Free Hi Def [High Definition] TV! Free!

"At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders."

Thus is promised by the federal government at their digital television website. You can visit and receive two $40 coupons toward converter boxes if you, like me, still have an old (analog) television.

Combine this with free hi def programming that is already offered over the airwaves by many of your local stations and you've got a deal! Do television stations in your locale offer hi def programming? Check here to find out.

Choose Your Natural Gas or Electricity Supplier!

This is cool. I recently learned that my local power company (Nicor Gas) has a **free** program: they let me to buy natural gas from other utilities!

From their website:

Customer Select® is all about choices. It's a voluntary, free program offered by Nicor Gas that allows you to choose your natural gas supplier. Depending on the supplier, you will find some offers that lock in your gas price and others that compete with Nicor Gas' monthly gas supply charges. By comparing offers and making the choice that's best for you, you may be able to save money on the cost of your natural gas.

It's a great program - looking at some cost comparisons, it looks like I could shave 5-10% off my natural gas bill.

Free Stuff: Donate & Receive to Freecycle.org

Freecycle is a network of over 4,000 different local groups across the US and the world. It's a nonprofit group whose goals is to reuse perfectly good items to keep them out of landfills. Translation: give stuff to other Freecycle members and get free stuff in return!

To participate you do have to sign up, but membership is free. Go to freecycle.org to find the nearest local group today!

Cook at Home

Cooking at home is a great way to save money. Even fast food is more expensive (and fattening, and less nutritious) than eating a home-cooked meal.

Not much of a chef? Check out cooking websites like Allrecipes.com. They have lots of recipes for people of all tastes and skill levels. You can even search by ingredients and rate recipes that you've tried.

My recent favorite: Waldorf Salad with Walnut Oil Vinaigrette. I've modified it by tossing in an orange and diced roast chicken. It makes a perfect side dish, main course, and even a tasty on-the-go breakfast!

Maximize Your Frequent Flier Miles

If you're like me, you probably fly once in awhile on a variety of different airlines, which makes it difficult to rack up enough points in any one program to get goodies like free trips or merchandise.

Enter Points.com. Points.com is a FREE website that allows you to manage points from virtually every rewards program on earth. You can swap points and miles between programs, trade them with other users, earn more points and miles and even redeem them for fun stuff.

Finding A Job At Employmentcrossing.com

Ok, what is EmploymentCrossing? Well, it’s not a sales company; it’s a job-opening research company. What does it mean? Well, most job boards are more interested in earning commissions by posting jobs than they are in matching people to the job that’s right for them.

EmploymentCross is different. They have a research staff (more than 500 strong) that monitor employer websites, job boards – whatever it takes. They have helped thousands of professionals find jobs. Not only that, but hundreds of thousands of professionals turn to EmploymentCrossing every day for new jobs, new options and even new careers! Check out their mission here.

How does it work? Join EmploymentCrossing. Search their job listings and find one that’s right for you. Submit your resume!

That’s all there is to it. Learn more here.

Grocery Store Flyers, Coupons and Weekly Specials

Visit your local grocery store's website, where you can print coupons and check weekly fliers to hunt for the best deals.

The following is a list of the retailers that I've found:

• Supervalu
• Cubfoods
• Logli
• Aldi
• Ralphs
• Costco

and of course

• Walmart

It's a great way to build your shopping list, especially if you don't get a local paper!

Free CDs, Books and (Nearly) DVDs: Check Out Your Public Libraries

Public libraries may not sound like the coolest, hippest place on the planet, but if you haven't been in a library lately, you're missing out. My local library has free internet access, free wireless and a huge selection of free music and books. DVDs and VHS tapes (for my parents) are available for $.50 per checkout. All it needs is a coffee bar, and it beat Starbucks hands down!

If you're concerned, librarians aren't scary people and they love to help people find new media and they especially love to sign new library members up. Just be warned: you may find that you stop spending any money on books, CDs or movies. Legally stop spending any money on books, music and movies that is.

Not sure where the nearest local library is? Check out the public library website...

Skype: Save Money on Your Phone Bill!

I started using Skype to save money on my phone bill a few months ago and I couldn't be happier. The call quality is good, it's super-cheap and the Skype software helps easily manage my contacts!

What does it cost?
Well, you can get unlimited calls to anyone in the US and Canada for only $29.95 per year!
Or, if you prefer paying by the minute, you can use Skype to call anywhere in the US for only two cents a minute.

How does it work?
Skype is a VOIP service, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It's a fancy way of saying that you talk through your computer.

Do I have to use a headset?
No! There are a wide array of internet phones and adapters that you can use with Skype. One well-regarded one is the Nexoteq Smart USB Skype phone; it looks and operates like a traditional telephone, but allows you to take advantage of low-cost VOIP technology.

Don't want to buy a new phone? The Eforcity Phone Adapter is a very popular (and high rated - 5 stars on Amazon) Skype adapter. The Adapter connects your phone to your computer, and allows you to use your own favorite wired or cordless phone with Skype. Installation is a snap, too.