GET ANSWERS TO TECH QUESTIONS

You can search the web and get answers to just about every technical question you have.
Of course, just because you find it doesn't mean it's necessarily the right answer. To save you some time (and some money, of course) we've done a little research.

Before we begin, here comes the BIG DISCLAIMER: We don't endorse any of these sites. All we're saying is that they have a higher degree of accuracy than most. Just like everything else, it's up to you to do you're own research. Now that we've made our lawyers happy, here's the info:

1. http://www.cnet.com/ - This is a great site for general technology stuff (i.e. just about anything electronic - computers, DVD players, digital cameras, and the list goes on.......)

2. http://www.dpreview.net/ - Digital Camera Reviews - in addition to CNET above, this is a good place to check out before you buy a digital camera.

3. http://www.cnet.com/hdtv-world - HDTV World is part of CNET and does a good job of telling you what HDTV fits your needs. (Yes, HDTV has its own world. Who knew?)

4. http://www.hdtvinfoport.com/ - HDTV Info Port - another site that tells you everything you ever wanted to know about HDTV but were afraid to ask.

5. http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx - Antenna Web - you've bought the HDTV and want to know the best antenna to buy to maximize your reception......this is the place.

6. http://www.tomshardware.com/us/ - Tom's Hardware: You want to know about computers and networking? Start here.

Additionally, take a look at one of our past posts: http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2009/01/free-tech-help-online.html, which covers some tech stuff not included above.

Is your head exploding yet? We're sorry. Technology advances are coming fast and furious, and it's almost impossible to keep up. Whatever state-of-the-art gadget you buy today will be obsolete soon. When in doubt, ask a teen....they know all this stuff. But seriously folks, as we have repeatedly told you: Be an educated consumer. Before you spend a dime, do your research!

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MOVING ON THE CHEAP

Has anyone ever had a good experience with movers?

Moving is one of the biggest nightmares in life. All the junk you have to sort through.....all the dust you've collected.....as well as all that stuff you had to save that has never seen the light of day since the last time you moved.

That little litany reminds TEAM CHEAPIOSITY of a major moving disaster that happened to a couple of old friends. They did everything right, preparing for their move cross country from New York City to Los Angeles. They used a major nationwide mover. They carefully packed all their cherished possessions in bubble wrap and labeled everything perfectly. In their empty apartment, they waited patiently for their belongings to arrive. A couple of days passed, and a representative of the major nationwide mover called to let them know that their moving van was in an accident, flipped over and caught fire. Everything they owned was gone, every stitch, every page, every single thing EXCEPT for one item, a wedding gift that they hated!

True story. Why would anyone make that up? Recognizing that our friends move was catastrophic and probably quite rare, your knowing how to intelligently face one of life's bigger stresses can save you a lot of money and a lot of anxiety. And there's probably some comfort in knowing that no matter how badly any move of yours may go, you'll probably do way better than our friends did.

Here's some more useful tips:

Shop around
Moving costs vary wildly so be sure to get estimates from at least three moving companies before you hire someone. As free site: http://www.citymove.com/ lets consumers put out a call for bids, and registered movers can then respond online for easy comparison shopping. (Make sure estimates include how long the job will take so you can effectively compare flat-fee and hourly bids.)
Also ask the mover to inspect your home and goods in person ahead of time to make sure there aren't any surprise charges come moving day. And inquire about any other fees that could come into play, and under what circumstances. Some movers, for example, pay any parking or traffic tickets incurred during the move, while others pass them along to the customer. Good to know in advance.

Conduct a background check
Picking a mover based solely on price is a big mistake. Check http://www.bbb.org/ and http://www.yelp.com/ for consumer reviews, and ask the moving company for three recent customers to call. Your state's public service commission should also be able to tell you if a mover is licensed and in good standing.

Pare back on belongings
Whether a moving estimate is based on weight or a per-hour rate, more stuff almost always results in a bigger bill. As you pack, weed out items to sell at a yard sale, donate to charity or throw out. Not only will you save money on the move itself, but you'll also get some cash back in the form of yard-sale proceeds or tax deductions. (Don't sell things to save on the move if you're going to need to buy them again at the other end. Do the math.)

Reduce the mover's workload
Move un-packable items like lamps and houseplants on your own — or at least carry them out to the moving van. Every time the movers go into your house, it takes more time, which you're paying for. Also, disassemble items like bed frames before movers arrive so you don't have to pay for the time it takes them to do it.

Know what's covered
Some homeowners insurance policies cover belongings in transit. Moving company policies typically pay out by pound, rather than by the item's value. Of course, if your belongings aren't covered by a homeowner's policy, then getting coverage from your mover is better than nothing.

Ship certain items via common carrier

Many times we have items that can easily be shipped via the Post Office Parcel Post or UPS Ground/FedEx Ground, etc. For example, books, linens, towels, folded clothes, etc. You can ship ahead of time so your packages will be waiting for you at the other end. You'd be surprised how much less it costs than the movers.

Grab the tax break
The IRS allows consumers to deduct all the costs of a job-related move, provided you meet certain criteria. You must move within a year of starting the new job and remain employed for at least 39 weeks after the move. The new job must also be at least 50 miles further away from home than your old job.

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CRIME DOES PAY

Who says crime doesn't pay? Not the people at: http://www.propertyroom.com/.

Watches, cars, bicycles, diamonds, coins, currency.....you name it, they've got it.

PropertyRoom.com is the largest and most popular Web site that auctions legally recovered goods online. The company works with more than 800 law enforcement agencies nationwide to collect, package and sell unreturned, found and seized goods in practically every category, from consumer goods to real estate, cars and boats. Based in Mission Viejo, California, PropertyRoom.com is owned and managed by former police and law enforcement officials.

PropertyRoom.com works with more than 800 law enforcement agencies nationwide to auction found, seized and other personal property online. The PropertyRoom site also hosts trusted third-party merchants, such as Always At Market, that auction goods in accordance with the company’s strict guidelines and standards. PropertyRoom guarantees transactions for buyers and sellers by monitoring the payment and delivery process.

"Book 'em, Dano......Murder One"

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CASH FOR CLUNKERS

The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) is a $1 billion government program that helps consumers buy or lease a more environmentally-friendly vehicle from a participating dealer when they trade in a less fuel-efficient car or truck. The program is designed to energize the economy, boost auto sales and put safer, cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles on the nation's roadways. Consumers will be able to take advantage of this program and receive a $3,500 or $4,500 discount from the car dealer when they trade in their old vehicle and purchase or lease a new one.

For complete information go to: http://www.cars.gov/, http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-clunkers14-2009aug14,0,4867108,print.story; http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/autos/4-clunker-traps-car-buyers-should-avoid/?cid=1122

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STORING FRUITS & VEGETABLES TO SAVE MONEY

We saw this blog entry on Consumer Reports website and thought we'd share it with our loyal readers. We don't want to see you save money on beautiful fresh summer produce only to find it spoiled in your refrigerator. Waste is so very unCHEAPIOSITY.

By the way, those "green bags" you see advertised on TV, HSN and in stores, actually work! Who'd'a thunk it? Thank you, Debbie Meyer. Actually, these green bags have been available in maritime stores all along, to keep produce fresh.

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2009/06/best-ways-to-store-fruits-and-vegetables-consumer-reports-refrigerator-ratings-review-.html

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TRAVEL SITES UPDATE

From time to time we come across new and better information about Travel that we want to share with you. Remember to check out our previous postings first: http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/03/welcome-to-our-cheapiosity-blog.html and
http://cheapiosity.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-travel-tips.html
While the information is still good, the internet is always changing and so are websites. Here’s more good stuff. Remember this info is good as of the original date of this posting:

Dohop.com This site is strictly for booking flights outside the USA and between cities outside the USA (i.e, Paris to London). It includes the budget airlines (like RyanAir and EasyJet in Europe).

Priceline.com The granddaddy discounter helps hotels, car-rental agencies, and airlines unload all sorts of inventory at well below published prices. We realize Priceline may not be for the faint of heart, but if you’re flexible, it can save you mucho bucks. You can also book the old-fashioned way on Priceline, and their system is no better or worse than Expedia, Orbitz, etc.

TripAdvisor.com This user-hotel-review site is the top way to hunt for hotels. Sometimes the user reviews can be all over the place, but the site can be very helpful. We recently helped a friend find accommodations in Shanghai, and the site proved to be very useful, and he was ultimately pleased with his selection. Kayak-owned TravelPost is another review site, but it’s new and doesn’t have nearly the amount of reviews. We’ll be watching it for the future.

Kayak.com We always check this site for airfares, hotels, and car rentals. Very often they offer the cheapest rates. We also like the way they operate; once you find what you like, they hook you up directly with the website. When doing your research, always include Kayak in your search options. Team CHEAPIOSITY does.

Venere.com spotlights independently owned properties overseas, many of which never show up on American travel sites. Any booking site can point you to large, widely known hotels. But you might prefer to stay in a charming inn or a small property on your next trip, especially if you're traveling to Europe. Venere also offers other kinds of alternative lodging, such as apartments, pensions, and farmhouses.

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HAPPY HAGGLING

At Team CHEAPIOSITY, haggling is our middle name. Metaphorically speaking, Mom. We just don’t see the need to pay full price for most things and ESPECIALLY big ticket items. And yes, you can haggle even in department and discount stores if you've the stomach for it. We’ve discussed this in various posts over the years, but there’s nothing like a refresher. MSN Money recently published an article that we want to share to rejuvenate your haggling juices:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SmartSpending/FindDealsOnline/how-to-haggle-with-kmart.aspx

Earlier today, a friend called Team CHEAPIOSITY from a car dealership. She had just gone into the dealership to test drive a model to see if she liked it. The salesmen had her all in a tizzy so she called us and put us on the phone with him. We weren’t trying to haggle with him. We simply explained in no uncertain terms that we could see through his dog-and-pony show, and the price started to drop. This was without our even trying…..once the salesman knew he was dealing with an experienced car buyer he backed down and sent out his boss as our friend ran for her life!

Our point is: business stinks. You've got control of your wallet. The bargaining ball is in your court. No one wants to lose a buyer. They want to make a sale. So haggle to your advantage. It's the smart thing to do.

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