Tricks for Buying Tix: How to Save on Live Entertainment

A Frugowl Note: This article includes a few referral links that might benefit us both, if you're so inclined. Thanks, and happy reading! 🙂

As a music lover, there's nothing like the live music experience, and I'm thankful to have had the privilege of experiencing hundreds of incredible shows by countless performers throughout the years.

While we still love rocking all the concerts we can—plus plenty of other live entertainment opps as they arise—long gone are the days of camping outside a venue overnight to get an early spot in line for the best seats, or scoring front row for, say, a reasonable 25 bucks. Along with increasingly massive productions and technological "convenience" have come massive ticket prices and absurd "convenience" fees—not to mention everyone's hands in the proverbial pot. And don't even get me started on the legalized scalping inflation via our most prominent ticketing portal. We've created a monster that's eating itself—and our entertainment budgets—alive.

Now if you think this means you can't always get what you want, think again. If you're willing to do the work, there is almost always a way to get a better deal on the shows you really wanna see. Below, I'll share some of my standard ticketing tips, followed by a recent real life example from a more complex ticket buying experience.

1) Know the price you see is rarely the price you get
Ticket pricing is a mental game, so brace yourself. The first price you're shown is usually the base price before any convenience fees, venue fees, credit card fees, taxes or, of course, parking or package add-ons. While some acts now insist on offering a handful of token lower priced seats (usually nosebleed), those tend to sell out fast, and can still come with some potentially hefty fees on top.

2) Look out for "all-in" pricing
Watch for all-in pricing, which is most likely to show you more, but possibly not all, of the combined ticket total so you can actually know what you're getting into. Secondary sellers may provide an all-in button option, allowing you to see a truer total. Ticketmaster typically requires you to log in before you can see their full fee structure. Be warned: Some online sellers will also tack on a few extra digits right before you actually check out.

3) Buy at the box office whenever possible
This is the single most significant piece of advice I can offer. You will forego most, if not all, additional ticketing fees at the box office. One of our local Live Nation venues still loves to tack on an ever-increasing venue fee, so you might want to verify any hidden costs before closing the deal. As of this posting, this method still provides considerable savings at this amphitheatre, especially when multiple tickets are involved, making it worth the trip. I typically check the venue map online to see what's available and request my preferred seats in person.

4) Watch for special deals
The past several years, Live Nation has run a "Concert Week" promo for select shows offering $25 tickets. They can also offer four packs, in case you have some pals to go with. If all-in pricing with no fees isn't offered, you can stack these deals with a box office run for best savings. If you're buying from a secondary seller, watch for coupon codes, especially for first time buyers. You might also score points deals by purchasing via portals like Swagbucks or MyPoints. Groupon sometimes deals in live shows as well.

5) Investigate reduced fees and free tips by phone
This varies by venue, but pricing can be tiered in certain cases, with some of the online purchasing fees reduced over the phone. This is a great method to try for shows away from home. Plus, whether or not you score a little savings, good venue reps can be a wealth of information. For example, I had a fantastic phone experience with The Hollywood Bowl in 2022. Not only was I smoothly guided through an unfamiliar venue and buying experience, I was also gifted the pro tip that we could request printed tickets at their box office—a collector's dream in the digital age, and a cherished souvenir.

6) Inquire about exceptions for disabled accommodations if needed
We recently experienced a no fees purchase by phone at a venue which requires calling a special number for special accommodations. This was to make seating arrangements for a relative with ambulatory issues, who was also provided wheelchair assistance upon exiting. If you or someone you know requires such assistance, a call to the venue may be more straightforward than attempting to purchase online.

7) Prepare to pay cash if necessary
While some venues are now cash-free, others may pass on their credit card fees to the consumer even at the box office, and might provide a price break if you pay in cash. We've learned to utilize this deal at our local race track when purchasing tickets to NASCAR events (which have doubled as weekend music festivals here in St. Louis).

8) Ask for the gift of entertainment
If you've got your eye on a special show, and someone asking what you want for (insert special occasion here), tell 'em you wanna rock and roll all night. This sort of negotiated kindness got us into the Eagles Long Goodbye show earlier this year—the same show for which we were able to navigate the special accommodations.

9) Patience is often a virtue
While this may be unwise for smaller venues, we often wait to purchase tickets for a number of reasons. Pre-sale seats are typically more expensive than those released on the onsale date. Tickets can sell months in advance, and we want to be sure no scheduling conflicts arise so we don't have to deal with reselling. For outdoor venues, it's wise to keep an eye on the weather. With plenty of seats left, buying at the box office on the day of show can save a trip. We've even received last minute tickets free from someone who couldn't make it. And, with all this fancy technology, there's now another factor at play...

10) There is virtually no such thing as a "sell out"
There is an unexpected upside to all those reseller sites—that is, I've had no problems getting into any concert or event I really wanted to experience. In some cases (especially "sports in St. Louis" cases), that might not mean landing a deal, but it has provided some unexpected once-in-a-lifetime opportunities—including a couple Cardinals World Series wins, and the chance to inadvertently catch Tom Petty one final time. 

Over time, I've learned a few ways to work out deals by gaming this system too. So may I introduce to you a real life example from just last week:

IRL: Billy Joel and Sting at Busch Stadium
When I saw announcements for this show early in the year, I was torn. Both these guys have been major influences for me, and I've had some incredible concert experiences with each—Billy being the first concert I asked to see in junior high, and catching Sting multiple times, including accidentally at Madison Square Garden, another time with The Police reunion, and on his last stop in STL at an intimate local venue. So, I declared, it wouldn't make sense for me NOT to go. But, dang, those ticket prices.

I observed as the January onsale date came and went, but decided to wait this one out. After all, the second this show went on sale, those secondary sites were already swimming with scalped seats.

A few weeks ago, I had a free morning and drove downtown to the Busch Stadium box office. I'd purchased theme night game tickets for a ridiculously low price there a few months back, but neglected to inquire about this show at the time. However, I was told this was an online sale only, which was nowhere indicated on the website. So much for the box office strategy. I'd have to find another way.

After a few weeks of additional observation, I started focusing primarily on SeatGeek. In this case, their pricing seemed better, I'd had good experiences with them in past, and there was a possible coupon code deal, another of which I'd gotten as a first time user. This was just $5 off, and ultimately did not work this time, but you should always search for potential coupon codes and other offers on secondary sites.

As I watched, in recent weeks, both Ticketmaster and the resellers began displaying newly released seats. The closer a show gets, the more frequently you'll see new listings appear. Some of these releases come from seats that were held back for promotional use. Others come from individuals who find they have a conflict or otherwise just want to unload, and pricing from honest individual resellers tends to be lower overall.

For this show, I was also hunting for specific seat views. Having been to STL stadium shows in past, including Eagles, U2 and Paul McCartney, we had a rough idea of the optics. This consideration can also be aided by photos and renderings on some websites. This time I hoped to avoid sitting behind the ball netting if possible, which would likely put us either really far up or down on the field. Those high seats are some of my favorites for games, but not quite so good for a single performer show.

Last Monday, roughly two weeks out, I saw that new tickets had dropped in a particular field section I was watching. For comparison, a ticket I shopped in row 16 had an original base price of $279.50. With Ticketmaster fees, a single ticket came to at least $333.75. (I say "at least" because I didn't go all the way to checkout when pricing, and have come to expect some extra little surprise right before hitting that final button.) With SeatGeek's all-in filter applied, I saw the total cost on this field ticket in row 11 was $240. So we went from a potential $671.50+ to a total of $480.10 for two seats. SOLD. And hopefully I helped a guy out who just needed to unload.

Now, if you're thinking, "Wait, that's still a lot of money," you would be correct. However, I actually had yet another couple aces up my sleeve.

First, I'll earn a percentage back on this purchase using my Amazon credit card, which can seriously add up. (NOTE: Credit card deals ONLY work if you can afford to pay that card off in full every month.) Second, I decided to apply most of my collected cash back card earnings to this purchase, which effectively brought the individual ticket pricing down to about $90 each.

Now THAT'S a stadium show field price I can get behind. See you again on Friday, Billy and Sting! (Alright, make it Sunday. Got a bonus when the show got rescheduled due to rain from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Free upgrade to a better day overall! And no regrets.)

PLOT TWIST: Due to the unanticipated hurricane-forced reschedule, it appears many tickets were refunded, which opened up seats throughout the stadium at dramatically lower prices on Ticketmaster. Desperation to unload also saw pricing plummet on secondary sites. A rare occurrence, but another point for practicing patience.


Okay, deep breath. After all that, there is another thing...

11) Keep an eye out for free shows
Clearly, the number one way to save is not to pay in the first place, but you don't always need the concert promoter in your contacts to find your way in. Just check your local area calendars for free shows and events. I can tell you the St. Louis scene offers everything from free local acts to major players, so we're rarely without a no-cost event option.

And that's how we enjoy the rock without the sticker shock. Employing all these tricks has afforded us so many more great experiences, still allowing us to support our favorite artists and event spaces without dropping all the coin.

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD
BBC just released an article on ticket pricing increases in U.K., restating a significant part of the overall strategy—taking advantage of people's emotional attachments. According to Pollstar's European editor Gideon Gottfried, “One of the reasons you haven't seen notable dips [in sales], despite people struggling economically, is that seeing their favourite artist means so much to them that they make irrational decisions.

"Any market will be distorted by people making irrational decisions. It might be a beautiful decision for them but it’s also an irrational one, because their emotions and their fandom will make them pay outrageous money.”

So, take another deep breath before you buy. Even with all that nostalgia in view for the two artists mentioned above, taking several steps back allowed for a massive price break, and a far more enjoyable experience overall.

More significantly, our favorite artists are just people too. All that God-given talent is brilliant to watch when well presented, but not one of them is worthy of worship. We'll leave that privilege to the Lord. And if He decides something doesn't fit our calendar or budget, we get to save even more and life goes on. Every time.

For those about to rock, we salute you. Just keep a realistic view of the big picture when your fave's ready to roll into town, and try out some of these tricks to get those tix realistically within reach. Have fun with the whole process. And, of course, enjoy the show!

Got some more clever ways to enjoy your favorite live jams for less? Let us know with a comment below.

That One Time TikTok Helped Ease Years of Back Pain

Health Wise Note: I am not a trained medical professional. Information provided on this site is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult with a professional regarding your specific health and wellness needs.

Okay, confession time: I'm not actually even on TikTok. But somehow (absolutely by the grace of God) this video by btosteopathy showed up in my feed one day, and everything changed.

@btosteopathy Low back decompression stretch. #lowbackstretch #lowbackpainrelief #spinehealth #learnontiktok #healthtok #posturecorrection #posturetips #healthtips ♬ Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse

Just in case they really do manage to do away with TikTok, here's the description of this simple-yet-phenomenal spinal decompression stretch:

    • Lay flat on your back
    • Bend your knees, feet flat on the floor
    • Grasp the fronts of your legs, just above the hips, with your hands
    • Push forward toward your feet
    • Hold for 10 to 20 seconds

And that's it.

When I first began trying this out, I could not believe how much my spine would pop and release. But it was also apparently bringing relief in other ways, in part by affecting some old issues. Several years ago, I experienced 9 months of chronic back spasms that led to what felt like scar tissue in my lower right side just along my spine. I've spent a good amount of energy on massage therapy, chiropractic visits, foam roller sessions, and other stretches and tricks since then, but nothing ever made a difference like this simple move.

After a few weeks, I noticed I didn't always feel the same release with this stretch, primarily because my back just wasn't always as tight as it used to be. If it feels tight but won't release right away, I've learned to bring my knees to my chest to stretch in the opposite direction for at least a few seconds before attempting the traction, which often works wonders for me. And while this certainly doesn't prevent every issue, it's been amazing to feel how this stretch has clearly had a significant overall effect on an area that's been pretty painful for years.

That's just my story, of course. You may not be able to perform this stretch if you've had surgery or other concerns, so be sure to consult a physician first.

I'm not sure how I didn't learn this trick sooner, and kudos to this dude for posting, but I am beyond thankful to benefit from it now, and to be able to share with you today if it can help in any way.

Be well, friends.

Got more tricks to help with spine or back pain? Let us know with a comment below.

Birthday Month Deals: 2023 Edition

🎂 It's that time of year again—for me and all us July birthday peoples, at least. About to rock the annual day of first appearance, and the inbox starts flooding with corporate well wishes from all sorts of preferred establishments hoping to entice me their way. And, unsurprisingly, some of these "deals" are more potentially advantageous than others.

So, without further ado, here are all the birthday offers I've received this year, with some bonus tips and pointers on maximization:

• Bristol Seafood Grill - Complementary entrée up to $25 with purchase of second entree.
I'm a bit surprised to see this one, since we were told last year that Landry's had acquired Bristol as a property. At that time, when we used the Bristol BOGO first, it seemed to affect the Landry's offer below. Thankfully, despite some confusion, Landry's was still willing to honor their offer as well.

• Landry's Select Club - $25 Reward.
Best Deal: No additional purchase required. It also extends into the next month, allowing us more time to use. This one's a winner!
Bonus Local Tip: If you stop by Landry's at St. Louis Union Station, be sure to ask the restaurant to validate your parking as well.

• IKEA Family - $10 off in-store purchase / Free slice of cake with adult entrée purchase at participating locations.
Maximize It: In several states, including Missouri, if there's no minimum price and you choose an item for a coupon's face value or less ($10, in this case), tax is excluded and the item price is fully covered. We learned this offer cannot be paired with the new 5% off every day discount for IKEA Family members.

• Jake's On Main (a local Life is Good shop) - $5 off $30.
I rarely take advantage of this annual offer unless there's something I specifically want, especially since there may be better deals at other times of year or on the sales rack. This one can't be combined with other sales, so always check that fine print.

• AMC Stubs - Free large popcorn.
Maximize It: This one makes the most sense to pair with a discounted matinee before 4 p.m., although movie prices are now fairly high at most locations. It's often best to purchase tickets at the box office to avoid online "convenience" fees.

• Red Robin Royalty - Free burger when you spend a minimum of $4.99, dine in only.
This is a switch, since previously take out was also allowed with no minimum. Years back, when we were still dining in, they might also sneak you an ice cream dessert, so that may still be a way to level it up a bit.

• Logan's Roadhouse - Free dessert until seven days after your birthday, no strings mentioned.
Maximize It: If you can handle the sugar, or share with a friend, this was always a fun deal, especially if you can pair with another discount or points from their app, should you plan to make it a meal. Sadly, our local Logan's shut down a while ago and the closest are a few hours away, so we won't be imbibing unless the mileage makes sense.

• CVS Pharmacy ExtraCare - $3 ExtraBucks Rewards.
Maximize It: We mastered the art of shopping with ExtraBucks the past few years, as they just kept sending $4 rewards nearly weekly for months. Since ExtraBucks work exactly like cash, it became an adventure to find a variety of items as close to the penny as possible, which you can really rock along with seasonal savings. (Four fleece blankets at $.99 each, but, like, for free? Yes, please!) We've even run into fellow ExtraBucks enthusiasts enjoying their own adventures. As with IKEA, we learned our state doesn't charge tax unless you end up over total face value. These rewards tend pair best with other ExtraBucks Rewards, sales items and some dollars off coupons. Percentage off coupons may readjust pricing structure.

EXTRA BONUS TIP: In all cases, check those expiration dates. If you're planning to use more than one deal, it helps to stagger and time them well. Also, you don't want to let the best ones pass you by!

Admittedly, birthday offers are often not what they once were. While, for me, some of this is due to favorite establishments having closed down, we also used to run around receiving more straight up, no catch freebies. This year alone, we've lost IKEA's free yogurt cone and Red Robin's totally free burger, which were favorite staples for years. Instead, we're now seeing more BOGOs and coupons, as shown above. Therefore, keeping an eye on a particular establishment's offers throughout the year might help you determine if your birthday month is actually the best time to visit. Some of the more beneficial rewards now may be point earning programs that add birthday points to your account to exchange for gift cards or items, so watch for those as well.

We certainly won't try to tackle all of these offers, since that would be both wallet and waist prohibitive, but it can be fun to do a little something different at a more affordable rate. Given the high cost of dining or takeout, we rarely do so these days, so this can be a great time to take advantage especially of the Landry's deal. And we usually have some fun roaming the aisles at IKEA, using the $10 deal the past couple years to score both a very practical cutting board and a very fun geometric hummingbird to enhance the decor. Both were covered by the coupon in full.

So, whatever month it's in, happy birthday to you! Hopefully you can find some birthday offers in your neck of the woods to help enhance your celebration too.


Found a solid birthday month deal everyone should know about? Let us know with a comment below.

FREEBIE ALERT: Free Subway Subs (July 2023)

Last year's Subway freebie was worth the trip.

Love Subway? Love trying new sandwiches? Then you'll love this freebie.

For July 2023, participating Subway locations are handing out FREE subs to the first 50 people who just ask nicely. This is a promo for their new 6-inch Deli Heroes sandwich lineup, which happens Tuesday, July 11 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Choose from these four new menu picks:

• Titan Turkey (#15)
• Grand Slam Ham (#99)
• Garlic Roast Beef (#17)
• The Beast (#30)

You can find all the details on Subway's press release.

I was able to take advantage of a similar promo last year, and brought home a free meatball sub (pictured above), which was quite tasty. Heads up: I did stop by one shop to find they were not participating, so I jumped in line at another location closer to work and scored my free sub there.

So, if you have the option, get out there and snag a free Subway sub with this promo. Enjoy!


Did you score a free sub and love it? Let us know with a comment below.

Click to Give for Free With Greater Good Sites

Magic of the mouse: Generosity with just a click

If the idea of donating to a worthy cause without spending a single cent sounds good, the Greater Good family of websites is worth a look. What started out simply as "The Hunger Site" many years ago now offers several additional options for helping people, pets and the planet. You can choose from any or all of the following causes, each of which you can support with just the cost of a click:

➤ The Hunger Site
➤ The Breast Cancer Site
➤ The Animal Rescue Site
➤ The Veterans Site
➤ The Autism Site
➤ The Alzheimer's Site
➤ The Diabetes Site
➤ The Literacy Site
➤ The Rainforest Site

Each site allows several clicks a day with a two hour break between. You can also provide additional support for particular causes when you play trivia and games or interact with other activities.

All click donations are covered by advertising sponsors, and the collective power of daily clicks makes those donations add up. To see the specific charitable partners receiving funding, simply scroll to the very bottom of any of the pages listed above.

Of course, if extra funds are available, you can make purchases to support specific causes as well. Should you have the means, look for additional offers, including bonus products they might throw in. For example, I once purchased a t-shirt to support Ukraine and ended up with a small, bonus jar of honey at no extra charge as one of three options. Coupon codes and other point earning offers may also apply. (Watch for future articles on these pro tips.)

Whether you have a favorite cause or love 'em all, feel free to help all God's creatures and creation any time with just a click through Greater Good.

Have you ever used Greater Good or other click to give sites? Let us know with a comment below.

STL On the Cheap: A Local Angle on Affordable Fun

The 1904 statue of Louie outside the St. Louis Art Museum.
Still "Dedicated to Art and Free to All."

Well, since I'm from St. Louis, you'll hear about STL from time to time. And since I'm getting lots of locals clamoring for all my trade secrets, I might as well throw this one on here as well.

A pretty cool thing about the St. Louis area is the sheer number of excellent options for quality low cost and free entertainment and activities. To quote, well, me, "I've heard plenty of visitors, and more than a few residents, say they never knew about some of our deals or how many things there are to do around here." So, just for fun a few years back, I decided to collect the highlights in one spot so it was easier to share, more or less creating the precursor to Frugowlity with a more local, touristy angle.

 

➾ Check it out at STL On the Cheap. 

If you're from around this way, are new in town or you just happen to stop by for a visit, definitely take advantage of those collected tips, which I try to update a few times throughout the year.

As a teaser, our St. Louis Arch grounds and renewed museum below are free to explore. Local sights, from the World Bird Sanctuary to the World Chess Hall of Fame, are no charge to enter. And a whole lot of Forest Park holds free attractions, including the St. Louis Zoo, Science Center and Planetarium, Art Museum and History Museum.

Even if you're experiencing less prosperous times, it always helps to take a break when you can just to enjoy God's creation and the creativity of others. Why not do it on the cheap?

So get out there. Take the whole fam. And maybe we'll meet you in St. Louie!


Got more cheap and free tips around St. Louis or in your own hometown? Let us know with a comment below.

Stop the Scams: A FREE VoIP Landline Robo Call Blocker

Bots tangling up your classic VoIP landline? We got you.

If you or someone you know is still using landline technology via VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol, then this is a freebie you need to know. 

Back in our landline days—before we got completely priced out due to soaring taxes alone—we were constantly inundated with bots, sales calls and political polls ringing our phones off their proverbial hooks. That is, until I spotted Nomorobo featured in some national news coverage. Block automated calls? For free, you say? What had I to lose, aside from the ringing in my ears?

The sign up process was simple enough. Though they required an e-mail, I don't recall ever receiving undesired messages in the inbox. A few pieces of information, including the ability to opt in or out of receiving political polling calls, should one be so inclined, and that was it. We registered and we waited.

And then, it came. That glorious SILENCE.

No more calls at all hours, especially around dinner time. No more impersonal bots or scammers clamoring for money. Just a pleasant and happy quiet we hadn't known in a very long time.

Mind you, there was the occasional quick ring, one not long enough to prompt us to even move. That became a sound of satisfaction, an indicator that another new bot was intercepted, and hopefully that would ultimately help others with Nomorobo not to be bothered by that particular auto-dialer ever again.

We never had any issues with scammers fully busting through this robust bot-buster, and no actual human callers who could not get through. Our time with Nomorobo was a great experience, and it's a product I highly recommend.

This blocker may be especially significant for seniors, who are more likely to still use landline tech over or alongside mobile, and who are the constant demographic targets of scam calls. If you have less tech savvy relatives or friends, it should be easy to sign them up and significantly decrease the chances of them being taken advantage of right inside their own homes. It's an easy way to honor one's parents and protect our seniors and other vulnerable individuals.

While use on VoIP landlines is free, Nomorobo does feature some paid levels for mobile blocking. Personally, I've had very few such calls to mobile numbers that would necessitate an added blocker, especially since some of my tech already includes built in blocking features. Standard landlines are, of course, excluded.

So let Nomorobo bring some peace, and peace of mind, into any home with a VoIP landline. #accidentalpoetry

Got tips on stopping unwanted phone calls and scammers? Let us know with a comment below.

Garage Sale Goals: What to Do With What's Left

Just one of many options for giving the rest away.

While we definitely had a successful garage sale clearance event, you're typically left with something that didn't get hauled off that day. So, once the sale ends, finding homes for the rest begins. And since we're not ones to just throw it out unless it's actual trash, we really take this part seriously too.

The Reset
One thing we realized after going so hard on this event was that we eventually ran out of time (and a little bit of steam) to keep clearing. But another great thing about this type of decluttering is that now you can see what's left and process what else you might later remove, like peeling back the layers of an onion, only (hopefully) less odorous. With all that excess clear, it's easier to get into spaces you might not have before. It's also helped me consider better ways to inventory keeper items to make them much easier to find.

Since very few things that went out to the garage actually found their way back inside, it didn't take long to move everything back into proper places. Even after a long sale and a lot of work, it's worth it to get the place reorganized as quickly as possible. This is especially significant if you have an actual garage housing actual vehicles, and we managed to get one back inside right away. We also cleared and collected tables borrowed from our church, setting those up for quick return.

All that then gave us the space to start forming piles for the next phase...


The Clearing: Part Deux
We probably could have had another sale if we really wanted to put in the effort, but we usually just want to move the rest out and move on. For that purpose, we have a few great places to take things when we want them gone for maximum benefit to ourselves and others:

• The ReStore - These stores are Habitat for Humanity's arm for donations of various building goods, appliances and more, and a great way to support what they do.

• Book & Media Resellers ($$) - We have a few area stores such as V•Stock or Half Price Books, plus other local shops. So, if we have a stack, we'll take in books, DVDs and other assorted items to see what they might offer in cash or trade. Some shops may pay better or simply take more than others, so you might check out different shops or ask around to learn how they function.

• Clothing Donations & Resellers ($$) - We have a bin on our church parking lot for resaleable clothing, linens, purses and other non-breakables that can be resold at thrift stores. In turn, they give the church a nice per pound cash donation we often put toward our benevolence ministry.

Alternately, some of our area clothing thrifters will actually do cash or trade for certain items, so we visit them occasionally just to see what they might be interested in, which can vary as styles change.

• Leftovers Etc. or Teacher's Recycle Center - Here locally, we have a couple of great places to donate items that might be used for creative projects. It's a bit like thrift, but with more of an educational bent, and might even include things you'd normally pitch—plastic bread ties, as an example. So, rather than open the trash can, we've kept a designated collection bag on hand for years and just stop by when it's full, or whenever we're feeling creative ourselves. These locations tend to run on donations and grants, so they've moved around a bit, and are both temporarily housed in a soon to be demo'd area mall.

• Goodwill - Or general thrift, if you like. This is for everything else that's got some solid resale value. The hope here is to help others with affordable things while supporting the community efforts of the organization to which we donate. In some cases, they might even offer a donor benefit such as discounts on baseball tickets (go Cards!) or other perks.

• Electronics Recycling & Hazardous Waste Collection - We also make sure anything that can't be reused gets delivered to the appropriate spots to be disposed of as responsibly as possible.

• Bonus: Ask a Neighbor - We know our neighbor enjoys buying and reselling, so we invited them to browse our sorted piles, and they even found an item for personal use. In another case, we left out a snowblower that might be difficult to repair, and a passing neighbor inquired before taking it off our hands. In past, we had a buyer return to peruse some sheet music. Love your neighbors by giving them a shot at what's left, and maybe make a little extra this way as well.

So, those are just some of the ways we try to spread the love and support the community at the same time, with bonus points for keeping all that stuff out of the landfill. You might have other great options in your area as well.

We'll probably peel off the next layer a bit more slowly, and between purges we often just take stuff straight to the places listed above. But for now it's fine to relax a minute, take a breath and enjoy that extra space.


Have a favorite reseller or place to donate? Let us know with a comment below.

Garage Sale Goals: Promo, Pricing & Presentation

Well, the massive garage sale happened, and it turned out to be a smashing success. So here's a little more about the setup and deployment for an overwhelmingly great event.


Priceless Promo
There is strength in numbers, and we've learned having multiple households host sales definitely draws a crowd. We did have our three repurposed entry point signs and that team effort in promoting a few places online. And while one used an e-mail list to share with neighbors and another posted to some free garage sale sites for the general public, I tried the also free Facebook Marketplace route.

While community sale ads are regularly posted on FB, I learned you must mention something you are selling for the marketplace robot overlords to let you actually post. In other words, it can't just be a post about having a sale. So, once I added some generic options like clothing, household goods and decor items, we were online. And then, the questions began.

Are you selling cameras? Jewelry? Video games? Or, even, did I want to give the rest away to be taken at no cost to me?

Although it wasn't truly a personal ad, and I did not have those products or need post-sale assistance, it made sense to answer each one kindly with something like, "I am not, but some of our neighbors may have those items. Thanks for asking." One person wanted to know if anyone was opening earlier than the posted 8 a.m., and I told them I expected some in fact would. (So we did, and were immediately inundated with early birds.) All good PR for the entire neighborhood while not giving away a direct address to possible scammers.

I also noticed we had lots of views and even a few shares on that listing as the week wore on. I suspect this and the other online posts, coupled with fantastic weather and perhaps even a strange economy, were all part of a very unexpected turnout of eager shoppers that day.


Presentation Matters
I was able to take a day off to get things organized and presentable. It helps people to see items by category, and this time we grouped together toys, office items, books/movies, holiday trinkets, kitchen goods and so on. The categories can help people find what they want faster, and if someone asks for something specific, it helps you quickly know where things are.

We typically set up a couple tables in the center of our garage space with additional around the back and sides, creating a logical pathway for folks to browse through. Weather permitting, we also place some tables or benches in the driveway to get folks started and draw them in.

As items moved, I kept rearranging and putting things in more prominent spaces. Sure enough, many were then seen and sold, sometimes immediately. So keep an eye on how shoppers are moving through your space and processing your goods. Lots can get missed when the display is overwhelming.

Of course, personal presentation matters too. Give a warm greeting. Ask if they're looking for anything specific. Thank them for coming. Get to know the neighbors (our favorite part). It all adds up.


Pricing to Sell
We generally try to keep prices reasonable enough that we make something but offer a fair bargain. For the most part, the stuff we put out didn't cost us much to begin with. We either got a gift or a deal or our money's worth, so there wasn't much to lose, and we'd already checked pricing on certain items to see if any had greater value than we thought. I heard no complaints about pricing at all (more like disbelief at something so inexpensive in at least one case). If they were interested, they made an offer.


Healthy Haggling
While we priced things largely to move, some items of greater value were marked for potential haggling. Some wanted to barter, while others intentionally overpaid or quipped, "Keep the change," which made me think we essentially broke even in the end. For the most part, we accepted counter offers, or had some back and forth to find a healthy medium. I believe there was only one offer so low we said no, but we certainly had lots of happy customers and fantastic conversations throughout the day.


New Sale, New Crowd
I recall the last time we had a sales event, holiday items barely sold. This time they were quite popular. Other factors aside, different individuals seek different things, and what sells clearly all depends on who shows up. As a kid, my parents used to host sales on at least a couple days to max out that potential. So, if you have the bandwidth to do another day, go for it. You're likely to move more and make more too.


Free Things
We usually set out a free box at garage sales as well. I started this years ago after ending up with a bunch of extra Gospel of John booklets we gave away at a very different garage event, but we also offered various items like paper chess sets, extra garage sale signs, reusable bags and more. Those little offers can create a greater level of trust, and again leave people grateful and happy.


So, you got stuff to purge? Set up a table and sell it! And maybe incorporating some of the ideas above will help you up your garage sale game too.


Up Next: Garage Sale Goals: What to Do With What's Left


What are your best moves for garage sale or yard sale deployment? Let us know with a comment below.

A Very SIRIUS Update

SIRIUS anticipation...

If you have that sad and lonely SIRIUS button on your car radio, but no paid subscription to go with, you can get your SiriusXM fix for FREE this Memorial Day weekend. This annual listen free event started today, and runs May 25 to June 5.

SiriusXM has historically run listen free events around Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving. So, be on the lookout for future freebies, but definitely enjoy those tunes as you get your motor runnin' over the next couple weeks.

Got a favorite SIRIUS station? Let us know with a comment below.

TOTAL LIQUIDATION at Our Place: A Garage Sale Event

Where DOES it all come from?

 
Though we're just getting Frugowlity started here, part of the slow roll is due to a deep clearance event in progress right on our own premises. Beyond decluttering, we're practically minimalizing even our maximalist storage spaces with an "everything must go" attitude. No nonsense about whether the thing makes us happy or brings back memories or whatever. If it ain't getting used, if it's lacking real significance or value, if it's just taking up space, it's outta here.

Even as a 3-year-old, I recall always having to get my room totally organized before playing with my toys, which for some reason meant they could then be placed in a battlefield configuration for a fight. (Classically unorthodox, I s'pose.) Coincidentally, we appear to have reached the militant phase of clearing out useless stuff, but once each space is combed through a weight is definitely lifted, making even the storage spaces more usable and enjoyable.

So as we clear the space, and simultaneously our heads, here's a bit of how we're processing.

The Clearing
We've had lots of clearance events over the years, and our removal techniques keep getting refined. There's now very little concern about keeping it because someone gave it as a gift, and the idea that it "might be useful down the road" was largely obliterated long ago. If you've never used it, odds are you never will.

We've already moved a few items out, gifting some of it to others to enjoy. Anything borrowed is back to the original owners. Magazines are being read and recycled, and we've removed ourselves from some mailing lists so those no longer stack up. It's a clearance blowout.

The Gathering
To start with, we're gathering up all the less valuables for a serious garage sale. The gathering part looks like our basement exploded, but getting all this stuff out now will be a great help ahead of a major downstairs plumbing issue and subsequent remodel that needs to happen soon, giving us more space to move and store the keeper items when we're forced to clear the space, which has also been a great motivator for this round.


The Keeping
The great thing about clearing stuff out is rediscovering what you actually have. For instance, I was considering purchasing some basic kitchen towels when I realized we might already have some gifted ones at home. Sure enough, along with piles of brand new seasonal items was a pristine, generic set with tags still on. Why pay for it when you can shop your own home?

We're also verifying what items might have more value to be sold outright or online. Google Lens is often a great tool for finding the rough value of an item just by snapping a picture with your phone and seeing how others have things priced. Then you can consider whether you'd like to try selling local using sites like Facebook Marketplace, or perhaps go broader through something like ebay or Etsy. I'm also investigating a free, personal eCommerce site that might eliminate any third party site fees, so stay tuned as I see how that works.

On a different note, an emptied storage tub has now become a refuge for items we might give away as gifts. Remember those brand new, seasonal towels? In they go, along with all sorts of other acquisitions perfect for kids' birthdays, white elephants and just-thinking-of-yous.

Of course, significant objects stay, especially tied to things like school or relatives or life events, but we continue to work out better organization and storage. This will also include some beloved toys that might not even go until I do.

And there's always the cool keeper stuff for decor or what have you. Only now that the rest is cleared away, it can be better arranged or featured more prominently. BONUS: There's way less stuff to dust too.

The Pricing
This is always the weird part of a garage sale to me. You want to let it go, but you wanna make some dough. We try to price stuff to sell, but we try to be fair to ourselves too, especially on bigger ticket items like musical instruments that can fetch more. Quality, working order, original packaging or inserts, collectability and other factors all play a role in pricing.

I usually consult current charts about going yard sales rate, and given the inflation situation I notice things are running a little higher as well. Of course, it's all arbitrary, and buyers are certainly welcome to try haggling, but fairness and honesty are most key.

The Sale
Sale day is always early and busy, but it's my favorite day of all because you get to meet so many people, and buyers tend to walk away so happy clutching their special prizes. One thing I love about selling is how meaningful it can be to the purchaser, so there's even another benefit beyond clearance and commerce.

The Event
This year, I've also taken up the mantle of helping promote a neighborhood garage sale, formerly the task of local realtors who've since moved on. It helps that I'm on our trustee board, that the event was already popular, and that the former hosts provided some previously used signs to repurpose. But clearly it would only take a few interested neighbors, some volunteers to promote in a few spots online, and some entrance signage with the date and time placed out a few weeks ahead to make an event like this work wherever you live.


So that's where we stand for now. We'll see how it all goes and follow up with what happens after the big sale, but it's already a fantastic feeling to dramatically clear the space and clear the mind.


Up Next: Garage Sale Goals: Promo Pricing & Presentation


Got more tips on prepping for and hosting a garage sale or yard sale? Let us know with a comment below.

The Bed, Bath & Beyond Liquidation Has Begun

A long last look...

As a follow up to the previous article, a couple days into Bed, Bath and Beyond liquidation, we stopped in for a first hand look at the beginning of the end. We were greeted with a lot of 10% off signs, though 2 days before you might have utilized their now useless coupons for a deeper bargain (of which I do have a vast assortment of collector's items dating back to at least 2014 if anyone's in the market. :D ). A few sections were 20% off to maybe 30%, along with the standard clearance section still intact. We also noticed that all sales are now final. No returns, contrary to dates I've seen shared on other sites.

Shelves were not full by any means, and a peek inside an open stock room at the center of the store now appeared sadly empty. We stopped into this shop just a few weeks ago prior to the bankruptcy announcement, and I was told it was intended to receive stock from another area location that had recently closed down, though current stock did not appear to have increased much from that previous visit.

Your best bet right now will be to make sure any BB&B gift cards you might have stashed away get spent by May 8, which will be the final day to use them.

Also, be sure to check your pricing online before you purchase. This is a great time to get impulse purchasers to spend a bit more thinking they are getting a deal, but double check that "bargain" before you walk out and find better pricing elsewhere.

I have not seen a definitive timeline for how long Bed, Bath and Beyond stores will remain open or how they plan to update sales, but if you have your eye on something they have plenty of, it will only be a matter of time now before those prices drop lower and lower.

For our part, we walked out without any items in hand, or much reason to go back again based on our present needs. But it was a lovely last stroll through a store we've enjoyed for many years.


Find a final deal at Bed, Bath & Beyond? Let us know with a comment below.

LAST CALL for Those Classic Bed, Bath and Beyond Coupons

With a ridiculous amount of information to share, why in the world would I start with soon-to-be-defunct Bed, Bath and Beyond? Well, to be honest, I had a hunch this day was going to come. I actually wrote up something similar years ago as a personal guide so it was easier to do the coupon math, and had already planned to share all this now so these concepts didn't go to complete waste. It's also possible similar strategies may work at other stores with various coupon types as well. So, for the few hours remaining to use them, here it is...

Yep, all those are really ours.

If you ever had a Bed, Bath and Beyond store anywhere nearby, chances are you've received more than a few Big Blue coupons from them. Seriously, at one point we could literally drown in their mail adverts. More recently, they pushed sign ups by app and e-mail to receive coupons as well. For those moving toward minimalism, there was even a way to scan and store your old paper coupons in your app.

A poorly kept secret about these coupons was they never truly expired, so we hoarded them up for years and always had one (or, like, 20) at the ready. We kept a handful in the glove box just so we were never caught without in case we decide to pop in. Clearly one should never shop Bed, Bath & Beyond sans savings certificate, at least until the liquidation begins after April 25.

There were different types of BB&B coupons to be had. There's the standard 20% off, or you might find $5 off $15 or more. (We also hung on to a few old $10 off $30 and such, but won't deal with those in the example below.) You were allowed one coupon per item, and could use as many coupons you had at a time, breaking the buys up in different purchases.

There were a few tricks to getting the best deal with these coupons, and it was often best to mix these up a bit for the best savings overall, but here are the basics:

For an item up to $14.99 use the 20% off coupon or increase your purchase until it is over $15 so you can use a $5 coupon if you have one. However, only buy more if you really need and will use it. (Never just buy to buy. EVEN in liquidation.)

Example: I once went in to purchase an all-natural air freshener priced at $9.99. The 20% off coupon would give about $2 off that price. We use this product fairly regularly, so I picked up two bottles for a total of $19.98 and got $2.50 off per bottle, bringing the price per bottle to $7.59 before tax. Not too shabby, plus saving a future trip by stocking up.

For purchases between $15 and $25, use the $5 off coupon, if you have one. Up to $25 you are getting more than 25% off anyway, so maximize your savings.

For a single item purchase over $25, go back to the 20% off coupon. Now you are past $5 worth in savings.

And there you have it. Though it's sad to see this long time retailer go, hopefully all this should still provide a solid example of how just a little strategery can snag you the best rates and help you process using coupons for max savings at other retailers in future.

Got additional tips for couponing? Let us know with a comment below.

Welcome to Frugowlity!

Everybody needs a hobby, right? One of mine is finding a good deal, and truly it's more of a sport. Some have said barely a week goes by where they don't hear me mention some fun freebie or extravagant discount, or even a handy life hack.

Sometimes, I'll pick up some random tip through natural curiosity. Quite frequently, these things seem to find me. However it happens, it's often fun for me to learn and share with others who might also take advantage. Or, if it's a find born of frustration, I'd love to help you avoid unnecessary headaches as well.

I've thought for a long time about creating an online space to make it even easier to share this wealth of information, and I realized I already have a ton of content I could dump on you today. Since that might be too much, the present plan is to release an article or a few a week, dropping in special finds along the way.

Of course, you'll spot the latest posts on the main page, but I also plan to break down the wisdom by topics under Save Wise, Earn Wise, Give Wise, Live Wise, and a special collection called Health Wise. 

Full disclosure, the overall concept of Frugowlity is based in Christian values, with the idea to use the wisdom and resources God provides to help put us in better positions to be more generous and loving toward others. Pretty sure we could all use a lot more of that these days.

Clearly, we're just getting started here, but I'm told that's what you do in the blogosphere—just get it started! So I hope you'll join me as, Lord willing, the site develops and grows, and I hope Frugowlity perhaps helps you grow a little too.

Cheers!