Subscribed to the paper --- Was this frugal??
DemoDisk
Our metropolitan area has just one major local newspaper which I buy on
Friday, Sunday, and maybe one or two other days. It's reputation isn't
good, but there are sales ads, the free TV guide, coupons, etc.
Today, they offered it for 3, 6, or 12 months at $10/month, so I
subscribed for their deal's maximum 2 years for $240. I figure that
it's money I would have spent anyway for fewer papers and more hassle
going out for it (and paying 50¢ or $1.50 for the Sunday).
Still, the up-front outlay is a lot for me at this time, so I was
wondering... Do you think it was the right choice?
JPM
clams_casino
No enough information. I'm guessing you don't live close enough to a
library to make frequent visits cost effective.
Ignoring whether you derive enough return / satisfaction from having a
daily paper, one should also consider the cost to pick up a paper. Most
driving cost estimates today are are >50 cents / mile where in reality,
that short trip typically has more wear & tear (per mile) on your car
vs. longer / average trips. Driving out of your way can easily cost
more than the paper itself. Walking, however, could be a healthy exercise.
Then, of course, there is the time factor that you mentioned, plus
individual papers typically cost less than single issues.
If you are simply tossing the extra issues and/or just skimming them, it
may not be worth the price. At one time, one could almost justify the
paper on coupon returns, but that's most likely no longer a valid,
significant cost savings.
Goomba
Yes, I do. Not only are you paying for the convenience, but you're also
supporting your local news organization. That is worth something to me.
George Grapman
keeps cutting content and raising delivery rates. In addition they seem
unwilling or unable to keep papers dry on a rainy day. A few months ago
I gave up and cut back to Sunday only delivery. The coupons easily cover
the cost.
On the other hand having grown up with the NY Times I still get 7 day
delivery. I should note that the nearest place to buy the Chron in a 14
block round trip down and up a hill while it is at least 2 miles to get
the NY Times.
As for the up front fee ,papers love that even more than automatic
credit card billing because it takes away the cancellation option. Your
only risk would be if they shut down.
Seerialmom
Now if you were walking to the corner store to buy those papers
before, you've just lost some exercise time. If you only wanted the
sale ads, a more frugal approach would be to drop into a BK or Denny's
after the breakfast rush, people usually leave the newspaper behind.
That said, I do subscribe to our local paper and have for many years
and for the same reasons you mentioned. However I don't prepay that
far in advance (but I do take Time up on their offer of the magazine
when I get the "Professional" rate). Whether it was the right choice
for you, only you know. To me it sounds like you're suffering buyers
remorse.
Arthur Shapiro
Do you think it was the right choice?
I'd say ten bucks a month for a newspaper of adequate quality is a fine deal.
I'm paying $38.60 every six weeks for the Los Angeles Times, which is getting
ever smaller and more parochial. It used to be a world-class paper. Your
expenditure strikes me as quite intelligent.
Art
Bay Area Holdout
read it reguallly and enjoy it then makes sense. Downside is if you move or
something happens to the paper like the content going to an end of a
political spectrum you don't like or going out of business(not allthat
unheard of in the next few years I think) are allowed a pro-rated refund of
the unused portion?
Our local is shrinking all the time after it's recent sale and showing a
political "tilt" we don't always agree with. So we've moved away from daily
reading and get a Sunday paper($1.00) every other week or so.
On a pure dollars and cents rule, I've found that most weekly ad's of major
stores can now be accessed via the Web and with your Zip Code you get the
exact same ad paperless and coupons can be printed out if they strike your
interest. Local grocery stores and other stores typically send us ads with
our mail once a week as well.
Additional advantage is that if you enroll online to get the ads sent to
you, you get additional coupons and discounts as well. Many don't like the
email spam factor but I browse and delete and easier than having a bunch of
newsper around to recycle.
As for smaller local stores, the freebie papers have plenty of discount
coupons for local resturants and such. Their rates are cheaper and doubtful
they would be in the local paper.
Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply
being a miser. Being frugal is about not spending any more money than
necessary on things that are not a priority for you in order that you
have more money to spend on the things that are important to you. Those
things will undoubtedly be different for each person.
If you get a lot of joy out of reading a hard copy of the newspaper and
there are coupons you can use to boot, it is a priority item for you and
you made a wise purchase.
Rod Speed
> Being frugal is not about penny-pinching on everything to the point of
> being a miser. Being frugal is about not spending any more money
> than necessary on things that are not a priority for you in order
> that you have more money to spend on the things that are important to
> you. Those things will undoubtedly be different for each person.
> If you get a lot of joy out of reading a hard copy of the newspaper
The OP clearly doesnt.
> and there are coupons you can use to boot, it is a priority item for you and you made a wise purchase.
Not if it makes no sense economically.
William Souden
the stories in the print editions.
Rod Speed
> The free online versions of major dailies only carry a fraction of the stories in the print editions.
That may be all the news he wants when he doesnt bother to buy every issue currently.
Rod Speed
ween in all, ye cried:
> I like to urinate in public.
Rod Speed
turned, that in a rage I might shoot them at your face, ye harassed:
> Don't judge a book by its movie.