15 Things You Shouldn't Be Paying For

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Openoffice is great if you're the only one using it and you're willing to cut back on functionality. But if you're working on group projects and everybody else is using MS Office everybody else in the group is going to hate you.

Matt of TX 6:37PM October 25, 2010

Carefull with the free credit report stuff. If it dosen't give you your FICO score you have been scamed. How do you know it's the real thing. simple ,it has to say FICO,in it. NO leanders of any sort look at the three credit companies so called credit scores, NO ONE. If it dosen't say FICO score. Theres not but a few ways to get your FICO score. PAY FOR IT. it's about 15$ per score,not 3.95 like the fake ones. Get preappoved for a home mortgage is about the only way to get all three. Experian & trans union, stopped selling the Fico scores. So they can't even be bought. They only sell there's which are fake. Exqufax still sells FICO. If you don't have all three you have nothing of value. There needs to be a class action suit to stopped this false hood. They make so much money selling there scores ,because it's only a few dollars. They imply that it 's the real thing.NOT. FICO, the company has not given that away.

bruce of GA 3:10PM September 14, 2010

If you really want to save money on the question of Pets, avoid the urge to own one. Think of the tremendous savings involved by not having to feed and care for another 'family member'. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister and use that money and time to help a human being in need of love and attention.

den of AZ 11:44AM September 12, 2010

Michael F of CA...Besides Library experiences pretty much summed up all that I was going to say, one thing I would like to add is "You Get What You Pay For" really the only thing that I could say I liked about the article was the title,even that needs work. Everything written in it could be talked down depending on each persons own choices in life.Ever think that some of these places that were"so yesterday and last decade" do offer employment.Yes newspaper has lost its ease compared to internet, but you ever wonder how many jobs they provide even just a 100 is still hundred people off the street. Just cause internet banking is more convenient, doesnt mean I want all banks to close. I think it's technology that is draining worlds economy, businesses that were so last year or decade ago needed many staff to make it run smoothly, now you can run billion dollar business from home by yourself, yeah you get to save money or horde it as I would say but putting ripple in way industries flow.What do I know, I am just a Joe Blow factory worker praying that my job wont be automated and machine/robot take my position. But hey, owner will be able to pay his annual credit card fees.Stop buying all these things and save money but because of all the job losses you pay more taxes to cover unemployment.Article should be maybe 15 things to think about before you buy... I dont care if Sony TV is more expensive that a run off company, I depend some quality with my purchases. Or cares for that matter, I would rather pay extra money knowing 250(JOBS) well paid persons assembled it then some slave driving third world country.Point I am trying to make is don't bother buying a tv regardless of brand if you plan on only watching scratched library dvds on it.Wanna save money go for things like competing cable and wireless phone companies sign up with one and then say your leaving cause rival offers better deal, they usually jump to offer you same or beter of a deal, if do switch in few months say same thing that other guys have deals. Dont waste you money on coffee from a shop each morning, can always make your own. All comes down to foods and drinks always taste better when someone else puts in the effort. I will buy cup of coffee each day until doctor tells reason not too.Yes there is generic for almost every drug, while they have to abide by laws to which ingrediants going in drugs dont have to meet any standard on amounts and way it releases.Do ya want you fast acting headache pill to kick in after two hours or half hour.Bottled water thing really bugged me too. Yes its taste but holy crap have you not heard incidents about places around world with tainted tap water.I'll pay whole whopping 2 to 3 bucks for case of water sometimes two at the price.Only objection I have bout bottled water is perhaps envirometal angle of it.Yes to an extent can be recylced, but if had program say with cans of water where broader choice of what can be recycled into.
no more charcters

Chris N 1:41AM August 22, 2010

"You instead have to wait until August of next YEAR, so there's a difference."

Jerry Capp of CA 4:24PM August 20, 2010

Thank you for encouraging readers to adopt animals from shelters. Adopting not only saves money (often hundreds of dollars), it also saves a homeless animal's life!
I've adopted all three of my animals from shelters, and I would never go anywhere else to find a new furry family member!

LucyP of MI 12:08PM August 20, 2010

This brilliant reporter wants to give us consumers some advice.
Some of it is useful and practical, the rest of it is misleading and condescending.
Telling people not to rent DVDs and just get them from the library is the worst advice you could give. The library is a great SECOND source for DVD's. But don't drop your Netflix. Libraries have smaller collections & not many new releases.
In L.A. people treat library DVD's like they are toys. They scratch them,
drop them, and even vandalize the disc. I am not exaggerating. And there's nothing the library can do about it.
Brand new DVDs releases already have a gouge on them, so the movie freezes up when you play it. You have to skip ahead, then rewind it back, you miss a few minutes of damaged scenes. After a few times it ruins the movie experience.
Our city library does not have online request for DVD's & video's. You have to call the branch that has the DVD, ask them to get it & send it to your branch, wait up to 10 days to pick it up only to bring it home & find out it does not play because (here again) the disc is scratched up so bad as if someone rubbed sandpaper on it. Then you have to drive back & return it.
Also the library charges $1 a day for late fees. Plus recently our library has major cutbacks, shorter hours & longer transfer of your materials.
So let's see, would you rather do all that, or pay $9 a month for Netflix:
that's about $1.50 per DVD, no gas to pick up & return it, no calling to request it, condition of DVD is good or Netflix replaces them, more new movies. No late fees. Delivered to your home.
Also, his information on "Checking Accounts":
What bank does NOT offer people free checking today??
You say bottled water "is so last decade."
Well, telling us about free checking is SO 1989!
I've had a free checking account since 1991.
He says "the same can be said for ATM fees, teller fees, and checks."
What does that mean??? Everybody uses their own bank's ATM's or we'll
be charged a fee, we all know that by now. Your information is 2 decades old.
What are "teller fees"?? I've been banking over 25 years, never heard of them.
I've never been charged any of these fees.
Bottled water: he says "we're over it, and into TAP." Not where I live!
You think people choose bottled water because they want to be fancy?
No, we drink bottled water because it tastes better!
I have to refill jugs of water at Glacier machines because the tap water where I live taste terrible. It depends on where you live. My mother's tap water in Illinois taste great. Mine doesn't!
Tax Prep: Who goes to a CPA with a 1040EZ Form??
When I did my own taxes, I got a little bit of money back.
After going to a CPA, I got a few thousand back, minus his
$175 fee, it's much more economical. He can E-file it too.
Credit Card fees: Again, you're not telling us anything new here.
Most credit cards have not charged f annual fees for over 20 years.
The ones that do are the more advanced, luxurious cards.

Michael F of CA 3:05AM August 20, 2010

During this economic environment, your article is timely and very beneficial but I think it may be worthwhile to expand on your first tip or at least mention the concept of Free Open Source Software (FOSS). I have an IT services company that helps small business take advantage of FOSS with their limited IT budget

Ray Chew of WA 1:08PM August 19, 2010

Invites can get pricey and even the cheap ones will eventually get thrown out. Plus think of the postage you have to pay. Evite.com is free, no paper (that will end up in a landfill), and no postage. You can also update information on the invitation.

sarah of FL 11:24AM August 19, 2010

I agree with Chaz of LA about getting rid of cable... if only someone would produce a reliable DVR for antenna TV that isn't subscription based (Tivo charges a monthly fee, and the only product that doesn't has received horrible reliability reviews).
I would keep the gym membership, especially if it involves coached workouts. My health is one thing I am very willing to throw money at. Having a coach or leader along with scheduled workouts has helped me tremendously in my quest to stay in shape. I sometimes exercise on my own, but coaches/classes help me stay motivated long term and produce better workouts from me short term.

Abba of MA 11:19AM August 19, 2010