Michael Saves is a trusted resource for consumers who want to lower their monthly bills.
My name is Michael Timmermann. I began writing about personal finance in 2010 by chronicling my goal to pay off my mortgage by age 30, but my work has shifted to three main spending categories in recent years.
Since 2016, I’ve helped people cut the cable TV cord, switch phone plans and find affordable internet service.
My website and YouTube channel reach up to a million people every month. My money-saving tips have also been featured on websites like CNN.com, NBCNews.com, Clark.com and FOX5DC.com.
Michael Timmermann, Founder of Michael Saves Media
Prior to working full-time as an independent creator, I served as Director of Content and Senior Writer for Clark.com. My articles consistently accounted for 30% to 40% of Clark.com’s monthly traffic.
This is where I began my experiment testing live TV streaming services and phone plans.
Earlier in my career, I produced TV segments for money expert Clark Howard at CNN’s sister network, HLN.
I’ve been creating content since I graduated from Salisbury University in 2004 at age 19. I have extensive professional experience as a writer, producer and copy editor.
In addition to Clark.com and HLN, I’ve worked for TV stations including WTTG, WJLA and WVIR.
The Michael Saves Difference
My singular focus is to provide reviews and money-saving information that you can actually trust. As part of that commitment, I don’t accept sponsorships from the brands that I review.
What exactly does that mean? When you’re reading a Michael Saves article or watching one of my videos, I have complete creative control.
My editorial policy is simple: I don’t accept money from companies in exchange for saying nice things about them.
My reviews are 100% based on personal experience. I purchase a product or service with my own money, thoroughly test it out and produce content to help you decide if it’s worth it for you.
Having tried out so many tech-related products and services, I also provide comparisons of similar products.
Many websites publish reviews and recommendations without ever testing the product or service. Their content is based on internet research alone.
That’s never the case with my content. I only publish reviews when I have hands-on experience to share.
If there’s a product or service that you would like me to purchase and test, email michael@michaelsaves.com and I’ll take a closer look.
How I Support My Work
How exactly does Michael Saves make money? There are two primary ways that I support my work: display advertising and affiliate links.
- Display ads: Advertising that you see on my website is controlled by a third party called Ezoic, while YouTube serves ads on my videos. With Ezoic, I have a dedicated manager who controls the frequency of ads. I have no input on the specific ads that you see.
- Affiliate links: In some cases, I receive a small commission when people make a purchase using a link that I provide to a product or service. Not all companies offer affiliate links. I review products and services whether they give me a link or not. I disclose the use of affiliate links on every page of my website and in the description box of YouTube videos.
One of the greatest perks of working for myself is that I’m able to put the consumer first. I don’t have to review a product or service because of pressure from the sales department.
With Michael Saves, there’s zero risk of interference from management or sales teams. It’s just me.
Editorial Guidelines
With every piece of content that I publish, my goal is to help you make the best decision for your wallet. That means objectively laying out the pros and cons of a particular product or service.
I write and produce all of the content for Michael Saves. None of it is sponsored.
My work doesn’t stop after publishing an initial review. I personally update MichaelSaves.com content when companies make changes to their products and services, such as price increases.
The date shown at the top of my articles is typically updated when I add new content or context to an article.
While I primarily work on my own, several people help me with the fact-checking and updating process. Like me, these freelancer contributors have backgrounds in journalism.
Contact Michael Saves
If you have feedback to share, the best way to contact me is by emailing michael@michaelsaves.com.
In 2023, I opened up my email inbox to Michael Saves readers and viewers who want personal recommendations for streaming services, phone plans and internet providers.
Remember, I don’t accept guest posts or sponsored content. Please don’t email those requests.
To get updates on my content, subscribe to my weekly newsletter. That’s the best way to get a recap of my latest work for MichaelSaves.com and my YouTube channel.
I also invite you to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
I happened to come across your review of Consumer Cellular company (ConCell) on YouTube. Thank you. I have been a customer of ConCell for a few years. Besides having an excellent analysis of the financial comparison from your video, I hoped your research might confirm or deny my suspicion that ConCell collects and stores personal information about its customers which its customers HAVE NEVER GIVEN NOR, as in my case, WOULD EVER GIVE a merchant, and CERTAINLY their customers have no knowledge of this ConCell action going on in the background if I suspect it is. I write to you now in the hope you would be able to find out this important aspect of the ConCell business model for your viewers’ sake. I don’t think I am alone in welcoming your response. Does ConCell seek and store customers’ personal information (beyond that which a phone service merchant needs to provide its service)?
If my suspicion is true, why, I ask, would this phone service company strive to find out and store — from outside the customers’ awareness — personal private data completely unnecessary to provide phone service? If it is doing this, it is very quiet about its intent to invade its customers’ right to privacy.
At the risk of boring both of us, I give you the reason I came to my suspicion: Recently (i.e., after ConCell was purchased by a certain GTCR private equity group around September 2020) I was given an appointment at a Target store to fix a problem with my phone that the lovely ConCell workers could not solve. When I got to the Target store I thought that I perhaps I was hallucinating and had been transported face-to-face with an Iranian prison interrogator. The Target worker was adament that he could not touch the phone unless I gave him all sorts of personal information — for identification purposes, he said. I offered to show him my Driver’s Licenses TO LOOK AT, NOT STORE in the Target device he held in his hand at the ready. No, that wouldn’t do. There followed a demand for a list of information which, as I said, I HAD NEVER GIVEN nor would have ever given ConCell. Therefore, as an exercise of identification his list would have been useless.
I then used the worker’s phone to call ConCell, eventually speaking to a ‘Supervisor’ who told me that yes, I would have to give the whole list of information, LEAVING OUT THE FACT THAT IT WAS CONCELL WHICH REQUIRED TARGET TO COLLECT THIS INFORMATION. WHY? I wondered. Running over all rights of its customers’ privacy, and IF NOT TO TRADE OR SELL our personal date, WHY?
Like most people who have lived on earth long enough to see the value of having the ‘right to be forgotten’ and other rights of privacy, I was shocked and dismayed to find out that the self-advertisement ConCell which IMPLIES it is the opposite of a business which doesn’t care about its customers rights to control their own data and who has it!
I look forward to hearing from you.
Gail Melville
Michael, could I bother you for little advice. Thoughts on DirecTV vs YouTube Premium? Does DirecTV Streaming work well? We have a new Sony Bravia XR 65A95K QD OLED TV. I mean it’s a brand new viewing experience. So, we would like a minimal DTV plan for local tv, National news and reasonable sports. Doesn’t seem to exist. We’re paying $154 to DTV/month + AppleTV + Paramount+ (with ShowTime) +. Amazon Streaming (not full Prime) + MAX + Netflix. If you have any veterinary questions feel free tabaks! Chuck Cohen, DVM, Marina Del Rey, CA.
I have a review of DIRECTV STREAM! It’s pricey, but good channel lineup. https://michaelsaves.com/streaming/directv-stream-review/
Hello Michael,
I enjoyed your articles on clark.com and am happy to “see” you again, this time with your own blog! Congratulations!
Guatlian
Hi, Mr. Michael. Your videos about Xfinity mobile were very helpful to me. You noted something that is a dealbreaker concern for me, and I trust you more than others. Did Xtinity mobile make it so that people like me with an Android can bring in my phone and change to Xfinity WIThOUT losing all my contacts and photos and having to buy new phone? Phone is newish, and photos and contacts priceless. I look forward to your reply and appreciate your supporting us consumers as we have a lot of murky areas to navigate!
They’ve started to allow more Androids. Just go to Xfinity’s website and the BYOD page to see if your phone is compatible. Good luck.
I wanted to comment on a question someone had reguarding Fetch Reward Points. I have expierenced not recieving my alotted 25pts per receipt. The 1st time I contacted their support team they credited my account. The 2nd time it happened this is the reply I got. I do hope this helps. I am nervous to try it as am unaware if it will take all my points away. I am unsure if you do this as they instruct you to if your points will remain.
Customer Support Specialist (Fetch Rewards)
Dec 26, 4:28 PM CST
Hello Michelle,
Thank you for contacting Fetch Rewards! I am so sorry to hear you’re having some trouble with the app.
Let’s try having you clear the cache for Fetch Rewards. This will clear any information that your phone has stored and hopefully resolve the issue.
Every Android device is a little different, so it may not match up exactly.
1.) Open the settings of your device. The icon usually looks like a little gear.
2.) Tap “Apps” (this could be called ‘Apps and Notifications’ or ‘Apps and Permissions’)
3.) Find Fetch in the list of apps and tap it.
4.) Tap “Storage”
5.) Tap “Clear Storage” and “Clear Cache” (if you can only select one, that is fine too.)
Once that has been done, please uninstall and reinstall Fetch Rewards from the Google Play Store. If you still run into the same issue, please let me know with as much detail as possible and we can go from there.
Have a great day!
Steven
Customer & Tech Support
Fetch
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Hi Michael,
I am reading your advice on a variety of things and I am impressed. My area that I struggle in is Student Loans. Any advice? I am unsure with what to do as they have changed their lending company so many times, and the college has closed down. Everest University held promise of a better future and they did nothing of the sort not only for myself, but for many other people. Any advice that may help me in what to do or how to budget this would be great. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read my comment.
Thank You & God Bless,
Michelle
Have you looked into Credible? I have heard good things.
Thanks for the tips. Do you have a newsletter or email updates?
Yes, there is an email signup at the bottom right of every page. You will receive an email when I publish new articles. Never any spam!
Love this!
Hey Michael, I would like to sign-up. I LOVE the articles that I’ve read so far. You are an inspiration to me. We NEED YOU. Keep up the Great work.
Thank you for the nice note. From MichaelSaves.com, scroll to the bottom right and enter your email! You will only receive emails when I publish new articles — nothing else!
Hi Michael:
I still have a mortgage but have been able to save a lot of money. That enabled me to leave a very stressful job and take some time off. l rent out rooms in my large house t hat enables me to live until I figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Right now I am just taking a breather. But I am debating on paying off my house or just keeping the cash out as you never know what can happen. I will look through your site to see if you have any advice on that. I don’t see my mortgage as a burden but sure would like to have it paid off that would allow me more freedom.
I am the deal queen and love saving money and helping others as well. Thank you for investing your time and energy in helping others to do what you have done and to help them achieve “freedom”.
Hi Susan,
Do you have 8 months of an emergency fund? Are you funding your retirement to the maximum allowable? The answer to your question doesn’t have to be one or the other. It can be some of both. After your emergency fund, and your retirement, pay down your mortgage by adding a bit every month.
Like so many others, I found ‘you’ while reading one of Clark’s daily emails. I like your tips & ideas. Is there a way to subscribe to your blog (I’m not super tech savvy). Thanks!
Hi Trish! Thank you. On MichaelSaves.com, scroll down to the bottom right and enter your email at “Subscribe to blog via email.” You will get an email when I publish new stories every couple of weeks.
You can also find my Clark.com stories all in one place at Clark.com/MichaelSaves and Clark.com/MikeTimmermann.
I saw your article on Clark Howard’s website, and I was like, “Wow, a young guy totally doing what I want to do!
Thanks. Not so young now (almost 33) but love to hear from people who save for their future!
Wow. Great site. Just found in an old email I receive Daily from Clark. I’m trying to pay off debt as well. Thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you. I primarily write for Clark now. I have a weekly column that’s focused just on saving money that you can find at Clark.com/MichaelSaves.
Saw your info on a friend’s Facebook.
We just paid off the mortgage on our house last month (16 yrs early) and we are now 100% debt-free. We are in our mid 40s and have vowed to never take out another loan again. Our savings rate is now over 80% which has allowed me to leave a high stress job in search of new career opportunities. it’s great to see guys like you preaching early mortgage payoff. It’s flies in the face of today’s culture which is typically a good sign you’re on the right path. Keep up the great work!
Congratulations to you!
Following
Saw your site on ClarkHoward.com, had to check it out. Love saving money so here I am. Thanks for all you do. Jim