Students! – Get Microsoft Office and Windows Vista for cheap
As with most students you are probably running pretty low on cash. If you are in the need to get Microsoft Office or Windows Vista you can do so at some pretty reasonable prices. If you are interested, head on over to http://www.theultimatesteal.com. In order to qualify, you will need to have a valid .edu email address. Here are some of the current deals.
- Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 – $59.95
- Microsoft Office Visio Professional 2007 – $55.95
- Microsoft Vista Ultimate Upgrade – $64.95
Picture People – Free Portrait Package!
Hey everyone! Just want you to know that the Picture People are having a summer promotion. You can get a portrait package consists of one 8×10, two 5×7’s and eight wallet sized portraits of the same image for free. That’s right ZERO dollars. So hurry in and get some free pics. I’m sure there is SOME family member that ones one out there. Just follow the link below to get to the coupon.
Home built PCs – More bang for the buck?
There used to be a time when you could save hundreds and perhaps over a thousand dollars building your own computer. Unfortunately, those days are pretty much over. It is incredibly hard to build a PC as the latest Dell special. If you are looking for a normal to mid-range PC and don’t care about tweak-ability then they should do just fine. In the higher end, there is still value and savings to be had.
I will be the first to say that I will take something I built over any store bought computer. Maybe I am just being anal, but there is something about building your own computer that is just satisfying. With that said, there are some benefits to building your own PC.
- Choose the parts YOU want.
- Ability to tweak and overclock
- Choose or build a custom case that reflects your style
- Life time warranty on some parts
Now, when you by a name brand PC you usually get at least a one year warranty and for a little extra coin it can be upgraded. You also usually get some form of tech support from the vendor. Being a computer nerd, I don’t need someone to repair my computer for me nor would I ever call their tech support. However, this can be a life saver for most individuals and prevent them from taking their PC to some place like the Geek Squad.
One final note I want to make on the list above was the lifetime warranties you can get when you build your own PC. Many times the same components in Dell’s and HP’s don’t get this treatment even if it is from the same company. As for self builders like myself, if you know how to work an RMA you can get most stuff replaced for very cheap. My memory has a lifetime warranty on it as does my EVGA graphics card. My Western Digital Raptor hard drive has a 5 year warranty on it. So, while I may not have the same system 5 years from now, it is nice to know that should something go wrong with those parts, it will still be covered by the manufactures warranty. To me, that is definitely a value.
So, in the end I think we can all agree that the days of home built PC’s saving hundreds of dollars are pretty much gone. However, the number of options and configurations have never been greater. To someone like me, building my own PC gives me a lot more freedom over something that is built on an assembly line in China. That and the ability to take advantage of lifetime warranties make this a good deal for me for years to come.
What do you think. Is it better to build or buy? Let me know!
Alice.com – Our First Order
Well, we put in our first order with Alice.com. so far so good. As I stated before my wife compared the cost of stuff we buy on a regular basis to both Wal-Mart and Target. We ordered early Wednesday afternoon and it shipped later that evening. Since it was in the middle of the week, it looks like it is going to get her on Monday. As they stated, shipping was free and the coupon savings paid for the tax and then some. Once the 20 lb box shows up I’ll update everyone on how well it was packed and if there are any extras in the box.
Again, if you are interested in joining (A few of my friends have), just click on the banner under sponsors. You will get $10 back once you spend over $50 so get to it!
*UPDATE*
All of our stuff came today in a big 20 lbs box delivered by UPS. Packaging was very nice with those fluffy air pillows. Very pleased about that since I hate millions of packing peanuts. No other goods or advertisements in the box. Everything was in perfect condition and nothing was leaky or broken. My wife and I give them two thumbs up and will definitely be using them again! Alice you have a new customer!
ChargeSmart – Not Smart at all
I recently came across this website that allows you to pay your bills (Mortgage, car payment and so forth) with a credit card. While it sounds like a good idea, I can’t help wonder why someone would use this service. The first thing that came to my mind was that I could rack up points, miles or cash back on my credit cards for things I pay for every month. I gave it a look and setup my car payment. On a payment of $218 the fee for their services came to almost $10.00! Digging through their FAQ I found their fee schedule.
- Is there a fee to use the service?
The funding of a ChargeSmart™ payment account is always free. However, regardless of how the account is funded: cash, check, wire transfer, MasterCard or Discover; there is a per payment fee of $4.95 plus a handling charge of 2.29% of the transaction amount.
Needless to say, there is no way you are ever going to make back that fee on the bonuses you get for using your credit card. After doing a little more research it appears the biggest pitch for their service is that it lets you postpone payments to a later date. By charging items to a credit card it gives you additional time to come up with those funds to pay off your obligations. This service may be better than taking out a payday advance loan or god forbid borrowing money from a fast cash place at 300% interest. However, if you are using their service on a month to month basis you have a bigger issue with your finances that you need to address.
Am I right or wrong on this one? Comment and let me know.
- James