Part 9 (1/2)

Of course, e television screen, not a small computer screen The easiest method to do that is to hook a laptop computer to a television with a set of cables Which type of cables you need depends on the outputs from your computer and the inputs to your TV I've found personnel at stores like RadioShack can be helpful in getting what I need in those situations, although the price of the cables ht not be the lowest

Standalone devices can help you watch online content on your television Exaa drawbacks of ”going off the grid” with TV is the relative dearth of free live sports prograaal to access

Internet TV ht not have all the content you want, but it could be a suppleo with free antenna reception or drop to a lower tier of pay-TV service

Fun Tangent: Don't Overpay for Audio-Video Cables

One of the biggest rip-offs in electronics retailing is overpriced cables These cables travel various routes, to and from the TV, cable or satellite box, receiver, DVD player, and speakers

Here's a good rule: Go for digital over analog when deciding a brands of cables, feel free to cheap out That could h-definition TV-instead of a 100 HDMI cable

Why? Because there's no difference in the quality of sound and picture you get froh quality, ood connections, and they look nice too They're probably even more durable But, as counterintuitive as it sounds, top-quality cables won't make your TV's picture or sound any better than cheap cables of the say coluco Evian bottled water to flush your toilet It ht be top-quality purified water, but it doesn't flush the bowl any better than tap water

For example, if you have a newer HDTV and cable box that can use an HDMI connection, use it It's higher quality than other connections But don't spend 75 or 100 on a cord Discounters, such as Wal-Mart and Target, often sell reasonably priced cables Perhaps the best combination of price and quality is available at online retailers, such as Monopriceco It works great Ah-quality but inexpensive HDMI cables

The saoes for wires to speakers For runs of 50 feet or less, 16-gauge electrical wire-even if it's lae matters Brand does not However, you can't totally cheap out on cables and speaker wire running inside of walls Incodes require the wire to be rated for ”in-wall use,” a feature easily found on packaging or retail displays

Internet Access

You'll notice htly tied with looking up infor at least a slow-speed dial-up connection is a good idea Of course, you could use free Internet access at a library or wireless Internet access at public ”wi-fi hot spots,” such as a coffee shop

However, having Internet access at home is convenient Internet service can help with skillful shopping, which will save far more money than access will cost

You'll need to evaluate what Internet service providers (ISPs) are available to you Generally, it will be through your phone line or cable line, although plans to roll out wide area wireless networks are in the early stages Internet access via cell-phone networks is also becoet Internet access via satellite, but that's traditionally been an expensive option,sense only for those without other choices, such as people living in very rural regions

Availability of these Internet-access options varies a communities If you're uncertain which to choose, seek advice from a tech-oriented friend or relative who lives nearby

This is one area I would not skimp on Get the fastest Internet service you can reasonably afford

So, again, the big-picture idea with telecos and prices That way, you can rightsize your spending for what you actually use

Chapter 4

How to Buy Stuff

”How to buy stuff?” youyourself when you read the title of this chapter ”Believe reat at that I need to kno not to buy stuff!”

But the truth is this: Buying things well is difficult if you don't have specific routines and so thousands of dollars worth of goods and services for your entire life You'll have needs, such as tires for your car, a plulasses You'll have wants, such as a new television set, a second fabulous pair of black shoes, and a Caribbean vacation

The point is to spend your ues into a discussion of needs and wants It's so easy to confuse the two things But learning the difference is ”how not to buy stuff”

We need basic food, basic clothing, basic shelter, and basic transportation Upgrades to those things are wants Wants co, a 3,000-square-foot house, and a sporty new sedan All your entertainames, music CDs, cable television, and every piece of jewelry you own

I' you should only spend money on necessities and deprive yourself of wants I' you must be very clear in your mind about the difference Then each purchase you raded ants

This re The probleeted for future spending is strictly based on how much you spent in the past The only debate is about whether your departets 3 percentThere's no examination of what you actually need, only how much more you'll spend in the future After a few years, howcan be completely divorced froeting is starting fro and the a up your expenses fro down expenses from current levels Or, as we've talked about, it's about whether a purchase is truly needed or we're just buying because that's ays do

That's a long way of saying that it's irounded Make conscious decisions about whether you can get by with a functional brand or whether it's hile to upgrade

Some people say, ”Well, I only buy the best forsilly and iical Almost nobody outside of the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet has enoughSo we choose Ideally, we choose by starting with needs and judiciously adding our wants

One of the great by-products of spending your money smarter is that if you spend well on your needs, you'll have more money left for your wants