A couple months ago I was cleaning out my cabinets and realized there was stuff in there for years.  I then went to my fridge and saw all sorts of stuff in there that we bought and did not use.  It made me wonder about how all this wasted food could enter my kitchen.  Then it hit me.

When I go grocery shopping, I make a list.  Usually, I plan meals for the week with my wife, and one of us goes to the store for all the items.  Sure enough, on Wednesday we decided to get take out or that we weren’t in the mood for what we planned.  Those ingredients just sat in the cabinet.  In fact, if they weren’t perishable items, there was no reason to discard them.

After a quick audit, I estimated about $170 wasted on food items we likely would not eat.  The solution: shop for a few days at a time.  By doing this for the past month, we have had very little waste.

I actually discovered some perks to this style of shopping.  First, less time in the store because I am buying fewer items.  Instead of spending two hours on items for the week, I am in there for 30 minutes each twice a week.  Take in the commute time and this is a slight advantage.

Another advantage is select shopping.  I know that meat is cheaper in one store and when there is steak on the menu, I can get the best quality steak for my buck.  There are some stores with great produce, and I can go there when veggies are on the menu.  Now, we have the freshest produce instead of settling with whatever we end up with.

Finally, the biggest advantage for me is not having all the waste filling the fridge.  When we plan a few meals in advance instead of many, we are more likely to be in the mood for our choices.  It is great for a miser like me to have a good feeling when looking at my cabinets.

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If you are looking for a new desktop computer, then there are some things worth knowing before you start your shopping.

To begin, the type of processor (known as CPU) that you choose is very important. The two choices you have are between an AMD processor and an Intel processor. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The difference between the two is connected to speed and the number of cores they are composed of.

Processors are not easy to understand for the person who is not familiar with the workings of a computer. However, a processor is an integral component. Every company that sells new desktops has its own performance rating system when it comes to processors. Whatever you do, make sure you do your homework on this one before you buy!

RAM is another important element to think about when buying a new desktop. RAM stands for random access memory. Most desktops use a type of memory called DDR2. A new type of memory that is gaining in popularity is DDR3. However, this memory is still too expensive for those looking to cut costs.

As far as memory is concerned, purchase a desktop system that contains at the very least 2GB. A system that has 4GB is even better if it is affordable for you. How much memory a computer contains will affect how well the computer performs.  To put it another way, the faster your memory is the better performance will you get out of your PC.

The hard drive is yet another necessary requirement worth paying attention to. Hard drives have to do with the speed and the size of a computer. The larger a hard drive is and the faster it works the more superior its capacity and its performance output will be. When you are in the market for a new desktop buy one that has a 500GB hard drive (or more).

As far as speed is concerned, most desktops run at 7200 rpms. However, some of the newest models on the market contain a high performance drive that run as high as 10,000 rpms. Most desktops on the market use a Serial ATA interface because the installation is very simple.

When in doubt about any aspect of computer shopping ask someone who is better acquainted with them  or a salesperson at a computer store.

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Thanks to websites like Zappos, Shoes.com, and Piperlime, shopping for shoes on the web is as easy as clicking the mouse. With more store, brands, styles, and deals to choose from, the only thing you have to worry about is your budget. Well, that and finding the most perfect pair of shoes. To streamline your virtual shopping trip and minimize the risk of returns, here are some valuable shopping tips you can use.

1. Know your size

Your dress size varies by brand, and so does your shoe size. Even more difficult, your shoe size is different in various countries across the world. A size seven in the United States is a size five in the United Kingdom and a size 24 in Japan. Heels.com has a good size conversion chart plus tips on how to measure your own feet. Use the size conversion chart when ordering brands that were designed in other countries. Accurately knowing your size is the best way to prevent returns.

2. Research the shops

As I said before, there are plenty of shoe shopping websites online, but they are not all the same. Zappos specializes in customer service by offering free shipping and provides you with a year-long return policy. DSW offers hundreds of designer shoes, even high-end designers like Kenzo, Prada, and Marc by Marc Jacobs. And Famous Footwear lets frequent shoppers earn rewards and discounts to purchase more footwear.

3. Search with ease

Have a type of shoe in mind? Go to Like.com and type in the keyword or term in the search box, pick a product type (e.g. women’s shoes) and happy searching! You also can search by price, brand, color, material, or website. Shopping for footwear (or even accessories and apparel) has never been more fun!

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There are two more locations that people loved for shopping in 2009: Bangkok, Thailand and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Bangkok, Thailand

Everybody shops in Bangkok because everything is cheap here. And the vendors in Bangkok sell everything imaginable. It’s amazing how they can do that. So, where do you go in Bangkok to shop for the best deals?

Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the largest markets in the world and open only on the weekends. A shopper’s paradise, stalls in Chatuchak Market sells anything and everything from clothes to books to plants, antiques, housewares and many more things that would be too numerous to list. You easily can get items for half the price (or better) of anywhere else. But be sure to haggle. In fact, learn some Thai words and phrases so you can haggle even better.

Panthip Plaza is the place to go to for all your computer needs. You’ll be able to find cheap computer accessories in this seven-story building. Computer software is also available here, but be careful. It’s hard to tell which stores are selling original software and copy software. Don’t buy the first thing you see, haggle and compare prices. That way, you’ll get a good deal.

There are many other places you can shop at in Bangkok. So, don’t blow your entire shopping budget in one place. Don’t forget to compare prices and always haggle.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

There are four shopping neighborhoods to keep in mind when shopping in Buenos Aires: Recoleta, San Telmo, El Centro and Palermo.

Recoleta is the most expensive and upscale shopping neighborhood in Buenos Aires. All items sold here are of European standard of quality, and some clothes and shoes are even made in Europe. A handicraft market is also open every weekend at the Recoleta Plaza. If antiques and flea markets are your thing, then San Telmo is the place to go. Flea markets are open on the weekends, including the best Antique fair in the city.

You’ll find Buenos Aires’ biggest shopping street at El Centro. The Avenue Florida, a pedestrian-only street, is filled with stores selling clothes, books, shoes, electronics and a lot of other items. And visit Galerias Pacifico, an upscale multi-level shopping center that is the most beautiful in the city. And if you want quirky, creative and unique items, then Palermo is the place to be.

Are you ready to max out your credit cards and overstuff your luggage?

Tell us about your favorite shopping destination in 2009!

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We often hear that we can save money on groceries by buying in bulk. It’s true in many cases – think of the cost difference between buying a 12-pack of soda for $5 and buying 12 individual cans for a dollar or more each – but in others, more is not necessarily cheaper.

For example, one store near us has a special this week: Three large containers of yogurt for $6. Reading this in the flyer, you assume you have to buy three to get the special price. Buy just one and you pay the regular price, right?

Why? If tomatoes are a dollar a pound, do you expect to pay 60 cents for half a pound?

Try this: Buy just one of the items in the twofer/threefer specials, and see what the cashier rings up for you.

I did. After all, I go through maybe one large container of yogurt every two weeks. (It’s a good thing it’s already fermented.) If I had two extras around, I’d find something to use them for, but I wouldn’t miss them if they weren’t there.

So this morning I bought one yogurt, one frozen dinner (five for $10), and one large brick of cream cheese (two for $6). I was charged $2, $2, and $3.

The register slip didn’t give the actual prices – it gave the regular prices and subtracted the amount I’d saved. But even I am willing to do enough math to figure it out.

This doesn’t apply all the time, everywhere. At warehouse club-type stores, for example, you may have to buy “full multiples” to get the lower price. During a caselot sale, you do get a lower price on the items by buying more of them.

But if buying more than you need doesn’t lower the price – why do it?

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