It seems that everyday I pick up the newspaper or check the news online, the economic outlook looks grim. Weeks ago, the US economy was going south. Today the headlines say the economy is still in rough shape. Whether it’s gas prices, rising food costs or the latest quarterly report from your investments, it’s not an easy time for many people this year.
Despite all the gloom and doom, there are ways to benefit during uncertain times. Some suggestions… if you have a Netflix subscription, drop it! You can easily save $17 a month by going to Kansas City, Kansas Public Library and checking out movies at the library. Now $17 may not sound like much money but over the course of a year that adds up to over $200 in savings. As long as you return the movies on time and avoid fines, this is one way to save quite a bit of dough.
The internet has become a necessity for many people. Again, there are options. Your public library offers free internet and computer access. Use our high-speed connection at the library for watching YouTube videos and switch to dial-up at home. Juno and Netzero both offer ten hours of free internet access through their dial-up services. Sure dial-up isn’t the fastest. Still it’s fine for checking email and reading the news. Rates for high-speed internet vary but this could easily save you $300 a year.
Cable… don’t even get me started! As far as I’m concerned along with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness our founding fathers would have added free television to the list if Family Guy had been around in the eighteenth century. Don’t believe me? Check out the fees in the United Kingdom just for owning a television: http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/licencefee/
Factoring in exchange rates, the British pay roughly $200 a year to watch television. Think that’s crazy? Imagine paying the cable company upwards of $100 a month or $1,200 a year to watch TV. Technology has changed and the snowy picture from rabbit ears is a thing of the past. The US government is offering $40 coupons for digital converter boxes. The vouchers only apply to those of us without cable and the boxes will be mandatory starting in February 2009. Oh, and the picture is crystal clear too. Go to
www.dtv2009.com to learn more.
These three changes in household spending will buy a lot of groceries and gasoline or you could blow the savings on a plane ticket to England. TV tax aside, the Brits have got the Rosetta Stone, Stonehenge and really good fish & chips. Cheers!
One last thing: we’ve got some great business programming for December. We’re having a S.C.O.R.E. representative speak on Monday, December 8 at 6:30 pm. This will be a great way to learn about starting a new business and get some top shelf advice.
We also have a special guest speaker who will give a talk on “Getting Through a Volatile Market : Steps You Can Take”. This talk with take place on Wednesday, December 17 at 6:30 pm. It promises to be an interesting evening full of sage advice on making good investments in uncertain times. Both of these talks will take place at the Main Library on 625 Minnesota Ave. in the second floor auditorium. Until next time, catch me in the library.
