TFDuesing/flickr

If you want something you don’t have the money for, figure out how to make it. (I’ve already talked about getting things by swapping or repurposing).

Personally, I have found that learning to make something is the best way to go. I get what I need, and I know how to repair it. Here are my five favorite sites to go to when I want to learn new things:

1. General instructions - Instructables - You can learn anything from how to carve a pumpkin to how to build your own computer to how to construct a rocket ship. Instructables has more pictures and instructions than videos.
2. Video tutorials - YouTube – Now that YouTube has grown beyond silly home videos, you can find all sorts of wonderful how-to videos. Check on the length of the video before choosing which one you want to watch. It’s pretty boring to watch a 10-minute video on how to tie a knot and it’s pretty useless to watch a 30-second video on how to do your taxes.
3. 5 minute Life Videopedia – Five minute videos about all sorts of stuff.
4. The ultimate handyman site - DIYnetwork – I also like HandymanUSA. These are both wonderful sites to go to when you want to know how to fix your broken doorknob or unclog your sink.
5. Hundreds of the best 18-minute talks on Technology, Education & Design - TED talks – Think of the very best speaker you ever heard. Now imagine the talk being no more than 18 minutes long. These are TED talks. My favorite ones are by Sir Ken Richardson on the subject of education.

There are so many things we pay for someone do for us that we could do ourselves. By hiring others to weed our gardens, cook our food, and fix every broken thing, we lose the joy of creating our own lives.  The internet gives us access to information that allows us to learn new things with a few clicks. Use it!

What are your favorite sites to learn new things?

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

Daquella Manera/flickr

I am a firm believer in returning products. If I get it home and find out that it doesn’t fit, work, or do what the advertising promised, I return it. However, I hate the time, effort, and gas it takes to make a return.

Most stores have very good return policies. However, it often costs more to return the item than its purchase price. For instance,

if I bought an under $10 item from a store 20 miles from me – which happens a lot in a big city like Los Angeles – then it will cost me almost that much in gas to return the item. Not to mention the time it takes to run the errand. Even items purchased online take time to return and sometimes you have to pay postage.

What’s a bargain hunter to do?

The key is to REALLY look at what you are trying to replace or buy BEFORE you go shopping. Check on size, shape, color, length and width. Comparison shop online and scan reviews. Take pictures and measurements. If you are bad with color (like I am) then bring a swatch you are trying to match, or the actual item.

Because we have a huge selection of just about everything that we can buy, we really need to narrow it down.

For instance, I just bought a home phone. I wanted a corded phone that didn’t plug into an electrical outlet and I was so excited when I found one. It was a great price. When I set it up, I realized it didn’t have an answering machine, a feature I absolutely wanted. In my excitement, I forgot to check if it had everything I needed.

I had to make a special trip to the store to return the phone and get another (more expensive) one.

Unfortunately, all of the information that you need when buying an item – especially electronics – is not on the outside of the box. Often the sales personnel is also pretty clueless, unless you insist on talking to a manager who knows the product. Some stores will search online for additional product info or you can do this on your smartphone.

Researching a product ahead of shopping will save you money. I know because at yard sales I have picked up brand new items from people who said they just never returned it. This is especially true if you buying an item that can’t be returned because it is a final sale or second-hand.

Are you a returner, a should-have-returner, or a can’t-returner?

swanksalot / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Pawnsearcher.com is a new site that helps you find discounted items for sale at pawn shops across the country. The site is fairly easy to use and best of all it’s free. You do have to create an account, however. Once the account is established, you can start searching for things like tools, electronics, and more.

In a previous post, Bargain Babe wrote about how to make money from spring cleaning by selling unwanted gold jewelry at pawn shops. If you’re looking for jewelry, you’ll want to check out this site.

Be advised that you won’t find

listings on this site like on eBay. Instead, you fill out a search inquiry with a detailed description of what you are after, and it is sent to more than 500 pawnshops nationwide. (You also have the option of sending your inquiry to only local pawnshops.) After a few days, you’ll receive emails directly from pawnshops with the item you are looking for along with pricing and/or photos. PawnSearcher.com recommends using Paypal or a credit card in case a dispute arises.

Pawnsearcher puts you in touch with pawn shops and does not profit from transactions. The site makes money by charging pawn shops a monthly fee to receive sale inquiries from potential customers.

CEO Jeff Epstein said the idea to start the site came after he accompanied his soon to pawn shops in search of a gun. After visiting a few, he thought there had to be a way to send inquiries to lots of pawnshops at one time. Epstein launched the site in June making it easy for treasure and bargain hunters to search for wanted items.

Have you ever shopped at a pawn shop?

We all know that we should do research before making a major purchase. We know about comparison shopping, haggling, and looking for discounts. But do you know how to mentally prepare? Here are my 10 tips for shopping preparedness.

1. Be well rested. If you have small children, it is possible that the idea of getting a good night’s sleep is but a vague memory and dream. If that is the case, take a nap prior to going shopping. If this is a big item you are purchasing, you may consider hiring a babysitter to watch the kids so that you definitely get a nap. I know it is hard, but shopping while exhausted is bad for your budget.

2. Eat first. Grocery shopping while hungry is an expensive mistake. However, shopping for a new dishwasher or car on an empty stomach is even worse. You don’t want to have your attention on anything but the shopping. It takes energy to compute and negotiate, and you are less likely to give in just to be done. It is cheaper to stop at a fancy restaurant and have a lobster dinner than to go shopping on an empty stomach.
3. Be clear headed. Eat, but don’t drink. Sales resistance is a good thing. Alcohol lowers resistance. I also suggest that the night after a big party where you may have “had a few” isn’t the best time to shop for your new computer.
4. Shop alone or take a good shopping partner. Do not take any children with you. If you must take your children with you, then bring someone along to watch them. A distracted shopper is a “buying mistake” just waiting to happen.
5. Be happy. If you have just had a fight with your hubby or kid, it is NOT the time to go and buy a car. If you are worried about the test results you are waiting for from the doctor, don’t go shopping for a new carpet. The better your mood, the more logical your thinking.
6. Make time. Don’t make a major buying decision in a rush. Sales people love people in a rush. The best deals come when you can ponder and take your time and visit the competitor.
7. Dress comfortably. Gone are the days when shopping required women to wear heels, stockings and white gloves. Now you can dress in jeans and crocs. Don’t ruin that comfort by carrying around a heavy purse or bag. Give yourself a light load.
8. Stay hydrated. Even a slight dehydration effects mental abilities. Carry your own bottle of water with you so that you can keep hydrated at all times.
9. Be sharp. Don’t choose a big old slurpy or soda to drink. The sugar will cause your mental faculties to slow down. You want to be your smartest when making a major purchase.
10. Be willing to walk away. Don’t wait to the very last moment to buy. If you know your washer is on its last legs, start looking. This will give you the ability to find the right product at the right price and put you in control of the shopping experience. The best price comes after you say, “I think I’ll keep looking.”

How do you get ready to shop?

Internet TV at home is a DIY reality!

I’m hearing a lot about services that, for a fee, let you play computer videos, like Hulu and YouTube, on your TV. Is this a necessary expense? How hard is it to do yourself? I talked to Shawn DuBravac, a head honcho at the Consumer Electronic Association, and learned that, for many TVs, you can buy a cable for about $45 that will eliminate the need for a pricey service. This interview has been edited and condensed.

How hard is it to stream videos from your computer to your TV?  If you want to play YouTube videos on a television, you have to have some type of computer object connected to that television: a browser in essence.

What is an Internet TV? About 20% of televisions are Internet-enabled. If you have one of those televisions you really don’t need to do anything.

What about a non-Internet TV that has an HDMI input? If you have an HDMI port, then all you have to do is

get a computer with a video card and an HDMI port and then you run a single HDMI cable between the two.

How common are the HDMI inputs? A large screen television over $1,000 probably has Internet capabilities. Most televisions circa 2005 started to integrate HDMI.

And all HD TVs have HDMI inputs? Yes.

How hard would you rate this project doing it yourself? With an Internet television, it’s zero. You just have to flip to the YouTube channel. If you’ve got an older television, it’s a 10. I’ve done it. I’ve hooked a computer up to a television that didn’t have HDMI, it was a circa 1999. It’s not impossible, but for the average person they’re not going to be able to deal with it. You have to get the right video card, and do all this other stuff. If your television is made out of wood, do not try this at home. If it has any wood or if it has the appearance of wood on it, you are not going to be happy.

What is the advantage of a service that does it for you, like Apple TV? Apple TV lets you access iTunes and you can buy movies and you used to be able to buy TV shows. You can push things from iPads and iPods and things like that. If you have a computer hooked up to your television, it’s just a regular old computer and anything you can do on that computer, you can do on the television. You’ve turned the monitor into a bigger television.

Is Internet connectivity a feature that TVs will soon all come with – like cameras on cell phones? Possibly. Larger TVs and screen sizes? Yes. Smaller televisions? Debatable. I just flipped to Best Buy’s website. Smart TVs is what they call them. Total televisions for sale, 180. Under the Smart TV category, they have 92. 51% of the TVs they are offering are some degree of smart. Last year, through the first half 2010, 7% of the televisions being sold were smart. In the first half of 2011 , it was 20%. Internet connectivity is a very large trend. Everything is increasingly being connected to the Internet.

Is there a website you recommend to walk people through connecting their TV to the Internet? We have a site called DigitalTips.org that will walk you through a couple different devices.

JD'na / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

A recent MoneyTalk News article shared results of a Harris poll that found 12 ways Americans are saving money this summer. Below are the 12 most popular cost-cutting methods with my tips on each.

1. Buy more generic brands – Don’t play favorites when it comes time to shopping. If you have ethnic grocery stores in your area, check them out. Just last week, I wanted avocados and found a bag of 4 for $3.99 at Trader Joe’s. I passed and headed to an ethnic store and found them for $0.33 each. To save more money don’t forget to check back every Wednesday when we share grocery coupons for different stores.

2. Brown bag lunch instead of buying it – I’ve compared the different options for midday meals and brown bagging it is definitely a winner. To save money on lunch, plan ahead. Make a big batch of beans during the weekend and during the week toss it in to a salad. Cut fruit ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Add some lemon, salt, and a pinch of cayenne for a quick and easy snack. 3. Go to the hairdresser/barber/stylist less often – My dad recently decided to buy an electric razor to save money on haircuts. I’m definitely not taking the razor to my head, but I am getting my hair cut less often. Need to save money in this area? Find a beauty school near you and check out their prices.

4. Use refillable water bottles instead of buying bottled water - We have a water filter system on the kitchen faucet. If you are looking to filter water on a budget consider a Brita pitcher. We keep one in our fridge.

5. Cancel one or more magazine subscriptions – I’ve never had a magazine subscription. If I want to catch up on some reading I head to the library or browse online. The library near me has a subscription to many of my favorite magazines — love it!

6. Cut down on dry cleaning - I usually send my coats to the dry cleaner once a year after wearing them all winter long. Afterwards, I store them in breathable garment bags in my closet to keep them clean. To save money on dry cleaning, try at home dry cleaning. You can also search online to find coupons for dry cleaning products.

7. Cancel or cut back cable TV service – I’ve never had cable. If I have time for TV, I’ll watch online. I also rent movies at the nearest Redbox kiosk or the library.

8. Stop buying coffee in the morning - My coffee addiction has not subsided, but I now enjoy my cup of coffee at home for a fraction of the price. If you can’t live without coffee or smoothies, make them at home.

9. Cancel a newspaper subscription - I canceled my Los Angeles Times and New York Times subscriptions a while back and began reading online and on my iPhone. If you’re old school and like the feel of the paper in your hands, some libraries have copies of newspapers.

10. Cancel land-line phone service and only use a cell phone - To save money on phone service, compare the prices of phone alternatives to a landline and switch.

11. Change a cell phone plan or cancel it - I was considering changing my phone carrier, but stuck with them after a sales associate changed the wording of my plan and gave me unlimited talk minutes to any mobile.

12. Carpool or use mass transit - I use the bus to save money on gas. If you are in school, you can save money on public transportation.

How else are you saving money this summer? Which areas are you having trouble saving money on?

TJ's Next to Godliness Cleaner is tops!

The May issue of ShopSmart has a list of 27 amazing bargain products, 17 of which I’ve listed below. What are your favorite cheap products?

Laundry detergent - ERA 2x Ultra with Oxi Booster is $10, half the cost of top rated brand Tide and just as good.

Sunscreen – Find top rated sunscreen Up & Up Sport Sunscreen Continuous Spray SPF 30 at Target for $5.25. Love the spray!

Wine - Pick up Yosemite Road Chardonnay by the dozen at 7-Eleven, which sells it for $4 to $5. But hide the label from foodies and wino friends.

Lightbulbs – EcoSmart Soft White Bulbs at Home Depot are $6 for 4 and is the cheapest of ShopSmart’s top rated CFLs. Each one will save you $56 over the bulbs life compared to incandescents.

Ice cream - Archer Farm’s Belgian Chocolate ice cream beat Haagen-Dazs in taste tests, and costs just $4 for 1.5 quarts. Score!

Movies - Netflix streaming for $8 provides so many more movies and TV shows than you will ever watch. And for $2 more you can get DVDs, too.

Pizza - DiGiorno Rising Crust Four Cheese Pizza is a top rated pie but cheaper than other brands at $6.47.

Headphones - Panasonic Headphones RP-HJE120 are $8 and sound great.

Bra - This $11 bra from GIlligan & O’Malley at Target doesn’t pinch, poke, or wear out easily.

Coffee - The Black & Decker DLX1050B costs $20, is programmable, and makes coffee better than other machines costing $100 or more, ShopSmart testers found.

Jeans – The Signature by Levi Strauss & Co Totally Slimming jeans are $20 and better made than fancy schmancy jeans with a price tag of $240 from True Religion. What if you need jeans to boost your asssets?

Wrinkle remover - Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Serum is a third of the cost of rivals that it outperformed. Pay $20 for 1 fluid ounce. Scent is not as nice, however.

Phones – the 3GS model that I shelled out $400 for a scant 18 months ago now costs $50 for 8GB. I’m jealous.

Vacuum - The Dirt Devil Featherlite is $50 and even picks up pet hair. “You simply cannot buy a cheaper, lighter vacuum,” ShopSmart writes.

Knives - Chicago Cutlery’s Metropolitan 8-piece set is $60 and is “a seriously good deal,” SS gushes. But stamped-steel blades are not quite as strong as forged-steel so they may bend over time.

e-Reader – The Amazon Kindle is $139 (a cheaper version has ads) and the best-designed and best-selling e-reader available. No 3G Internet, though.

Car - The Honda Fit Hatchback is “the best value of any car” ShopSmart and it’s parent company, Consumer Reports, has tested. It gets 30 mpg and costs $16,020.

My favorite cheap products are vinegar and Trader Joe’s quick drying wash cloths (they outlast sponges and can be washed)! I am also a big fan of TJ’s Next to Godliness Cleaner, which is $2.99 (previously I had the incorrect pirce of $6.98) for 32 ounces of biodegradable, nice smelling, very powerful cleaner!

Charlie Brewer / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Earlier I wrote about three phone alternatives to a landline that can save you money and reader Lore suggested Gmail Voice. I am a Google fan and can’t believe I didn’t mention the company’s phone feature, which you can access through Gmail and Google Talk.

Google Talk is a free Windows and web-based application for instant messaging that also allows you to make calls to others with Google Talk only. Google Voice is a free Google Internet service that uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to enable users to make and receive calls for free. You don’t have to be at your computer and can call any number. In this post we’ll explore how using Google Voice can cut down your phone bill.

Google Voice is similar to Skype in that it enables you to make a call and video chat. To make calls you will need a Gmail or Talk account (signing up is free). To video chat, you will need to download Google’s video plug-in, have a working microphone and speakers.

To start, open Gmail or Talk and look in your chat list for “call phone.” When you click the button, a number pad pops up. Dial a number or enter the name of someone in your contact list to call them.

Google Voice lets you make calls to landlines and mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada for free. International calls start at $.02 per minute.

You will be able to receive calls if you have a Google Voice account. The account is free and all you have to do is pick out a phone number. The number will be display in others’ caller IDs when you make a call. You can set up the account to forward calls to another number and also set up a voicemail.

The sound quality for outgoing calls is better than I expected. It actually sounds better than making calls on my cell phone when I have little reception. The only drawbacks that I could find is that Google Voice is not able to place or receive emergency calls and if you didn’t reserve a number in your city when this featured rolled out, then you’re out of luck. I tried making a Google Voice account but there weren’t any Los Angeles  phone numbers available. To learn more about the cost of replacing your landline with other VOIP services, check out Bargain Babe’s take on the subject.

My contract with AT&T is not up yet and breaking it would cost me a hefty $235 termination fee. Verizon’s technology does not support multitasking like making a call and downloading e-mails at the same time. With AT&T I have unlimited voice, text and data, and can multitask to my heart’s content for $125 a month. Verizon’s unlimited $30 data package is only available for a limited time so I run the risk of switching after it has ended. If you’re caught in the same predicament as I am and want to figure out what the best option for you is, check out my price comparison chart below.

As you can see in the chart, AT&T is the cheaper option if you go with the lowest data, voice and text options. The prices do not include taxes, so expect to pay a little bit more. To make the right decision for you, consider how you plan to use your phone. I don’t travel overseas, so if I switch to Verizon it won’t affect me that their technology does not work overseas. If you need an unlimited data plan, Verizon is for you. If I switch, I will do it once my contract is over and this will give me some time to see whether Verizon can handle all the iPhone users on their network. Back in 2007, AT&T’s network was overwhelmed and the drop calls began.

Will you be switching?

]]> http://bargainbabe.com/2011/02/14/att-vs-verizon-which-iphone-4-is-less-expensive/feed/ 5 http://bargainbabe.com/2011/02/03/reader-gloat-hot-tv-deal/ http://bargainbabe.com/2011/02/03/reader-gloat-hot-tv-deal/#comments Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:03:19 +0000 bargainbabe http://bargainbabe.com/?p=23276

Ready to watch the game. Credit: wwworks/Flickr

Longtime reader Dave shared – ok, bragged – about the discount he got on a new TV just in time for the Superbowl! He writes:

I just bought a new 47″ Big Screen TV at a tremendous price.

Vizio M470NV model. ALL the “Bells & Whistles” including Wireless Internet Access (Netflix streaming of movies, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). LED/LCD, surround sound, blu-ray remote with keyboard, etc, etc.

Price at Vizio.com = $1429.99 (MSRP)

Average “best price” = $999

Price at Sam’s Club = $948

“Instant Discount” currently at Sam’s = $150

Price at Sam’s thru 1/30/2011 = $798

Dave got the TV for 44% off the MSRP – a fantastic deal! Did you buy a new TV for the Superbowl? Looking for a Superbowl party menu under $25? I’m going to be flying during the Superbowl this Sunday so the plane will be empty (yay!) but I’ll also miss the commercials. Hehehe.

F. Montino/Flickr

Reader Sharon wrote in with how she used coupons, bonuses, and a price comparison app to save enough money to cover her Droid cell phone bill this month.

Also, just HAVE to share with you how I’m making my new Droid 2 pay for itself – I downloaded the “red laser” app that scans the bar code and when I check out I ask if they’ll match the price. Last week I got something at Office Max for ½ the price, saving $15! Then I went to JC Penney’s and there was an AWESOME Cuisinart can opener on sale for $59.99 down from $79.99. Now, I would NEVER spend $60 on a can opener, even though I’ve been going through cheap ones like crazy and my hands no longer can turn the hand held ones. So I decided to scan the bar code and found it online for $39.99! PLUS I had $20 rewards for JCP, so I paid a total of $19.99 for my new WONDERFUL, one touch Cuisinart can opener – and the FIRST Cuisinart product I’ve ever owned! YEAH! So…I’m well on the way to paying my monthly phone bill in just one day buying things I need. Feel free to share.

Gotten any hot deals lately?

Daniel Y. Go / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

If you’re an iPhone user, you already know there are thousands of apps (short for applications) that make life a little bit easier. Many apps have free “lite” versions that can be downloaded without charge from iTunes, but others cost anywhere between .99 to $999.99. You read that right! Some apps like Bar Max: California edition, which is intended for law students studying for the California bar exam, are very expensive.

So what’s a frugal iPhone user supposed to do? Buy iPhone apps on sale. You don’t have to stick to free “lite” versions of apps anymore. Companies occasionally lower an app’s price to attract new users and you can take advantage of this. To score discounted iPhone apps, commit to checking the iTunes store or Apple App store once a week to find what’s on sale. Although this task can be tedious, it really pays off.

Better yet, use a free app to find out when the apps you want go on sale. I’m talking about App miner, which sends you push notifications when the apps you want go on sale. I’ve already downloaded App miner and I’m waiting for Angry Birds to go on sale so I can buy the full version. (Angry Birds Free is not as good.)

I try to only download free apps, but Angry Birds is so addictive. The only app I’ve paid for is a $.99 Hootsuite app that I use to keep in touch with our BargainBabe.com readers on Facebook and Twitter. I use the Hootsuite app all the time to schedule tweets and Facebook updates.

Bargain Babe wrote about feeling guilty for paying for an app that cost her $.99. If you’ve been wanting to get an app that cost money, wait for a sale. In the meantime, try these free iPhone apps to help you lose weight, save money, get organized and quit smoking.

tolomea/Flickr

This post is brought to you by Isoclad, supplier of high quality insulated wall panels.

I wouldn’t touch – yawn – energy efficiency if it weren’t such a darn good way to save money. So to spice up this list of 12 frugal home efficiency improvements, I tossed in new gadgets and technologies that companies are developing to make slashing energy easier and hopefully, more fun.

1. Recycle heat. A new super efficient clothes dryer available in Europe consumes half the heat of a traditional model by recycling heat, says Norman L. Dean, President of TopTen USA, which ranks the top ten most efficient home products. Instead of venting steam, the dryer runs the hot exhaust over a series of coils that absorbs the heat and puts it back into dryer. It’s called a heat pump close dryer and could be on the market in a couple of years.

2. Dodge the draft. Buy or make simple door draft dodgers, cloth strips filled with rice or batting that snuggle up against the bottom of your door. They come in various lengths and patterns and also muffle noises. Look for them at your local hardware store, Bed Bath & Beyond, or pick up material to make one at a fabric store.

3. Get smart. With your sockets, that is. Smart sockets look like surge protectors and can detect when you power down one gadget, like your laptop. This gadget jumps to action and shuts off additional devices, like your printer and monitor.  New models are coming out that will shut off power if you’ve been out of the room for a set period of time.

4. Double your doorway. Energy Star fiberglass doors are five times as insulating as standard wooden doors, according to Home Depot. A so-called storm door weatherproofs, insulates, and can be fitted to your existing doorway. Get step by step directions to install a storm door. If you have storm windows, check that they are closed.

5. See past CFLs. Solid state diode lamps. Researchers are working to make these light sources, including LEDs, bright enough for everyday use and widely available. “We’re convinced there will be a lot of high quality LED light bulbs for consumers,” said Dean of Top Ten USA. When? Within five years.

6. Let sun in. Open the shades on your south facing windows during the day to soak up as much sunlight and warmth as possible. Keeps shades closed the rest of the time to avoid chills.

7. Nix the sports bar setting on your TV, which is brighter than it needs to be for home use and sucks up 20 percent more power, Dean said. Dim the lights when you watch and you can lower the brightness setting even more, saving more. If your TV has an auto brightness control, it will do the work for you. Controlling brightness is key because that is where most of the power goes. If you have a 3-D TV, you are out of luck! These sets have to be much brighter than traditional TVs because watchers wear shutter glasses, reducing the amount of light that gets to your eyes.

8. Cool food on the counter. Hot food wastes energy by making your fridge work extra hard. Instead, let your food cool on the counter for an hour or so until it gets close to room temperature (while making sure edibles do not expire). Then refrigerate. On the flip side, let frozen items do the work for the refrigerator by thawing them inside, instead of on the counter.

9. Flip the switch. Turn on the “power saver” or “energy saver” switch near the temperature controls and leave it on unless you get condensation. The switch turns off a heater that reduces condensation on the outside of the fridge. Buy an inexpensive thermometer and make sure your fridge is at the right temperature, which is 36-38 Fahrenheit. The freezer should be between 0-5 Fahrenheit. Check that the seal around your fridge door is not leaking cool air by slipping a dollar bill between the door and the body of the fridge. Close it and if you can easily pull the bill out, you need a new seal. Grime can loosen the seal, so cleaning might put off replacement.

10. If new windows are out of budget, pick up a plastic window kit to provide an extra layer of insulation. They cost $10-$15 bucks and all you need is a hairdryer to tighten a thin layer of plastic sheeting, which you secure with double sided tape. Caulking leaks is another step that is cheaper than replacing windows.

11. Heat water with air. A new type of hot water heater sucks heat from the air. These hybrid water heaters works the same way a heat pump pulls heat out of the ground. I wouldn’t want one in the heated areas of my home, but they are good for a garage, basement, or laundry annex. They are now moving into the marketplace. GE claims its new hybrid water heater saves $320 a year. Buy one and get a $300 federal tax credit. Rheem also makes one.

12. Get audited. Doesn’t sound fun, but hiring a reputable energy auditor (some utilities will send an inspector to your home for free) to bring in high tech sensors that will tell you where you are losing the most energy means you can attack the biggest energy wasters first.

therichbrooks/Flickr

Yesterday I parted with $.99 to download Boggle onto my iPhone, the second time I’ve ever paid for an app. Already, I’ve played Boggle for two hours, steadily increasing my scores from the low 20s to a high of 36.

I felt guilty about the purchase because there are sooo many free apps. On the other hand, I can afford $.99 for good, clean fun. And besides, the free knock-off version of Boggle stank.

I asked my Facebook friends if buying apps was frugal or cheap.

Jason said the purchase made me “Frugal, cheap would get getting someone else to get them for you.”

Jessica said “Discerning!”

Bonnie said “Frugal for sure, especially considering how many apps are available.:-)”

Eugene said “I’ve only ever paid for 2 myself: Colbert’s ‘the Word’ app, and This American Life. Considering I’ve barely ever used them, I doubt I’ll ever buy another!”

Bob said “…or….just not that into apps, … perhaps!”

Do you pay for apps? How many have you purchased?

PS. I plan to break into the 40-point zone soon!

MiFi – A small device that allows you to set up a WiFi hot spot wherever you are.
3G – A high-speed Internet network that the 3G iPad can connect to (the WiFi iPad can only connect to WiFi hotspots, like at McDonalds, Starbucks, or your local library).

This chart assumes you do not break anything and incur replacement costs. Check warranties on all devices before you buy.