Technology
Which Batteries Are Best
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
If you use a lot of batteries, you know how they can drain your wallet. So it pays to know which ones to buy for which devices. Consumer Reports (CR) recently put AA batteries to the test. For devices that need bursts of power such as digital cameras and frequently used toys, CR recommended taking ... [Read more]
Saving On Your Cell Phone Bill
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
Do you have the most cost-effective cell phone plan? There are two ways to find out. As noted by personal finance writer Gregory Karp in the Chicago Tribune recently, Validas will analyze one of your actual cell phone bills and recommend a less expensive plan for a charge of $5, or you can enter some ... [Read more]
Text to Save
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Texting is usually seen as a high cost item, with teens sending their families off the financial cliff with their constant missives about what to wear and who said what. However, a new study reported on by the Wall Street Journal found that texting can be an effective way to foster increased savings. In three ... [Read more]
Energy Saving Facts and Fiction
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
When it comes to saving energy, there are some confusing and conflicting ideas out there. A recent Associated Press story sought to sort out fact from fiction. For example, do computer screen savers save energy? No. Sleep mode, which uses about 70 percent less energy, is a better choice if you’re not going to be ... [Read more]
Moving Forward by Backing Up
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009
How’s this for a subtle reminder of the importance of backing up the data on our computers? “You have a 100% chance of the data on your hard drive becoming corrupting, degrading, or disappearing.” That wake up call comes courtesy of the Suburban Dollar blog. I bought an external hard drive a couple of years ... [Read more]
Another Solution for Old Electronics
Thursday, April 9th, 2009
I’ve written in the past about how to dispose of old cell phones, TVs, and other electronics. A recent post on ChristianPF.com highlighted a program I hadn’t heard of before called Flipswap, which enables you to exchange an old cell phone or iPod for an Amazon.com gift card. Devices received by the company are either ... [Read more]
Where Old TVs Go To Die
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
It’s spring-cleaning time, and with television stations switching to digital signals many people are getting rid of old analog TV sets. However, a Chicago Tribune article noted that it’s not so easy. Many thrift stores are no longer accepting analog sets or other older electronics, so there’s concern that a lot of electronic gear will ... [Read more]
Money Down the Tube
Monday, March 9th, 2009
The average U.S. household now has three televisions, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. That’s one reason why electronic devices today consume 15 percent of the average home’s electricity–up from 5 percent in 1980. A Chicago Tribune article highlighted several ways to tame those energy monsters, starting with your choice of TV. The larger the ... [Read more]
Mending is Better Than Ending
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
Lots of businesses are hurting right now, but not those involved in fixing and mending our stuff. According to an article in Time magazine, cobblers and tailors are thriving as people opt to repair old shoes and alter ill-fitting clothes rather than replace them. The same is true for shops that repair everything from cars ... [Read more]
Free is Good
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
Each year, Kiplinger.com highlights its favorite freebies. In this year’s collection, it tells where to find free foreign language lessons, a free wireless connection while traveling, free e-books and sheet music, and not just one but two of the better free recipe collections. I’m writing this from a peaceful room overlooking a river at one ... [Read more]
Recycling is the Rage
Friday, August 8th, 2008
Recycling must be getting trendy because the number of places that accept various items for recycling seems to be growing. As reported on the blog Blueprint for Financial Prosperity, the office supply store Staples will accept old computers and TVs for $10 each. To properly dispose of used batteries or ink/toner cartridges, Staples and Best ... [Read more]
Economizing in a Tough Economy
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
Lots of us are cutting back on discretionary spending – 9 out of 10 people, in fact, according to a survey from market researcher GfK Roper Consulting. Still, as noted in a CNNMoney.com article about the study, there are some things that people just can’t seem to live without – like TV. A whopping half ... [Read more]
Price Check in Aisle Two
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008
You’re in a store looking at TVs or T-shirts or tea bags. The price looks good, but is it really? The answer may be a quick text message away. As noted in a Real Simple article, send a text message to Google at 466453 (“Google” on most devices), type “price,” and then enter the name ... [Read more]
Free Tech Support
Sunday, February 10th, 2008
Since leaving corporate America two and a half years ago, there’s a lot that I don’t miss: the commute, the meetings. But among the things I do miss is tech support. That’s why an article on MSNBC caught my eye. It pointed to a free online tech support service called Protonic. After creating a user ... [Read more]
