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, 2008 |
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Financial Journey
Utilizing the Internet as a Cost Effective Tool
This past month
has been cold in the mountains where we live. We’ve had a lot of snow and
rain, for which I’m very thankful as we have had drought conditions for far
too long. However, being cooped up in the house can sometimes cause the winter
blues for many people. More...
I was inspired to write this article as we have been ‘shut-ins’ for much of the winter and have been struggling to pay off credit card debt that we accrued over the last year for the first time in 25 years. The volatile stock market hasn’t helped to lift my spirits, and the constant barrage of news related to Recession and a pending Depression has not been very helpful either! Yet, somehow I have managed to keep my spirits generally high. I started brainstorming a variety of things that my husband and I can do, or that we are already practicing, to help us get through the tough economic times and have our debt paid off by mid-year. We’ve stayed extremely focused and are making great strides forward. We actually made a tank of gas last for four weeks in January. There are even advantages to being shut-in when you decide to look for the positives in any given situation! Getting back to my inspiration for this article—I realized that I was using my laptop computer a lot while being indoors during the past couple of months. I absolutely love the internet. I don’t know how I ever lived without it! Since we are paying for our internet capabilities, this isn’t an entirely free activity, but has more than paid for itself in the benefits I have reaped. I wanted to share the variety of ways that I utilize the internet since I have found it to be an extremely valuable tool, as well as a great source of ‘free’ recreation. Obviously, I use email to stay in touch with family and friends. I’m sure anybody who has a computer takes advantage of the email capabilities. This service is available at no cost through certain services if that were the only online service an individual uses. I have made a conscientious decision not to use IM (instant messaging) because I find it too disruptive when I am using my computer. The internet is a great educational tool. I keep an ongoing list of topics that I am interested in researching, and when I have a few spare minutes I do an online search about a particular topic. If I am involved in developing a program for special interest groups, I am able to obtain an abundance of information without leaving the house. I only wish I had access to this great resource when I was going to school! I participate in a few forums related to my personal hobbies. I’ve met people all over the world who enjoy the same hobbies and have become friends with several. I’ve had the opportunity when traveling to meet a few of my online friends. I have learned many new techniques by sharing hobbies through forums. It’s a terrific resource for increasing your knowledge and gleaning new ideas—similar to attending a local club or organization, but attending in your pajamas from home! I have always enjoyed crafting and making gifts. It’s a good thing I enjoy this since we now have 12 grandchildren and a second great grandchild due in March! I’ve been returning more and more to a life of simplicity and giving gifts from my heart. I’ve been making gifts during the cold weather and it keeps me happily occupied. The feeling of finishing a project of love is very fulfilling to me. I have used the internet to search for patterns and have found countless wonderful patterns free of charge. This is another area where my efforts have paid off in tremendous savings. You can go to crafting shows and pay $6 to $8 for a pattern. I’ve found patterns and instructions in a variety of crafts including sewing, quilting, crocheting, and much more. I believe there are forums available for any topic you can think of. This includes support groups for people who suffer from infirmities and/or illnesses. Not only can you share with others who understand what you are going through, but you can learn about resources available that you might not otherwise be aware of to help deal with unique health issues. In addition, there are grief support groups online. For some, these online groups might prove to be more comfortable or more convenient than local support groups. For those who live in rural areas, many of these types of support groups are not available. Some are comfortable with the anonymity of ‘talking’ online—but as I mentioned earlier, you really can develop comfortable relationships and friendships online. If you are suffering from loss or other types of infirmities, this can exacerbate the ‘winter blues.’ Remember, you have a whole world of resources available at your fingertips through the internet. I’ve been able to sell through online auctions such as Ebay which has proven to be very lucrative. It is so much better than garage sales for the seller—I prefer to buy items through garage sales, but I’ve made much more money by selling online than I ever have through holding a garage sale. Some items that I would sell for $.50 to $1.00 (such as a book) has brought in $25 by selling through an online auction. I have been enjoying cooking during the cold weather and using up food in our freezer and pantry. I search online and find so many fantastic recipes. I often combine ideas from a couple different recipes. I’m using my crock pot a lot and create meals that will last for several nights—I freeze several containers for future dinners. Years ago I had a habit of purchasing cookbooks in a variety of cuisines. I sold many of my cookbooks online and made a couple of hundred dollars. Whenever I’m tempted to buy a cookbook now, I remind myself quickly that I can find any recipe I want by searching online. I’ve saved so much money by using this technique—it is important to focus and always ask myself if this is a ‘want’ or a ‘need.’ I access our local newspaper online which saves on the cost of a subscription. I check grocery ads online each week and stock up on sale items when I’m running low. This week I’m restocking my boneless chicken breasts at $1.67 lb. If there is something I need to purchase, I search the web for coupons on the product and/or stores that carry the item I need to purchase. I’ve also accessed some of my favorite magazines online and saved on the cost of subscriptions. I do my banking and investments online. This has been a good time to review and research our investments and make changes as necessary due to the slacking economy. I have all bills either paid through automatic deduction, or pay via the internet. I can do this if we are snowed in, plus I save on postage and gas even if it’s not snowing. With gasoline prices skyrocketing, I’ve been checking gasbuddy.com when it is time for us to fill our tank. I am able to find the best price and location to purchase gasoline since it is changing so quickly. The cheapest station one week is not the best place to buy the following week. Several times we have saved money on home repairs by searching online. One weekend our sink stopped up. My husband is extremely mechanical and has always been able to clear a plugged up sink or toilet, but this time he wasn’t able to get it cleared. I didn’t want to pay a plumber, and since it was during a weekend—I especially didn’t want to pay a plumber! I looked online and found a “recipe” for clearing a stopped up sink with vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water. We repeated the process a couple of times and it worked! We now do this monthly to keep the drain clear. We have used this same idea for other purposes, such as how to remove a particular stain. It has proven to be very cost effective and efficient. For a fun getaway online, my husband and I have visited special places such as The Louvre in Paris. We found an online tour that walked us through the museum and we were able to view the beautiful art displayed from across the world. We plan vacations online and have saved a lot of money by comparison shopping through all of the travel sites available. I usually check prices of motels online, but follow-up by calling directly, since many motels provide a better discount by booking directly with them. The other benefit of planning vacations through the Web is that we find out about a lot of sites and out of the way places to visit that we might not otherwise have known about. I print our vacation material and keep it in a special file. I often check prices periodically before our vacation as there are promotions which have enabled us to save additional money. The internet provides a worldwide opportunity to meet new people, see new places, and a variety of ways to save and make money. If you find yourself bored or feeling cooped up, take advantage of this wonderful resource. A word of caution, though—don’t let yourself become obsessed to the point that you ignore other important aspects of your life! Remember, balance in your life is the key to happiness. * * * Copyright © 2008 by Karen Kuebler. All rights reserved. Want more money-saving tips? Get a FREE Subscription to our monthly newsletter!
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