Money's Two Cents
Five ways Google can save you money



Posted by Ismat Sarah Mangla

September 24, 2009 1:37 pm



Of course you already use Google
to look up movie times, settle trivia disputes or stalk, er, “research”
former flames on the Internet. But the world’s most famous search
engine can also help you save some dough. Here are five money-saving
Google features you might not know about:
1. Google 411
I only learned about this one when my uncle — who lives in Pakistan,
no less — emailed to tell me about it. Next time you need directory
assistance, don’t bother calling 411 and getting charged anywhere
between $1 and $4 for a phone number (my mobile phone carrier charges
$1.79 per call). Instead, call 1 8004664411
and access local business information for free. If you’re calling from
a cell phone, you can ask the service to send you a text message with
more details and a map — you just have to say “text message” or “map
it.” This video explains it all:

2. Google TipJar

Launched this past spring, TipJar is a site where users can submit and
rank money-saving tips. The ranking feature allows the duds to sink to
the bottom of the list. Some tips I found useful:
<li>“Use free antivirus [services] (like Avast or AVG), they are strong
today and offer free updates and are less invasive than most big brands
on market.”</li>
<li>“DirecTV subscribers, when you call customer service, ask to speak
to the Customer Retention Group, and ask if there are any deals you can
get, 9 chances out of 10 there will be.”</li>
<li>“Install CFL (or, even better, LED) bulbs wherever it makes sense.
These bulbs might cost more initially, but they both have a longer life
than normal incandescent bulbs and they both eat far less electricity.”</li>
<li> “There are tons of websites that list free wi-fi hot-spots. If
there is one near your hotel, chances are often good that you can tap
into it from your room. I’ve done this in a few different cities, with
great access, when my hotel charged for wi-fi.”</li>
<li>“Clean your car’s air filter. A clean air filter can improve your
gas mileage by up to 7%, saving you more than $100 for every 10,000
miles you drive in an average vehicle.”</li>
3. Gmail Voice and Video Chat
Sign up for a Gmail account and have voice and video chats for free
with anyone in the world. You’ll need to download a plugin and have a
web cam and a microphone, of course, but the service itself is totally
free. This video explains how it works:

4. Google Calendar
Besides keeping track of appointments and birthdays, Google Calendar
is perfect for reminding you about upcoming sales or coupon expiration
dates. If Pottery Barn is having a sale next month on the dinnerware
you’ve been coveting, just create a new event on the calendar with all
the relevant information. You can set up free reminders via email or
text letting you know about the details minutes, hours, days or weeks
in advance.
5. Google PowerMeter
You could save between 5% and 15% on your monthly electricity bill
if you knew exactly where your energy usage came from and could
identify inefficiencies. To that end, Google is testing PowerMeter, a
secure Google gadget that shows consumers detailed information on their
electricity consumption. The company has partnered with utilities in the United States, Canada, Germany and India
to test this product. This service isn’t available everywhere, but the
folks at Google tell me they are working on developing more
partnerships and also on an option that will allow anyone to purchase a
device, connect it to their fusebox and sign up for PowerMeter even if
their utility is not an official partner. You can get news and updates
on the service here.
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