Being frugal in today’s economy is a necessity. Disposable income is scare in most households.  With so many demands on your limited budget, the last thing you want to do is spend money where you don’t have to. There are many small, hidden costs, you can cut out with little hassle or fanfare. Just stop paying and save.

Here are 10 things you should be getting for free.

Books: Don’t buy books. Instead, borrow them from the library or from a friend, and explore sites that will let you swap books with other people such asBookMooch and PaperBackSwap.

Cable: Paying for cable almost seems pointless when you look at all the free options out there such as Hulu and network websites that offer free streaming of their hit shows online. You can subscribe to Netflix for under $10 dollars a month for unlimited streaming of movies and tv shows.

Credit report: Get your free credit report from freecreditreport.com, which allots you a free report per year.

Shipping: Free shipping is a big marketing tool for online sellers.. Most products you want to be purchased can be found somewhere on the net from a seller who is offering free shipping. Hunt around the web for free shipping when you’re shopping online. Go to freeshipping.org and find promo codes for free shipping on the website; you can even subscribe to get free shipping alerts from the site. Be sure to also check out retailmenot.com for free shipping codes.

Water: Invest in a water filter if you don’t like the taste of tap water. Just don’t buy bottled water, it’s an absolute waste of money. You should also take into account that you really don’t know where bottled water comes from, probably the tap.

Baggage on board: Purchase luggage that fights the carry-on size requirements for the airlines you use.

Texts: If you opt for a smartphone, then you can download one of the free texting apps such as WhatsApp to your phone, so you won’t have to pay for texts. There are even apps that allow you to make free phone calls, so there is no need to use your cellular minutes. You can get the lowest minute plan and just use wifi to make calls.

Bank accounts and credit cards: Do some research to sign up for bank accounts and credit cards without annual fees. There are plenty of great options out there.

Cleaning supplies: DIY cleaning supplies with things you already have in your pantry for a natural and free alternative.

Exercise: There is no need to pay for a gym membership. Working out has never been easier. Follow personal trainers on Instagram. Most post exercise videos and tips. You can also find excellent workout videos for free on Youtube. Check out Fitness Blender.

International phone calls: Don’t pay for international phone calls. There are dozens of smartphone apps that will allow you to make international phone calls. Just do some research.

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