Browser: Save Your Money

Buying smarter: Last seen on grandpa’s coffee table, Consumer Reports isn’t exactly the voice of our generation. However, their website is a useful tool for shopping smart. For a $26 yearly membership, you can access thousands of unbiased ratings and recommendations. A printout from their site comes in handy when you’re staring at a wall of vacuum cleaners, trying to figure out which to buy. And it can save you money by keeping you from buying overpriced crap and lead you to the product that won’t break as soon as you take it out of the box. Plus, it will give you something to talk about with grandpa. consumerreports.org

Turning trash into treasure: Maybe there is no such thing as a free lunch, but there are free toys, scanners, furniture, ab machines and more being given out daily. The Freecycle Network is a nonprofit group that connects people with stuff to give away with people who like free stuff. The St. Augustine group has 661 members who post anytime they have something of use they don’t need anymore. All posts must be for free. Through their network of almost four million people in 75 countries, they claim to keep more than 300 tons a day out of landfills. freecycle.org

Bargain hunting: Always feel like you miss out on the deals? Never let another sale pass you by at StealDeals.net. With a goal of saving consumers time and money, this site gleans the best bargains and coupons from the vast world of internet shopping and filters them into one blog-style page. They’ll let you know when you can get a free sample of coffee, half off quilts at a home décor site, or free shipping on your next electronics purchase. The site also includes stories and reviews about other ways to save some cash. stealdeals.net