Cable TV brings a lot of entertainment options to the table. You can watch sports, 24 hour news channels, dramas, reality shows, and ultimately waste a lot of time. I’m as culpable as the next guy when it comes to watching too much television, so when I received my latest cable bill from Comcast, I was more than a little disgruntled at the price.

A base cable TV subscription comes at around 39.99 a month — this of course is without taxes or other fees the cable company throws into the mix. The base cable subscription nets the average user most of what they want out of their television. It would include approximately 60 or more channels, but doesn’t include movie or sports heavy channels. These would all come at extra costs. These extra costs are what makes cable TV so unaffordable nowadays. If I want to have an HBO subscription, digital channel access, and HD content, then I’m looking at doubling my cable TV bill. That’s just crazy!

My latest cable bill ran $83.79. I have the basic package with one DVR, dual tuner cable box, HD content, and an HBO subscription. I want to cut the bill in half. This requires me to go without HD content or any movie channels, which is what I’ll have to do.

The Internet Changes Everything

The internet gives us news, sports, and entertainment options we didn’t have to choose from in the past. We can have access to cable options for free online, but need the equipment to access it via a television in our home. If you have an HDTV then you can likely hook up a laptop or desktop to the television. In this way, you could eliminate cable and only watch shows through the internet. NBC and other networks have moved much of their shows online. We’ll see more and more shows appear online in the future. It’s just a matter of time. And then there’s streaming of Netflix content.

If you’re not familiar with Netflix, they are a through the mail service for DVDs. They’ve recently expanded to offer more than 10,000 of their titles to their customers through streaming technology. You can stream the content to the PC connected to your TV and watch television and movies without leaving the home.

By completely eliminating my cable bill, I would be saving around $50 or more a month. I would still have some entertainment fees, but sometimes, when times are busy, I don’t have the time to watch new shows. What a waste a cable service can be at times. Is it really worth that much?

Have you considered getting rid of your cable subscription?

In harsh economic times, many people look for ways to save money on many everyday purchases. Unfortunately Universities don’t take coupons or offer discounts. So how can a person looking to go to college for the first time, or enroll in a Graduate school afford the tuition?

Private loans have offered many graduate students a way to pay for Business, Law, and Medical school. Those days may well be behind us, at least for a while. Many banks have recently clamped down on credit programs aimed towards higher education. For the most part, these types of loans should have been last on anyone’s list. The private loans usually came with higher interest rates and less leeway in terms of payback options.

Higher education can still be paid for through government financial aid programs. Stafford loans offer graduate students a way to pay for tuition and other fees. Since 2006 Stafford loans have been available to graduate students, regardless of need. According to a CNN Money article on the subject, "All students, regardless of need, can borrow up to $20,500 (medical students have higher maximums) total in subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans. These loans come with a fixed low rate of 6.8%, although you will typically have to pay a 3-4% fee, says Walker."

That doesn’t sound too bad, right? Many of the government financial aid programs offer students a way to receive help without paying interest while still attending school. These loans do have a higher interest rate than many of the other loans available to undergraduates. Before signing any loan papers, ensure the other avenues for borrowing are closed, as they might offer better rates.

Many of the government financial aid programs give students an easy way to reach financial goals for their education. The private loan enterprise may well disappear, forcing the government to put in place more money for students. Only time will tell how this part of the economic situation will turn out.

A new or used car should be classified as a large purchase. When we have the right perspective on the purchase we tend to make the necessary steps to protect our investment. If we take the purchase lightly, we’re likely to be swayed by a salesman looking to make a commission.

A new car with next to zero miles has the benefits of a full warranty and, of course, the new car smell. A new car has some disadvantages as well though. It can lose 10% or more of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot. This is why they sell Gap Insurance – it covers the gap between the car’s value and the loan value in case of an accident. Most would agree a brand new car may not be the route to take to save money. However, if you’re going to buy a new car, you can do a few things to protect yourself.

A new car comes with a new loan, a dealer, and many options. To buy a new car at a value, you need to realize companies rely on sales to drive their business. The best times for sales vary by dealership, but you can almost guarantee a decent deal at the end of the year. The dealerships save on taxes when the cars are not in their inventory. Of course, you can protect yourself from a sly dealer by doing some research beforehand – find out the suggested retail price of a car, with the options you want to have installed, like power everything or a sunroof.

To buy a used car, you need to have more information at your disposal. A used car may have been involved in an accident at some point. The first question if that’s true should be about the title of the vehicle – you need to be sure it doesn’t have a salvage title. A salvage title on a car can be harder to insure, and also prove to be difficult to trade in or sell at a later date.

Used cars also have a much more variable cost. Many times a used car can be found at a discount on car lots rather than through owners in a newspaper. The reason is owners tend to make math take a backseat. They tend to overvalue their cars since they’ve owed money on it, or still owe money on it. They also might be overvaluing in spite of defects in the paint or problems with the motor. It pays to have a used car inspected.

When buying a new car, be sure you know what you want before you step foot in a salesperson’s office. A costly service plan can be the undoing of a decent new car sale. A used car has many more variables and requires more research before purchasing. Without a short warranty, you’ll want to have the car inspected for any mechanical problems. Barring any setbacks, negotiating a used car sale can be much more laborious. Often times it pays to leave after giving an offer and having the salesperson balk at the number. They don’t like that, but you can always give them your cell phone number, so in a few days you can expect a call with acceptance of the offer or a more reasonable counter offer.  Good luck with your new car purchase. We hope this information helped.

I’ve talked about this in the past. We tend to want others to do what we can probably do ourselves, with maybe a little ingenuity. I’m not saying we’re all capable of skilled construction projects, and quite rightly a plumber should be called for the gushing faucet or the leaky stool. I’m suggesting we can outbid the contractors by learning some handy skills on our own.

A friend of mine recently had a $300 dollar garage door installed by a professional. When the installation was done, he had a nice door, perfectly installed. The problem was the bill exceeded $1,200. This was $900 of labor! It took the contractors a day to do the work, but for half that amount I would have gladly helped him install the door.

When it comes to things around the house, like installing a garage door, the question of convenience may come to many people’s minds. The project may be out of our league, some may say. Others may simply not have the time. When going into a project like this it’s important to consider the tools you would need (buying new tools would create added expense), the proper instructions or guides available, and the necessary amount of time to do the work. For a garage door, you would probably need an added helper too, but most of us have a friend who would help us out in exchange for our hand in a project of theirs later.

How do you get started on a project like this? The first thing is to do a little research. Google is your friend. You can find helpful guides online, most from licensed contractors themselves. And the worst thing that could happen is you have to call a contractor to fix the "fix", so to speak.

The general rule of thumb to use when doing work like this, always, always know what you’re getting into ahead of time. Do some research, and if you feel the work isn’t too much of a trial, then give it a shot. It could save you a lot in the long run. In the short run it might be inconvenient, and not relaxing, but at least you’ll have the satisfaction that comes from doing something like this on your own. That’s a good enough reward in and of itself.

For expectant parents, the joy of an unborn child can make them feel like doing somersaults or leaping tall buildings. The sobering views of a new child start to come in as the news of the pregnancy wears off, maybe with a friend’s offhand comment that a child costs a lot of money. The excitement turns to worry when considering food, clothing, security, savings, school, tutors, piano lessons, cell phones, college, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. A baby does cost a considerable amount of money until he/she reaches adulthood.

A recent MSN money article analyzes the cost of raising a baby from birth to 17 years of age. The cost relates to how much the parents makes on average. The following paragraph sums up the breakdown of estimated costs.

Though not as steep, the figures for lower-income families are just as unsettling: $204,060 for families earning $45,800 to $77,100 and $148,320 for families making less than that. That breaks down to nearly $16,290 a year from birth to age 2 for families in the $77,100-plus income bracket. This is no back-of-the-envelope guesstimate. The survey involves interviews with about 5,000 households, four times a year. [Source: MSN Money]

So a baby can cost as much as $200K until the parents send him/her off to college. The cost relates to housing, food, education, and medical expenses. These four areas validate MSN’s estimates or drive the costs lower depending on how each family responds to certain needs.

The housing cost was calculated by adding 100 to 150 square feet of needed house space for each baby in a household. This meant some families had to upgrade their homes, which meant more mortgage costs and probably accounted for the majority of the cost in the $200K figure, unless you’re feeding your child sushi and caviar regularly.

To reduce costs for a baby the housing variable should be the number one priority. Many families can make do with what they owned before a baby came into the picture. Now one child doesn’t necessarily equate to a need to move situation. Afterall how much room can a stroller, toys, and carriage take up? The question comes when the child gets older and wants more space. At that time, a move might be considered in most households.

The education variable can be different for many families. The variable is really dependent on whether the child will be placed in a public or private school. Of course public schools are affordable, but private schools often times offer better standards.

How then can parents shave some of the 200K from their spending. The biggest way would be to not upsize a house. Make do with what you have. This would save the most, with education and smart necessity spending coming in next. The best advice would be to not spend money you don’t have. If you plan on buying a bigger house, save for it. In the end, the 200K would be worth it, but saving some along the way could make the journey that much more enjoyable.

I wonder at times if it’s even possible to save money when you go out to eat. Who wouldn’t complain about some of the restaurant prices nowadays. A meal for two can often top forty to fifty dollars. A decent quick meal costs almost ten dollars, without dining in the restaurant. And forget about ordering a large pizza for under twenty bucks, at least not with breadsticks or many toppings. It’s frustrating to those of us inept in the kitchen, and even more so for those of us trying to save for anything important like college, a car, retirement, or just for security. Let’s take a look at a few things we can do to save money when eating at a restaurant. I’d love to hear from you as well.

1. If you’re going to a new area of town, a new city, vacationing, etc. then do some research online before stepping foot into a greasy steakhouse. Sites like Yelp.com can help you decide if the food is worth the money. What’s worse than spending forty dollars on a meal? Spending forty dollars on a meal you hated.
2. A meal is meant to be shared in many cultures. With the servings Americans receive, it’s no wonder we have an obesity problem. Couples can afford to share an entree and appetizer and still be too full for desert, which we don’t recommend buying, unless it’s your birthday, then by all means.
3. Coupons are you friend. Many restaurants have menus, store hours, and discounts all found on their website. A quick Google search should pull up any coupons the restaurant may have available. You might also check the various cutout coupon ads in papers and on newstands. These can help you find a deal for the single outing.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for the specials. The specials usually have the best deals in a restaurant. A special might also be the best meal in an unfamiliar restaurant. It’s the safe choice.
5. Order the lunch portion rather than the dinner. The difference may mean three to five dollars, but if your whole family does this then the meal just got cheaper.

Do you have any ways you can think to save money at a restaurant? We’d love to hear it in the comment section or in our forums.

We have seen tremendous success with our gas card giveaway contest. We try to keep the contest as simple as possible, so ultimately it’s you, the reader, who benefit. You can win $25 sent through Paypal or a gas card through the mail — the choice is yours. Every email subscriber automatically receives on entry per month. And new this month, we’re offering each blog post that links to our gas saving articles five entries. That’s right, five entries for a blog post linking to our articles! Here’s the rules.

Gas prices may have dropped from the all-time high, but we know you could still use some money for the tank. We decided to keep up with the $25 Gas Card Giveaway. You can join our previous three lucky winners by simply following the contest rules, which really aren’t that difficult.

Contest Rules:

The rules are simple. Each visitor has two ways of entering the contest.

1. 5 Entry Tickets: Link in a blog post on your site the words save gas articles with the following link: http://www.savemoney.com/transportation/gasoline.html. It should appear like this: save gas articles
2. 1 Entry Ticket: Subscribe to the Save Money Blog’s RSS feed via email. The signup box on the right column makes this process very simple. Only verified emails count - so be sure to respond to the initial email.

Each person can gain up to 6 entry tickets!

On November 1st we will tabulate the contest entries, assign a number to each one, and visit the random.org number generator to select the winner. The winner will be mailed a gas card for $25 or given an equal amount via Paypal. Anyone in the world can win, just follow our easy steps to enter today!

As September rolled to a close, gas prices reached prices above $3.50 throughout the country. We figure our contribution to one of our readers each month means less money going out the door for gas and more money going to the bank. So every month we tally the number of email subscribers, add up all the blog posts for the month, and randomly select one entry as our lucky $25 gas card winner!

This month saw many entries…if you didn’t get a chance to enter, you can enter in October’s contest. The lucky winner for this month will be contacted via email. And the winner, according to the random.org number generator is…

129

The lucky winner has an email address like this:
te _ _ 00 @ _ _hoo.com. Congrats on your $25 gas card!

Every email subscribers has a chance to win $25 every month! Stay tuned for more ways to save money and a load of great content coming your way in October. Congrats to our winner!