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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!
I recently considered buying an iPad and discovered there are four different ways to buy it that result in a price difference of $330! The iPad is by no means a necessity, according to an Apple-obsessed friend of mine, but if you are going to buy one you might as well get a deal. See below for basic tech terms.
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.
William Brawley/Flickr
The January issue of ShopSmart mag, a shopper-friendly publication put out by Consumer Reports, shares places to find cheap music to download and stream (which is playing music online without downloading it). I’ve summarized the best nine sources of cheap music below, in no particular order.
Amazon.com – MP3 music downloads come cheap at Amazon if you pay attention to the deals. Individual tracks cost $.69, $.99, or $1.29 each and albums are about $8. But everyday the site offers (more…)
A reader recently asked me for tips on holiday-related smartphone apps.
Do you have any posts about which is the best Christmas list budget or APP tool so you can keep track of what you bought and what your budget is?
The short answer is no. However, today I got an email from GetJar, which claims to be the world’s largest open app store. They tipped me off to five free useful holiday apps. If you are looking for unusual gift ideas, I’ve got ‘em!
- Shopsavvy scans barcodes so you can compare prices in the store and know if you are getting a deal. Price: free. (more…)
ahans / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I have never been one of those persons who wakes up at the crack of dawn to hit the malls on Black Friday. Every year, my aversion to large crowds trumps my need to save money. I can’t bear standing in line for hours just to save a few bucks. So what’s a frugal hermit like me do to – score on Cyber Monday.
No elbow-jabbing, or push-and-shove drama like on Black Friday. On Cyber Monday, I shop in my jammies from the comfort of my home. Here are my best four tips to help you score big and have a pleasant experience. (more…)
When Max at Cheapism.com approached me about a post, I scratched my head. This guy has been featured in the New York Times – no joke!
Max founded Cheapism.com after struggling to find reviews of a low-end vacuum. He spent $60 for a machine that barely worked. Where were the reviews of cheap items?
Enter Cheapism.com, which focuses on products in the bottom third of the price range. Now his site has reviews of cheap products in 110 different categories, including cheap mattresses, cheap hiking boots, and cheap laptops.
Cheapism is like ConsumerReports, but for cheap folks like you and me. Recommendations are based on products reviews and item specifications and prices are updated every few weeks to make sure they are accurate. They do not take into account coupons, however.
One thing I like about the site is that it has the guts to call out products not worth buying. Ad revenues support the site, which is free to use.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my blog advertising page.
ilamont.com
Reader Ellen asked for advice on cell phone insurance.
Two phones ago I lost the capacity to (gasp) text message! When I went to the Verizon store they told me that there was nothing I could do except wait until my upgrade kicks in, buy a new phone ($$$) or wait it out. (Yes, I waited it out.)
They also mentioned that cell phone insurance may have taken care of the alleged damage. Cell phone insurance? (more…)
The old printer that is paying for itself!
This post is brought to you by Printerbox, supplier of Epson ink cartridges, Jet-Tec ink cartridges and more.
If you are in the market for a new printer and like to shop at Staples, look for a machine that has multiple ink cartridges. Here’s why.
When I moved across the country on a budget I had to choose between spending $50 to check my print/copier/scanner as airline baggage, buying a new one when I arrived (also about $50), or testing out an old clunky one that my roommate agreed to let me use. My decision to try out the old machine turned out to be very savvy.
Why would I hesitate to use the old printer? My roommate was not sure it worked because it was out of ink. I would have to buy brand new ink cartridges just to test it out. To my great annoyance, the printer required FOUR cartridges, three for color and one for black and white. Plus, the old timer, above, is not anywhere as sleek and sexy as my California printer.
I decided to hedge my bets that the old machine was in working condition and (more…)
Entertainment books – New contest! 25 random winners will win two 2010 Entertainment Books of their choosing. Like the BargainBabe.com and Lozo page on Facebook to enter. If you’re not on Facebook, this is a good reason to join!
Free tote – Get a free tote if you are a woman fighting cancer.
White Castle - Here is a White Castle coupon for a buy one get one free Saver Sacks.
McAlister’s – Today only! If you live near a McAlister’s Deli, head on over for a free sweet iced tea.
Free apps – Coupon Cravings has a neat list of the top 30 money saving iPhone apps.
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake
Sirius - get a free 30-day satellite radio trial and access dozens of channels.
Cheesecake Factory – Put Friday, July 30, 2010 on your calender. That’s when cheesecake slices are half off in celebration of National Cheesecake Day. Snag this coupon to get a slice a day early for just $1.50!
Staples – Here are three Staples coupons for $5 to $50 off that can be used on most anything in the store, including computers. Expires Saturday, July 24, 2010.
Vista Print – Get 250 free business cards from Vista Print when you foot the shipping, about $5.
The Limited - Stroll into The Limited and pick up a $10 Fashion Pass that can be used on most items in the store. Cha-ching!
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
paalia/Flickr
A recent survey by CESI Debt Solutions found a whopping 80% of us hide purchases from our partners. Ouch! Some 18.5% of married couples have credit cards their spouse don’t even know about! I’m not sure how that is possible. Wouldn’t they see the bill, notice transfers out of a bank account, or wonder where new items around the house came from?
According to the survey of more than 200 Americans, spouses are secretly buying:
- 34.5% clothing and accessories
- 24% food/dining
- 19.5% beauty/personal care items
- 16.5% gifts
- 13% alcohol
- 9% entertainment
- 9.5% music/cd/mp3
- 8.5% childcare/items for children
The last item makes me think the survey included in the “secret” category purchases not explicitly mentioned, which would inflate these numbers. The survey was conducted by a company that makes money from helping people pay down credit card debt so I suppose the more people overspend, the more their business is necessary. But forgetting to mention a purchase is different than keeping something secret. You took the kid to JC Penney for new underwear? Not exactly scintillating dinner conversation.
Most financial cheaters kept their spending on the down low to avoid problems at home, the survey found. Ya think?! Oh honey, I forgot to tell you I owe $6,000. Guess we won’t be going on vacation, after all.
- 46% are currently paying off the debt and feel s/he doesn’t need to know
- 43% want to avoid an argument
- 27% will never tell their spouse about their spending
- 19.9% are concerned it would end the relationship
- 11% plan to tell their spouse, but are not ready yet
So the question is not whether you have cheated financially on your partner, but what purchase were you hiding? Or perhaps you have a story to tell about discovering a secret purchase?
One of the biggest fights I ever had with a significant other was when I discovered he had purchased a TiVo in secret. The purchase price was not the issue, however. I was strongly against a TiVo as I was convinced I would watch too much television if we had one. He was strongly for the TiVo as it would allow him to easily record shows he liked. A great sale came up and he couldn’t resist. I found the thing in the closet about a week later and blew up – it felt like he had lied to me. Looking back, we both could have compromised and avoided the whole argument. Sigh. Live, and learn.
Computers are wonderful things when they work. When they don’t, the world comes crashing down. A lot of crashes are because of bugs. We’ve innocently downloaded malicious software, spy ware, or other nasty files onto our machine. Then minutes, days, or months later we realize our mistake and the pain kicks in.
If you don’t have anti-virus software, or aren’t happy with yours, check out the AVG Free anti-virus program. They also have an AVG LinkScanner for Mac. The free software has free 24/7 technical support, the capability to make sure your downloads are safe and it can detect rootkits hidden deep inside your operating system.
The Pro version of the AVG software is $35 or free when you buy a product through one of their partner sponsors. The idea is you buy something you want, like a Netflix subscription or a pair of Gap jeans, then get the software for free.
Want to know more? Virus expert Steve Armstrong, who is not affiliated with AVG, talks about how the mean people who write virus’ are getting more clever and better at spreading bugs. Armstrong says going forward there are going to be more virus’ aimed at collecting sensitive data (like your credit card number) through social media sites.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my Advertise page.
dalbera/Flickr
A reader named Pauline wrote in with this question.
Dear Julia: I’m trying to find a lower cost for our Internet service which is through ATT and keeps going up. Currently it’s $28.00. I don’t need to fastest thing know to man. Any suggestions??? Thanks for your great informative blog. Sincerely Pauline
What do you suggest Pauline does?
My frugal friends at Savings.com shared these coupons with me.Get $30 off 3G Smart Phones at Verizon Wireless. Expires July 10, 2010.
Get $12 off sitewide orders of $150 or more at Abes of Maine. Expires September 30, 2010.
Rejoice! Starting today Starbucks is offering free WiFi to its customers. Previously, it was a complete pain in the neck to get WiFi at Starbucks, requiring you to jump through all sorts of hoops or pay for a connection. This move will certainly attract more customers and maybe win back those who switched to McDonald’s for their cheaper coffee and free WiFi. Here is a full list of places to get free Wifi.
