| So you want to save a few hundred dollars but don't | | | | Don't buy any computer accessories like memory or |
| want to give up your morning latte? While it is easy | | | | hard drive from your local retailers. They charge way |
| to preach how to cut your daily habits to save a | | | | too much compared to online stores like newegg, |
| buck, it is difficult to practice the same for most | | | | ecost, etc. Sign up with newegg and ecost to get |
| folks. However, there are other ways to cut your | | | | their newsletters full of items on sale every week. |
| expenses without sacrificing your daily habits. | | | | Before you decide to buy a gadget, visit price |
| In today's technology driven society, we spend a lot | | | | comparison sites like pricegrabber, bizrate, pricescan, |
| of money buying electronics gadgets and | | | | shopzilla, mysimon, etc. Also regularly check out |
| accompanying services to make our life easy. Sellers | | | | bargain hunting sites like techbargains, dealtime, etc. |
| know that we have disposable incomes and they | | | | Don't forget to search for the item you are looking |
| push many services that we absolutely don't need. | | | | for in amazon, the grand daddy of all online retail |
| When you sign up for a cell phone service, they will | | | | stores. |
| try to push the loss-damage warranty for $5 a | | | | Drop all those premium movie channels that your |
| month. When did you last use that warranty to claim | | | | cable company has sold you as savings if you |
| a new phone? In most cases you don't need the | | | | purchase them in a bundle. You only need one |
| service. In the worst case, if you loose or damage | | | | premium channel. Why subscribe to three and pay an |
| the phone, buy a cheap phone from eBay to carry | | | | additional $5 to $8 every month? |
| you over till your contract expires. | | | | If you are renting your broadband cable modem for |
| If you are an occasional mobile phone user, get a | | | | $10 or more every month, buy a new modem for |
| pre-pay phone. Using a pre pay phone card that | | | | $50 to $75. These modems last for long time and |
| charges 10 cents per minute for talk time, you will be | | | | you will recover your money within six months after |
| able save a few hundred dollars every year. | | | | you drop the modem rental. You will be on you way |
| If you are in the market for a computer, buy the | | | | to savings of at least $10 a month. |
| one on sale in your local electronics store. Every | | | | If you are paying more than $20 a month for your |
| week, all national retailers have laptop and desktop | | | | land phone line, drop it immediately. Get a cheap VoIP |
| computers on sale. Avoid mail-in rebates. Go for | | | | phone from lingo for $10 a month. If you are a |
| instant rebates. | | | | heavy land phone line user, you will still save by |
| Today's cheap computers provide most functionality | | | | switching to a VoIP phone. |
| for majority of users. Don't buy a high-end computer | | | | If you frequently drive in unknown places, get a car |
| because the sales person says that the one on sale | | | | navigation system. But don't buy a factory installed |
| has slow Internet speed or other such nonsense. | | | | in-car navigation system. A car navigation system |
| Just buy the computer and don't buy any software | | | | gives driving directions and suggests alternate routes |
| or warranty even if the sales person insists that you | | | | to take to avoid traffic congestions due to accidents, |
| absolutely need that anti-virus and word processing | | | | road constructions, etc. |
| software for an additional $300. Check with your | | | | Factory installed systems are over priced. The price |
| broadband provider or the company you work for if | | | | of a portable GPS navigation system has dropped |
| they provide anti-virus software for free to install in | | | | below $200. You can also move your portable |
| you personal computer. | | | | system to another vehicle that does not have a |
| Use the Google search engine to find open source | | | | navigation system. |
| anti-virus and word processing software. The key | | | | We will be spending a lot of money in the years |
| word here is open source. You will find a few | | | | ahead on more gadgets to improve our productivity, |
| excellent open source word processing and anti-virus | | | | make life easy, and for the sheer joy of living. |
| software. For example, Open Office for word | | | | Knowing how to squeeze every penny from those |
| processing and spreadsheet and clamWin for | | | | expenses will definitely improve your personal |
| anti-virus. | | | | finances. |