How Does Your Computer Save You Money?

[jeffrey]

Putting together another article so I thought I'd ask how your computer saves you money.

[simpleselu]

On food: I use it to look at weekly ads, organize my coupons, trade coupons, find and print online coupons.

On gift giving and other purchases: easy price comparison with shopping bots and can use online deals in local stores with a price match policy.

Research: no more buying reference books, impromptu trips the library, 4-11 charges.

Long-distance and phone services: used the internet to compare cell phone plans to get the best deal and use email and chat to communicate with people during peak cell phone time.

Learning to be more frugal: most of my ideas and practices have come from online communications and support.

Banking: I do 99% of my banking online which means less fees, I also use online bill pay and save on envelopes and stamps.

Entertainment: Netflix, book swaps, half.com for books and cds.

Selling: yard sales never worked for me but selling on Ebay and Craigslist has been a gold mine and more efficent for me.

[Diolla]

Originally Posted by simpleselu

Learning to be more frugal: most of my ideas and practices have come from online communications and support.

Banking: I do 99% of my banking online which means less fees, I also use online bill pay and save on envelopes and stamps.

These two plus my online savings account making me 5% instead of the .2% I get locally.

[baking23]

I do all my banking online so the gas saved from that and xmas shopping online (including S&H) is a lot I'm sure.

[rduell]

I am starting to pay quite a few bills online so it is saving me in postage.

[Broken Arrow]

Well, let's see.... Currently, I have physical access to two computers. One is at work. It's free, but not mine. It's also limited by a corporate firewall. However, I am able to do the most important computer-related tasks there, such as:

* Check my emails (my primary form of communication now).
* Come to this forum and the blogs.
* Verify my banking transactions online (very important).
* Pay almost all of my bills online (very important).

Then there's my home computer. It's an old laptop, but I can currently do all of the above, and:

* Visit sites for the purpose of entertainment such as digg.com.
* Work on my online guitar lessons.
* Listen to my music.
* Work on websites.

Based on the above information, I have concluded that I most definitely need and benefit from a computer (with internet access).

However, since most of my computer needs are already satisfied by the work computer, my home computer is largely relegated to a role of convenience and as a "cheap" form of entertainment.

Therefore, what I am really looking for in my downtime isn't a computer per se, but cheap entertainment. So, it doesn't technically have to be a computer. That and computers in general are a fairly expensive proposition.

That's why, when my current home computer dies, I have no plans to buy a new one. As much as I hate to say it-- because I really do love computers in general-- it just doesn't make any sense for me to get another one.

But that's just speaking for myself, of course.

[Aleta]

I check the weekly food stores specials when my sales papers don't arrive in my mail. Sometimes I would go to the store to pick up the paper, thus costing me time and gas not to mention that I would probably buy something.

I go to my public library online and request books that I want to be sent to the library nearest to me. I can also check to see how much closer it is getting to me in transit. I can also check out the first chapter of the book to get a feel for the content.

I shop online for gifts, vitamins, beauty products, etc. I also do comparison shopping before I buy the items.

I check out reviews on vacation spots. I also check out the businesses close by and can map out the directions that I need. If I need a particular store, i'll look for it.

I do more of my banking online. It saves me from driving to the bank to transfer money. I also pay more bills on line.

I have advertised online for garage sales

I check for recipes.

Last but not least, I have found this great site where we can share ideas.

[JBinKC]

I have been connected to the web since 1995 and the internet and the computer has both made me money and saved me money and a great learning tool. I would never had been able to obtain my net worth without these innovations.


I would never have been able to do any extensive research on stocks and the world economy, have to pay exhorbitant stock commissions and would pretty green when it comes to obtaining optimum health. Yes it saves me the obvious like trips to the bank, postage, stock commissions, long distance fees, free offers, coupons and rebates, online deals from Ebay and othe websites but it saves money on things that are not so obvious like health care.

Of all of the technological innovations this one definitely aided me big time in obtaining my financial goals on a very small salary.

[story3girl]

That's why, when my current home computer dies, I have no plans to buy a new one. As much as I hate to say it-- because I really do love computers in general-- it just doesn't make any sense for me to get another one.

But that's just speaking for myself, of course.

Just a quick note to suggest that for your current computer "needs," you may be able to acquire a very inexpensive one on ebay or even a free one on freecycle if you keep your eyes open for it. Don't knock inexpensive entertainment! You deserve some good cheap fun

[tinapbeana]

i use my computer not just to save money, but to make money too...

saving money: online weekly adds from stores, comparison shopping, and general research (ideas, recipes, stocks, etc as mentioned by everyone above). my monthly and yearly budget (spreadsheet) and my check register (freeware MoneyManager EX) are all on my computer, giving me clearer insight into my financial standing and helping plan purchases and savings tactics. my computer also saves me money by allowing me to make personalized gifts at no/low cost (i.e. mixed CDs, digital photos w/ prints purchased online, color mailing labels, personalized stationary/calendars, etc).

i use my computer to make money by designing spreadsheets, business cards, photo editing, graphic design, website design, desktop publishing, presentation design, and right now book formatting (i.e. DTP on crack!).

i've been online for 13 years (ACK!) and have been on a computer daily for probably the last 10. for my needs and lifestyle it ranks higher than TV, cable, CDs, movies, and even the telephone. other than house, food, car, and electric, it is the last thing i would cut from my budget.

[disneysteve]

Everything others have said holds true here, too.

We switched to an online long distance company and saved about $25/month on our phone bill.

I sell on ebay and, at my peak, was making over $1,000/month clear.

I use an online high yield savings account that pays over 5% interest.

I use online banking so rarely have to write a check or put a stamp on an envelope.

I use the web as a research tool for everything from checking spelling at dictionary.com to getting graphics for reports and flyers from google.com.

We love to travel and have saved thousands of dollars through various travel websites.

We save time and gas by "running errands" onine instead of in person. We can renew our library books online. We can print AAA TripTiks at home instead of traveling to the AAA office.

We don't do a lot of online shopping but we have saved a bundle buying things on ebay, amazon and other sites. I saved over $300 just on our video camera and $100 or more on our digital camera purchases.

We don't own a video game system and never buy any computer games. There are so many fun and free games online that we have just never seen the need to purchase a game.

We communicate with friends and family via e-mail. We also share our family photos online. In fact, we hardly ever actually print photos anymore. So no more film developing or processing expenses.

I'll stop there, though I'm sure I can think of more if I try. Anytime someone says they see no need for a computer and internet access, I don't think they realize how much it is costing them not to have one.

[aurielle]

Everyone's already hit on all the main money saving things so in addition to those I'll add two others that are very important to me: online banking which has changed my life and the instant access to information - keeping up to date on current culture, fashion, current events, new trends of all sorts that are developing in our nation and in the world. I would never be able to keep up to date otherwise, it expands my worldview tremendously in an ever changing information laden world. There are people where I work who are always surprised at what I know thanks to the internet. I'm 42 and its important to me to stay current because things are changing so fast and instant access to information helps me to research so many things to save money that I otherwise wouldn't be able to do.

[FrugalTexan75]

I do almost all my banking online.

I use the internet to do research on things I plan on buying - sometimes will buy online, sometimes will buy in store.

I use my computer to manage and track my finances.

Through different sites and forums, I find new ideas on how to save money.

I also use the internet in my quest to lose weight and become more healthy. In particular the free website sparkpeople.com has been instrumental in helping me.

I use email and IM to keep in touch with family and friends.

When I was a teacher I used the internet to research better ways to teach different subject matter.

I have been online since 1994.

[sarah]

BA I too have a computer at work. However, I am afraid to use it for personal things like banking. Work computers can be monitored. I doubt that my employer is monitoring it but still I am concerned. Something I have wondered about is if I hood into the wireless net at work using a personal laptop can I still be monitored. I find workplace computer safety very confusing.

[shelbylovesmelby]

How my computer saves me money.... that's a good question!

1. The freebies I find help stretch similar items I already have + I get to try them & see if it's worth my $ to buy the regular sz product w/ o wasting my money if I don't like it.
2. The online banking saves me $ in stamps, afterall postage is going up again in JUNE
3. I can find printable coupons for various products we use
4. FREECYCLE, not necessiarly for me but for others (I dont' like strangers comming to my home)
5.Entertainment... my dial up gives me lots of interesting things to see & learn about & people to talk to for less than $1 a day vs a movie wich would cost us a fortune (sitter + two tickets @ $9 ea + snacks? + gas to get to the movie & the sitter)
6.I don't have to buy a paper anymore most stores list their sales online (including black friday)
7. I can save on long distance calls & postage by sending e-mails & e-cards.
8. Who needs to buy Play Station ect when I can get some basic games online for free or borrow computer games for the kids from the library.
9. Save gas money cause I can renew my library books & video's online instead of in person.
10. You can even earn a lil money thru various things online
11. Don't need a dating service when your find your DH online in a FREE chatroom
12. Learn reuse items are posted in various forums online
13. Saves me in paper & pens... I don't have to write out a budget, I have it on a spread sheet
14. It's hard to loose a computer unlike my pocket calculator to figure out my check book, so I save in buying replacments
15. I don't have to buy books or borrow them if most of the info I'm looking for is online FREE & w/o using up gas

[BCHGRL]

As unproductive as this might be, I can follow Hollywood drama without paying for magazines or magazine subscriptions.

Also, I can talk to my friends and family through myspace.

I would be pretty lost if I suddenly lost the ability to track our finances through the internet.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by sarah

BA I too have a computer at work. However, I am afraid to use it for personal things like banking. Work computers can be monitored. I doubt that my employer is monitoring it but still I am concerned. Something I have wondered about is if I hood into the wireless net at work using a personal laptop can I still be monitored. I find workplace computer safety very confusing.

That's a very good point!

Technologically, your privacy is secured through encryption between your computer and the server you are trying to access. The encryption in itself is, roughly speaking, the same regardless of what kind of computer you use (public or private).

In fact, some people who are especially paranoid actually prefer to do their clandestine computing on public computers. That way, even if a computer is traced to its exact physical location, it still doesn't guaratee capture.

However, this works best only for those who are knowledgeable enough (and probably have nefarious purposes in mind) to cover their tracks on public machines. Otherwise, it is indeed "safer" to do your computing at home.

As for monitoring, most servers can be set up to log what computers have visited what sites, when, and for how long. Furthermore, the IS department at my workplace can also "see" exactly what is on your desktop, and even be able to take control of it if they so desire. Or they just can walk by and shoulder surf like everybody else.

In my case though, the "worst" they'll ever find is me chatting here at savingadvice... and if they ever have a problem with certain sites, usually they'll just add to their filter and call it a day.

Since you brought it up, I would not be comfortable using wireless networks for secure computing. As it currently stands, I just don't trust any of them (but I don't have any experience with the 802.11n routers yet).

There are softwares out there designed to grab encrypted information off any internet connection, and once it grabs enough information, it will attempt to decrypt it and even spit out the password in plain text! The only hard part is being able to "eavesdrop" on someone else's connection, but wireless routers makes this a non-issue.

If you own a wireless router at home, it's a good practice to at least secure it with encryption (preferably WPA, but at least WEP) and a personalized password. If you're really on the ball, you'll also change the password, oh say, once every few months? Or better yet, if you don't see the need for it, just say "No!" to wireless routers.

But back to the original topic, I decided that I don't really have anything to hide anyways. The most people will see is how much I owe in student loans, what bills I have to pay, and any conversation we have on here. For now... I think the work computer is good enough. If not, I'll be more than happy to keep a home computer around.

[Hez]

I've saved through many things that have already been mentioned ... but as well, being able to read many magazines and newspapers free online. For magazines, everything from gossip rags to indie mags to more highbrow mags to trade publications...and for newspapers, I love being able to read many different ones, including non-local newspapers.

I absolutely LOVE the fact that being able to read many local newspapers online is very helpful in being able to interpret the news in a "real" way...if I were to physically subscribe to a newspaper, I would probably only get one political slant (since it's unlikely I'd spend the $ on multiple newspaper subscriptions).

So not only am I saving money, but it's actually an educational benefit as well!

[lrjohnson]

Jeffrey: it might be nice to just slip something in the article reminding people that some work places do not allow personal use. My work doesn't allow it, and although it's not monitored, that's not the point for me. It's not worth savins a few cents to pay a bill online if you have violated company policy, and people should teally check it out before they do so. Two people I know thought personal work computer use was fine until they actually checked the "fine print." Other places I know are fine with employees usng computeres on break.

One could go radioless and newspaperless and use streaming internet radio and read papers online. I get all the classifieds, tv listings, etc. online. I also get jy weather forecast online.

I don't need to buy maps-Mapquest, google maps, etc.

I pay the usual bills online. I bank online; just by switching my savings from my bick and mortar credit union to online ED and ING, I've tripled my interest rate.

I save a lot of gas by being able to research, comparision shop.

Free samples!!!!

Keeping in tough with people all over the world.

I'm able to make travel plans that let me take vacations without having to deal with packages or tours.

[Broken Arrow]

Originally Posted by lrjohnson

Jeffrey: it might be nice to just slip something in the article reminding people that some work places do not allow personal use.

That's a good point. If my workplace didn't allow it, then I would have no choice but to have a home computer.