Free stuff everyday

I like free stuff. If you do too, you should surf on over to Sweet Free Stuff. There, you will find something free everyday. From groceries to books, there’s tons of stuff.

Check it out.

The things here will not radically change your budget, they’re mostly samples, but many of the items are useful. Sphere: Related Content

FreeRice.com

You can’t eat this rice, but this may be the easiest and most fun you’ve ever had donating. In addition, you might learn something in the process. This is a great little time killer!

Suppose you need a break from the daily grind and you only have a few minutes. Go to http://www.freerice.com/. Here, you’ll test and enhance your vocabulary while donating rice to feed the hungry worldwide.

According to the website, “FreeRice has generated enough rice to feed more than two million people since it started in October 2007.”

If you have kids, this is a great way for them to expand their vocabulary.

Check it out. Sphere: Related Content

Travel Cheap

If you travel through the NE corridor of the US, let’s say Boston to DC, this is a tip for you.


For this example we’ll compare prices on a trip from DC to New York.


Forget flying at $192.00 one-way! Between the high ticket prices, long security lines, and the seemingly inevitable delays (especially in NY), flying in the NE is not really cost or time effective. Often people elect this option because it seems fast. While the actual flight is fast, once you add the time to get to the airport, check-in, pass security, fly, circle and land, and then the time to get from the burbs to the city; it’s not fast.

Forget Amtrak at $72.00 one-way! It’s amazing that our country can’t seem to get trains right. The trains are slow and often delayed because of CSX. The Accela train is a gimmick and even more of a waste of money.

So what should you do?

Catch the bus!

No, not Greyhound at $35 - $41.

Gotobus.com has the truly frugal solution. You can travel as low as $17 one-way without advance reservations. If you are willing to commit to a schedule you can get as low as $29.00 round-trip.

Aside from the low fares, some of these buses, which are clean and safe, have wireless Internet access during transit. If you have your laptop and some headphones you’ll be stylin’. Surf over to surfthechannel.com and watch you favorite new or old movie. Watch the episode of Dexter that you missed or refused to subscribe to Showtime to get. Do some work, surf the net, or check this blog for even more money saving tips.

Happy trails! Sphere: Related Content

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

With the start of this blog, I’ve been looking around to see similar websites or blogs. I’ve found lots of talk about coupons. If you can work them, great, but I’ve never been much into coupon clipping (See post about Restaurant Depot ).

Here’s one of the best coupons sites I’ve seen.

http://www.nickels-n-dimes.blogspot.com/

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Buy a car at invoice price (or very near)

Most people aren’t buying cars in our current economy, but if you are… this tip is for you. I used to sell car in college and this information is very real world.

Ask for the invoice. This should be in a big binder with lots of other invoices for cars. On the invoice, usually toward the bottom, “HB” or “Hold Back” will be typed with a number next to it.  

The holdback is money paid back to the dealership, from the manufacturer, after the car is sold. Think about it as a rebate coupon for dealerships. It’s unlikely that a salesman or dealership will be willing to give any or much of that money to you, but you should be able to get the price with the holdback included and any rebates that come from the manufacturer.

Obviously, this only works for new cars. 

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Give yourself money

Since high school, I’ve had a water bottle. You know, the 5-gallon, big one. It used to be a glass one, but now it’s plastic. I try to empty my pocket of change each day, but quarters are hard for me, they’re useful. This is a simple tip. Use it and you’ll be amazed at the amount money you accumulate. This tip is well known, but let me tell you, a glass bottle is better. Even if you want a few quarters, for parking, you’ll be hard pressed to overturn and shake such a heavy bottle. Sphere: Related Content

Free Internet access. Free ISP (Internet Service Provider)

In a previous post, I briefly wrote about “catching” a free wireless signal, either by chance, with an unsecured wireless connection, or at most pubic libraries and schools. While I’m frugal, I’m not giving up my high-speed connection, just yet. But, if you’re connecting via dial-up, you may be able to save some cash, connecting to the Internet for free.

If you’re considering this, please keep in mind that you will be hit with a few ads when connecting. Also, you’ll be limited to dial-up speeds. But, if you’re an infrequent net surfer, basically checking email and reading this blog, this may be an effective cost cutting measure for you.

United Online, the parent company of NetZero and Juno offers up to 10 hours of free Internet access through Net Zero at this link. If you POP, grab your mail quickly by a mail client, 10-hours/ month should be more that enough time for basic use. With this free access, you will not be supplied an email address, but that’s not a big issue as Google offers free mail and POP access through gmail at this link.

If you need more than 10 hours of access, you’ll have to research your local options. ISP Bargains has a list of options organized by state.

Take a look. See if this can work for you.

Even if you opt not to ditch your ISP for something free, signing up for free access could be useful as a backup. An example of this usefulness would be in the case of a power outage. Provided that you have a laptop with a charged battery and your landline is a standard line, not VOiP through your cable or phone company, you can make calls without electrical power. This call could be from your computer to an ISP, giving you access to the Internet. Sphere: Related Content

Start a Business for Free...

It all depends on where you live.

There are many reasons one might start a business, from a brilliant idea, to selling items on eBay. The free part, this time, is just the business setup. You should, of course, do your homework. Learn the business you’re in and have a good business plan including strategies and financials; to ensure your business’s success.

So, on to the free… Setting up an LLC is a simple process in most states. If you live in Alabama, California, Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, or Ohio you might even make some change. If you want a primer on LLC’s just Google Search “benefits of LLC”.

Once you’re ready, simply visit the Secretary of State webpage for your state or to see a list of state filing fees nicely compiled by ISG Telecom , visit this link . If your state is less than $75.00, you’re in luck. File the form either online, by mail, or in person. In person is usually faster. The form is relatively simple. If you can read, write, and have a concept of your business, you can file this form. Then go to your bank to get the cash back.

Most banks offer a referral for opening a business account. Your newly formed business will need an account. Bank of America, for example, offers $50.00 for the referral. Wachovia Bank gives $75.00 (I saw a placard in a branch), and your local bank may have a similar or better deal. Yes, there’s usually a minimum deposit and there may be some terms or conditions. Check with your bank for details.

That’s it.

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Welcome...

Welcome to my Why Pay More blog.
This blog is dedicated to saving you money in our current tough times. Through the posts here, we’ll explore cost saving measures that will greatly reduce expenses and some that are free. Use these tips, links, and skills to save money for yourself, family, or company. Topics will include eating cheap, energy saving tips, reducing the cost of computing, and lowering expenses in general.


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