Flamboyant to frugal, reader suggestions

Readers write and call in with their suggestions for saving.

By JOHN EWOLDT, Star Tribune

Last update: August 5, 2008 - 6:33 AM

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Minnesota bridges rated: An interactive map of bridges that are "structurally deficient," "functionally obsolete" or have gusset plates like those on the I-35W bridge.

More from John Ewoldt

In the July 22 column "Flamboyant to Frugal in 7 Easy Steps," I asked for your suggestions for saving money.

Many of you called or wrote for clarification on basic cable. For only about $15 per month in Minneapolis, Comcast offers channels 2-23 plus a few others. In addition to PBS, WCCO, KSTP, Fox and the CW, Comcast includes CNN, WGN, TBS and KSTC. Other cities will have slightly different offerings, but are still required to offer a basic cable option for about $15 per month. Even with Basic 1 cable, subscribers can pay a little extra (about $7 per month) if they want channels in high-definition. The HD channels offered by Comcast in Minneapolis are WCCO, KARE, KSTP, Fox, the CW, PBS and WFTC. The HD set-top box and remote control are included in the $7, so I also get the on-screen guide and the music-only channels. That's why I chose to pay an extra $7 per month rather than buy an antenna to get HD channels. Basic customers can also upgrade to premium channels such as HBO for about $12 per month without switching to an all-digital package costing $60 or so per month. If you really want ESPN, History or the Food Network, Basic is not for you until cable companies start a la carte selection. Basic is not a required option for satellite subscribers.

Reader suggestions

Dust off your library card. Several readers reminded me of one of the best uses of our tax dollars. Use public libraries not only for books but also to save money on magazine subscriptions and video rentals.

"We're a one-car family now." Replace a second car or even a primary car with a bus pass (www.metrotransit.org) and Hourcar membership (www.hourcar.org). Use Hourcar for middle-of-the-day appointments and a taxi or a rental car in a pinch. Sounds radical, but think of the savings on car payments, insurance, gas and repairs, wrote Kyle.

Hold off dropping your land line. Several readers said that with only cell phone service and no land line, 911 calls would be impossible if cellular towers are out. Also, during an emergency, excessive calls might block circuits, delaying cellular calls, similar to what happened after the Interstate 35W bridge fell. If those scenarios make you want a backup, keep a bare-bones land-line option (about $15 per month from Qwest) for emergencies. One savvy reader suggested forwarding your bare-bones land-line calls to your cell phone laden with features such as caller ID and call waiting, so you don't have to pay twice for those features. Call forwarding costs about $4 per month. One caveat: Many land-line users have switched to cordless phones. In a power outage, your cordless phone and VOiP service won't work, so be sure to have one corded phone for emergencies.

Quit buying bottled water. Buy a water filter if you're concerned about contaminants or odor, but tap water is better for the environment, too (no plastic). One reader who raised eight children during various "recessions" figured that she could save nearly $500 per year if each family member drank tap water instead of buying the cheapest bottled water at Costco or Aldi.

Bring your own lunch to work. Janet estimates that a person who eats fast food spends $4.25 per weekday lunch or about $11.50 for a sit-down lunch. That's about $1,062 per year at fast-food restaurants or $3,400 at sit-down spots. Bringing a daily lunch can save $500 to $2,500 per year.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com.