In the old days, everyone had to use pencil and paper to do this. Thankfully, personal money management software exists today to ease that burden. Quicken by Intuit is generally regarded as one of the best money management software programs. Where can you get a good deal on Quicken?

Newer Is Better?

One excellent way to save money is by buying an older copy of Quicken from somewhere like eBay. This program has been around for years and is an extremely stable product. What that also means is that the differences between last year’s version and this year’s version are pretty small now. In fact, a lot of the reviews end by saying something like “if you’re happy with what you have then there’s no reason to upgrade.”

Two More Tips

First, if you use the online features of Quicken then buying a one year old copy is probably the best value. That’s because support for questions, updates, and online access gets cut off after three years. It’s called being “sunset.” The software itself is still usable of course, my Quicken is older than three years, but you won’t be able to use some of the advanced online features. Things like the integrated online bill payment systems and transaction downloading will stop working. That might not be a problem for you anyway if you normally go directly to your bank’s website.

Second, it’s also best to buy an unregistered copy. That’s because you can register it yourself just like new software from a store. Then you’ll be eligible for the discounts that current owners receive on newer versions and other benefits.

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One really nice thing is that most of the game manuals and instructions are on the internet these days. So you don’t need to worry about anything being missing from the boxes. Simply erase any old characters (this is only needed for some of the DS games) and you’re off to the races. Here are a few ideas that will help you save money.

Online Video Game Stores

You might not know this but EB Games carries a wide selection of used games. So many gamers sell their old games there that even hard to find games are often available. Even if the local EB Games store doesn’t have what you want, their online store probably does. In fact, it’s probably the first place you should look since their inventory isn’t restricted to one city.

Online Auctions

eBay and Half aren’t strictly game stores but that’s just fine. They are fabulous places to get games. Tons of Nintendo games (and systems) are listed every day giving you a great chance of finding what you want at a reasonable price. Talk about a never ending supply of cheap fun! So head over to the Nintendo Wii or Nintendo DS section of eBay, start shopping, and help Link, Mario, and all of your favorite characters save the world!

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Product Refreshes

Whenever Apple introduces a new Mac or iPod, your local stores need to sell their old models. The best part is that Apple gives them strict orders to sell their merchandise at a discount. Lucky for us!

I got my dream machine, a Power Mac Dual G5, this way a few years ago. I knew the Intel-based Macs were about to come out so I checked the electronics stores near me that sold Macs. Sure enough, a few dozen were marked down. A couple of weeks later Apple introduced the first Macs using Intel processors.

Display Models

The computer I actually bought was also a display model. Because of that I was able to talk the salespeople down to an even lower price. It still carried the original Apple warranty but I probably would only do this for a desktop computer. Laptops take more abuse in the store but, other than the keyboard and mouse, a desktop just sort of sits there untouched. I’m very happy with my purchase and it still runs great.

Apple’s Online Store

Are you looking to buy another Mac or iPod soon? Does haggling with a sales clerk and running from store to store just sound like too much work? Then buying directly from Apple might be the best way to find a clearance Mac or iPod. The Special Deals section of Apple’s online store also includes clearance items and gets updated regularly. What could be easier than that!

Are you frustrated by the high cost of groceries? Do yourself a favor and let man’s best friend lend a paw. Save money by using printed or online dog food coupons the next time you’re buying dog food.

The Sunday Newspaper

Finding printed coupons for the most popular brands is relatively easy. Advertisements in the Sunday paper usually have those. Occasionally, local grocery stores and pets stores put coupons in neighborhood circulars as well. So pull out your scissors and go to town!

A Personal Coupon Clipper

Even if you don’t like clipping coupons, can’t find coupons for the brand you buy, or don’t get the Sunday paper, there’s still hope. Some eBay sellers do nothing but clip coupons for you. You’ll essentially pay them a small finder’s fee for doing this. Dog food coupons for Purina, IAMS, Pedigree, and others are listed regularly. Shipping is often free making this an inexpensive option.

Online Dog Food Coupons

It’s more difficult, but not impossible, to get coupons for natural and organic dog foods like Wellness, Innova, and Honest Kitchen. Shopping at an online store might be your best bet in that case. That’s because those retailers offer discounts through online coupons and discounts when you place larger orders (usually $75 or $100). The savings can be substantial and they commonly offer reduced rates on shipping as well. Some of them even let you set up recurring deliveries. Now you can save money on dog food and gas.

Wow, just when you thought you couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks. Your faithful companion helped your pocketbook too!

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They Pay You Too!

They even have tools that let you make your own animated wallpaper, pictures, and mix ring tones. The best part of about that is that you can actually get paid for making new stuff for your friends. It’s all based on how many people download your creations. The more people that download it, the more you get paid!

Will It Work For Me?

It works with pretty much all of the big U.S. carriers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc. There’s a list of phones it doesn’t work with, like the iPhone unfortunately, but almost all phones that can download ringtones work just fine.

It’s free to join so check them out!

Apple Refurbished iPods and Macs

What is a refurbished Mac or iPod? It’s one that was sent back to Apple for whatever reason. Whether someone just ordered the wrong color or it needed a little fixing, Apple spruces them up and sells them at a big, big discount. You can trust the quality and safety because Apple certifies each item just like their new products. These also carry a full 1-year warranty so it’s like they say on their site “Apple Certified. Good as New.”

How Cheap Are They?

You don’t have to look long to find a 33% discount or even 50% discount. That can really add up. Who wouldn’t want $50 off an iPod nano? Or a few hundred dollars off a Mac? Me, me, me! Actually, we started buying refurbished from Apple a few years ago and don’t plan to ever stop.

What’s The Catch?

So what’s the downside to getting such an awesome deal? There are three very minor problems with buying a refurbished product from Apple.

1. All of the items listed reflect the current inventory. So if no one returns the exact Mac you want then you can’t get a refurbished model. That isn’t usually a problem unless you want something super customized though. You’ll want to watch the site more closely since it updates each day.
2. It takes a little while for some of the newer products to show up. They have to get through the whole certification process so it usually takes several months before the refurbished models are available.
3. These don’t ship in the normal, pretty boxes that you see your the local Apple store. They come in a plainer, boring box instead. Don’t laugh. Some people love to save their pretty boxes!

Sign Me Up!

You just need to find the Special Deals section of Apple’s online store. There you’ll see links like Refurbished Mac, Refurbished iPod, and Refurbished iPhone (yes, even the iPhone). Then it’s just like ordering anything else from Apple. Except that you’re saving a ton of money!

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Casual Games

Most casual gamers play online games mainly as a way to relax. They aren’t as concerned with graphics and sound. A 500 hour adventures? Forget about it. Instead, their idea of fun is something that isn’t too intense and doesn’t take up a lot of time. Are you a casual online gamer? You’ll probably like the following three types of games if so.

1. Puzzle Games – Sudoku puzzles are right up your alley. This number-based game has taking the world by storm. The rules are simple making Sudoku a game for people of all ages.
2. Word Games – You might also enjoy playing word problem games like Bookworm at Yahoo! Games. This is fun and very popular but also test your vocabulary.
3. Simple Flash Games – Creative people come up with these little games all the time. You’ll find anything from shooting games that look like the old Duck Hunt game for Nintendo to Pacman clones.

Hardcore Games

The hardcore gamers want an entirely different type of game. Don’t have the coolest graphics and sound? Send it back. These gamers want challenging problems to solve and tough adversaries to defeat. Does this kind of online gamer sound like you? Then a few online game sites will really tickle your fancy.

1. Role-Playing Games – RPG games let you trade places with heroes and villains. A complex, intricate world with alliances to create, skills to develop, and missions to complete sucks you in for days at a time.
2. Strategy Games – You might want to take on the responsibilities of a high level commander too. Making sure moral is high, your supplies don’t get cut off, and enough troops are deployed to fend off a counter-attack is way more fun than a game of chess.

Playing online games doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. Now that you know what to look for get out there and start playing fun and free games online!

You might not see everyone in person during the holidays but there’s no reason you can’t still share some holiday cheer. Send the people you care about an ecard to let them know you’re thinking of them. It’s fast and downloading the software is free. That’s a lot cheaper and easier than fighting the crowds to go buy greeting cards.

Of course you want to find the perfect Christmas card but that’s much easier to do from the comfort of your own home. Most places which offer ecards have hundreds of choices. The ecards have animations and play music to really spice up boring old Christmas cards. So you’re sure to find something that everyone will love.

Once a year Valentine’s Day rolls around and everyone starts searching for the perfect gift. While a bouquet of red roses or a box of chocolates might be a popular choice to give ladies, you shouldn’t forget about ecards! Getting a musical, animated greeting card in your email is sure to brighten up anyone’s day, especially your sweetheart. Here are four great reasons to save money by sending an ecard this year.

Styles Of Ecards

There are literally hundreds of Valentine’s Day ecards available. So finding the perfect one to fit your special someone shouldn’t be hard. Whether you want something cute, romantic, funny, or all of the above, there’s an ecard waiting for you.

Custom Ecards

A nice thing about ecards, besides being free of course, is that you can easily personalize them. They’re just like regular greeting cards in that way. When you add in a special message the person receiving it will know how you really feel about them. Many ecards let you put in a digital picture to make them even more unique.

Printable Ecards

Some ecards are printable too. It’s even possible to use that software to create your own greeting cards. Now you can save money by making your own cards for each holiday, birthday, and other special occasion!

Email Ecards

One of my favorite features is that ecards help you procrastinate. Since they’re sent through email, you can wait until Valentine’s Day itself to send one if needed. Now there’s no reason to worry about your greeting cards getting there on time. You’ll save on stamps too for yet another bonus!

Why are you waiting? Send someone a Valentine’s Day ecard today!