Ahhh…the lure of new electronics.

A faster computer would be wonderful!

The latest and greatest TV is calling my name,

and oh how I covet the new iPhone!

We’re bombarded with ads during the Christmas season that make us feel the need to upgrade to the latest and greatest, but in reality it’s a want…not a need.

The temptation may be great, but how can you justify the expense especially if your old gadget isn’t broken?

SELL, SELL, SELL!

Let’s take a look at your options for unloading those electronics:

Craigslist.org – If you have the stamina to deal with lots of inquiries and arranging a meeting place…go for it! Hands down, you’ll make the most money on Craigslist.

Apple Reuse and Recycle Program – Trade in your used Apple product for an Apple gift card. Simply go to their website, enter the information and condition of your used Apple product and instantly receive an offer! If you accept the offer, free packaging and free shipping will be provided.
Right now, an iPhone 16GB 4S is going for $265! If you don’t have an Apple product, Best Buy, Radio Shack and most cell phone companies have similar programs, so take the time to compare offers. This is the easiest way to get money for your used device.

Gazelle.com – If you’d rather get cash for your used electronics vs. a gift card form the Apple Reuse and Recycle Program, Gazelle is your answer! It works just like the Apple program, so Cash In Your Old Gadgets. FYI, if you opt for an Amazon Gift Card instead of cash, they’ll increase your offer by 5%!

Ebay – Ebay may sound like a good option, but you might want to think twice. How will you make your listing stand out when there are over 500,000 iPhone 4S models listed?

Visit a few of these sties and see what your gadgets are worth…you just might be able to justify a new iPhone 5 from Santa!

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Image courtesy of Idea Go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you have been looking for a great deal on an AT&T wireless connection you will be able to find the best bargains at www.couponsnapshot.com. This coupon web site provides all the information regarding the various AT&T Wi-Fi coupons, promotion codes and discounts to interested customers.

In the deals section you will be able to find exciting bargains on AT&T packages including the AT&T Wi-Fi coupon code free 2012. Certain AT&T deals also allow for you to subscribe to email notifications, allowing the website to notify you on upcoming promotions or new coupon offers and discounts etc.

Many reviews can also be read by various clients attesting to the phenomenal savings they have made using AT&T Wi-Fi coupons. There is also a metric related to the percentage of people who have found the deal useful. 95% of clients have found the AT&T Wi-Fi coupon code free 2012 to be useful and have benefitted tremendously by the discounts provided. In addition to the many deals on offer the coupon website also contains a division relating to the activation of online coupons to be used within the e-commerce store. By using this option the coupon is automatically activated and you would be immediately directed to the required offer page of AT&T promotions and deals.

AT&T Wireless Deals

1. Up to $46 off per month for a period of 24 months and $100 reward when you subscribe to the hi-speed AT&T internet service, U-Verse.
2. $46 savings per month for a period of 12 months for subscribing to the hi-speed AT&T internet service, U-Verse.
3. $28 savings per month for a period of 6 months for subscribing to the hi-speed AT&T internet service, U-Verse.
4. Free HD for 12 months for new U-Verse connections.
5. Free AT&T wireless access for U-Verse connections.
6. Free AT&T Wi-Fi on the spot starts from $3.99 per session.
7. Free AT&T Wi-Fi premier starts from $19.99 per month. This includes a one year term, and access to many roaming partner hot spots.

In addition to these discounted deals there are also a number of promotional offers that are listed on a continuous basis on the CouponSnapShot website. You can select the AT&T promotional offer that meets your requirements and enjoy saving money while you are at it.

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sponsored

New clothes, books, pens, pencils and paper are some of the back-to-school shopping standards. But, what about cell phones? Many parents are adding cell phones to the list of must-have school supplies. Whether for coordinating pick-ups, tracking after-school activities or web browsing for homework help, a recently study from the National Consumer League showed nearly 56 percent of parents of “tweeners” (ages 8 to 12) are buying cell phones for their kids.

Whether this is buying you child’s first cell phone or getting and upgrade, there are a few ways to save so you don’t break the bank this year. With that in mind, here are some factors parents should consider before buying their kids’ a cell phone:

· Look at big-picture costs. While some parents opt for discounted phones to save on up-front expenses, they are usually paired with pricier plans that can add up over time. Initially paying a little more for a phone usually equals big savings in the long-run: Lower-rate plans save close to $2,000 over a two-year period. That’s money that could be spent on groceries, bills or even a family vacation!

· Find the right plan. Kids in general (especially first-time cell users) are likely to text frequently. A recent Pew Internet Study found that, “63 percent of teens text every day, with some teens texting up to 100 messages a day.” By opting for an unlimited, pay-in-advance plans, like MetroPCS, parents know what monthly costs to expect and won’t be surprised by overage charges and the dreaded “bill shock.” Added bonus: Pay-in-advance phones can be taken away as punishment when necessary without worry of being bound to a monthly contract and paying for a service that isn’t being used.

· Determine which features matter most. It’s important for parents to talk to their child about which features or services they need and what services they’ll most enjoy. For instance, parents could opt for a phone with a QWERTY keyboard for text-happy users or select a device with strong audio and visual capabilities for those who love videos and entertainment.

· Research parental controls. Once settled on a carrier and phone, parents can consider apps, services and programs that give insight into – how their kids are using the phone. Whether regularly checking browser history or automatically looking through text recipients, there are a number of monitoring tools. There are also dozens of apps available to help keep track of where children are, at all times.

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written by:  Metro PCS

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Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Great Groupon Deal!
$169 for a 16GB Nook from Barnes & Noble. These are normally listed for $249 (though I did find one online retailer that had it for $209). They are manufacturer refurbished, but they come with a 1-year Barnes & Noble warranty. Details below!

• VividView 7-inch color touchscreen with high-resolution display
• Access to more than 2.5 million books, magazines, comics, and kids books
• Browse the web with video and check and send email from one inbox
• Wireless connectivity with free WiFi in all Barnes & Noble stores
• Preloaded apps including Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Pandora
• Up to 11.5 hours of reading or 9 hours of video on a single charge
• Dimensions: 8.1″ x 5″ x 0.48″
• Backed by 1-year Barnes & Noble warranty

This offer valid through 11:59pm on Saturday June 30th, 2012

We’re probably all aware of the expensive cost of ink, and some estimates putting it as more expensive per millilitre than liquid gold. So, saving on its cost is certainly not something that should be taken lightly. In that mindset, we have a few tips to lower your printing costs.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tablet

Invest in a tablet computer for reading your documents. These devices can be gotten for around the $149 mark and can significantly reduce ink costs. They come with both the option to read MSOffice and PDF files and so you save on printing out of documents and hence on ink.

Black and White Draft Quality

If you must print out an item have a look at your settings. Ensure that your printer is set to print out in black and white where needed. Many pieces of printing software also have a draft feature, which allows you to print out text in a rougher, lower resolution than the best. This also saves on ink and reduces your costs.

Buy Refills, or Refurbish

Refilled cartridges or refurbished cartridges provide excellent quality ink cartridges, although at a lower price than the manufacturers. These cartridges are often more efficient than the originals and also offer more ink than the specified models. Both offer a high quality printing solution and are checked to a very high standard to ensure this is the case.

Print two sheets a page

Unless your eyesight is atrocious you should have no problems reading a sheet with two pages on it. Just go to your printer’s settings and change them to allow you to print two pages on the one sheet of paper this can lower your costs significantly.

Backwards

When printing draft copies, or pages for personal use, why not print on the back of pages that have been previously used. This may not save on ink, but does save on that other vital resource in printing – paper.

Laser

If you still find yourself paying large sums of money each month for printing, why not just go ahead and invest in a laser printer. This technology has fallen in price significantly in recent years and it’s now possible to get one of these machines for a low cost. They are more efficient than inkjet printers and so they cost more initially, save in the long run for those with busy printers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Author Bio: This post was written by Clickinks, an online distributor of printer ink cartridges with over 1 million products in stock. Visit Clickinks.com to find the right ink that suits your printing needs, whether you’re looking for Canon ink, like eco-friendly Canon MP530 ink, Epson ink, like Epson 125 ink, or any other brand!

Have you priced a laptop battery lately? If not, you’ll be shocked to discover that they run about $100! Thanks to guest author Nan for sharing these tips to extend your laptop battery life.

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In this crazy old, mobile world of ours, many folks have laptops. One of the biggest frustrations with owning a laptop, or any high-use electronic device, is battery life. Many of us know that although you can find a replacement laptop battery, you will likely pay out large amounts. Sure, there are third-party options, but oftentimes these units are made by some enthusiast in a garage in China, and therefore do not meet safety standards; if you skimp on loot and get a cheapo battery, there’s a chance it will explode in your computer, at which point, a new battery will be the least of your problems.

You can comb the net for deals and they are out there, but wise men say, “Prevention is divine,” so here are some suggestions for laptop owners to maximize laptop battery life:

• Run your battery down to about halfway before charging. There is a certain school of thought that suggests you run your battery until it dies, but that is only partially true. You do want to run the battery down 100% once in about every 30 charges, but if you do it every time, it creates a battery strain and cuts the lifespan in half.

• Don’t keep your laptop plugged in ALL THE TIME. They call it wireless because you don’t need to have it plugged in all the time. The lithium ion battery can be over-stimulated if it’s plugged in all the time, and once those power cells get overpowered they lose their charge, which, of course, results in a low battery.

• Heat is the arch-nemesis of the laptop battery: They are like snake and mongoose. pirate and ninja. The hotter the environment your laptop is in, the quicker the battery drains. When this happens frequently the more likely the change to the permanent charge capacity will be.

Batteries are an all-important factor in the busy world, and saving money on backup or alternate batteries is a must. However, if you follow these rules, you can extend the life of your laptop battery and save money in the long run.

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Image courtesy of: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’ve just discovered the most comprehensive tablet PC shopping guide, and it’s a must read if a tablet computer is on your Christmas list!

If you need help understanding tablet PC’s, this guide is a great place to start. You’ll discover everything you need to keep in mind when shopping, and you’ll be more knowledgeable about the technology. It’s a handy little checklist, and it will help you in your decision making when you realize you need to consider things like:

• operating system
• screen quality
• screen size
• battery life
• storage space
• processing speed
• possible contract for data plans
• your need for extra features like a camera and USB ports
• warranty

 
I’m a visual learner, and they’ve even incorporated pictures of the different types of tablets and available accessories along with prices. There’s even a You Tube demo…it’s like having a very knowledgeable salesperson on your computer screen!

You’ll shop for your new tablet PC with confidence after you take a moment to read this guide.

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This is a sponsored post, and all opinions are 100% mine.

Every Saturday morning my friend Ellen would shop garage sales, and return home to show off her treasures. I used to marvel at the treasures she would find until I wised up and joined her!

What treasures can you find at a garage sale or yard sale? Here’s a list (in no particular order) of some items I discovered when volunteering at a school garage sale:

• Terra Cotta Pots
  All sizes 50¢
• Sterling Silver Jewelry -
  All the jewelry, real & costume was in a basket marked 50¢
• DVD’s
  50¢…that’s cheaper than renting a movie, and then you can sell it back at a garage sale or half price books.
• Jean Jacket
  Name brand, $2.00! Clothes are always a bargain at garage sales, but you must be willing to dig! The clothes are usually piled in a heap on a table, and there will not be a dressing room.
• Birkenstock Sandals
  $1.00! A lady found 6 pairs!
• Locker Shelf
  Like new for just 50¢.
• Samsonite Suitcase
  Brand new with tags for only $1.00!
• Set of Dishes
  $10.00 for the entire set! Yes, this is why Ellen had a set of dishes for every season!
• Lladro Madonna
  $2.00! Somebody must not have known the true value of this! You just might find the next star of The Antiques Road Show at a yard sale.
• Stuffed Animal
  50¢ for a brand new giant Easter Bunny! If your children are always begging for new toys, and you find yourself always giving in and blowing your budget…maybe it’s time to take them to a garage sale! Toys abound at garage sales and yard sales!
• Mountain Bike
  I told my son that there was no point in spending $200+ on a brand new bike for college that was going to sit out in the rain, so he found a great $40 mountain bike at a garage sale!

 
Of course, I can’t promise what you’ll find at a garage sale, but I can promise you’ll find some bargains!

Please remember The Budget Diet’s rules for shopping at Garage Sales, Goodwill, Consignment Shops and Thrift Stores:

• Be Open Minded
• Shop Often
• Be Friendly
• A Bargain is Only a Bargain if You Can Use It
• Use Your Imagination
• Shop in Upscale Neighborhoods

 
Start your Saturday morning off with a bargain! Get in the garage sale habit!

Please click on the title of this article to let me know what treasures you have found at garage sales and yard sales.