DID SOMEBODY SAY FREE? A 2009 GUIDE TO FREEBIES

Kiplinger's list of freebies for 2009 is out. Naturally, we had to share:

http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2009/08/freelist_2009.html

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GADGETS, WHEN CHEAP MAKES $EN$E

New and Improved. Whether You Need It Or Not. That's the American way. Or at least it used to be. Perhaps it's high time for a new scaled-down, smartened-up approach to consumerism. Consider this before your next unnecessary upgrade. We've been brainwashed into thinking it's cool to have the latest version of everything, with all the new bells and whistles. But ask yourself and answer honestly: how many of these applications and features will you really use? Studies show that most consumers tend to overbuy; we wind up never using a lot of the applications. Manufacturers love it when consumers spend money, but more times than not, the basic model is all most people really need.

A few examples to prove our point:

1. You can buy a basic laptop computer for about $600. Desktop models are even less. A basic computer has enough memory and hard drive space for most users. Unless you really need all the multimedia extras for gaming, video editing, or other functions, DON'T SPEND THE MONEY.

2. High Definition TVs can run into the thousands of dollars. There are 2 different levels of picture resolution 720p and 1080p. Most HiDef Channels use the lower resolution, and differences to the naked eye are not that noticable, especially if the TV is 37-inches or smaller. However, the price difference will run you several hundred dollars more. DON'T BUY WHAT YOU DON'T NEED.

3. According to recent studies, average Cellphone Users use less than 20% of the gadgets on their phones. Do you really need a Smartphone? Must you get your emails instantly? Do you really need to be connect to the Internet at all times? Are you so busy that you must have your calendar and contacts with you at all times? Come on, guys, most of you know the real answer to those questions is no. There was a time in the not-very-distant past when these options weren't available, and we got along just fine. We checked our messages at home, and we used phone machines. We know that some people spend most ofo their time on the road, and these applications may come in handy and improve job performance....but answer honestly: Are you one of those people? Do you realize what all this unlimited access is actually costing you? BUY WHAT YOU NEED....FIND ANOTHER WAY TO IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS.

4. Digital Cameras are another example. Are you an amateur photographer? Do you just want to point and shoot? If the answer is yes, what are you doing with a 12-megapixel camera? Unless you're a pro or have some great need to blow up your pictures to poster-size, 6-megapixels should be plenty. Do you realize that all those additional megapixels add alot of money onto the cost of the camera? BE A MEGAPIXEL MISER....BUY ONLY WHAT YOU NEED. YOU'LL STILL TAKE GREAT PICTURES.

5. Everybody's gotta have a GPS there days. Nobody knows where they're going anymore? Get real. Ever heard of a map? Or stopping at a gas station for directions? Or Mapquest? Just a basic GPS isn't good enough either. Do you really need access to bluetooth and weather and points of interest? Don't you just need to know how to get from Point A to Point B? If you wanna know the weather, here's a thought. Open the damn window and stick your hand out! Do you really need a GPS at all? Probably not. COLUMBUS GOT HERE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WITHOUT A GPS. OF COURSE, HE THOUGHT HE WAS IN INDIA. BAD EXAMPLE. STILL, DON'T BUY YOU DON'T NEED.

Must we remind you that we're still in tough economic times? As always, Team CHEAPIOSITY reminds you: Save Your Money. Be An Educated Consumer. Stick to basics. Or Don't Buy At All.

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GLOBAL FLEA MARKETS

Everyone loves a good flea market, and your cyberfriends at Team CHEAPIOSITY are no exception. Local flea markets abound throughout the U.S.A., but what about the rest of the world?

In many foreign countries, the dollar is week. Well, duh. If you're lucky enough to find yourself abroad, find a good flea market where you can save a bundle on souvenirs and lots of other cool and unexpected cheap stuff. Check out this article for some good solid international flea-market hints:

http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2009/08/10/AR2009081001936.html

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DEMYSTIFYING PRICELINE.COM

Team CHEAPIOSITY likes Priceline.com. A lot. If you know how to work it to your advantage, like we do, you can save yourself a nice chunk of change (we like that A Lot) and stay at some nice hotels as well.....not to mention you'll save a bundle on airfare and car rentals.

We recently came across an article that demystifies the site for those who might be afraid of the unknown. Take a look and save some money:

http://www.checkbook.org/newsletter/lowest_price_hotel_rates.cfm

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CASH FOR CLUNKER APPLIANCES

Just as the brouhaha over the immensely popular Cash for Clunkers car-buying incentive program is dying down, here comes yet another ingenious government program targeting home improvement and energy efficiency upgrades on appliances. That's the catch; replacement appliances must to be Energy Efficient.

But don't panic. Here's all the information you'll need to take advantage of this ambitious and innovative $300 million Program (http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7634.htm) and here's were you can find the Energy Star qualifiying appliances (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=appliances.pr_appliances).

While the program is Federally funded, your State will determine the amount of rebate rewarded for each kind of appliance and how to apply for that rebate. We suggest you contact your local Utility Company or your State's Department of Energy for more specifics before venturing out into the marketplace uninformed.

As always, we remind you that you should only buy what you need. The best consumer is an educated consumer. Do your research before you buy anything.

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HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON CAR REPAIRS

Car repairs....a major nightmare for most of us. How do you find the right mechanic? How do know your car really needs the repair? Is the price quote fair or are you getting ripped off? We could go on, but you get the picture.

Team CHEAPIOSITY found this article from the wise people at Consumer Reports. The key seems to be keeping up with scheduled maintenance because if you let things go, repairs wind up costing you more in the long run. Hey, who do you think we are? Cliff Notes? Read the article yourself:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/september-2009/cars/car-problems/overview/car-problems-ov.htm

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THINGS TO KNOW WHEN SHOPPING AT DOLLAR STORES

Dollar stores were once snubbed by most shoppers. The stigma of poverty made it embarrassing to be seen in one. Only those too poor to go elsewhere shopped there. With the economy tanking and no end in sight, frugality is now quite chic. Smart spenders earn serious cachet and save serious cash, but there are serious risks involved with the enterprise.
Dollar stores have helped themselves. They are cleaner and better lit. They are better organized and better able to serve their clientele, new and old. That change is paying off big time. Last year was a decidedly good year for these inexpensive stores. One of the biggest, Family Dollar, saw its stock value increase by 42%, while Wall Street darlings like Apple, Fedex and JPMorgan Chase saw their values plummet by double digits. Family Dollar was Standard & Poor’s highest performing stock. As the economy sours, dollar stores get sweeter and sweeter.
Dollar stores have filled a niche for years for inexpensive, off-market goods. The goods will not have a designer (or even familiar) names, but for the most part, they are practical. However, you still need some smarts to navigate the aisles.
There are deals, but be wary. Some dollar store products are not money savers and can even be dangerous. As always, every shopper needs to have the right information to make an intelligent decision. And as always, we're here to help.
TEAM CHEAPIOSITY recommends you stay away from the following dollar store products:

BATTERIES: Look closely at the package. Many dollar store batteries are knock-offs made in the Far East with inferior materials. They leak acid and don’t last as long as other, well-known brands. You may save on the up-front cost, but replacements or damage will cost more.

CHILDREN’S TOYS & JEWELRY: Consumer Reports has found many of these items to have high concentrations of lead. The countries of origin lack government oversight or have lax regulations. If you do want to buy, look at the label closely. Where was it made? Is it a brand name? Again, TEAM CHEAPIOSITY suggests staying away from these, **especially for babies and toddlers who put everything in their mouth.

PAPER GOODS: Again, these are typically an inferior product. Foam cups and paper plates are the most frequently cited example of bad dollar store products. You can find better deals and better products at a good warehouse store. (**Exception: party goods for little kids. If you find the princess or monster truck theme that your child wants, go ahead. You'll use them for about 10 minutes and the quality isn't much of an issue.)

VITAMINS: Name brand purchased by dollar stores may be a deal, but look closely at the expiration dates. Buying expired vitamins is no bargain at all.

FOOD: Tread carefully here. There can be some bargains, but read the entire label carefully, especially if you don't recognize the brand. Check not only the expiration date, but also the ingredients and where it was made. Then make an informed decision.

ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS: Knock-offs from other countries should be avoided. They are simply not up to the standards we are accustomed to. Look at the cords and the construction. If anything looks ‘off,’ avoid it. Check to find a UL label. That is usually a sign of minimum quality standards.

TOOTHPASTE: By now most of us have heard in 2007 how certain toothpaste from China had nasty chemicals in those seemingly innocuous looking tubes. Why take a risk, especially since prices at pharmacies and supermarkets are usually competitive?

PEANUTS: The recent salmonella scandal with peanuts and peanut butter should be a wake up call for everyone. But did you know that the first recall did NOT include dollar stores even though they had a bunch on the shelves? Our advice? Stay away from peanuts and peanut butter in dollar stores for some time.

Looking at the above list carefully; there are a few constants. These constants are good advice for any shopper, any place, any time. Read labels carefully. Check the expiration date. What is the country of origin? What are the ingredients? Does the package looked damaged?
Answering these questions makes your purchased smarter and safer.
Ask one more question. Can I buy this item someplace else for a better price and/or higher quality? Often, warehouse stores offer better prices for bulk purchases. You can stock up at sales in supermarkets, and drugstore chains.

So...what are the good deals in dollar stores?

GIFT WRAP: This is especially true right after a holiday. Prices for gift wrap, gift bags, ribbons, and greeting cards are remarkably low.

CLEANING SUPPLIES: Like many products, cleaning supplies go through fads or seasons. What may be the hot product one year quickly becomes dollar store shelf filler the next perhaps because the manufacturer has introduced a new scent. There is no reason to avoid these products just because they are no longer hot. They still will clean, as long as the expiration date hasn’t been reached.

KITCHEN ACCESSORIES: A sharp shopper can really score with kitchen accessories. Sometimes these items are simply out of fashion, sometimes they are imported and sometimes the dollar store scored on a close-out. Just be careful about where it is made and what you are using it for.
After a short brief period of use, kitchen towels or potholders will get stained and worn. No amount of laundering helps. Recycle them or toss them. Expensive or inexpensive, the same fate awaits. Dollar stores is the perfect place to pick up the fresh ones.

FOOD: Yeah, we know food’s in the be-very-careful category also, but you'll be fine if you read the labels. Good products at good prices can be found. Team CHEAPIOSITY found some very good coffee for $3.50 a pound that normally would sell for about $9.00 a pound. Be sharp, be savvy and scores can be found. If it is a huge score, why not stock up?

OFFICE/SCHOOL SUPPLIES: There is no expiration date. There is little chance for contamination from lead or other chemicals. So paper, erasers and many school/office supplies are decent deals. Again, compare prices at a discount office store before committing.

PLASTICS: Buckets, bins, organizers, clothes hangers, and the like can be good deals. If you expect heavy use though, spring for a national brand. If you just want to organize some things on a shelf, these will be fine.

One more caution: it's easy to toss a lot of little things into the shopping cart when prices are low. Dollar stores count on that impulse. Don’t clutter your life with useless deals. Resist the cute little vase, a spoon rest, or an auto deodorizer.

The most important thing to remember about dollar stores is simply this: These stores make a profit finding low priced goods and then selling them. The stores do not necessarily closely inspect the goods; they are not about quality assurance. It is your responsibility to determine where the goods come from, how long they have been around, and what’s in them. You're not shopping at Nordstroms. Caveat emptor. When shopping dollar stores, do so knowing you have to be the one making the smart decisions. You are not paying someone to do that for you.

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