All of us buy electronics of some sort, and if we're not careful, we can really get ripped off. But if you are patient and know where to look, you can save some serious cash. Here are a few steps to follow when buying electronics to ensure you get a great deal:
1. Be Patient! If you don't need that new TV, blazing computer, awesome video game, or 64 GB iPod today, then wait -- I assure you the deal will find you.
2. If possible, buy slightly older generations. The difference in price between the top-of-the-line latest and greatest electronics, and the previous generation is enormous. On the contrary, the difference in the performance is generally minimal.
3. Compare to other sites (like Amazon). Before I ever buy a electronics, I always search for the same item on Amazon or shopping.google.com and make sure the price that I am given is reasonable.
4. Check these sites! I usually check them a couple times a day.
www.slickdeals.net
www.woot.com
www.yugster.com
www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/
www.newegg.com/
Note:
I usually try to avoid refurbished electronics. Sometimes you will strike a great deal, and the product will turn out well, but for me, the refurbished electronics are a bit too risky.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Get better gas mileage!
Do you get that nauseating feeling every time you go to the pump? ...and it's the second time this week?
Well here are a 5 easy ways to save some serious cash on gasoline! (Other than walking, biking, or driving an electric car) And after that, a couple of myths too.
1. Tire Air Pressure
Make sure the air pressure of your tires is at the specified limit (usually around 44 PSI). If your tires are exceptionally low, you could improve your gas mileage up to 10% alone! (By the way -- if you spend $60 to fill up, that's a savings of $6 per tank!)
2. Easy Drivin'
Slow starts and keep the RPMs down (in other words your car shouldn't sound like a formula 1 racecar). If you think about how fast you're accelerating when the light turns green, you'll instantly see how fast you take off. In other words, just take it easy driving. On top of that, let the car cruise to a stop. You don't need to keep the pedal to the medal until your right on someone's tail and then slam on the brakes.
3. Air Filter
Make sure you have a clean air filter. If its clogged with dirt and gunk, your car will naturally perform poorer and it will use more gas.
4. Less Weight
Make sure you don't have your car loaded down with a lot of extra weight. Think about putting all of the weight in a wheelbarrow and how hard it is to start it moving -- your car will have to use that same energy too. What gives it that energy? $4 gasoline, of course.
5. Less Air Friction
The less flags, stickers, dirt, damage, and other objects that add wind resistance, the better. While weight in number 4 plays a large roll during starts, air friction plays a large roll once you're at speed. Even keeping your windows closed makes a difference. To put it in perspective, put your hand out the window while you're driving and feel the force acting on it.
(One more non-advocated tip: Put the car in neutral and let it coast in idle for as long as possible)
MYTHS:
1. Drafting
Yeah, technically it does work, but only under some very specific situations -- like driving at 200 mph or following within 2 ft of a tractor trailer. I recommend neither, by the way.
2. Opening windows instead of using the A/C
It does make a small difference until you reach 45 mph or so. After that, the wind resistance costs more gas than the A/C!
Doing all of these can save you some serious bucks. I have seen so first hand when I nearly DOUBLED my gas mileage in my last car!
Well here are a 5 easy ways to save some serious cash on gasoline! (Other than walking, biking, or driving an electric car) And after that, a couple of myths too.
1. Tire Air Pressure
Make sure the air pressure of your tires is at the specified limit (usually around 44 PSI). If your tires are exceptionally low, you could improve your gas mileage up to 10% alone! (By the way -- if you spend $60 to fill up, that's a savings of $6 per tank!)
2. Easy Drivin'
Slow starts and keep the RPMs down (in other words your car shouldn't sound like a formula 1 racecar). If you think about how fast you're accelerating when the light turns green, you'll instantly see how fast you take off. In other words, just take it easy driving. On top of that, let the car cruise to a stop. You don't need to keep the pedal to the medal until your right on someone's tail and then slam on the brakes.
3. Air Filter
Make sure you have a clean air filter. If its clogged with dirt and gunk, your car will naturally perform poorer and it will use more gas.
4. Less Weight
Make sure you don't have your car loaded down with a lot of extra weight. Think about putting all of the weight in a wheelbarrow and how hard it is to start it moving -- your car will have to use that same energy too. What gives it that energy? $4 gasoline, of course.
5. Less Air Friction
The less flags, stickers, dirt, damage, and other objects that add wind resistance, the better. While weight in number 4 plays a large roll during starts, air friction plays a large roll once you're at speed. Even keeping your windows closed makes a difference. To put it in perspective, put your hand out the window while you're driving and feel the force acting on it.
(One more non-advocated tip: Put the car in neutral and let it coast in idle for as long as possible)
MYTHS:
1. Drafting
Yeah, technically it does work, but only under some very specific situations -- like driving at 200 mph or following within 2 ft of a tractor trailer. I recommend neither, by the way.
2. Opening windows instead of using the A/C
It does make a small difference until you reach 45 mph or so. After that, the wind resistance costs more gas than the A/C!
Doing all of these can save you some serious bucks. I have seen so first hand when I nearly DOUBLED my gas mileage in my last car!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
How2: Make your computer run faster!
4 simple and easy ways to make your computer run faster!
Easist:
1. Go to Start
2. Go to Control Panel
3. Go to Programs and Features (you may have to click the "View By: Large Icons" in the upper right hand corner
4. Uninstall any programs that are no longer used
Easier:
1. Make sure you have a virus protection program installed -- not only will a virus possibly steal information from your computer, but it will certainly slow it down
2. I recommend downloading AVG Free or Microsoft Security Essentials
3. Install the program and scan the entire computer -- it may take a while, but it is good to do this at least once
Easy:
1. Go to Start
2. Type "msconfig" into the search bar (for XP users, go to Run and type "msconfig"
3. Click on the Startup Tab
4. Right-Click on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, and click on "Start Task Manager"
5. Under the Task Manager Window, click on the Processes Tab
6. Click on the Memory column to sort the processes from highest memory to lowest memory
7. Look through the list at items to see what unused processes are consuming the most memory
8. If it is something that does not seem necessary to always be running, find the same process under the startup tab in the System Configuration window, and uncheck it so that it does not run every time the computer is turned on.
Also easy:
1. Go to start
2. Search Disk Defragmenter
3. Click the Defragment Disk Button -- this may take a while
Not quite as easy, but very helpful:
1. See if you can add more memory to your computer
2. If a laptop, usually you can add memory through the bottom side easily. If a desktop, you can easily take the cover off and add memory to the designated slots.
3. Make sure you add the correct type of memory -- DDR, DDR2, or DDR3. The best way to do this, is to look up the original specifications on your computer, and add the same type of memory (other than the size.)
Easist:
1. Go to Start
2. Go to Control Panel
3. Go to Programs and Features (you may have to click the "View By: Large Icons" in the upper right hand corner
4. Uninstall any programs that are no longer used
Easier:
1. Make sure you have a virus protection program installed -- not only will a virus possibly steal information from your computer, but it will certainly slow it down
2. I recommend downloading AVG Free or Microsoft Security Essentials
3. Install the program and scan the entire computer -- it may take a while, but it is good to do this at least once
Easy:
1. Go to Start
2. Type "msconfig" into the search bar (for XP users, go to Run and type "msconfig"
3. Click on the Startup Tab
4. Right-Click on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen, and click on "Start Task Manager"
5. Under the Task Manager Window, click on the Processes Tab
6. Click on the Memory column to sort the processes from highest memory to lowest memory
7. Look through the list at items to see what unused processes are consuming the most memory
8. If it is something that does not seem necessary to always be running, find the same process under the startup tab in the System Configuration window, and uncheck it so that it does not run every time the computer is turned on.
Also easy:
1. Go to start
2. Search Disk Defragmenter
3. Click the Defragment Disk Button -- this may take a while
Not quite as easy, but very helpful:
1. See if you can add more memory to your computer
2. If a laptop, usually you can add memory through the bottom side easily. If a desktop, you can easily take the cover off and add memory to the designated slots.
3. Make sure you add the correct type of memory -- DDR, DDR2, or DDR3. The best way to do this, is to look up the original specifications on your computer, and add the same type of memory (other than the size.)
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