time | Online Savings Blog

What Can You Do Without Spending Money?
04.08.08 | Consumerism | 0 Comments | by junger

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Since we're in full-on savings mode in preparation for our vacation to California, our weekend was kind of … well, quiet.

Not that that's a bad thing — Debbie was under the weather, but we didn't really have any plans. For us, not having plans is a bad thing.

When we don't have any plans, we tend to do the one thing we definitely do not need to be doing now — spending money. Whether it's going to the mall, going out to eat, or frivolously shopping, we spend money.

So with no major plans but no desire to spend money, what do you do?

Obviously, there's a lot that can be done. We cleaned the house, watched a movie, spent time with family, played some Wii, planned our trip, and more. Yes, it's not that exciting, but it doesn't have to be.

We managed to have an enjoyable weekend without doing any damage to our bank account.

Then next time you're sitting around with nothing to do, think about all the things you could be doing without spending money. Maybe it's going outside for a walk, spending time with your family, blogging, playing a game, taking a nap, cleaning your house …

The list goes on and on.
Why an iPhone is a Worthy Investment
04.02.08 | Consumerism | 6 Comments | by junger

I love gadgets. I can't hide that.

I've written before about wanting to buy a PlayStation 3 (to play Blu-ray movies) and Rock Band (to jam out), but talked myself out of it.

Apple's iPhone, however, is a different story.

Since it came out, Debbie and I have pretty much lusted at the iPhone. It's gorgeous. It's groundbreaking. And it's pretty cool, too.

But we didn't pull the plug. The price was too high — $500 to start — and it required switching to a different cellphone provider (AT&T).

Until recently. Debbie's contract with Sprint is up (we don't get service in the house, anyway) and AT&T started selling refurbished iPhones online for $250.

Since her birthday was last week, I bought her a refurbed iPhone — and now we're proud owners.

What makes the iPhone worth it is that it's a practical gadget. So many times, we find ourselves wanting to know how to get somewhere in the car or to look up some information when we're away from the computer.

Now we can do that.

The iPhone is a pretty sweet gadget, but it has real-world, practical use. It's not like the PS3 or Wii, where you only derive entertainment value from it — the iPhone can save you time and money.

For that, it's a worthy investment in my book.

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