9 quick and easy ways to save money on tech

I’m a cheapskate. There, I said it. I go digging for ways to save money in my tech life, and I’m happy to pass them along to you, too.

1. Use a tool to find coupons: Searching online leads to codes that don’t work or, worse, malware-infected sites. CamelCamelCamel will alert you if there’s a price drop on something you’re eyeing on Amazon.

2. Try free versions of expensive software: Unless you absolutely need Microsoft 365, don’t waste your money. I’ve recommended LibreOffice, the free, open-source office software suite, for years, and it just got a major update. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux.

3. Check your phone provider perks: T-Mobile includes free Netflix, Apple TV+ and Hulu (with ads). Verizon customers get the Disney bundle, Walmart+, Paramount+, Apple One, Netflix and Max.

4. Get something for nothing: Open Facebook or Nextdoor and search for “buy nothing” and your town or city name. Pick the one closest to you. Voila, you’ve just found a group of folks who give things away for free. You can offload stuff you no longer need and pick up a thing or two. Freecycle is another good option.

5. Use one of my favorite Amazon tricks: If there’s something I want but am not ready to buy, I add it to my cart, then click Save for later. Every now and then, scroll that list. When an item goes on sale, you’ll see it there.

6. Cancel what you’re not using: I use Rocket Money* for that. It’s an app that quickly finds all your recurring subscriptions and lets you easily cancel those you no longer want. The first time I logged in, it saved me $360! Why Barry had three paid weather apps, I’ll never know.

7. Trade your email for discounts: Brands email special deals to their newsletter subscribers. If there’s a brand you love, go to their website. Trust me, they want you to sign up, so the forms will be front and center.

8. Get paid to play: Apps like Swagbucks let you take surveys, play games, watch videos and scan grocery receipts to earn rewards. You can cash ‘em out for gift cards starting at just $1 or save up to $250 to receive that amount of cash in PayPal deposits. There’s also a $10 welcome bonus. Download on Android or iOS.

9. Shop refurbished or open-box items: Amazon Warehouse is an excellent source for video games, appliances, power tools, cameras, school supplies and electronics. You can use your Prime benefits for free shipping, and there’s a good return policy. Just check the item’s condition so you know what you’re getting. Apple sells refurbished gear, too.

🤣 What do you call a cheap wig? A small-price toupee. (You laughed!)

Don’t get left tech-behind – Stay tech-ahead

Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Smart ways to make more money and find new customers

Small business owners must build trust, set trends and share their customers’ values. Connecting with customers is one of the most important ways to make money.

Success starts close to home. Before connecting with customers, you must build strong bonds with your teammates. Tap or click here for five leadership secrets every small business owner should know.

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⏸️ Cheapskate pro tip: When you’re out of town for an extended period, pause your internet and/or cable package. This is so much better than paying full price for those services when you’re not even using them. Get specific steps for your provider here.

💰 Make money on Facebook: Meta has paid out over $2 billion to Facebook content creators in the past year alone for videos, Reels, photos and text posts. To see if you’re eligible, from your Facebook for Creators page, tap Menu > Professional dashboard > Monetization. Coming soon: Facebook Content Monetization Beta, which puts your in-stream ads, ads on Reels and performance bonuses all in one spot. Right now, it’s invite-only, but you can ask to join.

$300,000 or 6 years’ worth

Of lost retirement savings for serial job hoppers. It all comes down to retirement savings rates. When you switch to a new job, you’re starting back at 3% and adding a percentage each year. Too many job changes can lead to a 41% smaller nest egg.

15 out-of-the-box ways to make extra cash from anywhere

By now, you probably know that you don’t have to leave home to make money. After all, many companies sent employees home to work during the pandemic. But even if you aren’t a salaried employee, you can still make a living from the comfort of your own home.

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5 free resources to grow your business

Entrepreneurs and small business owners need all the help they can get. When you’re a self-starter, you’re constantly on the go, multitasking and doing all you can to grow your company quickly. Luckily, there are a ton of free small business resources that can help you along the way.

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💰 More cash for your old phone: iPhones retain their value much longer than models from Samsung, Google or OnePlus. Demand’s higher too. iPhone folks sell or trade in their phones 41% of the time, compared to just 17% of Android owners. Sadly, 30% of Android folks just end up tossing their old phones.

🔎 Real deal or cheap knockoff? You find a great dress, pair of shoes, wallet or whatever online. Is it a nicely made piece or something you could buy in bulk on Alibaba? One easy way to check: Do a reverse image search. Upload a saved pic here on Google Images and see if you can spot the exact product elsewhere.

Something that was always supposed to be free finally is: The IRS’ free tax filing program, Direct File, will be available in 24 states next year. It was limited to simple tax situations, like W-2 wage earners or Social Security retirement incomes, but in 2025, it’ll cover complex filings, too. Here’s more info on who can use it.

🖨️ Printer secret: Most printers have a “draft mode” that uses lots less ink when you don’t need anything fancy. (Some call it “economy mode” or “fast mode.”) To try it, open a document or file, hit Print, then go to Properties or Preferences and look for Draft mode

🎉 Many retail websites don’t have static pricing: Depending on the time or day of the week, you might beat the algorithm and score a better deal. Your best bet for a bargain is early in the week or at off-peak hours (think late at night or early in the morning). Whoa, this tip alone is worth the price of this newsletter. Oh, wait — it’s free!

🤫 Secret pricing strategy: Selling stuff on Amazon? Use the “charm pricing” trick — set the price just below a round number. Research shows folks perceive $9.99, for example, as much lower than $10. Bonus tip: Put expensive items next to affordable ones to make them seem like an even bigger bargain.

Next time you’re bidding on eBay: Science says you should use a round percentage of the asking price. Say a seller wants $44. You’ll win the bid at $22, or 50%, more often than if you’d offered $24, or 54%. Sweet.

👩‍🍼 Bundles of joy: Bundles can save you money by combining services at a lower total cost. Try Apple One, which bundles cloud storage, music, games and movies — or streaming services Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+. Share it with family and it’s even cheaper.

📶 Your internet plan is expensive: Call your ISP and ask to talk to a “retention specialist.” They’re the folks who can cut you the best deal. Heads-up: Most promos are only valid for a year, so you’ll have to renegotiate then.

Save money: Check this page to see if anything you’ve bought on Amazon is on sale right now. This way, you can stock up!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🏪 Groceries are so expensive: Flipp compares prices so you don’t have to. Type in what you’re looking for and your address, city or ZIP code to find sales near you. At least eggs aren’t $8 a dozen anymore.

100,000 seasonal workers

Coming onboard at Targets across the U.S. Good to know, if you want to pick up extra Christmas money! Here’s where to apply online. Ugh, I accidentally wore a red shirt to Target, and now I’m covering for Frank in produce this weekend.

Deal or no deal? CamelCamelCamel is an awesome tool if you shop on Amazon. It tracks prices, shows you a product’s price history and lets you set price-drop alerts for something you have your eye on.