worked together. Saving money on these items is nice, but buying somethinguncomfortableisawasteofmoney.It’sonlyadealifitworks foryourbody.
When buying a desk, try to avoid ones boasting extra features like integrated cable management systems, storage and CPU holders. All thesecostlygimmickscanbereplacedwithDIYsolutions.
Computer. Shoppingforanewcomputercanbeadauntingtask,andyour most frugal bet might be to avoid the experience altogether. For most officetasks,thecomputeryoualreadyhavemightbemorethanenough.
If it’s running slowly, just add some extra memory to speed it up. By upgradingmymemoryfor$100,Iwasabletokeepmycurrentmachine
andsavethousands.
But if your computer is circa 1980, then it’s probably time to get a newone.Butdoyourresearchandknowwhatfeaturesyouneedbefore
hitting the shops. Try to avoid stores with commissioned salespeople because they have an interest in selling you more machine than you need. If you can, bring a computer-savvy friend along to help you navigatethepricepointsandweighthehardwareandsoftwareoptions
tobestsuityourneeds.Ifyou’renotcareful,it’seasytospendasmall fortune and still end up with little to show for it. Unless you are computingtotrackandcalculatetheorbitsofhundredsofsatellites,take
apassonthelatestandgreatesttechnology.Iboughtmycomputerfor much less by buying a refurbished model a few years ago. She’s still runningstrong,andIsaved30%bygettingapreviouslyreturnedmodel
withatornbox.Justbesuretogetafullmanufacturer’swarrantywhen buyingrefurbishedelectronics.
FreeSoftware. Mostcomputersthesedayscomebundledwithoneoffice packageoranother.Ifyourcomputerdoesn’thaveofficeapplicationsor you’re looking to upgrade to a newer package, check out the free alternatives.MyfavouriteisafreeapplicationcalledOpenOfficewhich can be downloaded from openoffice.org and used completely free of chargeforanypurpose.OpenOfficeisanopen-sourcesoftwarepackage
forwordprocessing,spreadsheets,presentations,graphics,databasesand more. Open Office looks like and functions very much like Microsoft Office.
If you have a fast Internet connection and like having the ability to access your documents from anywhere, Google Documents
(docs.google.com) offers a free online word processor and spreadsheet application;youwillneedtocreateauseraccount.GoogleDocumentsis notasfeature-richasotherofficeapplications,butitworksquitewell.
BeawarethatallyourdocumentswillbestoredonGoogle’sservers,so
bewaryifyouhavesensitiveorconfidentialinformation.
Monitor. A good computer monitor is an office essential and worth spendingsomeextramoneyon.Flat-panelLCDmonitorshaverecently
dropped significantly in price, and you can now find a 22-inch LCD
monitorfor around$300. Keepin mind that“features” like integrated speakersandextraconnectionswilladdtothepricewithoutimproving
image quality. Also watch out for higher-end monitors that require expensivevideocardupgradesonyourcomputer.Myadviceistowait
forabigsaleandthenbuyfromastorewithagoodno-questions-asked
returnpolicyincasetheimagequalityorscreensizedon’tworkoutfor you.Takeapassontheextendedwarrantytosavesomeextradollars.
KeyboardandMouse. DoyoureallyneedawirelessBluetoothkeyboard with wild and wonky buttons? How about a wireless laser mouse that scrolls in fifteen different ways? I didn’t think so. Pass on the cheesy
featuresandgetamouseandkeyboardthatwon’ttrapyouintopaying
more. If you’re into split ergonomic keyboards, then by all means get one, but they cost more, around $70 each. For most people a simple keyboardfor$25andstandardmousefor$10cangetthejobdonefor
less.
Printers. Don’tgetinkedbyfallingforthebudget$50printeronlytofind that replacement ink or toner cartridges cost $60 every few months. I gaveuponprintersyearsagooncethepriceofinkexceededthepriceof theprinter.Ifyoudon’tneedtoprintalot,thenskipbuyingaprinter andsaveyourself$150to$400.Instead,sharedocumentsthroughemail
withoutprintingonasinglesheetofpaper.WhenIdoneedtoprint,I
savethefileonaninexpensiveUSBthumbdriveandheadtothelocal
copyshopwherecopiescostpenniesapage.Abasic4GBUSBthumb
drive costs just $10 and is handy for backing up and carrying your documentswhereveryougo.Ifyouneedtoprintfromhome,thenlook
forabasicblack-and-whitelaserprinteronsaleforabout$150andskip thefancycolourmodelsthatstartat$250andrequireexpensivetoner
replacements.
Entertainment
Breakouttheboardgamesandhostagamenight. Don’trollyour
eyeballsatthethoughtofbustingoutthecardboardandplayingaboard game. Getting together with a group of friends over drinks and a favourite game is a great way to spend an evening socializing. Sure, thereareplentyofclassicslikeScrabbleandMonopolytochoosefrom,
buttherearelotsofmodernchoicestoo.GameslikeTaboo!,Cranium,
Apples to Apples and Pictionary are great for laughing out loud with yourfriends.Ifyou’remoreintostrategy,trySettlersofCatan,Blokus, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, or Trivial Pursuit for a more analytical challenge.
BOTTOM LINE: Board games range from $1 at garage sales to
around$100fornewgameswithmorepieces.Butonceyoubuya
game,itcanprovidehoursoffreeentertainmentwithyourfamily
andfriends—atlessthanthecostofadinneroutfortwo.
Throw a potluck. To have more fun and spend less money while entertainingathome,throwapotluckandinviteyourfriendsandfamily to share their favourite dish. Potluck gatherings allow your guests to show off their culinary skills while giving you a break on food preparation and entertaining costs. Just be sure to decide beforehand whobringswhatorelseyoumayhavesevenchocolatedessertsandno
main courses to feast upon. Give the gathering a theme to bring out morecreativityinthedishespeoplebring.
BOTTOMLINE:Throwapotlucklunchordinnerandentertainfor
thepriceofasinglemeal.
StreammusicorTVfromtheInternet. Setthesoundtrackforyour nextpartyforlessbystreamingfreetunesfromInternetradiostations.
Therearethousandsoffreestationsonline,andallyouneedisahigh-
speedInternetconnectiontogetintothegroove.Discoveranewchannel orfindanoldfavouritebycheckingoutthefreelistingsatshoutcast.com andlive365.comandthenblastthetunestoyourheart’scontent.These
sites list both Internet-only stations and online feeds for commercial radio stations. If you have basic cable or basic satellite, your package maycomewithcommercial-freeradioatnoextracost.Ifyou’relooking
foranalternativetocableTV,mostmajornetworksstreamsomeoftheir programming online and commercial free—so check out cbc.ca/video/
andshows.ctv.ca/video/togetup-to-datewithyourfavouritesonline.
BOTTOMLINE:Ahigh-speedInternetconnectionisallyouneedto
streammusicandtelevisionforfree.
Downloadpodcastsforfree. Whoneedssatelliteradioorexpensive specialty TV programs when you can get free entertainment from
podcasts!Apodcastisadigitalaudioorvideofileyoudownloadover
the
Internet and play back through an iPod, MP3 player or computer.
Podcasts range widely in topic, from music shows, audio books and cooking programs to fitness workouts, parenting advice and financial programming. Some podcasts are professionally produced while others are created by everyday people with a passion for a certain topic. To findatopicthatinterestsyou,surfonovertoiTunes.comanddownload Apple’s iTunes program—it’s free! Then search iTunes by entering
“podcast” and your favourite terms and see what is available. For example,searchesfor“triathlonpodcast”and“cookingpodcast”resulted intwoweeklypodcastshowsI’vebeenlisteningtoforseveralmonths.
BOTTOMLINE:Podcastsarefreeandcanprovideyouwithhoursof
informativeentertainment.
Reduce magazine subscriptions costs. A yearly subscription could becostingyouiftheglossymagazinesarerarelyread.It’spossibletofall outoflovewithaparticulartopicorperiodicalovertheyearsbutjust keep paying renewal rates out of habit. If you’re not getting the most from your magazine or newspaper subscriptions, then consider
cancellingtheservice—orsplitthecostwithafriendtosave50%.Ifyou likereadingavarietyofmagazines,thenheadonovertothelibraryto readdozensofthemforfree.Ifyou’reanimpulsebuyerandregularly
splurgeonacertainmagazineatthecheckout,thengetasubscription
andcutthenewsstandcostsbyupto60%.
BOTTOMLINE:Cutyourmagazineornewspapersubscriptioncosts
byatleast$25bycancellingtheservice,sharingwithafriendor
readingthematthelibrary.
Watchforfreebooksonline. Therearemanyopportunitiestofind the full-length versions of books online. Many publishers make deals withmagazinesandtalkshowstodistributeonlineeditionsgratisfora setamountoftimeforthoseluckyviewerswhocaughttheshow.Ifyou
catchoneoftheseshows,downloadyourcopyandenjoyanewtopicor
authorforfree.SearchtheNetandyoumayevenfindanonlineedition
promotedonablogorapartnerwebsite.
BOTTOM LINE: Download free books online during special
promotionsinmagazines,ontalkshowsorthroughblogs.
Love the library. Save yourself on book bills, DVD rentals, kids’
entertainment and music purchases by going to your local library and signing out stuff for free. The library offers more than just books—so bring the whole family and make a big trip out of stocking up on entertainment for less. You might just find a new favourite author, an excitingtopictoexploreorfreemusictohelpyouunwind.Besureto
watchoutforduedatesandfines—theselittlechargescanadduptobig dollarsfastifyouforgettoreturnmaterialsontime!
BOTTOM LINE: Get more bang for your entertainment buck by
borrowingbooks,movies,musicandchildren’smaterialsforfreeat
thelibrary.
Downgrade your television programming. If you subscribe to all those fancy-dancy cable packages, take a minute to tally how many channelsyouactuallywatch.Youmaybesurprisedhowfewstationsyou
regularly tune in to. Keep a journal to track your viewing habits and cancelthepackagesyoudon’tuse.Chancesarethemajorityofprograms
youwatchareonyourprovider’sbasicpackage.
BOTTOMLINE:Bydowngradingtobasiccableorsatellite,youcan
savearound$20eachmonth.
Negotiate a reduction in package price. They say everything is negotiable, except death and taxes. So get on the phone and ask your provider to reduce the monthly cost of your television package. Some clevernegotiationmaybeneededonyourpart,butifyouexplainthat
youmaycancelbecauseofthecostofservice,thenoftenaratecutwill be offered. Always research any introductory offers from competitors beforehand so you can tell your provider there are better deals to be had.
BOTTOM LINE: Save up to 50% on your TV programming by
negotiating with your service provider for a decrease in your monthlyfee.
Cut the cable. The monthly cost of cable or satellite television can adduptoahugeexpenseeachyear.BygettingridofyourTVpackage
you save not only on monthly fees but also on energy consumption.
Disconnectingthetelevisionalsogivesyoutheopportunitytoreconnect withfamilyandfriendsinasocialwayawayfromthetube.
BOTTOMLINE:Cuttingyourcableorsatellitesubscriptioncansave
you$40to$100eachmonthor$480to$1,200eachyear.
Watch local programming for free. Getting rid of your cable or
satellitecompletelywillsaveyouhundreds,butifyoustillwanttocatch theoccasionalshow,thenhookupasetofrabbitearsandwatchlocal
programming for free. Cities boast the best local selection, but rural areashaveafewchannelsavailabletoo.Ifyou’resoldonantennas,be
aware that all Canadian stations are switching from analog to digital signals in 2011, which could render your free setup obsolete. To keep watchingyoumayneedtoeitherupgradeyourtelevisionorpurchasea
digitalconverterunit.
BOTTOM LINE: Watching local programming is free and can save youupto$1,000overacableorsatellitesubscriptioneachyear.
Buy a smaller television. If you’re in the market for a brand-new television,considerbuyingasmallerset.Gettingthenextsizedmodelup cancostyouhundredsofextradollarsjustforalittlebitmorescreen.
Largertelevisionsalsocostmoretooperateinelectricityuse.
BOTTOM LINE: Buying a 32-inch TV instead of a 42-inch set can saveyou$400—enoughforalmostayear’sworthofbasiccable.
MakeYourOwnSangria
Sangriaisafunandfrugalbeveragemadewithaninexpensivebottleof
redwineandthefruityouhaveonhand.It’sfuntodrinkandeasyto
serve.Andthebestpartisthatthere’snoneedtobuyexpensivewineto makesangria—justgrabapitcher,chopsomefruitandpopacork.The
totalcostofsangriavariesdependingonyourchoiceofingredients.The super-thrifty ingredients can cost from $11 to $18 for 3 quarts (3 L).
This recipe makes about 3 quarts and serves four to six guests, dependingontheirthirst.
Ingredients
1orange1lemon
1bottle(750mL)redwine,whateverfitsyourbudget(thisisagreat
waytouseupacheaperbottle)
1/2cup(125mL)brandyorrum(optionalbutrecommended)
2tablespoons(25mL)sugar
Other tart (acidic) fruit you have on hand (apples, grapes, kiwis, peaches,etc.)
4cups(1L)clubsodaorgingerale
Ice
Instructions
•Cutorangeandlemonintowedges.
•Squeezeorangeandlemonwedgesintopitcherandthentossthemin.
Mix in wine, brandy and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Stir in remainingfruit.
•Refrigeratefor12to24hours.
•Addclubsodaandiceandserve!
CHAPTER10
Bedroom
Youspendalotofyourlifesleeping.Ifyou’reluckyenoughtogeteight hours of rest each night, you’ll spend a full third of your life in bed!
Since we literally sleep for years throughout our lives, it only makes sensetobecomfortableinthebedroom.
Whenitcomestonighttimeslumbermostofuswouldpayabitextra
for a quality sleep. But does it make
sense to spend thousands, or are there ways to save money? While a comfortable bedroom makes for a goodnight’ssleep,it’snotnecessarytopayafortuneforreasonablerest.
Evenifyou’reaprincesswhoneedsthesoftestmattress,comfortcanbe found without spending a king’s ransom. Savings can be found all throughout the bedroom, from the mattress to the clothing in your closet.
BedsandBedding
There’snothinglikejumpingintobedonaqualitymattresswithfresh
sheets. But before drifting off to sleepyland counting sheep on an expensive big-brand mattress, learn how to count your savings by findingtheperfectbedandlinensetforless.Therearecountlesswaysto saveonbedsandbeddingwithoutstayingawakelateatnightworrying
aboutcosts.
Don’tgetthetopmodelmattress. Top-endmattressesofferluxury featuressuchasextrapillowtopsandhigher-qualitypipingontheedges.
Theinternalconstructionoftheseluxurymodelsisoftensimilartomid-priced ones, and the attached pillow tops can wear out quickly. Save some money by getting a mid-range mattress and a separate good-qualitymattresspad.Thiscombinationwillcostyouhundredsless,and
youcaneasilycleanorreplacethemattresspadasneeded.
BOTTOM LINE: Top-end mattresses selling for top dollar may
containthesameinternalconstructionasmid-pricedmodels,soopt
forthelessexpensivemattressandbuyyourselfaqualitymattress
padtosavehundreds.
Buy a mismatched mattress set. Save hundreds by getting a mismatchedboxspringandmattressset.Everyyearbeddingstoreshave
sales offering deals on their odds and ends where the fabric on the mattressesandboxspringsdoesn’tmatchorhasavaryingpattern.
BOTTOMLINE:Getagreatnight’ssleepbyspendingupto50%less
onamismatchedmattressset.Oncethebeddingistuckedaround
yourmattress,youwon’tseecolourandpatternvariationsanyway.
397 Ways to Save Money: Spend Smarter & Live Well on Less - PDFDrive.com Page 11