Gaming can be a pretty expensive hobby. Top-selling game consoles such as the Sony PlayStation 4 and the Microsoft Xbox One cost $300 or more, and games for these systems cost around $50 apiece. Granted, a single game should provide many hours of entertainment, but even if you buy only five new games a year, that's still a $250-a-year habit.But high-priced console games aren't the only games in town. If you care less about the technology than about the feeling being immersed in a virtual world, there are many on-screen games you can play right on your home computer for little or no money. … [Read more...]
Amy Livingston
How to Avoid Bait & Switch Advertising Scams Offering “Free” Stuff
Everyone loves a bargain, and nothing's a better bargain than something that's completely free. That's why any deal that has the word "free" attached - whether it's a free kids' meal at a restaurant, a free trial issue of a magazine, or a free email account - brings customers running.The simple truth is, companies are in business to make money. So when they offer you something for free, they're not doing it just out of the goodness of their hearts - they expect to make money, one way or another. And sometimes, the money doesn't actually come out of your pocket. For instance, when Google … [Read more...]
Best Affordable Tabletop Games – Board Games, RPGs, Cards & Party Games
Games have been around much longer than gaming systems. Decades and even centuries before computers ever came on the scene, people spent their evenings sitting around a table with their friends and family members, playing games of all kinds - from cards, to checkers, to charades. And even in this modern, high-tech world, these old-fashioned games are as much fun as ever.If the only way you've ever played a game is sitting in front of a screen, then you're missing out on a whole world of possibilities. Tabletop gaming offers a huge variety of choices, including board games, card games, and … [Read more...]
How Repair Cafés & Fix-It Groups Can Save You Money and Avoid Waste
Suppose one morning, your coffee maker breaks. There are two things you can do: repair it or replace it. Unfortunately, the "repair" option isn't always easy.You can try to fix the machine yourself, or ask a handy family member for help. But if that doesn't work, you might be out of options. These days, local repair shops are few and far between - and even if you can find one, the repair is likely to cost more than going down to the store and buying a new one.But if you're lucky enough to live in a city with a Repair Café or other fix-it group, there's another alternative. You can take … [Read more...]
Top 13 Tuition-Free Colleges: How to Get a Degree for Free
These days, a college education is hugely expensive. According to the College Board, the annual "sticker price" of tuition and fees range from $3,440 at a community college to over $32,000 at a private, four-year college. Steep costs have caused many college graduates to start their working life with thousands of dollars in student loan debt.At the same time, students all over the country are getting their degrees without spending a dime for tuition. They're attending a select group of U.S. colleges and universities that are entirely free. Naturally, these tuition-free colleges aren't easy … [Read more...]
How to Avoid Miracle Health Scams & Fraudulent Health Products
We've all seen miracle health claims in magazines and Web banners. And if you happen to be suffering from one of these health conditions, it's hard not to be drawn in by them. You can't help but wonder: could this be true?In a word, no. Ads with miracle health claims like these are almost always bogus. Yet they're cleverly crafted to lure people in, wasting their money on cures that don't work - and often, keeping them from seeking out the real care they need. To avoid falling for these "miracle cure" claims, you need to learn to recognize the telltale signs of a health scam and know where … [Read more...]
6 Ways a Pressure Cooker Can Save You Money in the Kitchen
The single best way to save money on food, experts say, is to cook at home instead of eating out. Yet, according to the Washington Post, Americans these days cook less than ever - mostly because they don't have the time.This means any tool that saves you time in the kitchen can also save you money, because it helps put home-cooked meals back within your reach. Most people know they can save time by cooking with microwaves and slow cookers. However, fewer know about another kitchen gadget that can be an even bigger time-saver: the pressure cooker.Until recently, most people thought of … [Read more...]
18 Essential Tools for Do It Yourself (DIY) Projects
It's not always easy to decide whether to do it yourself (DIY) or hire a contractor. However, one advantage is clear: DIY home repairs can save you a bundle. You can use DIY tricks to save money on home decorating, house maintenance, car repairs, landscaping, and more.One of the keys to saving money on DIY is to have a well-stocked toolbox at the ready. But you don't want to go out and buy up every tool at the hardware store just on the chance that you might need it. It makes more sense to spend your tool budget on a few really good tools that you'll use over and over.Fortunately, you … [Read more...]
How to Buy Vegan and Herbivore Shoes, Clothing & Accessories
I first became a vegetarian during my college years. Personally, I gave up meat for ethical reasons - mostly because I thought factory farms were inhumane. The meat served in our dining hall wasn't that good anyway, so giving it up was no big deal. Between salad, pasta, and vegetarian dishes, I had no problem finding other things to eat.But pretty soon, to be consistent, I decided to give up leather too. After all, animal hides come from factory farms, so if I wore leather shoes or belts, I was still supporting those same farms. And that's where things started to get tricky.I … [Read more...]
5 Bad Habits That Are Costing You Money and How to Break Them
We all have our bad habits. Mine is a sweet tooth. I know that I'd be healthier if I could quit eating sugar, but the vague promise of better health in the future pales next to the joy of eating a chocolate chip cookie right now.Fortunately, there is one thing that keeps me from bingeing on sugar every day: the cost. For instance, a warm brownie sundae from Baskin-Robbins costs $5.49 plus tax. Scarfing down one of those every day would cost me about $40 a week, or over $2,000 a year. That's enough to stop me from splurging, even if the 800 calories in the sundae aren't.Of course, … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Stop Spam Email, Unwanted Messages & Robocalls
You scroll through your e-mail inbox in disgust. Once again, it's full of spam. Lately, it seems, you're getting so many of these fake e-mail messages that you can barely find the few real ones.Unwanted commercial email, messages, and robocalls - better known as spam - is a nuisance at best. At worst, it's a way to scam you out of your hard-earned cash. But it's so common these days that we often feel like there's nothing we can do about it. We know there are ways to stop junk mail, but spam seems like it's a fact of life.However, there are things you can do. You probably can't stop … [Read more...]