Being more simple makes you smarter

I found a great article about ways to save money.  That’s a resounding theme in our house … why pay more than you have to?  Learn about the 10 things you overpay for here.

Another useful site that I found this morning:  www.billshrink.com

Have you made any lifestyle changes recently, to spend your money smarter?

Let’s chat about it, today after 3pm.

Sometimes you just want to scream

Frustration.

Many things cause it, and throughout life, we find a way to reduce it, release it, even eliminate it.

We disconnected our home phone number this week, but kept the DSL — and the phone company has been nothing but trouble ever since.  Our internet was down over a day (they made me RE-APPLY to be their customer), and now the internet is operating at only 1/10th the speed it used to be.

They’re sending a new modem (“that should help somewhat”), but the changeover also destroyed all of my outgoing mail server settings.

I’m at my wit’s end with this stuff, and SO tired of all the excuses.

Any suggestions on frustration release?  What do YOU do when you can’t stand it anymore?   The last time you let it all go?

Let’s chat about it, today after 3pm.

Your favorite new techno toy

I’m always searching for things to make our lives easier.

In early January, I mentioned a “mystery” new product that Jill & I were checking out.  The trial period is now over, and we LOVE it.  As a result, we’ve just dropped our home local & long distance service from the big guys.

For only $20 a year, you get a local phone number, and all local & LD calling.  Caller ID, forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, you name it.  All the features you’re used to.  Plus, international calling to Aunt Liz & Uncle Willie in Scotland is only 2 cents a minute.

It is www.magicJack.com … all you need is an internet connection.

Instead of $30-40 a month, we’ll pay $20 a year.  That’s a CHUNK of change saved, and the difference goes right into Roy’s college fund.

I’m curious about your favorite new techno gadget of the last month, even the last year.  Is it saving you money too?

Let’s chat about it today, after 3pm.

You can’t afford to be unaware anymore

I read an article about recent credit & finance tightening over the weekend.  Even folks who thought they had great credit were finding their accounts frozen by anxious banks.

I followed the author’s suggestion and went online to download my free credit reports, plus our free credit score.

It’s amazing how much is at our fingertips this days.  A few keystrokes, and you can do just about anything.

Here are a few sites I think are a must-read, regarding the above:

• www.annualcreditreport.com, the government-run free credit report site.  You get 1 free report, from each of the 3 agencies, once a year.
• www.creditkarma.com, get your free credit score.  Truly free.

Any idea how many websites you visit each day?  Your favorites?  Something new you just found?   Share with me.

Make it a great day, and thanks for playing!