Tag Archive for money

When is the Best Time to Buy A Piece of Technology?

September 6, 2011 / Guest Author / One comment


Buying technology always seems like a huge challenge to people because there is always something newer, better, faster that’s “just around the corner.” Given this situation, one could be forgiven for feeling as if a piece of technology is obsolete from the very moment that you make your purchase. The thing is, if you follow this line of reasoning, you’ll never buy any piece of technology because you’ll always be living in fear of being obsolete. Therefore, a new paradigm is needed for considering when to buy a piece of technology.

Can What You Have Do the Job?

The first question to ask yourself before you buy a piece of technology is whether or not what you currently own will do the job. The reality is that technology is constantly changing and as such, there will always be new things that new gizmos are able to do. However, by focusing on what you need to do rather than focusing on what the latest piece of technology is all about, you can avoid all the fuss. After all, if all you need is the ability to type up the occasional letter without needing Internet access, even an old computer running MS-DOS would do the job. On the other hand, if you need to be able to download, display and manipulate high definition video, you’ll need one of the more advanced computers on the market.

Consider Buying Last Year’s Technology

Unless it won’t do the job at all, last year’s technology is generally a relative bargain. For example, these days the latest and greatest in the way of computers use the Intel or AMD quad core processors. However, if you are able to make do with a dual core processor instead, you can save a significant amount of money on your technology needs.

Buy Technology When You Need It

Another thing to consider when buying technology is that you should buy it when you need it. Sure, you could wait for a sale on a piece of technology, however, unless you happen to know that a sale is going to be coming out soon (for example, it’s a few days before Black Friday and the sales have been published), it’s not worth waiting for a sale. That’s because inevitably, someone somewhere has a sale on the item you want to purchase. Just search through deal sites like SlickDeals.Net and FatWallet.Com to find the deals and you’ll see that whatever you need is inevitably on sale somewhere, or something close to it is on sale somewhere.

Think Two to Three Years Ahead

Finally, when choosing when and which piece of technology to buy, it’s important to think about the future. For example, if you’re looking into buying yourself a cellular phone, you have to remember that you’re likely to be holding onto that piece of technology for at least two years. Now the reality is that most smart phones being built today will do just fine for the next two years. However, if you buy yourself a cheaper phone, you need to consider whether that particular piece of technology is one that you’re still going to be comfortable with two or three years from now.

In the case of computers, it’s also important to think ahead. The rule of thumb regarding computers is that you should expect to use it for at least three years. However, if you’re not bedazzled by the latest and greatest, it’s possible to hold onto this and other pieces of technology for much longer, for as long as they do what you want them to do and as long as they continue functioning properly.
 

George Gallagher is a technology and education blogger.  He is currently working with private student loans and students looking to find the most appropriate option for their situation.
 

Category: Electronics, Shopping, Tech / Tags: , , ,

Planning a Funeral

September 4, 2011 / Guest Author / No comments

Trying to deal with grief after the death of a family member can be difficult, but having to do so while planning a funeral at the same time is downright intense. The combination of the emotional and financial ramifications of planning a funeral while grieving can leave you particularly vulnerable to making bad funeral decisions. If you find yourself stuck in this unfortunate situation, here are some tips on how to make the right funeral decisions when you’re not in such a great state of mind.

One thing that many grieving funeral planners find difficult to cope with is the sheer number of decisions they have to make. If the deceased did not leave instructions regarding their funeral, the funeral director will turn to you to get the answers to his questions. Common issues that need to be addressed include whether the deceased should be buried or cremated, whether the funeral should be open casket or closed casket, and if there should be a religious ceremony or just a private gathering for family and friends. When faced with making these decisions, bring along another person who is more removed from the grief – maybe they didn’t know the deceased very well, or they just handle grief more efficiently. Use this person as a sounding board who can point out any problems and aid you in making funeral decisions.

Understand that even though you may have been appointed the funeral planner, that doesn’t mean you are responsible for every single decision. It’s your job to make the major decisions and deal with the funeral home to avoid the inevitable confusion that results when multiple people try to complete one goal. However, what you can do is delegate as many minor tasks to others as possible. Let others take on things like picking out flowers and music for the funeral, collecting photographs for a memorial book, getting in touch with distant family members and putting together an obituary.

Keep in mind that funerals are a type of business transaction. Sure, they’re emotional and touching events that mean a lot to families, but don’t let your feelings push you into spending more money than you can afford. Far too many people fall into the trap of thinking that being hesitant about spending a lot of money on a funeral means you didn’t love the deceased enough. It’s okay to shop around and explore your choices of funeral homes. Try to visit at least two funeral homes to get an idea of the prices being charged. While you’re shopping around, make sure you understand exactly what you’ll be paying for. For example, a basic funeral package may only include a casket and embalming; you’d have to pay extra for things like flowers and burial plots.
 

This post is by Life Cover.ca.
 

Category: Culture and Society, Family, Funerals, Lifestyle / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Learn Something New for Free

August 27, 2011 / Guest Author / One comment

Education can be expensive. Tuition costs at universities and other centres of learning add up to thousands and thousands per year, and not to mention the cost of text books, materials, CDs, and more. However, paying for education is not the only way to learn something. There are many different ways to learn, and as we move through our lives it is important to keep enriching our minds with new knowledge and skills.

Learning doesn’t always have to be something that you pay lots of money for and there are many ways that you can expand your knowledge base and learn something new for free.

If you are strapped for cash but still want to keep your mind active, this is a list of free ways to educate yourself:

  • Use your local library. It doesn’t cost a thing to get a library card, and once you do you will have access to a huge collection of informative material. Whether you need to learn how to cook, how to do yoga, how to balance your budget, how to raise a teenager, or how to identify birds, you are sure to find a book with the right information here. Most libraries also have audio visual resources as well, which is another way to learn.
  • Get online! From reference websites such as Wikipedia to free online language learning programs to “how-to” guide databases, there is so much to learn just by using the internet. Just type in what you want to learn about on Google and start searching. Of course, if you don’t have a computer this can still be a free way to learn because most libraries will have computers with internet access for the use of their patrons.
  • Swap skills with a friend. Perhaps you are a brilliant guitar player who wants to learn French, and your new neighbour just moved from Paris and would love to learn how to play the guitar! By teaching each other your respective skills, both of you will learn something new and no money ever needs to change hands.
  • Volunteer. There is a lot to be said for learning by doing, and volunteer experiences can teach you a lot of valuable skills.
  • Visit a free museum or art gallery. Many museums and art galleries throughout the UK have free admission, and you can learn an enormous amount by taking in the historical and artistic displays.
  • Many organizations and charities will offer free courses and workshops in a wide variety of subject areas. Do a bit of research and find out what is happening in your area.

Learning doesn’t have to cost money, and you can acquire an enormous amount of new knowledge and skills by just having the initiative to seek it out yourself. Enjoy your life-long learning adventures!

 
Jim Dean is a keen money blogger who works for Coutts and Co who offer private banking and capital investment services.
 

Category: Education / Tags: , , , , ,
 
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