DIY: How to Make Your Computer Run Faster for Free
Many new computers are purchased every year by people who simply do not need them. Frankly, for what the average computer user does on his/her computer (email, surf the internet, documents, etc.) they really don’t need a lot of firepower. However, as time goes by, most computers get clogged with unnecessary software, spyware, and viruses. This is generally the time most people get frustrated with their slow computers and start shopping around for a new one. STOP right there, and take the following steps, which might drastically improve the performance of you computer and at no cost to you!
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Review: Magento Beginner’s Guide
Over the past year or so, writing for Milk Your Money has led me on an impressive journey through the wide spectrum of topics surrounding personal finance, the economy and money in general. I have met some awesome people and have learned much more than I would have previously imagined. This path has led in several directions, sometimes in several at once. One of the methods that proves itself over and over in some shape or form is the idea of taking control for yourself and making money on your own terms. We can break this down even further and apply a digital twist. Meet Magento, the open source ecommerce system written primarily in PHP. Where is the best place to start? At the beginning of course! William Rice has recently (as of March 2009) written a guide that takes a beginner through the initial process of setting up and operating an online store. He doesn’t suggest that you are going to put Amazon out of business, but if you are committed and dedicate the time and resources you will be able to sell with some level of success.
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An Example in Self Discipline
I wanted to share this video because I feel as though it makes an excellent case with respect to how people can rein in the desire to spend recklessly. It’s a very easy thing to do to purchase something in order to feel gratification and this video does a wonderful job in describing and exploring it.
In this short talk from TED U, Joachim de Posada shares a landmark experiment on delayed gratification — and how it can predict future success. With priceless video of kids trying their hardest not to eat the marshmallow.
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Ridiculous College Tuition Costs is our Next Mortgage Meltdown
Have you ever heard of a college announcing that its tuition cost will be declining? It’s possible, but I doubt it happens. The price to attend college continues to go up year after year, almost as if college tuition prices run in a completely independent financial line that completely ignores the financial realities of our markets and lives. Many small and unheard of private universities now charge close to what Ivy League schools do and they have no problem attracting students. How can an unheard of school in the middle of nowhere charge close to $40,000/year and not be the most expensive school in its area? Why would students even consider spending that kind of money a four year degree that is worth the same as a state school, but at a significant discount?
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DIY: How to Recharge Your Cars Air Conditioner
Many of us holding on to older cars, or the few that are unlucky with newer vehicles, find ourselves needing yearly Freon shots to get through the hot summers. Mechanics prices vary greatly when servicing your air conditioner, but it’s not unheard of to pay $100-250 for an a/c charge. The cost to do this simple procedure yourself is around $25. Please don’t let anything scare you about charging your car’s a/c yourself, it’s really quite simple. Anyone can accomplish this cost and comfort saving task, hopefully the following steps will guide you through the process.
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Options for Unemployed Graduates with Student Loan Debt
The rising unemployment in the U.S. is a grim reminder that those of us with jobs should stop complaining and start being thankful. Unfortunately, one of the real classes of people who are being undeservedly punished by our economic struggles are college graduates. With unemployment climbing, college grads are finding themselves trying to beat out job applicants with a bigger work histories under their belt. Without a solid job, graduates are finding it difficult to make their student loan payments that become due upon receiving a diploma. What are their options?
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Free iPhone Apps That Could Save You Money
A global craze we are seeing now is the iTunes App Store, where we saw that they latest news was the 1 billionth app sold/downloaded. That is a ton…Surely within all that there are some tools to save you money, right? If you have an iPhone (and we aren’t saying go get one necessarily) but take a look.
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How I Save on Tools
I’m the type of guy who enjoys doing projects on the weekends. In fact, just last weekend we installed a new ceiling fan in our bedroom. The job should have been an easy one, but of course, they rarely are. There was no previous fan or light, so we had to run electrical cable and create a switch (required a few small holes in the wall). After cutting the hole in the ceiling to hang the fan, I discovered our condo has aluminum studs, which meant I couldn’t hang the heavy fan directly from the aluminum, unless I wanted our ceiling to fall through. So I then had to cut a hole in our ceiling the length of two studs and hang a 2×4 between the studs. From here I could hang the fan from the 2×4 so the weight of the fan went across two studs rather than one. Finally, I then had to cut sheetrock to cover my whole, tape, mud, and paint. The reason I tell you all of this is because what should have been a simple job requiring only a few tools, ended up being a entire weekend ordeal that took multiple job specific tools. Constantly running back and forth to the store to buy needed tools can be extremely costly. Fortunately, I have collected an assortment of tools over the years to do these random jobs, but I rarely buy them at the Lowes, Menards, or Home Depot. Why? Because they cost way too much!
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Why I Purchased a Used Vehicle and You Should Too
My wife and I have been in the market for another vehicle for some time now and after browsing the internet for close to 6 months, we finally found a car that is reliable, affordable, and attractive enough to please my wife. The winner was a 2003 Dodge Neon SE with 54,000 miles for $3,500.00 (pictured above and below). I think this is a car that will last us for many years to come and most importantly, requires only one payment. There are even better deals out there to be had and now may be the time to search one out for yourself.
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How Your Cell Phone Company is Gouging You
I am willing to bet that I have done the math right and if so, your cell phone company is completely gouging you. Aside from minutes and the company telling who you can call and when, the text messaging is outrageous: but they are able to be discreet about it. How much is too much?
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A New Perspective on Time and Money
I am going to show you a series of pictures that should change the way you imagine time and money. One is a visualization of 1 billion dollars, and the other, the amount of sand it takes to go through an hour glass in the average persons lifetime. These were done by Michael Marcovici as a few works of art. Check him out and see more after the jump.
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$2,000 For a Brand New Vehicle–Coming Soon?
In a selfish way, I think there is a glimmer of good that has come from our automotive industries economic problems. With the Governments involvement, there is at least pressure on the industry to change its ways and produce vehicles that get decent gas mileage, and by decent, I expect higher miles per gallon (mpg) than a Toyota Prius. There is no reason that in 2009 we are paying top dollar for vehicles called hybrids that only compete in mpg with my 1995 Dodge Neon. We have made advances in so many different fields, but have lost years of productivity in the automotive world. Check out the following automotive experiment from Tata Motors in Indiana, which could change the way American car companies do business–hopefully.
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Review: When Giants Fall by Michael Panzner
Americans have been at the front row of the economic collapse and can actually pinpoint the reverberations around the world like ripples in a pond. This book does exactly what it means to: tell the past present and future about how America is going to no longer lead the world economically. Sound a little to negative? Well Mr. Panzner also touts that by going through the bad there can be good…only by learning about the vehicle in which we have presently arrived.
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Louis C.K.’s Humorous Look into Bank Fees
Comedian Louis C.K. takes a hilarious look into the world of senseless bank fees.
Warning: Contains explicit lyrics and probably not suitable for the office.
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Use Down Time at the Office to Save Money
If you are lucky enough to have a few spare personal minutes at your workplace then why not try to use them to your economic advantage? The internet is a frugal man’s best friend and down time—maybe I should call it procrastination time—at your desk can be spent in the following cost saving ways while surfing the web at the office.
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