Computer Tip: Use "Ecofont" to saves your Ink

If you're really pinching pennies, or just a self-proclaimed eco-freak doing everything you can to save the earth, check out Ecofont. Ecofont is a computer font designed with pinprick holes throughout each character, thus allegedly saving 20% ink use over regular fonts. I think "draft mode" probably accomplishes a similar goal, but the idea is pretty clever. 

Ecofont is a free download for personal use so it can't hurt to give it a shot.  If you've got any thoughts on the matter, leave them in the comments.

Cell Phone Tip: How to get Free Texting on your Web-enabled Phone

I don't know about you, but it annoys the crap out of me that that my mobile provider can hit me twice for what should be a single unlimited-use charge:  $30 for an unlimited data plan, and another $20 for unlimited texting.  Really? What am I paying for??  Let's review:

Texting plan features:

• Send text/picture messages with a 160 character limit
  

Data plan features:

• Browse websites
• Send/receive email
• IM
• Social Networking
• Blogging
• Watch my freaking cable TV (Slingbox)
  
• And more...

So why the hell should I pay 2/3 as much for texts as I do for data?  Well, now we don't have to.

There are lots of ways to send text messages using a computer, but until recently none of them were practical for both sending AND receiving messages, especially on a phone.  Fortunately, a solution has arrived:  Google Voice.

If you don't know what Google Voice is, read the feature page...it's pretty cool stuff.  Even if you've got no interest in the other features, it's worth it to sign up (FREE) just for the SMS(texting) feature.

After you've done so, setting up free texting is easy:

• Go to Settings>Voicemail & SMS and check "Forward SMS messages to my email." 
• Then go to Phones>Edit and make sure "Receive SMS on this phone" is unchecked.  That way you'll only receive texts in your email, not your SMS inbox.

That's it!  Just make sure friends know to use your Google Voice number (at least for texting purposes). When they send you an SMS, instead of a text you'll get an email!  You can reply to that email like you would a regular email and it will be transmitted back to your friend-who-likes-paying-for-texts' phone as an SMS.


Voila! Now you're texting for free.

Avoid Texting Fees.  Send SMS to your e-mail with Google Voice
[Google Voice]

Cell Phone Tip: Break Contract without early termination fees.

Are you stuck in a 2-year cell phone agreement and desperately want to switch carriers?  Cell carriers can charge astronomically high Early Termination Fees (some $200+) if you try to "get out" early, so what can you do?

Well you have a few options:

1. Get out FAST.  If you've been with the provider less than 30 days, you can probably get out without penalty.  Check the fine print in your contract.
   
   
2. Roam Excessively.  Deliberately use your phone out of network (set your phone to roam) and use "Night and Weekends" minutes out-of-network.  Apparently this can cause your cell provider to rack up a huge bill on your behalf and inspire them to cut you loose.
   
   
3. Look for contract changes.  If your provider makes a change to your contract (you should get a note in the mail), there's usually fine print stating that you may abandon your contract without a fee.
   
   
4. Complain!  Though unlikely, you may be able to get out of your contract if your service is truly awful and you complain about it often, and in a detail-oriented fashion.
   
   
5. Swap your plan. Find someone who wants to start a plan with your provider and transfer liability for your contract to them.  The incentive for them is that they'll get a *free* phone without being bound to a full 2-year contract term.

Watch the video for details!

How to get out of your cellphone contract for free
[Howcast via Lifehacker]