budget Archives — Beating Broke

Should You Buy a Preowned Republic Wireless Phone?

October 11, 2021 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

Republic Wireless can be an excellent cell phone provider if you have basic needs and don’t want to pay a lot for a monthly cell phone bill. Even better, you can buy a preowned Republic Wireless phone to save even more.

Benefits of Choosing Republic Wireless

Republic Wireless is an excellent provider that can be frugal if you have limited cell phone use.

Republic Wireless’ most popular plan is $20 per month for Unlimited Talk and Text plus 1GB of data. Each additional GB of data costs $5. So, if you mainly use your phone for talking and texting, Republic Wireless can be an excellent company to use. However, if you use your phone mainly for data, you’ll end up owing quite a bit at the end of the month.

As an added bonus, you can pay $200 for cell phone service for the year, which gives you $40 off paying month to month.

There are three other plans to choose from, too.

First, though, you’ll want to make sure that Republic Wireless offers coverage in your area. Luckily, they offer coverage across most of the United States; there are only a few locales where coverage might be spotty.

Should You Buy a Preowned Republic Wireless Phone?

The answer to that question is an emphatic yes. Preowned Republic Wireless phones have a number of advantages.

Very Lightly Used

Republic Wireless certified preowned phones are very lightly used. Frequently, they are phones that customers bought but then returned within the 14-day return window, or they may have been used for testing.

Vetted Through Testing

Each preowned phone undergoes a rigorous 50-point inspection. That means for each phone to be certified, it must be in like-new condition.

Discounted Pricing

Buying a cell phone can cost several hundred dollars or more. When you buy a certified, pre-owned phone, you get the same quality phone at a much lower price.

Words of Caution

If you choose to buy a certified pre-owned Republic Wireless phone, be aware of these two caveats:

No Manufacturer’s Warranty

When you buy a certified pre-owned phone, you can no longer get the manufacturer’s warranty. However, Republic Wireless does offer a 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Simply return the phone in its original packaging within 14 days of receipt, and you will get your money back. (You will be responsible for paying the initial shipping.)

The Original Accessories May Be Missing

When you buy a certified pre-owned phone, you are guaranteed to receive a compatible charger, SIM card, and a getting started guide, in addition to the phone. You are not guaranteed to receive the original accessories from the manufacturer.

Final Thoughts

If you want to save money, you may want to buy a preowned Republic Wireless phone. Buying preowned rather than brand new and using Republic Wireless’ affordable plan is guaranteed to give you the convenience of a cell phone at an affordable price.

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Building a Budget From the Ground Up

June 15, 2021 By Justin Weinger Leave a Comment

Creating a budget when you’ve never used one feels like a daunting task. If you’ve spend your life with money coming in and going out with no plan on what it’s paying for, now’s the time for a budget. Perhaps you’re swimming in debt and you can’t find a way out.

Building a budget is a lot like building a house. You need a strong foundation before you can do anything else. Ensuring that your needs are met each month is of utmost importance. Needs are the foundation of your budget. Don’t mistake bills for needs. Just because it’s a bill does not mean it’s a need. Your needs are housing, food, medicine, clothing, and transportation to get you to and from work. Credit card bills, Netflix, RV payments, and even an expensive cell phone in most cases are not needs. And in rare instances or unless you work from home, internet service is not a need either.

List Your Income

How much do you make or anticipate making each month? This includes all household income. For instance, if you have a roommate, how much do they pay for rent and utilities? If you’re married and you have a joint account, how much do they make each month? Your income is the starting point to seeing if you need to make adjustments to your lifestyle, find a way to make more money, sell off some assets, or downsize anything in your life.

List Your Needs

I said earlier that your needs are the foundation for your budget. Needs include housing expenses, food, clothing, vital medicine, and transportation. List these and subtract them from your monthly income. How much money is left? That’s how much you have to focus on paying down debt, and to go toward other financial goals and fun things. Your needs are not negotiable.

List Your Debts

This includes medical debt, car payments, credit cards, your credit builder card, and store credit. Anything you owe should be listed here. You want to write down the minimum monthly payment along with the total amount owed. Subtract these minimum payments from the amount that was leftover after your needs were accounted for. Is there anything left? Yes? Great!

Make Room To Save

Saving is vital especially if you want to stay out of debt. Emergency funds can help you take care of urgent situations without going into more debt. It’s important to start with a month’s worth of expenses, and then you can work on paying off debt while finding ways to boost your income through your daily job or a side gig that takes time and effort but has large potential paydays through sales or services in industries like events, real estate, or even transportation like Uber and Lyft.

List Your Wants

Here’s the place to budget for your fun stuff. Pick all the stuff you’d like to include in your budget. This can include saving for vacation, your internet and satellite service, If you’re drowning in debt, it’s still important to budget even a small amount of money each month to do something fun. Whether you splurge on a monthly Netflix subscription or a couple of latte’s from Starbucks, these wants can help you get over the challenge of getting rid of the debt.

How Much Is Left?

Got more left? There are so many ways to use this amount. You can use it to pay extra on debt, to build that emergency fund, or even to give to a cause you care about. If you’re stuck in the negative however after your needs, debts, and wants, it’s important to look for ways to either make more money or spend less. Getting out of debt is a great way to increase your disposable income each month. But when you make less than your bills it feels overwhelming to get out. Look for things to sell in your home and try and pay off some of the smallest debts first. This will help you feel accomplished and get you motivated to keep going.

A budget is a fluid thing. You start by building with your needs, but money should be coming in and going out. Planning ahead is what helps you stay on track to your financial goals and it ensures that your needs are always met first each month. Once you get used to budgeting each month, you’ll be able to get more complex by adding in investments and other more complex financial tools.

Who Says Second-Hand Fashion Can’t Be Glamorous?

May 21, 2021 By Justin Weinger Leave a Comment

Historically speaking, quality clothing has never come cheap. Believe it or not, but when adjusted for inflation, today’s clothing prices are significantly less than what they were in the past.

With that said, few households have the income to justify paying what stores are charging for designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. Unless there’s a good reason to buy new, you’re always better off buying preowned.

But who says second-hand fashion has to look dull and disappointing? The truth is that, with a few tweaks to your approach, it’s possible to look absolutely stunning in nothing but preowned attire.

The following are a few ways you and your family can save money on nice clothes, shoes, and accessories while still looking sharp:

Antique jewelry

Nothing adds a splash of refinement to an outfit like a nice piece of jewelry. Unfortunately, most strip-mall jewelry stores make it difficult for customers to know whether or not they’re getting a deal or getting ripped off. If you want fine jewelry at a relatively fine price, consider going the antique route. An antique necklace or pair of earrings will be expertly crafted from precious gems and metals without unfair markup. While all fine jewelry is inherently expensive, the unique style and elegant flair of antique pieces will justify the cost, especially since older jewelry was made to last centuries with minimal maintenance.

Vintage style

Retro fashion has been paradoxically en vogue for decades. These days it seems like the styles of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s are considered an acceptable part of modern fashion, so use that to your advantage. Thrift stores, online auction sites, and old-fashioned yard sales are goldmines for vintage clothing items. However, as far as looking your best is concerned, it’s a good idea to avoid looking like you just stepped out of a time machine. In other words, incorporate one or two pieces of vintage fashion into your outfit, rather than a head-to-toe throwback ensemble.

Tailored outfits

Gowns, suits, and other formal wear are meant to be custom tailored for an optimum fit. That means you shouldn’t buy nice clothing at thrift stores – or does it? Tailors can make adjustments to preowned clothing the same way they do for new items. With this in mind, consider buying gently used formal wear that’s a little too big for you. Take it to a reputable tailor and nab yourself a gorgeous outfit for hundreds less than what you’d pay otherwise.

Posh resale

Many companies these days make a business out of reselling gently worn designer label clothing items. These businesses operate with reduced overhead by shifting everything online other than the cleaning, storing, and shipping of the clothing itself. They pass the savings onto the customer while still earning enough to make it worth their while.

Hidden treasures

Sometimes you just have to get lucky. It could be a heavily discounted jacket you find at the flea market, or a beautiful brooch you come across at an estate sale. Whatever the source, the only way to uncover hidden treasures is to get out there and start hunting. With that said, it’s crucial to do your research prior to purchase. Just because the sales staff claim it’s a steal doesn’t make it true. Consult online pricing guides to gauge the true value.

Quality clothing should be made to last. Unfortunately, today’s trend of disposable fashion means people pay more for the brand than the clothing itself. In order to look great without spending a fortune, folks ought to opt for preowned clothing, shoes, and accessories. Doing so ensures you aren’t going broke just to stay fashionable.