ChrisMoncus.com

After almost four years of abuse my 15″ PowerBook G4 - nicknamed the Powerbook of Doom - is finally confined to an almost exclusive desk job. The logic board is failing (one memory slot doesn’t work, a fan is out, and the processor is unseated slightly). It’s a single core 1.5GHz IBM. PhotoShop CS3 eats it for breakfast. It can only be used at an angle. It’s enough to finally send me to Apple.com to replace it.

So as of 2:00pm today my new 24″ Intel Core2Duo 2.8 GHz, 500GB iMac is on its way. It’s gonna help me in being more efficient editing photos, websites, and video. The “crunch time” is going to be decreased greatly. Plus, moving from an 80GB drive to a 500GB drive gives me lots more room to keep my music and the like all on one hard drive.

I bought it refurbished (the only way to go). It cost $700 less than a new one with the same specs and carries the same exact warranty. Most likely it was a store model or even just sat on the shelf too long. Either way, I got a current Mac for 31% off retail.

It should be here next week!

I just saw on Food Network that SeaPak, a local seafood company, is joining with Food Network to offer a culinary tour of Las Vegas. Interested, I headed to seapak.com to see what was up. I entered but also saw they are offering a free shrimp cookbook. So, I filled out the form for one. It is supposed to arrive in a couple weeks.

Who knows, maybe I’ll win the trip to Vegas. But at least I get a free book.

Why not sign up and get your own?

So check this out…

Imagine you’re going on a stroll downtown or on a walk through the forest. Now imagine lugging a tripod with you. Makes the whole day more fun, eh? Most likely not.

Now imagine there’s another way – an easier way – to stabilize your camera… and it fits in your pocket… and it costs $1. Now, this is no replacement for a tripod, as this can’t hold your camera by itself. But… if you just need to control the shake… this is necessary for your camera bag.

Make one for yourself. Make some for your friends. Can we say “Christmas”?

Enjoy this video on how to make your own DIY Camera Stabilizer.

Let me know if you make one and your experiences.

$1 Image Stabilizer For Any Camera - Lose The Tripod - Click here for funny video clips

This past month or so has net Amanda and I some great deals. We’re bargain shoppers and we’re not afraid to admit that. Here are some examples of ways we’ve saved recently. Afterwards I listed some tips on saving money. If you don’t want to read about all my deals I got, at least read the tips. They have helped us tons.

Here we go…

November 23
We stand in line at 4:30am the day after thanksgiving to purchase roughly $400 worth of electronics for about $220.

That’s $180 saved thus far on $400 of stuff.

November 30
I have lunch with my mom for my birthday. She mentions that she needs to go to H&H Furniture for something. I tag along at her request. She takes me to the scratch and dent appliance section and tells me to pick out a clothes dryer. SWEET! Ours was broken and we needed a new one. I looked a bit and noticed a washer and dryer set. Retail was $900. Scratch and dent price, $500. You may scoff at the idea of buying damaged merchandise but get this… the dents were on the sides that faced each other. Once installed in the house you can’t see the dents. My mom then upped her offer and decided to buy both of them for us. Being the bargain shopper she is, she asked for a better price. She got it. Final price, $450.

That’s $630 saved thus far on $1300 of stuff.

December ?
I asked a few ladies for some help on buying Amanda a jewelry armoire. I had a $50 budget and was led to a great product for $40 on the Bed Bath & Beyond website. It seemed to be a good deal. On my way to BB&B I stopped by Target to pick up some household stuff and saw it. An armoire with over twice the capacity and better features overall. It was on sale from $80 to $50. Needless to say, I bought it and Amanda loved it!

That’s $660 saved thus far on $1380 of stuff.

December 18
Amanda and I go to Sears to look at freezers just to see what’s available. Lo and behold we find a scratch and dent 9 cubic foot chest freezer. Retail $300. Discount price $210. After some bargaining and a few tactics I got the sales guy to $180. Nice $120 dent that is purely cosmetic. If you want the whole story read here.

That’s $780 saved thus far on $1680 of stuff.

December 26
Grocery shopping can kill your budget - or lack thereof - so Amanda and I shop strategically. We look at the different sale papers from the different grocery stores in the area. All online. This way we know where to shop, which is usually a couple different places for different items. Our most recent shopping trip got us a big pack of chicken for $5 instead of $15, buy one get one free seafood (shrimp, grouper) and cereal, cheap frozen pizzas, and a lot of the usual. Total bill was $134 but we saved $67 according to the bill. We got what we needed and stocked up on things we didn’t need yet but would need soon and would be better to buy now while on sale. We had a brand new chest freezer to put it all in. It definitely pays to plan shopping trips.

That’s $847 saved thus far on $1881 of stuff.

December 28 (Today)
My mom just moved into a smaller place. She didn’t need a house for her and two boys with both of us now out of the house so she got a house sized for her. (Smart lady) That being the situation she decided to sell her dining room table and six chairs. Up until this point Amanda and I had a 30 year old table we got free from an aunt that had a couple broken chairs and didn’t have the prettiest finish in the world. We jumped on the chance to buy this $1500 table for $500. It is nice. Seriously. It has a great finish with great carvings along the edges of the surface and the pedestal. We love it.

That’s $1847 saved thus far on $3381 of stuff.

Summary and Some Tips

Obviously, Amanda and I know how to spend less and get more. It’s not a boast, just true. We studied it. We sought out these methods. Through some great books, courses, podcasts, and conversations we learned these methods and principles and more. That said, let me quickly list a few ideas to help you save money.

1. Plan. Nothing will help you get rid of your money quicker than lack of a plan. This plan can be reading the grocery store circular to see what’s on sale, making a list and sticking to it, or deciding not to buy something until it’s discounted. Example… we waited on a freezer until we found a scratch and dent. We wanted new but not new prices.
2. Shop around. By this I don’t mean to shop more but to do comparative pricing. Look around town, call around town, look online. If you’re going to buy new, pay as little as possible. It’s easy to find deals online at places like Amazon or PriceGrabber. Doing a search at those sites will help you save big on many things like electronics and housewares. I rarely buy books in town any longer. Even with shipping they usually cost less at Amazon. I get all my camera gear through deals I find on PriceGrabber. It pays to look around a little.
3. Look for discounts. Wait for discounts. Most of Amanda’s Christmas gifts were bought at 60% off retail. I got her 9 pairs of earrings instead of only a couple because of the discounts I waited on. Used or damaged isn’t always bad. Scratch and dent items are great ways to save. Used items (like tables and chairs) are easy ways to spend less. This includes cars! You could even try yard sales and auctions. We’ve done those too.

In summary, there are deals to be had, we just have to look for them.

Merry Christmas Eve to you all!

Being a reader of RELEVANT Magazine and its associated newsletters I got word of a sale they were having. All of their books were $5 a piece regardless of the retail price. Three days ago with debit card in hand (credit cards… boooo!!) I was ready to shop. I set a six book limit for myself and had at it. Too bad I’m late talking about this as the books are back to retail price.

On the other side of the transaction is today when the package estimated to arrive next week got here. (Go USPS!)

Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven But Nobody Wants to Die by David Crowder and Mike Hogan

The conflict between the here and now and the ever after is a familiar one. Death and life are forever intertwined, as a life lived to the fullest includes pain and grief. Even more, it requires dying to self, which frees one to experience a greater joy: community. Thus explains bestselling recording artist David Crowder as he explores the complex relationship between life, death, grief and community. Drawing from personal experience, Christian theology, the science of pain and the ?¢‚Ǩ?ìhigh, lonesome sound?¢‚Ǩ¬ù of bluegrass music, Crowder applies his often hilarious voice to an inspiring message?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùdeath is not the ultimate calamity … it is just the beginning.

The Naked Christian by Craig Borlase

Ever think there must be more to a relationship with God than a list of dos and don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ts? That church should be more than a slick Sunday morning production? That religion isn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t just a patch for your insecurities or candy for your hunger? Strip back the bulky layers of religion with The Naked Christian and step into something more comfortable. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s called relationship.

Written by Craig Borlase and rooted in biblical principles, this book lays bare our human weaknesses and daily struggles. It blinks in amazement at the blinding grace, love and mercy of God. It will inspire you to chase after Him, to shun the fake stuff and to do one of the hardest things within a church community: BE REAL. CHOOSE AUTHENTICITY. GET NAKED.

The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash by Dave Urbanski

The Soul of an American Legend

Who Was Johnny Cash? Rock star? Preacher? Drug addict? Saint? In truth, the Man in Black lived long enough and hard enough to embody all of the above?ɬ?and much more. He was a musical legend, a one-of-a-kind communicator, an American icon?ɬ?but someone that could never be pigeonholed.

Cash’s faith in God was no different: “I’m still a Christian, as I have been all my life,” he once said. “Beyond that I get complicated.” Cash’s faith was raw, challenged, broken and messy. But it was real. Unlike any other book written about Johnny Cash, The Man Comes Around explores with vivid detail the wild highs and lows that took place during this man’s lifelong spiritual journey. It illuminates the deep, unending love he had for his music, his wife and his God.

Painstakingly researched and adorned with vivid, narrative detail, The Man Comes Around shows the impact this American legend has made not only in American music, but in eternity. After hearing his story, you’ll never hear his music the same again.

Pocket Guide to the Bible by Jason Boyett

It’s the world’s all-time best seller. It’s the most influential book in Western civilization. It’s sitting in practically every home in America. Yet few of us have a clue about what’s going on within our Bibles’ gold-lined, onionskin pages. Until now. In Pocket Guide to the Bible: A Little Book About the Big Book, author Jason Boyett hilariously spotlights the events, characters and themes of the Old and New Testaments.

All the Hits So Far by Bradley Hathaway

This book and CD capture the outrageous stories, experiences and observations of Bradley Hathaway, a fixture on the international festival and concert scene. All the Hits So Far combines his bold, honest poetry with commentary and original artwork, resulting in a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of a sensitive, hardcore “manly man” living life out loud through the microphone.

One Thing by Dwayne Roberts

We?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re created to crave. The advertising industry knows this. The entertainment industry knows this. The self-help industry knows this. We spend the bulk of our time pursuing things, feeding our own appetites for the stuff that brings us pleasure. We?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re driven by desire, and that desire is steering an entire generation away from God.

By following our endless fascinations, we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re cheating ourselves. Why? Because we?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re called to pursue one fascination, and one only: God. Not empty religious buzzwords or trivia or a superficial 10-step program to “successful spirituality.” Nope. Just God Himself, experienced through the person of Jesus. When our true purpose is as simple as that one thing, anything less is misguided.

Join Dwayne Roberts as he issues the rallying cry of a generation seeking to look past the disillusionment, apathy and boredom with religion, and refocus on one thing: the pursuit of God.

Hopefully I’ll have these done soon and maybe write a review or at least a solid suggestion to buy the book yourself or not.