I’m so happy! I am always so happy when I get a great deal. 
I have a computer with a Vista 64-bit operating system. It’s much easier to find compatible software than it used to be, but it can still be a challenge with the older programs, like my beloved Paint Shop Pro 8 and 9. I loved those programs. But they won’t really work on my machine. PSP 9 will technically “work,” but it has to re-adjust the display settings when it starts up and closes, and I just hate it. SO I’d been keeping my eyes peeled for a newer version of PSP (and my kids wanted the older versions of their computers, so…).
I was browsing at Staples and saw a terrific package called the “Corel Word Perfect Home Media Works” but it was priced at $80! And that was a sale price, too! Gulp. The package looked perfect though– it has Paint Shop Pro X, ULead VideoStudio (which I’ve been wanting for a long time, to replace the Windows MovieMaker I have), WordPerfect X3, and the Intervideo DVD Copy 5 Express. All four programs for $80 was actually a great deal, since PSP sells for about $50 and the newest version is about $100. But still, $80? No way.
I shopped aorund on eBay and found two there. Oh my word, they were $20, brand new and never opened! I ordered it and it came today. The package is definitely brand new– everything is installed– and I just love it! I now have my new PSP (works perfectly) and my ULead. I am flying high!!
So when you see something, especially software, look around at Amazon and eBay. And if you are looking for software, try an older version. Usually there is nothing wrong with an older version and you can save the big bucks just by avoiding the new stuff.
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Tags: eBay, Paint Shop Pro
Well, I no longer have health insurance. Not unless I want to pay $500 a month for coverage. Holy cow! I don’t even spend that much on health care in a YEAR! I eat right, watch my diet, *try* to exercise, and I brush and floss every day. I do, however, wear eyeglasses. And the ones I have right now are several years old. I have to get a replacement, and since I’ll be paying out of pocket, guess what I’m going to do?
I’m going straight to ZenniOptical.com. I really like this site. It has everything. At the optician’s place, I could only choose one out of about a dozen styles (and the styles were pretty lame there). At ZenniOptical.com, I have loads and loads of choices! I am in control at last, not my HMO! It’s actually kind of liberating.
By now you might be wondering why on earth I sound so happy– these costs are coming out of pocket! Well, guess what– eyeglasses at ZenniOptical.com are costing me the same amount as my old co-pay for the cheesy-looking HMO glasses! Eyeglasses at ZenniOptical.com are as low as $8. It’s been making a sensation in the media. I’d heard about ZenniOptical.com on Clark Howard (love his show) and now they are mentioned in a book!
Frugal times call for frugal methods. Check out ZenniOptical.com. The selection is great, and there are quality lenses for every type of eye and prescription there. I love them!
Tags: eyeglasses, frugal, online shopping, shopping
The Internet is filled with advice on how to manage your money. Finding a reputable website can be quite the arduous task! However– it is not an impossible task. I’ll admit- my husband and I are in debt. Several years ago, he lost his job and couldn’t find another one (this has happened twice so far in the terrible New York State economy). The jobs he did find paid only half of what he was making previously. Ouch. Back then, we knew very little about debt and how to manage it. There were really no resources available to us (that we knew of). But now, thanks to websites like Bills.com, we can read about managing finances, paying off debt, and learning about how to wisely consolidate debt. Bills.com offers excellent articles, testimonials, and debt and mortgage calculators to use to manage debt and improve one’s finances.
At Bills.com, you can learn about:
the importance of credit counseling
debt negotiation
debt consolidation
the benefits of a debt management program
debt settlement
debt relief and how to get it
Certainly, the most important thing to do when working out of debt is to create a plan and stick to it! Consolidation can help, because it can reduce your interest rates, reduce payments yet pay off the amount quicker, and it also has the effect of giving you a solid plan for paying off the debt. I have recently consolidated my own debt and am no longer frittering away, throwing money at various accounts.
Before the Internet, we were at the mercy of the banks for advice and help with financial matters. But computers and the web has changed all that, and information is now at your fingertips. So if you are in need of some good information, take a look online at Bills.com. They even have a little “Boot Camp” to consolidate debt! 
Tags: bills, debt, financial matters, Internet
I’ve been scouring local retail stores and the Internet, looking for software deals. My daughter received a “pre-owned” laptop as an early graduation gift, but it needs reformatting something fierce. Unfortunately, the Windows OS disks did not come with the laptop. Before I will allow her to connect the laptop to our network and the Internet, the machine must be reformatted. I was looking around online for prices on Windows XP (which we decided she would use), and was appalled at the cost of the operating system! I was so, so tempted to just install Ubuntu (which is free)! But for my daughter’s sake, I can’t; a lot of her programs wouldn’t work and she is accustomed to XP. Retail stores still had this seven-year OS for $200! My eyeballs were a-popping! I surfed around eBay, and prices were lower… but to be honest, I’m not terribly keen on eBay, especially when it comes to electronics and software. You just can’t be sure that it’s the real thing until you buy it. Too risky for this cautious shopper.
I have been using online “retail” stores (like Tiger Direct, Overstock, Amazon), and even with shipping costs, these stores still win, hands down. I have had good experience with them. However, if you are shopping online, be sure to check for coupons and promo codes first! This is a must. My sidebar has a list of good shopping links, so check them out. I have yet to add Coupon Chief, my new favorite coupon store. I think they have every store on the planet, even have Bluefly coupons for the intense shopping fans, and even Home Depot coupons, lol!
I have found online stores to offer better deals. If you are looking for even better discounts, always check for coupons and promo codes. Check my “Shopping” sidebar for my favorite stores and links.
Update: Coupon Chief link added. Check out the links if you shop online. As I discover more discount sites, I’ll add them. Look in the sidebar for the dropdown menu “Shopping.”
