Cost Coach: Money Saving Tips, Lower Expenses, Cut Costs

Online Fax Service: MyFax.com, eFax.com and more

2009-04-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

Cost Coach on online fax services.

There are a number of online fax services you can use for your home or business. I have used eFax for years.

Typical features of an online fax service:
You have your own unique fax number
Access your faxes from anywhere online
You receive faxes by email
You can send faxes by email
Your fax number can be a local or toll-free number
24/7 customer support

eFax used to have a free and a paid option. Now they have eFax Plus and eFax Pro which run $16.95 and $19.95 respectively.

Gawd, I can hear you moaning and complaining about those monthly costs. Read a little further and you will find a FREE ONLINE FAX SERVICE and learn why even paying for a fax service is a deal.

Here is a little secret, you don't have to pay for a phone line, and you don't have to buy a fax machine. When you factor that in, it becomes pretty reasonable, ESPECIALLY if you are a business, as business lines cost a lot more than an extra residential line. Wait, there is more, you also eliminate all the associated fax expenses such as fax paper, ink cartridges and too many people reading your private fax at the fax machine before you pick it up.

And another cost saving secret: in some cases you can transfer your existing fax number to an online fax service and save those high recurring telephone fees that you currently receive from your telephone company.

I still have the free version, although that is not offered any more. Cost Coachette uses the eFax pro version as she receives a lot of faxes from those are still living in the 90's and haven't learned either HTML yet, or even how to attach a document. Most of her faxes come from attorneys, you think they would be experts at document management - go figure...

Here is info on the eFax online fax service:

eFax is an online Internet fax service that uses email to send and receive faxes from anywhere.
The need for a fax machine is eliminated.

You have your own private fax number that's forwards the fax to your email and send and receive faxes as email attachments.

Here is how eFax works: Sign up for eFax, you’ll select either a local or toll-free fax number.

Someone faxes you, you receive the fax in your email inbox as a file attachment.

To send a fax, you can either attach a file a scanned hard copy to an email. Then type the recipient's fax number and hit send.

You can save a fax just like you would any email attachment and you’ll always have access to them.

eFax also gives you access to your faxes online by logging in at http://www.efax.com/ for up to two years with eFax Plus or eFax Pro.

There is also MyFax, which like Efax, has a free and paid account. Here are the FAQ's for the online fax service.

Too use MyFax you just need Internet access, an email account, and a MyFax account. That means you don't need a fax machine, and you don't even have to install any fax software.

To send an online fax from your email, just type the recipient's fax number and attach your document to fax. You can also log into MyFax and use their control panel to do so.

The good news is that you don't even need to have your computer on to receive a fax. It just goes to your email provider and waits until you review your inbox.

To receive a MyFax, just look in your email inbox. eFax is the same way - faxes come via email.

You can send up to eight documents in one fax as attachments.

You can set up a fax distribution system to send online faxes to up to 5 designated email accounts.

If you already have a current fax number, you can keep that. Just call-forward your existing fax number. In some cases, you can actually transfer your fax number to MyFax and let them do the work.

MyFax does not require a long-term contract and does not have a minimum registration period.

Look Down For Savings -- In Grocery And Liquor Stores

2009-04-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

Cost Coachette

While it's enjoyable and satisfying to look up at the moon, stars, trees, and clouds, when shopping for food and spirits, the opposite is true.

Look at the Lower Shelves for Upper-Level Savings!

Typically, grocery and liquor stores have the best-priced and/or generic products on their lower to lowest shelves. This is true about 95% of the time. Why? Because most people will only examine the products on the shelving that is mid to upper eye-level. They won't take the time, or make the effort to bend down, squat or otherwise examine the treasures that lie down below. It's inconvenient, awkward, and for some, uncomfortable. Especially if you have tired, cranky children along. But that's where the best priced products are --along with the satisfaction of saving money.

Marketing departments are well aware of this, which is why their product placement is strategic. In much the same way that candy and other child-coveted products are placed on shelves easily reached by kids, more expensive food and wine products are located on the mid to upper shelving, (easier to see, easier to reach, not awkward, etc.). Less expensive and/or generic brands are placed on the bottom of the shelf. Stores are in the market (pun intended) to make money. They want consumers to purchase name brands and otherwise more expensive merchandise.

Try It For Yourself!

The next time you visit your grocery or liquor store, make a visual sweep of what lies on the mid to upper eye-level shelves versus the lower ones. If these establishments are at all like the ones I frequent, you will find everything from tomato sauce to chardonnay on the lower shelves priced significantly less than those on the mid to upper eye-level shelves.

So make a childless journey to your local food or wine outlet and see for yourself what savings lie in wait on the bottom shelves. Knee pads are, of course, optional.

Contact

2009-04-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

Click here to send email to Cost Coach.

Stretch Your Food Dollars - Make This Super Easy Spaghetti Sauce

2009-04-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Cost Coachette

It never ceases to amaze me when I observe people in a grocery store buying expensive, fancy spaghetti and marinara sauces. Have you checked the prices lately? Oy Vey, as my dear departed grandmother would have said. May God rest her beautiful soul.

Easy, Delicious, Quick Spaghetti Sauce

Seriously, this is it:

1) Depending upon how much you want to make (and freeze) buy two large cans of diced tomatoes. I buy them at my nearest "dollar store". Pour them, juice and all, into a pot.

2) Saute diced celery and onion (one bunch each) in olive oil. Add some garlic and sliced mushrooms , if you like them. [The Coach happens to intensely dislike garlic and mushrooms, so I omit these ... when I'm cooking for him, which is almost always]. So I substitute some sliced red, yellow and/or green peppers. [He likes these]. Add to pot.

3) If you want some meat in the dish, saute it first, then add to pot. Add, in no particular order, some fresh or dried rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, sage, sugar (one tablespoon), salt and pepper. A couple of bay leaves are also nice. Ooops -- a cup of burgundy or other (inexpensive!) red wine really deepens the taste.

4) Bring to almost a boil and then simmer for, well, forever, if you like! The flavors will meld, the aroma will grace your kitchen and make you a veritable hero with your friends and family.

5) If you need to thicken the sauce, add some tomato paste (also purchased from a dollar store -- 3 cans for 99 cents!). Someone I know swears that adding a tablespoon or so of cream cheese was his grandmother's closely guarded super secret. Alas, poor Yorik, you couldn't prove it by me. (Sorry, Steve).

Freeze, Freeze, Freeze!

Serve over pasta (also purchased from a dollar store -- whole wheat is best) and freeze whatever you don't use. Pull it out later for another lunch or dinner.

Huge Savings

If you multiply the cost of these fancy sauces -- some are $5 - $7 for only a a 12 ounce jar, over the amount you use in a year's time, it really, really adds up. Whereas, you can make the same 64+ ounce sauce in 25 minutes time (I've timed it many times) for less then half the price. And you can freeze it for up to 6 months if you use decent freezer bags.

Huge Appeal

Looks great, smells great, tastes great, family thinks you're Mr., Ms. or Mrs. Emeril, you apply for an executive chef's job at the nearest restaurant, you get the job, you make big bucks -- it's all good!

Bon appetit!

Save Money Using Shampoo, I Repeat, Save Money Using Shampoo

2009-04-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

Cost Coachette on repeating the rinse and repeat cycle, I repeat, Cost Coachette on repeating the rinse and repeat cycle.

We all shampoo our hair, right? At least every Saturday night (like in the olden days) or, more likely, every couple of days or so. When is the last time you read the directions on a bottle of shampoo? You never have? Well, now's your chance!

Don't Shampoo Twice

Virtually every type of shampoo I've ever purchased in my lifetime has had the same directions:

1) Shampoo and rinse;

2) Rinse and repeat, umm that means shampoo a second time and rinse. Please don't lose count, you don' want to over rinse and repeat...

Are they serious?

Unless you are a mud wrestler, sewer engineer, coal miner, or perhaps a composter, there is never a need to shampoo twice! Then why, you posit, do the directions say that?

More Shampoo Used is More Shampoo Sold

Because the manufacturers want you to use more so that you need to purchase again more quickly! Seriously, Einstein, never shampoo more than once. (Unless you've tried a mayonnaise mask on your hair, which I do not recommend, having tried it exactly once, and in that case, you may have to shampoo literally for days or months -- as I did). After that, my hair was somewhat shinier, though. Much drier, but somewhat shinier.

So shop for the best shampoo for your type of hair, at the best possible price -- dollar stores are great for this -- and only shampoo once!

Please note that this advice is for human beings, not dogs, cats, ferrets, pigs and other lovable critters.

Need Your Credit Report? - Here's Where It's Truly Free!

2009-04-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

Cost Coachette

If you're ready to inquire about the status of your credit, it's important to take a look at your credit report and credit score. Here's how to do it ... for free! That's right, no money need exit your pocket!

Three Credit Reporting Agencies

The "Big Three" credit reporting agencies are (in no particular order) Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. You may have seen several television commercials over the past several years, where various companies tout a means of obtaining your credit reports from the Big 3 "for free". The problem is that their definition of "free" is certainly NOT mine.

The "Catch"

Here's the thing: with many of these outfits, I mean, ah, organizations, you also have to enroll in some sort of credit monitoring system that costs money. The imperative is on YOU to opt out of their system and they don't give you much time in which to do so. Some of their set-ups, I mean, ah, systems cost a minimum of $15.00 per month. For some inattentive persons who fail to opt out in time, that money adds up quickly! I'd rather have that $15/month in my pocket than in someone else's. Especially when I can obtain the same information for nada. (That's Spanish for nothing).

Here's a Credit Report That's Really Free!

Gotta love the federal government once in awhile, right? [Perhaps that's a discussion for another time]. Under the Free Credit Reporting Act, all you need do is request a copy of your credit report once a year from each of the Big 3. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. You can receive a credit report every four months (once for each of the Big 3) and monitor your credit every year.

So, now that you know, there's NO EXCUSE for you to be unfamiliar with your credit score. It's important -- so now go out and really get it for free!

Working Out With NetFlix: Low Cost Gym Alternative

2009-04-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

Cost Coach on using Netflix as a low cost gym alternative to health clubs.

The Wall Street Journal had an article on how people are signing up for the lowest cost plan at the video rental giant Netflix in order to receive unlimited download streaming workout videos. Under the lowest cost video rental plan, it is as cheap as $8.99/month.

An added advantage is that the viewer can mix up the workouts between aerobics, yoga, Pilates and more to have a varied training session. More importantly, the Netflix subscribers get to workout on their schedule - whether it is 5 a.m. or midnight.

Users say spending $30 - $100/month on a health club gym membership just doesn't make sense anymore, when you can get it for $8.99/month.

There can be a hidden cost to this NetFlix streaming video option and that is having the electronic equipment to view the workout videos. It will stream to your computer and if you have a TIVO you can stream directly to your TV.

Of course, if you go outside, talk a walk, a jog or a run, well, umm, that is free.

Save Money - Stretch Your "Dryer Dollars"

2009-04-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

Cost Coachette

Do you use those scented fabric softener sheets in your dryer? You're probably most familiar with the brand that is named after what a ball does .... (come on, it's not THAT difficult!)

Dryer Dollar Pointers

1) Buy your fabric sheets at one of those "dollar stores" not at the regular grocery store where the mark-up is substantially higher -- even with a coupon!

2) Choose the brand that has most number of sheets. They range roughly from 30 to 40. Buy the box with 40.

3) Tear them in half and use only one-half for every dryer load. There's virtually no difference in the static cling or softness of the laundry, and you have effectively turned the $1 (or less) box of 40 fabric softener sheets into 80. (2 x 40 = 80).

You think that's being too cheap? I don't know about you, but I'd rather have that extra $1 in MY pocket than someone else's. (Actually, it's more like $3 if you buy them at a regular store). Now go do your laundry -- if it's like mine, it's about to have puppies.

The Coupon Was Born in 1887-More Than 100 Years Of Saving Money

2009-04-15T16:48:00.000-07:00

Cost Coachette

Did you know that the coupon was "born" in 1887? Neither did I until recently. Let's see, that's more than, well, more than 100 years of savings to the public -- if you're smart enough to use them, that is. Actually, you may be interested to know (or not, and that's not smart!) that it was the Coca-Cola founder, John Pemberton, who conceived of and was the first person to offer savings on his company's product to the public. Today, manufacturers issue more than $350 BILLION worth of coupons EVERY YEAR!

Smart Coupon Tips

Are you one of the smart, savvy consumers who regularly use coupons? If not -- get on board, Einstein! But here's a couple of really effective coupon tips:

1) Only use them to purchase products you're actually going to use! No sense getting a good deal on gefilte fish if it will sit in your cupboard for years;

2) Some stores offer double and triple coupon days. Gather your coupons ahead of time, wait for the "double or triple" coupon day and go for it!

3) Be a good sport and organize your coupons ahead of time so you're not one of those people who spend a half hour sorting them when they're IN the check out line. That just tends to piss off everyone. And I mean everyone! Of course, if you don't care about that, then just throw them in a box and ask the others in line if they want to help you solve your puzzle;

4) Not every coupon is worth it's salt (pun intended). Some stores actually have everyday lower prices on many items and using a certain coupon at a higher priced store may not be all that smart. Comparison shop and know your store's general prices!

If $350 BILLION is available every year, be smart and go get your share of that coupon bailout! Let's see, a half of one percent of $350 BILLION is, um, well, you get the picture.

Cost Coach Game Plan

2009-04-14T15:57:00.001-07:00

Cost Coach

Online Shopping Tips, Tricks & Secrets: Using Amazon & eBay to Find the Best Deal

2009-04-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Cost Coach on Shopping Online

I originally wrote this post for the LED-Digest.com in 2006 during the Christmas shopping season.

'Tis the season for shopping and I was discussing how I buy online with a friend who has an online store. She sells an item that people know, they just don't know her or her brand. I told her that the way I shop online the same way her customers may be looking to find her store.

For my last purchase I knew what I wanted, but I didn't know what brand or model to buy. Thanksgiving reminded me that we haven't had a sharp knife in our kitchen for a decade, so I just decided to go out and buy a very good knife sharpener, not knowing anything about them.

I quickly found they run from $15 to $500 and many different brands. She asked where did I begin.

1) I go to Amazon.com and search my keywords and see which models and brands USERS have ranked the highest (just look for the stars in the results listing).

2) As I start to click on the top user brands I use the Amazon feature that shows what visitors either bought or looked at after visiting that page.

3) Next as I start to narrow down the model/brand I glance at the professional reviews but I focus on reading the user comments. As I was narrowing in on one model that was around $70-80, I then went and clicked on what visitors also looked at, which was two models up. The first thing I noticed was that compared to other models, it had a lot of reviews (66) and 95%+ were 5 star reviews rather than a typical bell distribution of some good reviews and some bad.

4) The users reviews were very interesting - they were talking about knives that were higher end than I use, but I knew nothing about:

"When I bought my Henckels (not the el cheapo Henckels International, mind you), I was doubtful... but this sharpener works."

"I am an Executive Chef and have worked in a kitchen for over 25 years. I purchased this sharpener about a month ago and so far I am very satisfied. "

"I bought this knife sharpener because it is Cooking Illustrated's highest rated power sharpener."

"My 10 year old Henckel Knives are now the way there were the first day I bought them"

One person even wrote that while most people test for sharpness on a tomato, he always tests on an arm hair, to see if he can cut the hair without touching the skin, because if the edge is sharp enough, you don't have to push down to the skin. He did include a disclaimer "don't try this at home."

5) I was sold on this higher brand/model so I next go to a couple of the price comparison sites and ebay.

6) The comparison sites had prices similar to Amazon. At ebay I sort and quickly glance at the buy-it-now pricing and compare that to the Amazon and price comparison sites. I found about a $40 savings.

7) Next I went to the ebay feature that shows CLOSED auctions and looked at the buy-it-now and auction final bids to decide if it is worth it to set up my ebay snipe program for this model or just buy it on the spot. I found that most of the final auction prices were within $5-10 of the lowest buy-it-now price, so I just found the lowest buy-it-now including shipping cost and bought from that supplier.

8) At ebay I always buy from someone who has over 100 feedbacks. This seller had about 900 sales and I received an email and tracking number a couple of hours later.

Was this the absolute correct buy for me and my household - probably, but possibly not. I am sure many people would know a better or cheaper option. But for my limited knowledge, and for the 15 minutes of research at my computer, it was probably a very good choice.

So, I told my friend, this is one type of strategy that customers are using to try and find "her store." If you have a product that can be easily price compared and price is the main decision, you need recognize that people are shopping you this way. If you have a unique product (Christmas ornaments with pictures of your kids) you still need to be found by being listed in Amazon and ebay.

As an aside, over the years, I notice many "regular price" retailers also sell the exact same item on ebay for less. I am sure they do it just for the incremental income, but it is interesting that they will discount their item 10-30% on ebay versus their site price.

Yeah, yeah, I hear all those "but we have (pick one) service, history, competency, overhead" at our store people. That is surely important, but for many commodity type items (4GB flash drive, the latest DVD movie release) that isn't enough to beat sheer price.

So, my question is to her was - how does your site compete against this strategy? I told her I did all that in less time that it took me to drive to her store. It actually took me longer to write this than to find and buy the sharpener...

I suggested that for her products she utilize both ebay and Amazon. And that even after selling fees and the like, additional sales would be a welcomed outcome.

CraigsList Buying Tips - Using CraigsList.org Secret Software to Save Money

2009-04-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

Cost Coach on how to shop at Craigslist.org using super secret Craigslist software

A great place to shop online for almost anything is CraigsList.org.

Craigslist is different from eBay as Craigslist promotes local, face to face buying, whereas eBay is truly global.

Here are a few online buying search tips when you want to buy from Craigs List:

* Try different search terms: There are many words to describe any item. Imagine what a seller might write, especially after a few beers, to describe that perfect item you're seeking. Since inebriated online ad writers tend to misspell, be sure to try several different options and combinations of both typo's and real words.

* Use specific words instead of general words. Examples might be instead of "buy car," (that is so Neanderthal) try Chevy or Chevrolet Corvette. A vette (or is that Vet?) is fun to search for, even if you don't have the money to buy it.

* For a closer match, specify an engine size or convertible or hard top (be sure to search hardtop as well).

* Another, handy, difference is that when you search at Craigslist, the entire ad, including the body of the classified ad is indexed and searched. With eBay, unless you check a search box, only the title is searched for results.

Cost Coach Super Secret Tip

(OhMiGawd - The CIA and FBI tried to have this classified as Top Secret)

The normal search for CraigsList.org is one community at a time. Here is how to search CraigsList for multiple areas at once, rather than just your city. Assume you live in San Diego (hey, I do), but you can easily drive to Orange County, Riverside County or Los Angeles County if you find the best Corvette deal. Normally, you would search each city or county area one by one.

You can use CraigsList.org search software that allows you to search many local areas at once. The Craigslist.org software I use is CrazedList.org. This is a handy to find that perfect red Corvette model you want at the best available price. Please note that CrazedList only works with Mozilla Firefox.

You can read about how to buy a online at eBay as well.

eBay Buying Tips - Saving money at Ebay.com

2009-04-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

Cost Coach on saving money at eBay.

A great place to shop online for anything is at eBay.com. Obviously, be sure to evaluate the shipping costs associated with buying 100 pounds of cat litter for your mother-in-law to sleep on or that four-ton brass anchor you have always wanted for her to wear around her neck.

Here are a few online buying search tips when you want to buy from eBay.

* Try different search terms: There are many words to describe any item. Imagine which words a seller might use to describe the item you're looking for. Try several different options and combinations -- but use just two or three words at a time to be sure you get a variety of results. If you are discreetly searching for those hard-to-find extra small condoms, be sure to search XS condoms, XXS condoms, xtra small condoms and "why even bother" condoms.

* Use specific words instead of general words. Examples might be if you are searching for a treadmill to hook up to your desk, you can search brand names like Nordic Track Treadmill, or NordicTrack (one word) Treadmill.

* For a closer match, specify a treadmill model, manufacturer or brand, i.e., Model Number "Teenie-Weenie XXS"

* Try typo's for search terms: I know this is hard to believe, but there are a lot of idiots out there in la-la land.

Somethymes theeze stoopid peepul dn't spel two welll. Just look at search for California, except spell it Californai, you get 96,000 web pages with that typo. Gawd, why does Governor Arnold's (I won't even try to spell his last name) Caleeefornya get all the blonds?

If you have an item that is commonly misspelled, take for example Hartmann luggage is sometimes spelled Hartman. Or the athletic gear maker Under Armour is also spelled UnderArmour, Under Armor, UnderArmor and the like. eBay does have some automatic programming that auto corrects for typo's, but it does not fix all.

* Get *wild* at eBay. Use the wildcard search feature at eBay. For example, to find a particular treadmill item, don't just type treadmill in the search box. If you're looking for a treadmill belt treadmill belt* to cover both belt and belts. If you are searching for XXS condoms you can also use the exclude feature which is a "-" sign, as in XXS condoms -"polka dots"

* Search titles and descriptions to get more positive matches: eBay search always looks for your keywords in the title of the items for sale, but NOT the description. Click on search titles and descriptions under the search box to also search item descriptions. In this way you can search for both the item and "your city name."

* eBay offers a favorite or saved searches feature: This is handy as you can specify multiple treadmill searches and then save them so you don't have to retype them. You can also set up an eBay alert so when new items meeting your parameters show up to auction, you automatically receive an email.

Also read our information on auction sniping at eBay (coming soon)

One other difference with Craig's List is that generally it is almost always a used item that you will find, whereas with eBay you will find both new and used items.

Read how to use super secret CraigsList software to save money when shopping.

In this video interview eBay consultant Allison Hartsoe explains how to use the Terapeak research tool to assess overall sales for a category or product and determine average sales price, so that you can determine net sales costs and whether product sales on eBay will be profitable for your company.

eBay consultant Allison Hartsoe offers several tips to help sellers optimize sales on eBay. eBay Pulse displays popular keywords that should be included in product titles. The volume of products listed in eBay's core auction area determines one's sales growth potential. Don't pay optional listing fees except for 'gallery.' Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs) affect both search rankings and sales potential, so customer service must be primary.

Software: Save on Word, Excel, Microsoft Office

2009-04-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

Cost Coach on Microsoft Office.

Because Microsoft Office is expensive, even two registered seats, let alone hundreds of licenses, the costs can add up quickly. I know what you are thinking -- that you just buy one version, and install it 452 times in your office. Umm, a couple of issues with that are updates and if you ever get caught, it will cost you more than the few dollars you saved in fines and humiliation.

To save money on Microsoft Office you can try several strategies, all of which will barely make a dent in the current valuation of the Microsoft stock, but can make a big impact in your own valuation:

* Determine which version: Do you really need the latest version of Office? You may be able to find a software outlet or discontinued software site that may have older versions of Microsoft Office. Read our article on how to easily find the best reviews on software.

* Compare: Use a price comparison site such as PriceGrabber.com, BizRate.com, Shopper.com, PriceSCAN.com, mySimon.com, Pricewatch.com or Dealtime.com. There are many more sites, but this will get you started.

* Eligible for a discount? Microsoft offers a "student version," typically called "academic software," of Office that can be purchased if you are in high school, college or affiliated in any way, such as a teacher. A recent online search for the academic version of Office 2007 found several web sites selling the software for just over $100.

* Affiliate: If you elect to become an affiliate of an online company, such as TigerDirect.com, you can earn a commission of the software and hardware that you buy. Technically, the affiliate companies frown on using your own affiliate ID to buy for yourself, but I suspect they are more interested in a sale then in enforcing the rule.

* Buy at eBay: I just completed an unrefined search for "Microsoft office" at eBay. I found 1,700 results. Surely there will be someone selling a version of Office to you at a low price. Be sure the version isn't illegal, bootleg or hasn't been registered. Read our information on how to shop eBay for the best prices.

* Buy at CraigsList.org: This takes a little more work, but sometimes you can find someone selling Office. Read our information on how to shop CraigsList for the best prices. Also read our article on how to search all of Craigslist at once, instead of just a single local search.

Wait there is more... and it is free, free, free.

You can also use Open Source or even free (yep, free) software.

You probably never heard this before (well, maybe one time), but remember that, "You get what you pay for." Having enlightened you on this age old adage, most of the open source and free software as an alternative to Microsoft Office is actually decent.

OpenOffice.org is a free, open-source (guess that is why they call it "Open Office") alternative with a Office-like applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and database management AND they are compatible with Microsoft Office. OpenOffice isn't perfect, it is cheap.

Microsoft's best friends at Google have created Google Docs as a free alternative to Microsoft Office. What makes this software is that you don't have to download or install Google Docs. It is web based. It isn't as full-featured as Office or OpenOffice, but for most people it does the trick. AND, as a bonus, it includes a couple of gigs of online document storage.

Lower Your Electrical Bill - Save On Electricity

2009-04-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Cost Coach

There are many simple ways that you can lower your electrical consumption without having to pull an Abe Lincoln and read by candlelight or scream at your kids to "Turn that damn light off - Do you think I am made of money?". Of course, we don't think you are made of money, or you wouldn't be here...

Or worse yet, having to walk your house wearing the dreaded mu-mu / sleeping bag Snugli, fearing that your mailman or neighbor may actually see what a tight-wad you really are.

Here is where you can start (As in start - right now. Yeah, this means you):
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Cost Coach - Save Money - Lower Expenses

2009-04-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Cost Coach

Just what is Cost Coach?

Cost Coach it's a free (yes, free - I saw your eyes perk up) website can help you find ways to lower your expenses and save money. And have more money than you need, well, this money-saving site is not for you - see-ya.

I know you - I really do! You are probably a lot like me - to cool /to lazy / to embarrassed / to unaware to even clip a coupon. BUT You will go out of your way to pin down and reach into a dirty sidewalk gutter to fish out a quarter. Yet, many coupons that you can find and use are worth far more than a quarter.

You know, if anything less than a quarter was used, most people might not even stoop over to try and pick it up.

Obviously, we will share with you many ways to lower your costs in your home, in your yard or garden, when you are at work, while shopping, when you travel and even with your personal financial matters such has credit cards, home loans or your investments. Oh, did I mention that this is all free. So, you are off to a great start.if

Cost Coach Site Map

2009-04-12T20:49:00.001-07:00

Cost Coach provides hundreds of useful tips and ideas to lower expenses and save money for you, your family and your place of work. (Links coming soon)

Save Money At Home
* Kitchen Appliances
* Bathroom
* Hot Water
* Dishwasher
* Washer / Dryer
* Garage
* Yard / Garden
* Irrigation
* Water Expense
* Lighting & Electrical
* Plumbing
* Roofing
* Remodeling

Save Money At Work
* Office Supplies
* Payroll
* Maintenance
* Hiring
* Banking
* Insurance

Save Money on Cars & Transportation
* Buying a New or Used Car
* Car Insurance
* Repair & Maintenance

Save Money on Education
* College Savings
* College Expenses

Save Money on Finance, Credit Cards & Home Loans
* Credit Card Tips
* When to Buy or Rent
* How to Obtain a Home Loan

Save Money on Food
* Coupons
* Bulk Buying
* Buying Local

Save Money on Health & Medical
* How to Buy Insurance
* Deductibles
* Eye Care Insurance Tips
* Dental Insurance Tips
* Health Insurance Tips

Save Money on Shopping
* How to use Comparison Sites
* Use Online Coupons
* Big Box vs Local Stores

Save Money on Electronics & Computers
* Where to Find Free Comparison & Reviews

Save Money on Vacation & Travel
* Airfare Tips
* Cruise Tips
* Staycations