Technology does not just make things easier – it can also be used to make things cheaper. Whether you are adding a second landline using VoIP to save money, or scanning barcodes with your smartphone to find the cheapest way to buy something, there are so many ways to make technology work for you to make your money go further. Here are some ideas that even the biggest technophobe will have to acknowledge the value of.
Get open to open source
With the latest software and operating system versions usually priced as high as the producers think the market will bear, you can stop dancing to their tune by opting for open source equivalents. These are produced by a community of developers who look for others to make iterative improvements and so are free to use.
Look out for operating systems such as Linux (which is generally seen to be more stable than its big brother counterpart Windows), productivity suites such as OpenOffice, image editing software such as Picassa from Google and web browsers such as Firefox.
Snoop on coupon sites
Whether it is days out, meals out, designer wear or homeware, there are just so many great deals out there on the internet for those prepared to snoop them out. Sites like Groupon, Vouchercodes.co.uk and a host of others are serving up daily deals to those in the know.
Use VoIP to save money
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services offer you drastically lower call rates by using your internet connection rather than the traditional copper wire phone network. This does not mean you have to use a headset and computer to make a call, as nifty adapters allow your standard home phone to tap into your broadband supply without relying on your PC. National packages can offer you unlimited calls to mobiles and landlines anywhere in the UK and international packages offer you unlimited calls to Spain, India, Australia or any combination of countries. In addition, you will receive premium services without the premiums such as caller identification, call divert, call waiting and even voicemail messages emailed as text to your email account.
Internet-based VoIP services like Skype can also allow you to make a video call to anyone in the world without paying a single penny so you can not only hear them but see them. Perfect for catching up with friends overseas or seeing your relatives’ faces as they open the presents you have sent.
Avoid the high price trap with a barcode app
The latest smartphones have cameras sophisticated enough to scan barcodes and there are plenty of apps out there that can make this capability start working for you. Imagine you are out shopping and you see something that you just must buy. How do you know if the price is right? With a tap on an app and a click of the camera you can compare prices from high-street and online retailers in a second and even order the product from the seller with the very best deal.
Make your money go far with solar
Sometimes there can be a lot of green in being green. The latest solar panels require much less initial financial outlay but still promise great financial returns. Solar power can generate electricity (solar PV), or for lower set-up costs can heat your water (solar thermal), and both can cut your heating bills by at least a third. In addition, a new scheme known as the Feed-in Tariff actually pays you to generate electricity and promises returns as high as £25,000 over 25 years.
Resource Box
Find free versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more
Find the best deal available by scanning the barcode of products
Research how to buy solar panels and find out how much you could be saving
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