| Here's the thing: I'm a New Yorker. And
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| | you won't be able to tell the difference
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| in New York, it is amazingly difficult
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| | and that can save you $20 a month.
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| NOT to spend a lot of money, just on the
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| | - If you switch to broadband, don't keep
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| basics! As a student of Harv Eker, I am
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| | your dialup (unless you travel often
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| trying to limit my expenses to 50% of my
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| | outside the country or in rural areas).
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| after-tax income, and I have to tell you,
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| | Also, drop paying for AOL. All AOL
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| that is really hard to do. Harv isn't the
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| | features are free if you have broadband.
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| only one to suggest this either: almost
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| | Entertainment
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| every money-management guru gives the
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| | If you really wanted to be extreme about
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| same advice. Simplify your expenses.
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| | it, you could cut entertainment out
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| The fact is, if you want to become
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| | altogether. But that's not really
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| financially free, you must do two things:
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| | practical, so here are some ideas.
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| increase your passive income and decrease
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| | - First, if you think FREE, you may not
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| your expenses. Once your passive income
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| | get free, but you do end up with "cheap."
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| is equal to or greater than your
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| | Cheap doesn't mean less fun, either.
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| expenses, you are financially free. The
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| | Sometimes you can have MORE fun.
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| concept is simple enough -- and in other
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| | - If you live in a city, just try walking
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| articles I address creating passive
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| | around. In New York, I have found
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| income (the easiest and fastest way to do
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| | impromptu concerts by street musicians or
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| this would be by renting your rooms). But
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| | just sat in the park and people watched.
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| how do you simplify your expenses?
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| | You'd be amazed how much fun you can
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| Especially when you look around and you
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| | have!
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| don't see a way HOW? Here are a variety
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| | - Instead of eating out or going to bars
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| of ways you can still live a decent life
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| | with friends, host a potluck at home or
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| and be a bit more frugal at the same
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| | just have friends over for drinks. It's
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| time.
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| | much cheaper to buy liquor than to buy
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| Food & Toiletries
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| | drinks at the bar.
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| - By far, making lunch at home was one of
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| | - For movies, go to matinees or the $2
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| my biggest savings! I made lunch and
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| | movie (some communities have them). Yes,
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| snacks and bought them to work.
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| | those movies are second-run, but hey,
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| - Instead of buying shower gel, go back
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| | it's worth financial freedom to me. You
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| to soap bars. They last longer and are
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| | can also always rent movies.
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| much cheaper.
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| | - Cable. When times are tough, the cable
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| - Don't wash your hair every day, and
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| | needs to get going. It can get so
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| when you do wash your hair, only wash it
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| | expensive! If you do need it for the
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| once. That saves lots of shampoo.
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| | reception, get basic and then rent
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| - I made my own coffee at home -- or cut
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| | movies. Buying a great DVD player and
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| it out altogether and put that money
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| | renting movies is cheaper than cable in
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| aside in your financial freedom jar. One
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| | the long run. If you rent rooms in your
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| guru calls that the "latte factor."
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| | home like I do, keep the cable -- it's a
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| - As a nation, we eat out a whole lot
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| | perk for your tenants that are worth
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| more and buy convenience foods to just
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| | paying for.
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| heat in the microwave -- but these can be
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| | - Take your kids to the bookstore and
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| expensive. Cooking may take time, but it
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| | hang out.
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| does save you lots of money.
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| | - Find free community shows, like
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| - Buy generic! I was so opposed to this,
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| | Shakespeare in the park or fireworks.
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| and one day I ate some potato chips that
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| | - Take the kids on the subway trip -- as
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| my boyfriend bought. Seriously? They
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| | far as you can and go explore. In New
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| didn't taste different from the name
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| | York, take the train to Coney Island.
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| brand. Try it. Ok, some things may be
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| | - In the summer, there is always a local
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| non-negotiable, but you'd be surprised
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| | food festival or street fair.
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| what is. Your grocery bill will go way
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| | - Get your kids involved in a community
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| down.
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| | group, like a theatre. They develop
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| - Take the effort to cut coupons, take
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| | skills, make friends and have fun.
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| advantage of sales, and go to discount
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| | Clothing
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| warehouses, like Sam's Club or Costco.
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| | - For kids, don't go over the top with
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| Heat & Electricity
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| | the brand names, especially since the
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| - If you don't already have one, get an
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| | kids will grow out of them quickly.
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| electric thermostat with a timer, so you
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| | - For adults and older teens, don't buy
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| can change the temperature automatically
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| | really trendy clothes that will only last
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| during specific times of the day. Lower
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| | one season. Buy classical fashionable
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| the temperature when the family is out of
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| | clothing that will last, and get trendy
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| the house.
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| | with accessories.
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| - Use space heaters and lower the heat in
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| | - Buy shirts and ties or blouses and just
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| the rooms you use. Use an electric
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| | one suit -- accessorizing is cheaper.
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| blanket at night.
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| | - Buy a few pieces of quality clothing as
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| - There is plastic covering you can get
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| | opposed to lots of cheap clothing. They
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| at the hardware store and cover your
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| | will last a lot longer.
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| windows. That keeps the heat in the
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| | - This goes without saying, but buy
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| house.
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| | clothing in the off-season and on sale.
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| - Make sure your boiler and hot water
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| | You will save a tone of money.
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| heater are maintained properly.
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| | Transportation
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| - Wear layers of clothing and keep the
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| | - A gas saving tip I just learned: put
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| heat lower.
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| | your car in cruise control whenever you
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| - Use kitchen and bathroom vents
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| | can. It has cut my gas bill in HALF.
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| sparingly in the winter
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| | - If you live in a metropolitan area, try
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| - Replace regular light bulbs with
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| | walking around the city as opposed to
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| compact fluorescents
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| | taking a bus or a train. In New York, you
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| - Wash laundry in cold or warm instead of
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| | can even get there faster sometimes! :-)
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| hot
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| | - Maintain your car -- tire pressure, oil
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| - Use a clothesline instead of using the
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| | changes, everything. Preventative
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| dryer
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| | maintenance is way cheaper than repairs.
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| - Use a ceiling fan instead of an air
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| | - Never use cheap gas - use quality gas
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| conditioner.
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| | and the correct octane for your car. It
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| Cell Phones, Internet, and Communication
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| | may seem more expensive, but it's cheaper
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| Utilities
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| | in car repairs in the long run.
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| - Avoid pre-paid cell phones, even if you
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| | - Don't be afraid to walk, even in the
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| just want the phone for emergencies,
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| | winter. It's great exercise and it saves
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| unless you are careful to use a plan with
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| | a ton of money. Bring a backpack with you
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| minutes that don't expire. You pay
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| | for grocery shopping if you need only a
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| exorbitant rates per minute.
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| | couple of things.
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| - Never underestimate the minutes your
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| | The Change Jar
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| teen may use. Be careful not to get the
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| | I have a change jar. Every time I pay for
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| lowest plan. Constant overages are very
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| | something, I always use bills and get the
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| expensive overall.
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| | change. I put the change in the jar. You
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| - You don't necessarily need a home phone
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| | wouldn't believe how much money you can
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| if you have a cell phone. With free
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| | save! This money could be entertainment
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| nights, weekends and long distance, you
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| | money, allowance for the kids, put it in
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| may save considerably. Be careful with
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| | a savings account or saved for
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| phone plans that have low rates, because
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| | emergencies. This change jar has saved my
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| the taxes add significantly to the bill.
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| | butt many times over the years, and is a
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| - For your Internet connection, you don't
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| | great way to have "found" money at the
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| have to get the highest rate of
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| | end of the month.
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| connection speed. For the average user,
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