by Stuart Jenner
At the beginning of the year, many of us may have resolved to get a handle on our expenses. “I have got to spend differently. I’ve got to start saving. I must stop paying interest on my credit cards. I want to give money to help others.“
As we move into spring, it may be time to revisit your cost-cutting resolve, especially while planning to do fun things! Here are a few legal, ethical, money-stretching ideas for Burien-area residents.
1. For long trips, consider renting a car.
If you’re planning to drive several hundred miles on a trip within a few days, your cost per mile may be lower by renting than by using your own vehicle. I’ve had sticker shock at the costs of some repairs on cars with over 100,000 miles – I had never heard of control rod bushings, sunroof drains filling up and requiring a several-hundred dollar drain cleanout, or some other things that have happened recently.
By renting, you may be able to defer some of the costs that happen as cars get along in years. Some numbers based on averages: the IRS says the deduction (estimated cost) for miles driven is 67 cents. So, driving 285 miles from Burien to Spokane would cost $191. Round trip doubles that to $382; that includes gas. If your car costs $40 to $70 per day, and your trip is two or three days, even after gas, you’re money ahead to rent. The key variable is the number of days you’re renting the car. For “concentrated” trips with many miles per day, renting is worth considering.
That leads to suggestion #2…
2. If you’re going to rent a car (and you live here), check “off-airport” locations, not just the airport ones.
A certain, particular airport nearby has a ravenous appetite for your cash. They built a rental car facility that costs as much or more than sports stadiums … and someone has to pay for it. That someone is people renting cars (and maybe others too, though that’s too complicated for this story.)
So, to avoid feeding the beast, consider off-airport rental car companies. If a rental agency picks up riders at the airport, they are considered “on airport.” The key is to search through a number of locations when looking at online booking options that don’t have airport pick-up and drop-off. (Check Seattle, Burien, Renton, Kent, and Federal Way). In some cases, I have found lower rates off-airport. (Note: if you pick up off-airport and then return at the airport, you’ll still be charged full airport taxes and fees.)
One location to check is across the street from Kennedy Catholic High School and Fred Meyer. The difference in fees and taxes is in the range of $13 per day, but the total depends on several factors. Some vehicles may be better at one type of site, while others are better at the other. The bottom line is to “shop around”, explicitly selecting various starting and ending locations that work for you.
3. Check the renewal dates and pricing on your online subscriptions and service contracts.
Is there a cheaper plan option? It is worth asking. At renewal time with a cable provider, it can pay off to call customer support and ask if there are any discounts for renewing.
On Amazon Prime, read the benefits carefully. How soon do you need items below the level at which there’s free delivery? Also, there’s a version that only includes the videos, and for eligible families on Medicaid, SNAP, and some other programs. This lower-cost option is noted here.
In general, on any subscription, it is worth asking if you even need it. As soon as you sign up for anything, make a note in your calendar for the time when the service goes from free trial to paid or a month before renewal, reminding you to check and possibly cancel something you’re not using.
4. Look for free media options at the library.
I am a huge fan of the King County Library System. Why pay for an audiobook rental when you only want to listen to it once? KCLS has videos, audio, and so much more. Here is a page on streaming options and another page on audiobooks. To get started, you just need a library card.
5. Free visits to local museums.
The Museum of Flight, Seattle Art Museum, Museum of History and Industry, and others all have a day or more per month when, for at least part of the day, people can enter without paying admission. The King County Library also has passes available to borrow. Keep in mind these institutions still have costs to cover, and the museums would welcome donations. Also, some museums don’t have any admission charges; an example is the MaST Center at Redondo Pier with their Saturday visits.
6. Standby Programs for last-minute cruises.
For a significant travel discount, consider joining the standby program of Holland America cruise lines. As reported recently in the Wall Street Journal (story behind a paywall), people can call a phone number on this standby page and request to be added to standby for selected trips and departure ports.
Since Holland America departs from both Seattle and Vancouver, Canada, residents of our area have a lot of options. For the two ports, this page currently lists 36 roundtrips from Seattle and 48 from Vancouver, plus some one-way cruises that start or end in Whittier, Alaska. The first cruise is in mid-April — a 17-day Hawaii Circle cruise from Vancouver, and the last is in late September.
At $99 or $129 per person per day, with no extra charge for a single room, all food included, plus extras, this is a significant savings. There are several other cities, though some would be hard to get to on less than a week’s notice. The reporter from the WSJ pre-booked refundable tickets.
Note: people need to be aware of any passport or global entry requirements, as those are changing with Real ID this year. My understanding is there’s no impact on boat or ground travel, just air, but if you’re planning on flying to Vancouver BC, or other port cities after May 7, you will need a Real ID.
If readers are able to use this trip option, we would welcome some photos and a chance to interview you about how this worked!
SHARE YOUR IDEAS!
If you have other money-saving tips, please send them, and we may run a follow-up story of additional ideas.
