Are you sick of hearing about “these difficult economic times” and reading articles that offer tips for saving money? I hope not because this is another one. Here are a few Internet options that can help individuals save a few dollars, and they also allow small businesses and organizations to market their services for fairly cheap.
Twitter Specials
Although Twitter is a great way to drive traffic to your site, small businesses don’t even need a website to open an account. To promote in-store business, offer occasional Twitter Only specials. Just tweet “Mention Twitter and get 10% off,” and see if any customers turn up. A Twitter account provides an inexpensive advertising forum for businesses, and a web-savvy customer will love saving money on all the special deals they’ll catch around town.
One of my favorite local businesses to employ this kind of promotion is Mindfly’s neighbor, Film is Truth. I wasn’t even planning to rent a movie, but when @FilmIstruth tweeted, “Mention Twitter and get any DVD rental for just a buck” a few days ago, I couldn’t turn it down. And when I returned my rental the next day, I was definitely more likely to rent another flick since I saved a few bucks the previous day.
Knowledge is Free at the Library
Speaking of movies and saving money, a great alternative to renting movies at regular prices or maintaining a Netflix subscription is with the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Library. This option is especially nice if you’re interested in documentaries and other non-fiction titles (they have lots!). You can search their Online Catalogue and place holds on any films or TV shows available in the system. You might have to wait a little bit longer to see some new and popular titles, but it’s all completely free (as long as you can avoid overdue fines).
If there’s something you’d like to see that’s not in the catalogue, you can fill out a Purchase Suggestion Form; basis for possible purchases are determined by appropriateness of the request to the library collection and available funding. If your suggestion is added to the library’s collection, the item will be held for you upon its availability.
Along with videos, you can also request CDs and, of course, books through the library.
Pay Bills Online
This one is nothing new or original, but it’s still a useful tip. Going paperless when paying bills is an easy way to “go green,” and you’ll also save money on stamps. A stamp here and there doesn’t seem like much, but it can really add up by the end of the year, especially now that prices for First-Class stamps have jumped again. I could go into a rant about how much stamps cost when I was a kid, and I could really sell it if I said “two bits” instead of 25 cents, but now we’re getting off-topic. The point is that most banks and utility providers offer opportunities for online payment; look into it.
Live Smart (and Cheap) with Smart Trips
I feel like I can never praise Whatcom Smart Trips enough. It’s a great, local resource that helps you keep track of all your “smart trips,” which is anytime you walk, bike, ride the bus, or carpool in alternative to a single-person car ride. Along with the knowledge that you’re doing your part to reduce congestion on roadways and air pollution, and saving money on gasoline, Smart Trippers are eligible for plenty of savings and prizes.
After you sign up, log on each month and record your trips. After 10 Smart Trips, you’ll get a Discount Card for special deals at over 100 Whatcom County businesses. Each time you make 100 Smart Trips, you'll receive a gift certificate to a local business. Participation as a Smart Trips sponsor is a great way for small businesses to attract customers who might not have otherwise visited the store or restaurant.
Now that you’ve saved a little bit of money, you can put a few bucks towards a beautiful new website, just like you've been dreaming of all these years.
