Milking the Dollar$

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about Bing.com.  Being familiar with it, however, isn’t enough, because if you’re not utilizling its cashback program, you’re wasting money!  Thus, today I’m going to give a little introduction to Bing, as well as a real life example of  one way I recently saved money using it.

Bing.com

Bing has been around since June 1st of this year.  Before that, it was Live.com, which was rebranded due to its lack of success.  It is a search engine like Google and Yahoo, but with the added benefit of earning cashback.  When you search for a certain items, an icon (see below) will appear next to participating merchants, including the percentage you can earn.

To earn cashback from Bing you must have a paypal account and sign up at their main page, both of which are quick and easy to do.  Before recently, you could use Bing 12 times/year on any given account, but they recently changed that to 20 times per email account.  Thus, if you want to use it more (like I will), you will have to register another email account every time you use your given 20. 

I realize my description of the program is a little vague, but I am just trying to break it down and make it simple for you to get started.  If you still have questions, post them below or read the “FAQ” section of your account.

Just this week, I used Bing to earn cashback on a purchase I made on eBay.  Given that I don’t advocate blowing your cash, you might be wondering why I would be so excited about a shopping tool.  However, as you will see in this example, I use it to save money at places I purchase everyday items.  Hopefully, you will be convinced to give it a try, because it has already saved me a few hundred dollars this year alone.

Bing in action

My most recent use of Bing was at eBay for a $500 Wal-Mart gift card.  Bing works on eBay only if you use the “Buy it now” option, so I had to do some searching for the right opportunity.  Thus, I started by going to Bing.com, signing in, and searching for “wii” which brought up a hit for Ebay with a 10% cashback icon.  Once the icon popped up, I clicked on it and went to eBay’s main page.

Unfortunately, it took me a few tries to find a gift card worthy purchasing.  Eventually though,  I found a powerseller who was selling a $500 Wal-Mart gift card for $510 with free shipping.  Before I clicked the button, however, I logged into my Mr. Rebates account to “double dip” for another 3% back.  After that was finished, I finalized the purchased through paypal and closed the window.  That’s all it took!

Like I said, I use Bing to save money on the things I already buy, and since I spend about $100-$200 at Wal-Mart/month, this discounted card will allow me to save a pretty penny over the next few months.  Below is breakdown of how I combined Bing with other cashback opportunites to get the most out of my purchase:

$510 (purchasing price) – $51.00 (10% Bing) – $15.30 (3% Mr. Rebates) – $5.10 (1% Chase Freedom) = $438.60

As you can see, I got a $500 Wal-Mart gift card for only $438.60!  That will equal over a weeks worth of free groceries by the time I spend it all!

Final thoughts

In the end, saving $61.40 won’t change my life; however, little things add up.  If I end up doing this a few more times by the end of the year, I will have potentially saved a couple hundred dollars!  That’s just one step for me in saving myself thousands of dollars on the stuff I already buy over the course of this year.

If you don’t end up using Bing (I don’t see any reason why you should not?), at least take home the lesson that you can alway find new ways to save money.  Thinking outside of the box and acting upon a savings strategyis what seperates us from America’s indebted.   Remember, your laziness and lack of initiative will cost you money, so register for Bing now, double/triple dip with other programs, and start saving money!

Once again, I have come across an article in Women’s Day by Mary Hunt that I feel is worth sharing.  In “10 Ways to Use Credit Cards Wisely,” Ms. Hunt details what she believes are the best ways to manage credit cards.  Not only does she give her tips, but each suggestion comes with an “action plan” on how to best follow her advice.

Although I believe she has some good ideas, I don’t agree with everything Ms. Hunt has to say.  From reading it, it appears Ms. Hunt’s is coming from the suggestion that the reader has problems managing his or her credit.  I (on the other hand) feel like those that read my blog are already financially savvy enough that they don’t need babysitting.  Thus, I have added my own suggestions on how to get the most from whatever is in your wallet.

Mary Hunt’s 10 ways to use credit cards wisely

1.  Micromanage your account:  I probably go overboard on this!  However, it is important to register your account online and check it ever so often.  Issuers have been making a lot of changes recently, and it’s best to stay on top of your current agreement with them to avoid any fees.

2.  Keep your balances low:  If you are using almost all your limit every month, you are hurting your credit score.  The author suggests never using more than 30% of your available credit limit.  If this is impossible, it would probably be a good idea to request a limit increase.

3.  Watch when you pay:  This is one of your credit card company’s dirty tricks – changing closing and due dates without warning.  My solution to this has always been to schedule a payment for the complete balance on the the day my statements normally close.  By doing this, I never forget to make a payment and can notice early on if they have changed the due dates.

4.  Think twice before transferring:  I have never done a transfer, so I can’t really comment on this.  The author, however, notes that you will likely pay a fee of 3-4% on the  balance, as well as lower your credit score.

5.  Request a limit increase: This is a good idea if you are constantly charging up to your credit limit, because otherwise you will start lowering your credit score.

6.  Don’t apply for credit cards you don’t need:  This is good advice, because at a certain point, the number of credit lines will start to hurt your credit score.  Also, although it wasn’t mentioned the article, it is important to note that most issuers do a “hard pull” of your credit history during the application process.  Unfortunately, this will also lower your credit score.

7.  Keep accounts open:  The author makes the point that once an account is open, the damage has already been done.  Thus, she suggests keeping them open to prevent your credit score from being lowered.

I have done this myself on a store card I never use.  I wish I had never opened it to begin with, as I will never use it again; however, I don’t want to close it now, because I will lose that credit history.  Therefore, my solution was to cut it up, but keep the account number and contact information just in case I someday need it.

8.  Keep accounts active:  This is really important in this day and age.  As the author mentions, a closed account is never a good thing.  I would also add that you are likely to get your limit cut if you don’t make some occasional purchases with any given card.

9.  Lower your rate:  The author suggests calling your card’s customer service to request a lower rate.  She argues that if you are paying over the average rate (14.3%), you need to request that they lower it.

I don’t agree with Ms. Hunt on this point.  In fact, since I suggest you always pay your balance in full every month, it’s always best to focus on getting the most lucrative rewards programs available instead.  Personally, I have no idea what the percentage is on any of my cards, and frankly, I don’t care, because I don’t pay interest!

10.  Get the right rewards card:  Unfortunately, there is not a lot of choice today, as major card issuers are cutting back on their rewards programs.  However, I suggest you choose more than one, so that you can maxmize your rewards in every situation.  For example, I carry a Chase Freedom for everyday situations, a Discover Open Roads for when I purchase gas, and an Amazon Visa for purchasing books.  These 3 allow me to get between 1-5% cashback on every purchase I make.  Remember, it’s all about those nickels and dimes!

My credit card advice

Unlike many of my fellow Americans, I absolutely love credit cards!  They are invaluable tools if used with caution.  In my years, I have noticed that the people that hate them are usually the ones who have abused them and then subsequently refused to take responsibility for their actions.

In my mind, I like to think of a credit card as “the ring” from Lord of Rings.  It’s powers are immense, yet it corrupts the weak-willed.  With this in mind, here are some tips to help you better wield your card’s power:

1.  Never spend more than you can pay off at the end of the month!  To me, this is a no-brainer, but some people just can’t seem to control themselves.  Credit cards offer some of the worst type of loans you can get, so don’t use them as such!  Instead, consider them interest-free monthly “floats” which allow you to keep your cash in high-interest accounts while borrowing theirs. 

2.  Focus on the rewards program offered and ignore the interest rate:  If you follow the above advice, there is no reason to ever worry about the interest rate.  Instead, select the cards which will provide you the most rewards and start racking them up!

3.  Put every purchase you can on plastic:  After I have fulfilled my monthly rewards checking obligations, I put every purchase possible on my credit cards.  Not only does this allow me to earn hundreds of dollars every year, but it also affords me certain buyer protections that cash does not.

4.  Schedule a payment as soon as your statement posts:  I am a busy guy, so I tend to forget things.  Thus, I make it a habit to schedule a payment for the full amount on the day my statement closes.  This routine has kept me from paying interest and/or late fees due to forgetfullness.

5.  Schedule you payments in a way that allows 1 business day before the due date:  Scheduling my payments for the next to last minute allows me to get the most of the interest-free float provided by credit card companies.  However, I wrote “next to last” for a reason, as I like to leave 1 business day to correct any mistakes and to ensure sure my payment does not post on the next day.

6.  Carry more than one rewards card:  I mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating.  The percentage on rewards cards usually varies depending upon what and where you are purchasing.  Thus, whether you are picking up clothing, gas, or groceries, you will always be prepared to get the most mileage out of your dollars.

Here is an article by Jeffrey Strain about 6 simple ways to save yourself thousands of dollars! It is just one part of a larger series; however, I found it to be the most important segment.

Overall, I found it to be excellent and all 6 “moves” to be great ways to save money. Even though they are all pretty simple ideas, don’t discount their effectiveness.

6 Moves

1. Get organized: I have been doing this myself the last few years. It has been an ongoing process, but I finally feel like I am getting to where I want to be.

You might wonder how this will save you money? The answer is simple: the less “crap” you have the less house you can live in. Small housing is cheaper in rent and utilities which equals to hundreds in saving.

Just a few years ago, I could have never fit all of my stuff in my 395 square foot apartment. However, lately I have really worked on divesting myself of stuff I didn’t need. Now, not only do can I fit in a sub-compact space, but I have room to spare!

2. Start a part-time business: For many, home businesses often lead to full-time careers. The author himself started writing as a side gig, and now that is how he makes his living.

Opportunities are everywhere. I suggest you assess your personal skills (as well as your passions), if you are interested in starting a side business. Once you have an idea where your heart is, you can start focusing on how to monetize your hobbies.

As you know, I blog as one of my pseudo side-businesses. I knew I liked personal finance and making money, but for years I just read what others had say instead of posting my own ideas. Eventually, however, I decided it was time to turn my interest into an income generator. Whether or not I sink or swim in this venture, I know I’ll feel good about it, since at least I tried. Nothing feels worse than wondering what might have been?

3. Anticipate big purchases: This cannot be repeated enough! Simply put, time allows you to search out the best bargain, whereas waiting for something to finally die usually doesn’t leave you with that luxury.

For example, if I were to replace a major appliance. I would personally try to wait till Black Friday to find the best deal. Alternatively, I might just wait till I find a “going-out-of-business” or other clearance sale. Even just waiting for Bing.com cashback to hit its high point would likely result in significant saving.

4. Take a tax class: I have never done this; however, I have always reread the tax rules when doing my own taxes. Having knowledge of all the available credits and deductions for which you qualify can easily save you thousands!

Don’t think you already know what credits are available to you. Tax rules change, as well as life situations. If you get comfortable in a tax routine and fail to keep yourself educated, you will likely miss out on huge saving as your circumstances evolve.

5. Drop a habit: I know what you’re thinking: “but I don’t drink or smoke?” “How can possibly save from this tip?”

The author makes a good point that it’s not only the deadly habits that cost us money. He was able to wean himself of a soda/sports drink habit that cost him $1,000/year. That’s right; he put an extra $1,000 in his pocket by just switching to tap water!

6. Trash your TV: The article notes that the average American watches 30 hours of TV every week! Not only is that spending money on cable, energy, and equipment, but more importantly, it is wasting time that could be spent on developing skills or working a side gig. Over the years, I have noticed that most of the broke/indebted people I know watch an excessive amount of television.

Final thoughts:

Without a doubt, I think this is one of the most important articles I have come across in awhile. The author has done a wonderful job of finding easy ways to really turn around a personal financial situation.

Everyone is probably guilty of a few of these, including myself. The goal here is not to be perfect. We are only human remember.

In place of seeking immediate perfection, set a plan to meet your own goals and work towards them one step at a time. For example, instead of drinking 10 sodas/week, cut back to 6 at first. Instead of watching TV 5 hours every night, settle for 2. Not only will your wallet become fatter, but you also likely start living a more fulfilling life.

To get your finances under control, one of the most crucial steps is to stop wasteful spending.  This is mostly due to the fact that it’s a whole lot easier to save a dollar you already have than earn another.  Unfortunately, in our consumer society, this can sometimes be difficult for all but the most disciplined of us.

I myself once wasted money on a regular basis.  Whether on clothing, banking fees, and/or partying, if I earned it, I spent it.  In fact, like many of my fellow Americans I lived paycheck to paycheck, even taking on some debt. Thankfully, I eventually “got it,” stopped blowing my paychecks, and turned my debt into a net worth.

Below is a list of 20 ways to waste your money, as compiled by Kiplinger.com.  You may notice that I have already addressed many of these.  The ones I haven’t, however, are also very worthy of discussion.

20 Ways to Waste Your Money

1. Buy new instead of used:  Purchasing gently used items in place of new ones can potentially save you thousands (if not millions) over the course of your life. This holds especially true for automobiles, which depreciate by thousands of dollars from simply being driven off the lot. I have found Craigslist, eBay, and even the local paper to be excellent sources for used items.

In addition to buying used, I suggest you look for free items first.  This is what I personally try to do. Over the years, I have found a lot of great stuff that people simply did not want anymore.  Remember, the constant push to get Americans to consume has in turn produced a lot of surplus goods that still have life left in them.

2. Carry a credit card balance:  Credit cards provide some of the worst finance rates available, yet thousands of Americans still carry a balance from month-to-month.  If you are among them, I highly recommend that you start  paying off the entire balance at the end of every month. I have never paid 1 cent in interest to a credit card company.  Alternatively, they regularly send me checks of up $100 from accumulating cashback.

3. Buy on impulse:  This one gets a lot of us.  The article suggests taking a “cool-off” period to resist the urge to buy. I agree and suggest waiting 3 days before making any purchase >$100 that falls into the “want” category, instead of the “need” one.  After thinking about it, you’ll often find yourself having second thoughts about the potential purchase.

4. Pay to use an ATM:  If your bank doesn’t reimburse ATM fees, only use their machines or better yet switch to a bank that does. 

5. Dine out frequently:  This is another big one.  You can usually cook the same foods at home for a fraction of the price you’d pay a restaurant to prepare them for you. 

Thus, if you can’t cook, start learning now!  I did and it has saved me thousands over the years.

6. Let you money wallow:  This one is easy.  If your liquids assets are not earning interest, they are losing you money.

I recommend keeping what you have in a rewards checking account.  In case you are unfamiliar with these accounts, I will post more about them in the future.

7. Pay an upfront fee for a mutual fund: I only invest in no-load mutual funds and suggest you  do the same.

8. Pay too much in taxes on investments:  I know firsthand that capital gains taxes will eat away at your profits. Thus, as the article suggests, max out your Roth 401k/IRA first, if you have one.

9. Buy brand-name instead of generic:  The only brand-name item I regularly purchase is A1 Sauce.  To me, there is no substitute for it, but for everything else, it’s the generic.

10. Waste electricity:  Most of us do this (some much worse than others).  See my previous post on this topic for easy ways to conserve.

11. Pay banking fees:  It boggles my mind why anyone would tolerate their bank “nickeling-and-diming” them.  If your bank does this, switch now.  If it’s your own fault, identify what you are doing wrong and fix it.

12. Buy things you don’t use:  This goes out to the 3-year-old, unused sweater in your closet and that juicer in your cabinet.

13. Own an extra car:  This one will really cost you.  Cars are a major economic drain.  Instead, own a car and a bike.  Try to make the bike your main source of transportation if possible.

14. Ignore the local dollar store:  Sounds like this is starting to become a recurring theme on this blog!  I don’t know why anyone would purposely avoid my favorite store?  Maybe they like needlessly wasting money?

15. Keep unhealthy habits:  Again, already discussed here.  Remember, what kills you can also financially burden you.

16. Be complacent about insurance:  It is easy to shop and compare insurance coverage these days, so why not try it yourself? 

17. Give Uncle Sam an interest free loan:  I am guilty of this one, because every year I get a fat income tax return check.  It would be way more lucrative for me to earn interest on that money instead.

18. Pay for something you can get for free:  I already discussed this above.  The article recommends using the library, and I couldn’t agree more.

19. Don’t use flexible spending account:  I was once guilty of this one for many years.  However, I finally got around to funding my flex plan, and it has saved me a lot on health care costs.

20. Pay for unnecessary services:  I live a pretty a “Spartan” existence myself.  However, I know too many individuals that pay for stuff they don’t use.

In an age when McMansions rule, it’s hard to image Americans downsizing their housing.  However, there are a growing number of individuals who are doing just that – living in houses <400 square feet. 

This volutary reduction in square footage, known as the micro movement, has become increasingly popular in recent years.  Uniquely enough, there is no one single reason why people choose do it.  Simplicity, however, appears to be a  common theme, as some of us are just tired of living with so much “stuff.”

Benefits of micro homes:

You could fill a whole book listing the reasons why living in a small home would be beneficial.  If you could pull it off, it would appear that almost every aspect of your life would be positively affected.  Below are just some of benefits I conjured up while writing this:

• Decreased environmental footprint
• Affordability
• Decreased utility bills
• Low maintenance requirements
• Forced simplicity
• Less vulnerable to housing woes

Micro homes of the web:

Being that I am new to this whole concept, I will direct you to some micro-home resources on the web.  However, I must warn you: the more you read about them the more fascinating the idea will become!

•  Tumbleweed Tiny House Company: This is the best resource I found on the Internet about this topic.  It is run by Jay Schafer who has been living in an 86 square-foot home since 1997.  I recommend you check out his blog and house plans while visiting, because they are both a great read.
• Tiny Texas Houses:  Yet another builder of small homes.  There are a lot of pictures of the different available models here.
• BlueSky MOD:  The modernist approach to tiny homes.  Very cool indeed!
• This Tiny House:  This is a great blog all about living in small homes.  I will definitely be visiting it again when I get time.
• Small House Society:  The name says it all!

My thoughts

I find  the whole small house movement to be one of the most fascinating ideas I have come across in awhile.  Housing is arguably the one area in a person’s life with the greatest potential for saving them money.  The benefits both financial and time-wise would be absolutely life changing if you could manage it!

Personally, I am finding out how easy it is to live with less square footage.  I recently moved into a 395 square-foot apartment.  I thought things would be a little tight, but surprisingly, I have found it to be a perfect fit.  Not only did it motivate me to get rid of more stuff, but maintaining a clean, tidy home has been a snap.  In fact, my experience has been so positive I am now convinced that all I will ever need is a 400-700 square-foot home.

I am constantly searching for new ways to lower my utility bills. It’s almost like a never-ending quest, because no matter how far I whittle them down, I never quite feel satisfied. The one I’ve really struggled with lately has been my electric bill.

My electric bill varies a lot depending on the season.  It was running almost $200/month this winter, but is now closer to $60.  This is mainly due to me living in Montana while renting a poorly-insulated house.

Unfortunately, the fact that I am indeed a renter puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to lowering this bill.  Renting usually precludes more drastic energy-saving measures such as insulating and remodeling.  A home owner, on the other hand, can do as he or she pleases in an effort to save some dough.

Although burdened, I have slowly (but surely) discovered little ways to reduce my electricity use.  Fortunately, most of these have been simple enough that I haven’t needed to purchase a sledgehammer and new dry wall!

Below is a list I found of 23 ways to reduce your electric bill compiled by Mary Hunt of Women’s Day.  All of her suggestions have been categorized as either pertaining to the air conditioning, the dishwasher, the clothes dryer, the electric stove, electronics, the house in general, or as “other.”

If you have time, I suggest you follow the link back to the original article.  Although it may appear brief, I found it to be packed full of useful information.

23 ways to save on your electric bill

Air Conditioning:

1. Install a programmable thermostat

2. Raise the temperature

3. Use fans

4. Replace or clean filters

Refrigerator/Freezer:

5. Vacuum the coils

6. Tighten the seals

7. Defrost often

8. Keep it stocked (sometimes)

Dishwasher:

9. Fill it up

10. Air dry

Clothes Dryer:

11. Load it properly

12. Hang your clothes

Electric Stove:

13. Use flat bottom pots with tight lids

14. Use Smaller Appliances

Household Electronics:

15. Turn off TV when not in use

16. Unplug the computer

The House:

17. Inquire about a home energy audit

18. Do your own audit online

19. Seek professional help

20. Inquire about discounts

21. Sign up for voluntary time-of-use

22. Opt for a summer cycling plan

23. Look into available specialized services

Again, I urge everyone to refer to the original article because some of these might be confusing without an explanation.  You will probably be surprised by a few of them (as I was).  Personally, I found 6, 7, 13, 21, and 22 to be very interesting ideas.

List expanded:

I really like this list; however, I feel that it’s missing a few things.  Therefore, as always, I have taken the liberty to expand upon it:

• Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents ones: I couldn’t believe this one was left out.  According to EnergyStar.com, each CFL you install will save you $30 over its entire lifetime.

Now think about how many sockets you have around your house.  Do you realize the money saving potential now?.

• Insulate your hot water heater: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if your tank does not have a highly-rated R value, adding insulation can reduce standby heat losses by 25-45%.  If you are not sure about your tank’s rating, they recommend touching it.  If it’s hot to the touch, it needs insulation.

• Maximize available natural lighting: As a design student, I have read many times about the financial benefits associated with natural lighting.  However, not only can natural lighting save money, but it also has also been shown to improve one’s mood.

• Install window awnings: Window awnings ward off solar radiation from entering your home on hot, sunny days.  However, before running off to buy awnings, consider cheaper options.  A quick Google search should lead you to blueprints on how to build your own for less.

• Use a Kill-A-Watt to find the worst offenders: A Kill-A-Watt can be purchased online for around $20, if you shop around.  If you’ve never used one, they are really cool!  By plugging an appliance into the Kill-A-Watt first before inserting it into an outlet, you can monitor the amount of juice it’s using at any given moment.

Final thoughts

In all, both Mary and I have barely scratched the surface on ways to save electricity around the home.  For fun, try searching for “ways to save electricity” in the search engine of your choice.

Thank you for reading!  I hope this post saves you some money!

Protecting your computer is crucial if you regularly surf the web.  That’s because the Internet is full of viruses, worms, spyware, and other “nasties” that can wreck havoc on your machine.  I myself have had the misfortune of contracting a few of these over the years, including a recent bout of the dreaded XP Antivirus 2008. 

Fortunately, decent protection and support can be obtained online for free!  Below is a list of useful software and services that can will cost you nothing.  For simplicity, I have catorgized everything into three subheadings: anti-virus software, anti-spyware, and support services.  When you’ve finished reading, I suggest you do some downloading, if you’re not already adequately protected.

Free anti-virus software

Anti-virus software is one of the basic components of PC protection.  These 3 are the most popular free versions obtainable online:

1. Avast:  I have run Avast on my desktop for years, and it works great!  The interface may look a little rough, but the protection is superb.  Features include scanning on demand and adjustable sensitivity levels.  To download Avast for free, click here.
2. AVG:  AVG is what I run on my laptop.  I have found it to be more user-friendly and a bit more polished than Avast.  It is available in an upgraded version for a price, but for most of us, the free version is just fine.  Click here to get AVG.
3. Avira:  I must admit that I have no experience with Avira.  However, it is highly-rated and recommended by those who do use it.  In addition, it’s considered to be amongst the easiest to use.  You can find Avira here.

Free anti-spyware/malware

There are a lot more choices when it comes to free anti-spy/malware programs.  I have listed the ones I have found to be the most useful:

1. Malwarebytes:  If you don’t already have this installed on your computer, do so right now!  This is one of the fastest, most effective anti-malware applications on the market.  To get Malwarebytes (and I really think you should), click here and follow the directions.
2. Spybot – Search & Destroy:  I have this on my work computer.  To me, it does a good job and has generally received good reviews.  It is available for download here.
3. Adaware:  Adaware is yet another highly-regarded anti-malware application, brought to you by Lavasoft.  I have no experience with it, but have only heard good things.  If you want it, click here and download the free version.

Free help/support

I would guess everyone gets something they don’t want on their computer eventually.  Most of the time, the above-mentioned programs can get rid of it for you.   However, in case it won’t go away,  the following is a list of free online sources for help:

1. Bleeping Computer
2. Geeks to Go
3. Cyber Help Tech

I myself used Bleeping Computer when I got an infected rootkit that was beyond the scope of my “nerd skills.”   I can’t recommend them enough, as they walked me through the whole cleansing process from start to finish.

Things to know about free PC protection

There are a few thing to consider before you get all download happy.  Hopefully, these suggestions will make the process a little easier and ensure the greatest amount of protection:

• Never run more than one anti-virus application on your machine at any given time: It is as simple as that.  Multiple anti-virus application running at the same time can cause major problems.  Thus, uninstall any that you may already have, including those free trial offers, before installing any new anti-virus software.  However, the same does not hold true with anti-spy/malware, so download as many as you want.
• Remember to update your applications: New viruses and other goodies appear on the Internet daily.  Thus, it is important to constantly update your definitions, so that each program will recognize new threats when they come across them. 
• Make sure your firewall is turned on:  A firewall is your first line of defense against hackers, so make your you keep it on as much as possible.
• Update your browser:  New vulnerabilities seem to be discovered on a regular basis.  Thus, it’s always important to update your browser, especially if you are using Internet Explorer.

Final thoughts

If you are one of those individuals who leaves his or her computer unprotected, download something now.  There is no excuse given the wide availability of free applications.  Trust me, if you leave your computer unprotected for long, a day will come when you regret neglecting it.

I found an article at Yahoo Shine about 10 everyday things people commonly waste money on.  The article is short, so I recommend you click on the link to check it out.  However, below is the complete list:

1. Extended Warranties
2. Gym Fees
3. Fast-Food Runs
4. Cell Phones Apps and Ringtones
5. Fees (Late, Over Limit or Worse)
6. Landline Extras
7. Rental Car Insurance
8. Computer Software
9. Unlimited Texting
10. Bottled Water

Like I said, this is a pretty good list and if you are spending money on any of the 10, I recommend you reevaluate whether or not the expense is warranted.  If I had to guess, most of you would have a hard time justifying any of the above.

Although this list is pretty comprehensive, below I have included a few things that are not on it.  Some of these may be no-brainers to you, but hopefully some will make you think about your own situation.

• Morning Latte:  You see this one a lot on these types of lists, but it deserves being repeated.  That $3-$4 you spend every morning at Starbucks will likely cost you over $1000 every year.  Thus, I would advise purchasing a coffe maker and start brewing your morning fix at home.
• DVD Collections:  I find it odd people actually purchase DVDs, given that you can rent them for $1 at a kiosk or free from a library (see my article on cheap rentals).  At $15-$25 each you would have to watch one 15-25 times or more to make purchasing a better value.  Most of the people I know may watch a newly purchased DVD 1-2 times, lend it out to friends, and then add it to their collection, where it sits over the years collecting dust.
• Premium Movie Channels:  Personally, I believe paying for cable or satellite service is in itself a waste of money.  However, paying for premium channels on top of that is just sinful.  Again, movies can be rented for free or cheap.  If you spend enough time on your couch watching movies to make a premium movie package the better value, then you are wasting something more precious than money – your life!
• Books:  This is kinda like the DVD example above.  I know people with shelves and closets full of books that they had purchased.  This is ridiculous given that almost every community has a library where you can rent them for free.  Does anyone really read the same book enough times to warrant a purchase?  Only on a couple of occasions have I ever read the same book twice, let alone multiple times.
• Personal Trainer:  This one really bugs me.  Unless you are a professional athlete or bodybuilder, please stop wasting your money on these people.  Routines are readily available online and if you stay active and eat healthy (as you should), staying in shape won’t be a problem.  Many of the people I know that hire personal trainers seem to do so for motivational reasons.  If you are not motivated to improve your health, that is something to work on seperately and not pay someone $25/hour to do for you.
• Smoking:  Here’s one of the big ones.  Smoking 1 pack/day at $6 per pack equals $2190 annually that you’ve puffed away.  That’s not even considering the increased medical costs that both you and the American taxpayer will have to eventaully fork over when it starts to kill you (which it will).