Tightwad Gazette (borrow it from the library if you can! 😉)

• 💻 HTM Blog:  18 Frugal Hacks that will save you money

TOGETHER WITH VISIBLE*

Network Coverage: 99% of the population

Visible runs on the Verizon Wireless network (actually, they are owned by Verizon!) which has the most extensive cell coverage in the US.

They offer two unlimited plans, starting at $25/month — the more expensive one has faster data speeds and more international capabilities.

Anyway, if you own your device, aren’t locked into a contract currently, and coverage is important for where you live, check out Visible. It may be a cheaper alternative to the same service you have right now. 😉

TRAVEL

US Passport Applications 🛂

Believe it or not, September —> December is actually the “best” time to get a passport renewal or submit a new application. This is because most people wait until Spring or right before summer travel, then the system gets a huge backlog.

Here are the current wait times for passport services, and some tips for any upcoming applications… 👇👇👇

Keep in mind — these wait times do not include shipping time, which can take an additional 1-2 weeks on both sides of your application.

A few notes & tips:

• It’s generally cheaper to renew a passport before the current one expires. Check your current book! Even if you have a couple of years left, set up a future calendar reminder one year before the exp date so you’ll remember to get started on an application.

• Applying at a post office, library or a local government facility can help because a designated clerk can double-check all the paperwork and make sure your file is as correct as possible. Some also do photo services which has important criteria. You’ll usually have to book an appointment time — here’s the USPS booking tool for that. (Libraries may have better availability because less people know about that!)

• If you need help expediting or having major issues, click here to find your local congressperson. Go to their personal website and find the “get help with a federal agency” section. They can usually turn the screws on the state department and help fast-track applications! (They love helping citizens with this type of stuff because if they can cut your wait time to 1-2 weeks, you’ll likely vote for them)

• If you changed your name in the last 12 months (AND your passport is less than 12 months old) you can change your name for FREE by using the DS-5504 form. So if you have a recent or upcoming marriage/divorce/court order etc, keep this in mind and act fast.

All in all, if your 2024 is likely to include international travel, get started on that passport ASAP!

More Resources:

• 🛂 Travel.gov: Emergencies, Urgent Travel, and FAQ

• ✈️ Saving $: Tips to save money on travel!

ICYMI

What else is buzzing…

Thanksgiving 🦃
As you’re shopping for Thanksgiving dinner supplies, keep both Walmart and ALDI in mind. They are promising discounts this year to “remove inflation” costs.

401k Match 👩‍❤️‍👨
A new research study revealed that 1 in 4 couples are missing out on 401(k) matching opportunities, costing them an average of $862 a year! Get that free money, people!!!

Direct File ⚖️
The IRS is launching a free tax filing pilot program next year. At this time, it’s only available in 13 states (the 9 with no state income tax, plus AZ, CA, MA, and NY), and only for those with specific eligible tax situations. More specifics here.

Net Worth by Age 📈
The 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances data just got released, and here are some personal net worth numbers by age group. Keep in mind, while it’s nice to see how you compare to everyone else, comparison can be the thief of joy. What matters most is YOUR numbers and future plans.

Stages of FI 📺
Last week we jumped on the Master Money YouTube Show with Andrew Giancola, talking about the FIRE movement and tips to enjoy the wealth-building journey!

McFriday’s 🍟
McDonald’s just announced they are giving away free french fries every Friday from now until the end of the year. With a $1 minimum purchase, you’ll get a free medium fries. Woohoo!

FRIENDS OF HTM

Get Your Shizzle Together!

A couple of weeks back we interviewed Chanel Reynolds, who helps people prepare for the unthinkable (aka. dying suddenly 😬).

If you’re one of the ~182 million adults in the US who doesn’t have a will or emergency end-of-life plan, check out Chanel’s website! In particular, her two essential checklists are really handy and will help simplify what you need in order to actually get organized.

I know, death is a tough topic. But hey, if you can’t talk about death on Halloween, when can you!? ☠️

Cheers for reading! Wishing you a great night tonight — don’t eat too much candy — those dentist bills ain’t cheap! 🦷

Best friends out! 🍻