However, if there is one thing I’ve noticed over the years, it’s that stores /really/ mark-up cables– everything from network cables, to HDMI cables for HDTV’s. There isn’t much to be made on mark-up on TV’s (especially HDTV’s), so the big stores make-up for it through installation, cables, warranties, etc. Also, the whole Monster Cable thing has been debunked /many/ times. Unless you have an application where you are sending a signal 50-100 feet, pretty much any cable will do. Not to mention, Monster Cable is a bunch of litigious bastards.

You can find good quality cables for much less than even the store brand stuff at your local big-box store just by shopping around a little. Although I have mostly used Parts Express in the past for odds and ends, here are some places I’ve came across which will save you a lot of money if you order cables from them, rather than waste money on the marketing of crap like Monster Cable, as well as avoid the markup of even store brand cables:

• Parts Express
• NewEgg
• MonoPrice
• Blue Jeans Cable
• Cable Wholesale
• eHDMI
• Cables For Less
• Markertek

Places that I would avoid like the plague when buying cables:

• Best Buy
• Circuit City
• Radio Shack
• add yours in the comments!

• Airplane Tickets
• Appliances
• Cars
• Clothing
• .. and many more

Link to Article

Most dealerships I have dealt with over the years have acted as if they were doing me a huge favor by selling me a car. I tend to look at it the other way around. The dealership is there to off you a service on competitive terms, and therefore I don’t have any qualms about making them working for the sale.

While I personally don’t think there is anything groundbreaking here, it seems that a lot of people don’t know good strategies for buying a car, so I thought this was a pretty good central resource.

While I wouldn’t consider this to be the ultimate source of Farmer’s Markets listings, it does provide a good overview of the popular ones. Luckily they are in the process of updating it to a database driven listing, so hopefully it will have more options available in the future.

Why shop at Farmer’s Markets? You are supporting local families and giving them fair market value for their product, getting the freshest produce possible outside of growing it yourself, and sometimes you can even find products from organic farms. While I haven’t personally compared prices, I would imagine you can find some great deals, especially when buying in bulk.

Instead, you can use the The Understory site to find banks, credit unions, and other businesses which will sort and redeem your change for much less money.

If you do plan on rolling your own coins, be aware that some banks will not accept rolled coins. If you plan on rolling your own, you might want to contact your bank beforehand to make sure they accept them and don’t charge a fee for taking them.

• boodle
• The Grocery Game
• Coupon Mom

Of course another way to try and save money on groceries that most everyone already knows– don’t go shopping when you’re hungry.

The financial freedom of a modest, early retirement is actually achievable for many smart and motivated people in college or their early 20′s. If you make early retirement your highest priority in life and follow a disciplined path to obtaining it, you should be able to leave work permanently in your 30′s and spend your life and time at your complete discretion.

This guide is a bit extreme, so I think it only applies to a very small population of people, however there is plenty to take from the article.

One interesting thing to note is that it suggests renting rather than buying unless you’re in an area of low costs. I’d have to say I agree with them– I regret buying sometimes as I was in a much better financial position until I started “paying the man” every month, including all of the other things that come with ownership (needing furniture, etc). While I’m slowly building equity, I think I could have done better on my own by renting and socking the difference into an index fund or something of the sort.

Another site to check-out for the same purpose is Red Roller.