The Advantage Advisor

  Computer upkeep

  Winter car maintenance

  Preparing for Thanksgiving

 

These days having a home computer is common for many people. With the changing technology and advances, there are many inexpensive and free ways to keep your computer operating at its best.

 

Some of the best ways to keep your computer fast, efficient and working properly are built right into your computer and cost nothing to use. Defragmentation is an easy way to maintain speed and free space. It rearranges your files, placing them in a more efficient and space-saving way. It is suggested that you use this function at least once a month. Another easy function to use is Scan Disk. This scans for and repairs errors that are found on your hard drive. These errors can make entire sections of your drive unusable.

 

An easy way to keep your computer, and especially your Internet, working properly is to delete old browsing history. Your computer stores a copy of every site you visit, as well as the location of that page. Deleting all of these pages, files, and cookies speeds up your Internet browser and your computer in general. 

 

Aside from the free stuff, there are a few low cost things you can do to maintain your computer. Having anti-virus software is vital to keeping your computer in good health. A virus can not only slow your computer down, but it could also make it unusable. Most computers come with a one year membership to anti-virus software, but when the free trial is up, maintaining it is usually less than $50 a year. Like anti-virus software, having software to search for and eliminate Spyware from your computer is also important. Spyware secretly monitors your computer’s Internet activity and programs that you use. It then uses the information to affect your computer. Sometimes it changes settings on your computer. Other times it re-directs you to certain sites when you try to browse the Internet. The cost for the software to eliminate these computer slowing threats is usually less than $25. 

 

Upgrading can be a cheap and effective way to keep your computer at its best. While it is true that some upgrades are very costly or difficult to do yourself, some are just the opposite. Upgrading your Random Access Memory (RAM) can usually be done at home by the common user. Installing an additional or larger RAM card makes your computer faster and helps programs to run smoother. Depending on your model and the size of the card this upgrade can be done for around $50 to $75. Upgrading your CPU, or your Motherboard, can be a lot more expensive, but the results are well worth it. Keep in mind, if you are not comfortable opening up your computer and performing these upgrades yourself, consult a professional. Improper installation of these items can make your computer a very expensive paper weight. 

 

Last, but not least, keeping your programs up to date is a good, fast, and usually free way to maintain your computer. Most programs have an automatic update option built into them. Any media player, game, or operating system will always work better when they are up to date. Remember, some updates for programs are not free. Switching to a new operating system is an example. As these can be quite expensive make sure it’s worth it before you buy.

 

If you need advice as how to proceed with computer maintenance, the Internet has tons of information. Many users have gone through these processes as well as many others and posted very detailed directions about them. Anything you feel uncomfortable doing yourself should be done by a professional. Also keep in mind that computers are now the cheapest they have ever been. Always weigh the cost of an upgrade versus the cost of a new computer. In no time at all you will have a computer that is smooth to operate, fast to load, and easy on your pocketbook. 

 

 

Q:  I’m always being asked to apply for store credit cards to get 10 or 20 percent off of my purchase. Is this worth it? How does this affect my credit?

 

A: First, the advantages.  Besides the initial discount, some cards offer continuing discounts and other rewards that would benefit frequent shoppers. For instance, Macy’s credit cards offer returns without a receipt, and, depending on the card type, services such as free gift wrapping and basic alterations.  Also, folks looking to establish or rebuild a credit history may want to look into store cards.   Usually these credit issuers are more likely to approve people with lower credit scores.

 

Store cards also have disadvantages. They can have very high interest rates, often 20 percent or higher. They usually have low credit limits, making it easy to run up a high balance relative to your limit which hurts your credit score.  Also, applying for the new card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can lower your credit score 10 to 30 points. 

 

Mainly, you should consider your spending habits. If special offers and discount coupons send you rushing to the store, store cards might get you into a lot of debt.

 

 

It may be hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is right around the corner. If you’re hosting a dinner, you might be thinking about ways to decorate without spending a lot of money. Here are some ideas:

 

 Maintain your car, save money

There are times when some effort, and maybe a bit of money upfront, can save you a lot of money in the long run. That’s often the case when it comes to car maintenance as we get ready to head into winter.

 

The cold, snowy weather can really take a toll on your vehicle. Taking some steps to winterize and maintain your car before it’s subjected to the harsh winter will help it stay in good condition for many years. This will allow you to drive the car for a longer time period, or it will help maintain its value if you decide to sell it.

 

Start by giving your car a thorough wash and wax. Waxing your car before the bad weather will give the body of the car a good layer of protection against the cold and all of the road salt that it’s likely to get pelted with over the season. You can wax your car yourself. With a little elbow grease, there’s no need to pay a professional to do this job.

 

In addition to taking care of the outside of your car, don’t forget to clean the inside too. Dust and vacuum to keep dirt and grime from building up. Also, use rubber or vinyl cleaners with protective treatments to keep areas like your dash board and door panels from drying out so they don’t crack.

 

Make sure your car is in good working order. Install new wiper blades if you haven’t done so recently. Make sure you’re up to date on your oil change, which is always a good idea, and check all of your fluids to see if they’re at an adequate level.

 

Check your tire pressure. Under-inflated tires can lead to more wear on the treads and can lead to more fuel consumption. Over-inflated tires can lead to bad traction on the wet, slippery roads. The cost of getting into an accident can be a real budget buster.

 

Finally, never let your gas tank get too empty. Fuel can freeze in the tank and leave you stranded. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you are waiting in the cold for hours and have to pay for a tow. Plus, the added weight of the gasoline will help your car’s traction in the snow and ice!

 

 

Stick to a budget for your Thanksgiving dinner.

 

Decide at the beginning of the month how much you want to spend on your dinner.

 

Buy items when they are on sale.

 

Try to avoid prepared foods. Though it takes more work, you’ll usually save money by cooking from scratch.

 

Remember that frozen vegetable are often less expensive than canned veggies, and they have more nutrients.

 

Ask dinner guests to help out by bringing a side dish or dessert.

 

Don’t forget to check out the tips on the front page of the newsletter for inexpensive decorating ideas.

 

 

For more frugal Thanksgiving ideas visit:

 

The Dollar Stretcher:

 

Budget 101:

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