JUNE 2009 - Music for Little Money

Last month we discussed a twist on saving enough cash to buy one CD with spare change. This month, I want to tell you about lots of CDs, for not much money.

Many know that the digital age of music has put a real hurting on CD sales. But do you know exactly how much? I have been a member of one of the music services for many years. My particular choice happens to be BMG Music, but there are others. You know, these are the services that offer the 12 CDs for a penny with the obligation to buy a few more to complete your obligation.

Once you do complete your obligation, that's where the savings will begin. They will simply offer you the moon. Why? Because they are having trouble selling CDs at a normal retail price. If you are patient, and wait them out, they will offer you "buy one, get four free," or deals of that type. Some patience can really save you some money.

A heads-up here… They do add shipping and handling to each CD that will increase the total price somewhat, but this is to be expected and is reasonable.

To illustrate the savings, I selected three single CDs from the current offer from my music service of $6.33 per album. Upon checking out, with shipping and handling added, the final cost is $27.36, or an average of $9.12 per CD delivered to your mailbox.

Next, I went to Wal Mart and selected three at $14.88 retail each equals $44.64. Let's say you drive 40 miles to Wal Mart, allow $4.00 for gas, that's $48.64 final cost, less tax, or an average $16.21 per CD.

Quite a difference, around seven bucks a CD.

Please keep in mind that this is in no way a commercial endorsement by me for the music services. As always, I simply report these brands to you as a way to enjoy the hobby of music on a limited budget. And, of course, not all CDs at Wal Mart are $14.88 either. Nor are all CDs $6.33 with the music services. This is simply a current pricing situation at the time of my writing, and is certainly apt to change often.

Other ways to save at both places include the aforementioned "buy one, get four free" deals with the music services. That deal ran me around $30 the last time I took advantage, or an average of $6.00 a CD. Not bad at all. On the other hand, at Wal Mart, many labels have taken to "paper packaging" with printing which reduces the cost from the plastic jewel case with the printed inserts. It's also environmentally friendlier as well.

The music service has another plus, too, in that you can shop at home in your pjs, and hear pieces of cuts off of each album right there on the site before you buy. The only complaints I have had with the music services were, that the selection is not as varied as I would like it to be and, sometimes the plastic jewel cases get broken in transit. Still, I love to sit and "shop" for two or three hours late at night, often not buying anything, but just enjoying the music.

Perhaps this is a cheaper alternative to saving money on your music that you hadn't thought of. After that first year of patient membership, the deals will begin to show in your inbox. You may, like I did, find it cheaper and less effort than running up and down the two-lane to head from store to crowded store to find your latest favorite.