Despite advances in technology such as the internet and computers, people are still making bad money decisions. What some people fail to realize however is the power of the tools that are available and how they can advance their lives and help to spare bad mistakes. For instance, how many times have you left a movie talking about how bad it was and what a waste of money it was? We’ve all done that, but there is a website called www.rottentomatoes.com that will give you a movie score based on reviews from around the nation. If you went to that site and read beforehand just how bad that movie was said to be, you could have saved $20. Here are other ways to use the internet to save money:
1.) Comparison Shop: So, you didn’t hit Ticketmaster in time on the phone and the concert is now sold out. Don’t automatically head to the first after market ticket reseller you can find in hopes of landing tickets. Odds are you will significantly overspend using this method. Instead, comparison shop on sites like Stubhub, eBay, Overstock, and Craigslist. By checking all of these sites, you will get a feel for the true value of your sold out tickets, and you won’t pay more than you have to for the seats.
2.) Avoid the face to face sales pressure: Odds are that if you walk into a cell phone store at the time you want a cell phone, that clerk will find a way to sell you one. The same could be said for a car dealer or insurance salesman. But while it is hard to say no in person, it isn’t difficult at all to leave a website after you browse. This ties in with comparison shopping, but the key is that the internet is vast, and if you are willing to hunt for a bargain and not settle, then a bargain can be had.
3.) Consider using freeware software. There are many software programs that are available for free on the internet, like Tight VNC which enables one to remote access one’s desktop and Putty which ensures secure connections. Open Office is like Microsoft Office and all are free to use. Why pay hundreds of dollars on software then similar packages are available for free on the internet?