be more frugal

as much as possible, I use freeware, shareware, and open source software on my computer: firefox instead of internet explorer, thunderbird instead of outlook or outlook express, and open office instead of office. I’m still using Vista, because I prefer pcs but am still a little scared of linux. maybe I’ll try a dual boot so I can switch over gradually.

Soon, I’ll be coming into the lump sum back payment for my social security disability, and I’ll be challenged to spend my money frugally.

I expect I’ll be buying quite a few things that I’ve done without for 2.5 years, but will try to do research and make sure I’m making smart, frugal decisions. My largest purchase will no doubt be a gas motor scooter, but that’s a no-brainer frugal choice with today’s gas prices. When I recently bought a new laptop computer (with a loan from ex-hubby), I went with a budget model, instead of buying one of the $2000 models I’d been drooling over.

I may also get evaporative cooling installed so I don’t have to rely so heavily on the air conditioner. In Tucson, an air conditioner is a MUST during the monsoon season, but for the rest of year, the evaporative cooling is very effective, and just plain nicer to be in than AC.

in my mind, this goes hand in hand with my goal of living simply