From the category archives:

Money Saving Tips

Buying A Computer? Check Our Computer Shopping Tips First

by Jacques Sprenger on January 2, 2009 in Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping

Buying a computer anytime soon? Check out our computer shopping tips before making your purchase.

Stuff I Learned While Buying A Computer

A couple of months ago I had a need for a new desktop computer; mine was 5 years old, which is equivalent to 80 years for a human ;) . After searching the Internet (where else but places like Buy.com, Dell Home Office, HP) for 2 weeks, I finally decided to take a ride to Best Buy (yeah, I know, I like to put my hands on what I buy, unless it’s an intangible, of course.)

I tried to do my homework, so I was full of precious technical information (I am no geek in electronics, but still), such as RAM and ROM, video card size, GHz, WSVGA TFT, gigabit Ethernet, etc. You get the full picture, I hope, because I still don’t. To make a long story short, I finally bought a CPU that was on display for almost 50% less than new. But before I took it home, I talked to the specialists. They told me what I wanted to know and that clinched the deal.

buying a computer, computer shopping tips
Image by Dvice.

Computer Shopping Tips

1. Find out the kind of computer technical support you’ll get.

The best part of buying a computer is the service that comes after the purchase. After all, most good brands are similar in quality and price; but many of them “suck” (pardon my French) when it comes to good support. They simply told me at Best Buy that all I had to do was to take the CPU to the store and they would fix the item for free for one year (I could always buy a warranty extension).

2. Check ratings and reviews for the best computers and best support available.

If you’re in the market for a new computer, check the latest recommendations, reviews and rankings available. The web is chock full of information that will tell you which computers are consistently topping the rankings. For example, here are the best desktops (according to Consumer Reports® at MSN Shopping): HP Pavilion m9100t, HP Pavilion a6250t a6350t (see HP for details), Dell Inspiron 530s (see Dell for details).

3. Decide if you’ll spend for an extended service and support plan.

We can learn a little bit too from what MSN.com says about the best extended service and support companies:

“Along with Apple, Dell and Gateway’s extended plans were also better at problem solving than their standard support. Spend no more than 10 percent of your computer’s price for each year of extended coverage.“

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Cheap Meals You Can Cook At Home To Save Money!

by Millie Kay G. on December 30, 2008 in Money Saving Tips

Save money with cheap meals you can make and suggestions for dishes you can cook at home and enjoy.

When you cook at home and dine in house, you’ll typically save more money than if you eat out. Recently, I’ve tried cutting the cost of eating out, and have ventured into organic food territory. Now seems like a good time to go through the menus and recipes I’ve been using, to find out what we can fill up on for less.

Cheap Meals You Can Cook At Home To Save Money

cook at home, cheap meals
Image by Mikes Journal.

The Breakfast Clubber

Some people like to skip breakfast, but I need it to maintain the energy to keep moving. However, rather than relying a lot on convenience foods that can hit me hard in sodium and price, I look for low-cost options. Since I’m not a fan of eggs, I tend to gravitate toward the simple, quick choices such as toast, fruit, or yogurt.

If I have the time, I’ll upgrade the toast into grilled cheese or have a bowl of cereal. When the weather turns colder, I sometimes enjoy oatmeal with fruit and nuts; considering my desire to lose weight, it’s a healthier choice than the sausage biscuits and hash browns at the fast food place.

During the weekends, I might want to bust out the waffle iron and prepare goodies to store in the freezer. A waffle with peanut butter and a pear could keep me going until lunchtime.

Keep Your Lunch Money

I’ve worked at places where everyone would go out to lunch. However, while I wanted to allocate my lunch bucks to other funds (like my high yield savings account), I didn’t want to schlep pbjs all the time, either. When I had leftovers to spare, I brought them for lunch to heat up in the microwave. I also made salads and sandwiches that were interesting enough to keep me from wandering into an expensive deli.

How about tuna salad in a whole wheat pita? Or a wrap with veggies and cheese? I could trade in that brown bag for a reusable lunch tote and I could add a piece of fruit or another low-cost treat for dessert.

And let me note that I love ramen every so often, but not its sodium or preservatives. I tend to add veggies and some slices of chicken breast to the noodles, if I have them, and I remind myself that I don’t have to consume everything in the bowl to feel full.

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Sweaters and Knitwear You Don’t Want To Wear, Photo Gallery

by SVB on December 24, 2008 in Money Saving Tips, Product Reviews

Just for fun, here’s a look at some sweaters and knitwear you probably don’t want to wear. Knock yourself out with these colorful ensembles!

Bring out your favorite Christmas apparel! Do you favor the mint green top or the bright purple and yellow warm vest you got several years ago? Don’t be too embarrassed though, there are a lot of winter and holiday clothing out there that leaves much to be desired. But they’re fun, and for many of us, we got them for a song (or for free, maybe by playing White Elephant).

I see a lot of these clothes on the sales racks in my favorite bargain stores. Target, Marshall’s, Ross Dress for Less, T. J. Max still have a bunch of these out on sale periodically. If you’re lucky, you may avoid the ultra-generosity of your well-meaning loved ones who can’t resist sharing their best color schemes and taste in clothes with you! :) For your own sake, pray that you get the bargain gift cards, the quality cookware or even the restaurant gift certificates instead. You don’t want to expand your Christmas wardrobe this way, do you?

All these gorgeous photos are from the CNN slideshow about unfortunate sweaters. I provide my own context below.

Sweaters and Knitwear You Don’t Want To Wear

Holiday Vests Quartet aka Il Divo

ugly sweaters
A charming quartet decked in colorful threads.

Purple Lady Jester

purple lady jester
This is not all that bad! I can see myself wearing something like this ;) .

He Who Had A Little Too Much To Drink

funny santa guy
This guy looks familiar. Wait, Steve… is that you?

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Used Car Trade In and The Buyer’s Market: Time To Buy?

by Jacques Sprenger on December 17, 2008 in Debt, Credit and Loans, Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping

One of the recession’s consequences: a buyer’s market. Is it time to consider a used car trade in? Is it time to buy new, now that some things have better value?

Have you ever had someone cajole you into doing a trade in for your vehicle? This has been the situation for me lately.

I Was Offered A Great Deal

The dealership where I bought my truck 2 years ago keeps sending me offers to buy back my vehicle at the original MSRP minus $0.10 to $0.55 per mile, depending on the wear and tear. Since I only have 15,000 miles in 2 years, I figured the discounted amount as approximately $3,000, which represents a very good deal for me. The only condition is that I must buy a new or used car from the dealership.

used car trade in, buyer's market
Photo by FayettevilleAveo.com

Would You Buy In This Buyer’s Market?

The letter they sent me insists that they already have clients anxious to buy my used truck (pick-up), a claim that I find suspicious indeed in these trying times. So why are they pushing me to trade in my car? Because hardly anybody is buying new cars or because lots of people are looking for good used vehicles? Maybe both. In any case, if they don’t come up with some shenanigan at the last minute, I stand to make an excellent deal. So, is it time to buy a new car? Or a new house for that matter, given the many opportunities available?

Here’s an argument for being a “buyer” at this time: the pressure is on the Detroit automakers to start making money, especially after they receive any form of bailout from the government. With credit already showing signs of being loosened, this could only bode well for us consumers, maybe creating an atmosphere that’s conducive to buying autos… an atmosphere that encourages you and me to start parting with our cash to help nudge this economy along towards recovery.

Even the foreign brands will feel the pressure if clients flock to GM, Ford and Chrysler (by the way, I would never again buy a Chrysler car, no matter what the deal may be; they have shown time and again that they can’t make quality cars, even when Mercedes-Benz took over), and will thus cause the markets to continue to shift in favor of consumers. So the question remains: should you buy a car or house given the present conditions of the market (ultra-favorable to buyers)? Well my answer is: it depends.

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Family Budget For Frugal Living: Living Cheap Can Be Fun, Too!

by Jacques Sprenger on December 9, 2008 in Managing Money, Money Saving Tips

Is your family budget set up for frugal living? No worries, since living cheap doesn’t have to be a pain.

First of all, saving money is now a priority due to the present uncertainties of the economy. But that doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice the fun in your family budget. Remember that if both of you work, it doesn’t mean that you should be spending to reflect your income level (unless you are filthy rich, in which case stop reading).

family budget

Cut Extraneous Costs From Your Family Budget

Let’s say for a moment that both of you earn $120,000 a year (what else?) which makes you one of those middle class folks Obama is talking about. Depending on your mortgage and where you live, that budget must absolutely be designed with the worst scenario in mind. I hope you’re not spending every dime of the budget every month; nor overspending with dangerous credit cards. First thing to do with that specific budget is to prioritize your expenses. Make a list of what you don’t really need and cut the fat from the budget immediately or ’sofort’ as our German friends like to say.

What’s In Your Family Budget? Negotiate!

I made the unwanted list one Saturday morning with my wife (yep, the same for 35 years). It was a lot of fun to banter and bargain and finally compromise on that famous budget “unwanted list”. Her magazine subscriptions, gone. My daily newspaper, gone (I get all the news I want from the Web, small wonder newspapers are folding — pun intended). Phone extras like ID Caller and Call Waiting, gone (Let them call again). Taking the grandkids to those expensive movies, out (hey, more than 50 bucks each time). You get the idea surely, although you may ask where the fun is in that budget.

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Expedia Deals and Travel Discounts For The Frugal Traveler

by SVB on December 4, 2008 in Deals and Offers, Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping

Are you a frugal traveler? Then these Expedia deals and travel discounts may be right up your alley.

Travel is one of those things a lot of people have shoved by the wayside recently. Because of the slower economy, the travel industry is now seeing much lower demand, so much so that the airlines are starting to do something about it. As a consequence, we may start seeing cheaper fares, although they are balanced by flight and airline staff cutbacks.

At any rate, if you’re at all going on a trip anytime soon, things are becoming more affordable. Hey gas prices are lower, after all! Just check out these Expedia deals and travel discounts available this time of year:

Holiday Expedia Deals

Last Minute Deals

Weekly Promotions

Here are more traveling tips that can help you save on travel. Plus check out Travelocity’s Race To Savings promotions for additional deals.

Here’s to happy, safe, fun and cheap travel!

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12 Homemade Gift Ideas To Fit A Small Budget

by Millie Kay G. on December 3, 2008 in Money Saving Tips

If you’re sticking to a small budget and looking for ways to trim costs during special occasions, try these homemade gift ideas for the people on your list.

hand made book
Nice hand-made book by paperfairys.

A while ago, we talked about some ways to save on crafts and creative DIY projects. We also shared with you some of our best gift ideas for the holiday season and thoughts on how to create family holiday traditions to save money. Well, I’ve decided to bring all these suggestions together to come up with some great homemade gift ideas for this time of year!

Even though I enjoy finding great deals on gifts at the mall and online, I try to make a few presents each holiday season and other special occasions (like birthdays). Some of my best memories of holidays past include handmade favorites, such as the simple papercraft ornaments my mom made for me one Christmas Eve. A few years ago, I made some afghans that still see daily use in our household. If you’re handy and creative, these DIY gift ideas may work out for you!

Frugal Homemade Gift Ideas For The Budget-Conscious

Pouches and Tote Bags

Recently, when someone gave me a cellphone, I spent less than an hour making a pouch for it. If you can knit, crochet, or sew up a square or rectangle, you have the foundation for a basic pouch. In the past, I’ve made pouches to hold sunglasses and makeup, handheld games like the Nintendo DS or the Playstation Portable, and iPods. You can add fancy touches to the pouches by embroidering a design or adding a cute applique!

Another project that would be quick to tackle would be a tote bag. Recycle your old jeans or fabric from a discarded dress or shirt to stitch up a bag. Add a paperback and you have a sweet little book bag. Or make a few bags like the one from BurdaStyle — they look like they’d be great to use for shopping.

Clothing and Accessories

Thanks to the yarn emporium in my office, I’ve made a fair number of scarves. They’re quick to make and people always seem to need them in cold climates. If you don’t knit or crochet, you can sew up a scarf in little time. Peruse the remnants available in the fabric section of craft stores for low cost ideas.

Hats, Wraps, and Throws

These are also relatively quick to make for crafting novices. Last year, I crocheted a rectangle, sewed up one end, then joined the corners together to make a simple hat. Easy patterns for wraps and throws aren’t difficult to find; check out the choices at Joann for more inspiration.

Spa Basket

It’s hard to get away to a resort this time of year, but you can give your friends and loved ones a spa basket instead. Make a batch of Citrus Slice Soap and add some candles — even homemade, scented ones! By using easy-to-find ingredients like Epsom salts and a how-to, you can add in your own bath salts. Some flowers add a nice touch as well.

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Find Bargain Gift Cards, Don’t Pay Full Price!

by Emiley Thacker on November 24, 2008 in Money Saving Tips, Smart Shopping, Web Sites and Tools

You don’t have to pay full price for gift certificates and cards. We’ll show you where to find bargain gift cards for your giving needs!

This holiday season, I fully intend to do the vast majority of my gift shopping online for no other reason than to protect my own sanity. I’m not a fan of crowds, and have no intention of getting caught up in the masses of people who will scramble in the wee hours of the morning for Black Friday bargains. I don’t intend to brave the crowds before the crack of down on any day for that matter, just to take advantage of the pre-daylight, doorbuster sales. It takes a special kind of person to deal with that kind of mayhem and, despite what my mom told me so many years ago, I’m not THAT special.

So, online shopping it is! I’ll even buy my gift cards online. Yep, gift cards. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that a gift card is always the best gift but, rather, that it’s not always the worst gift. I’d rank gift cards somewhere in the middle on the fruitcake to Ferrari gift spectrum.

Where To Find Bargain Gift Cards

I’ve recently discovered that you don’t necessarily have to pay full price for a gift card. Several websites have sprung up allowing users to sell or trade any unwanted gift cards or to buy gift cards at a discount. The discount varies depending on the seller, the card balance, and the merchant. Here are a few websites that will help you grab that coveted card for less, or turn unwanted cards into cash:

Plastic Jungle: The best of the sites I’ve come across, Plastic Jungle is like gift card mecca. Plastic Jungle verifies all cards bought and sold, and is the only site that I found that offers a transaction guarantee. Users looking to sell or trade gift cards retain ownership until the transaction is completed. Need small holiday gifts for coworkers? Pick up $10 Crabtree & Evelyn gift cards for $8.

Gift Cards Again: A quick search of Gift Cards Again made it appear as though this site has a much smaller inventory of gift cards to buy than Plastic Jungle; however there was still some good stuff to be had, like a $150 Banana Republic gift card for $130. Also, Gift Cards Again has a sister site, Gift Card Buy Back. Unlike Plastic Jungle where users who want to sell, own the card until they find a buyer, Gift Card Buy Back buys the card from the owner and then resells it on Gift Cards Again. The site gives the seller cash for their unwanted gift cards. It may also be a good site for gift card shoppers who may not want the uncertainty of dealing with people they don’t know.

Gift Card Exchange: Gift Card Exchange has a transaction set up similar to Gift Cards Again/Gift Card Buy Back. The primary difference is that purchase transactions at Gift Card Exchange can only be completed using PayPal or Google Checkout. Look! There’s that $100 Pottery Barn gift card for only $90!

One thing that I should note for all of the sites listed above is that the availability of gift cards for any given merchant can vary greatly from day to day, so if you see a great deal, snap it up.

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