Open Your Mind And Save Money Too!

I almost hate to admit it, but when it comes to buying software I am a bit of a cheapskate and will avoid upgrading or buying new applications if my existing setup is working ok. Fair enough, it is important to keep Operating Systems and Virus Checkers up to date, but do I really need the latest ‘bells and whistles’ version of Word for example?

Being a cheapskate, when I do have the need for new software I usually try to find a free or cheaper alternative to the usually expensive commercial titles. One of the better examples is Open Office which I use on a daily basis for word processing. The latest version is easily as good as its competitors and it would be very wrong to dismiss this powerful application just because it doesn’t cost mega bucks to buy.

But whatever the software need, whether it is PDF creation, Image Editing, or Flash Website Building, there is usually a Freeware or Shareware version available to try before deciding to shell out any hard earned cash on the commercial alternative. And very often, as with Open Office, the free or cheaper version can turn out to be perfect for the job at hand.

There are many sites where you can download Freeware and Shareware (just search for “freeware shareware download”), but one of my favourites is Tucows - you can find it at www.tucows.com. And remember that whether you consider yourself a cheapskate or not, you shouldn't dismiss the alternatives because you can save a lot of money on software just by keeping an open mind...