Use technology to offset rising energy and food costs

Many of us are dumbstruck by the very rapid and continuing upwardly spiraling costs for life’s basics—food and fuel. We feel helpless because there is so little we can do about it. The consequences of this inflation are significant and dire for those at the bottom of the economic spectrum.

In the 1970s, inflation and gasoline shortages brought a swift response from the President and Congress. It is arguable whether their efforts had a salutary and desired effect. At least they tried. Today’s President and Congress say little and do less to help the average American. State and local governments also ignore these issues. Municipal and state budgets go up every year without the legislative bodies truly questioning the necessity of these expenses.

We must rely upon on our own initiatives to offset the twin cost pressures on food and fuel that impinge upon us daily. Below I have some suggestions for using technology to lower your non-food and energy expenses or for making some money to offset this pernicious inflation.

Review your subscriptions. Do you really watch all the cable or satellite TV you pay for month-after-month? What if you did away with the premium channels like HBO and Cinemax? You would save $25-$45 a month. Most of the content on these channels is available for download at Amazon Unbox or the Apple iTunes store so you will still be able to see those programs or movies you just have to see. Most libraries lend DVDs for free.

Reassess your telephone provider(s). If you use old-style landlines, consider switching to VoIP service. You may save $25 -$50 a month and get better phone services at the same time. Do you have a cell phone? Have you thought about doing away with your landlines? Do you need both? Many younger people are wireless only. Maybe you should be too. Evaluate whether your cell plan includes subscription services you do not need or use. T-Mobile and Sprint are usually less expensive for the same plan than AT&T Wireless or Verizon Wireless.

Do you have an old Windows computer that is slow and finicky? Are you considering replacing it with something new? If you are like most people, you use your computer for email, surfing the web, tracking finances and document production. Windows does not have a monopoly on these activities. Consider replacing Windows with a free Linux operating system. That old, slow computer will see seem speedy and new. You can test out how the computer works with a Linux trial CD that runs the OS from the CD. You can install Linux from the CD if you like it.

Use the web to lower the costs of purchases and save money on transportation. Products are often significantly cheaper at web merchants than from chains like Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Costco. Additionally, you save gasoline and the wear and tear on your vehicles by shopping on the web. Alternatively, you can use web offers to lower the cost of products at local retailers. Many will match or beat bona fide competitor’s prices. You can also search the web to get the best deal on gasoline. Go to http://tinyurl.com/9pck8 to find the best gasoline prices for your zip code.

Considering selling that junk stored in the basement, attic, or at a remote storage facility that you pay for every month. You can place personal ads at most local newspapers’ online sites. EBay is a proven place to turn that stuff into cash. Or use Craig’s List at http://www.craigslist.org to post free sale advertisements.

If you need household repairs and do not know who to hire or what to pay, consider joining Angie’s List, http://www.angieslist.com. It is a community site that offers recommendations on local companies, such as home repair, auto repair, doctors, or caterers, from local people just like you.