Free Geekery

You felt like crap when you woke up this morning, didn’t you? You know that poor nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle contributes to your malaise, but you continue to ignore a healthy lifestyle because of the perceived price. Those Jenny Craig moments, plus the price of a gym membership and its inherent contract will make a huge dent in your credit. But those are lousy excuses. You can enjoy a healthy diet for about the same price as a fat-filled series of meals (compare the price of an apple to a bag of french fries, for instance). And, you can begin an exercise program now for the price of a good pair of gym shoes.

Another excuse that people often use to avoid a healthy lifestyle includes the perception that exercise consists of rigorous weightlifting and breath-taking aerobics. Face it now; you can’t begin at those levels if you sit in an office chair all day and on a couch all night. The exertion would strain your body and you could injure your muscles. Therefore, you don’t need all the gadgets that the advertisements say you must own for your exercise routines. In fact, even professional athletes avoid expensive equipment whenever possible, as they know that resistance, not expensive equipment, is the key to toned muscles.

But, no matter if you’re skinny or overweight, a healthy diet needs to be balanced by an exercise routine. This is where the home gym comes into play. There are four main advantages to creating a home gym: 1) You can enjoy privacy, 2) You can create one for free from items that you have around the house, thereby saving money on gym memberships and exercise equipment, 3) If you create a home gym, you’ll be more inclined to use it (or suffer guilt), and 4) You save even more money by eliminating the drive to the gym and the obligatory gym clothes.

What You’ll Need

Start any program slowly to avoid strain on your body. In fact, you could accomplish many of the exercises listed below without “weights” in the beginning until you feel comfortable with additional resistance:

• Two canned goods. Look at the weight on the cans to determine that the cans are balanced evenly. You can start without the cans or begin with small cans and work your way up to larger cans that you can grip with one hand (like asparagus). The point is to create resistance so the cans represent items that you “push” against as you lift or lower them in your routines. This resistance helps to build muscle tone.

• Two milk jugs filled with water. Once you get to the point where you want more resistance, you can graduate to milk jugs. You might begin with quart sized jugs, which will weigh about 64 fluid ounces, or four pounds. If you want to proceed from there, a one-gallon milk jug filled with water will weigh approximately 8.5 pounds when full. While the handles on those jugs make them easy to hold, don’t use this easy grip to avoid adding resistance to that weight (one guy uses buckets filled with gravel that equal about fifty pounds each!).

• One large book (like a telephone book). The large book is better, as it’s not as flexible as the telephone book, but use the telephone book weight as a comparison.

• One five-pound bag of food. Use flour, sugar, potatoes, or whatever you find in that pantry.

• Carpet remnants. You will need cushioning for some routines if your stairs aren’t carpeted. You can also use old towels if you fold them so they supply padding.

• A mat or some beach towels. You’ll need these if you don’t feel comfortable lying on the floor without padding.

• A sturdy chair. A dining room chair is perfect, as that chair will have a back that you can use for support and a seat that isn’t so cushy that you don’t want to leave it.

• A pair of gym shoes with grips so you don’t slip or slide. This is the most expensive item on your list. You don’t want to skimp on them as you’ll need good support for your feet. Even if you don’t continue with your exercise program, you can use these shoes to drive to the nearest fast food restaurant, as they’ll last a long time.

Your Exercises

The list below will get you started on your journey toward free fitness… just turn on your favorite tunes and get started.

1. Cardiovascular

One of the best ways to begin your new routine is to get out and walk. If you can walk for 30 minutes at least three times per week, you’ll begin to notice a difference in your stamina. But, if your chest hurts even when you talk on the phone, you might begin very slowly with stretches until you’re comfortable with movement. The point is to get up off that chair and/or couch so you can begin to strengthen your heart.
Eventually you might want to walk faster, or you might want to jog if your legs and feet can stand the impact and stress. One way to begin to begin that cardiovascular workout at home is to utilize stairs to shape your heart and legs:

• You need: Stairs (actually, just one step), located either inside or outside. If you live in an apartment complex and you only have access to outside stairs, you can plan to do this exercise at a time when you know you won’t interrupt your neighbors.

• What to do: Face the stairs and hold the rail for balance if you need it. Take one step up with the right or left foot, then step up with the second foot. The cadence is: up, up, down, down, using only one step in the stairs. Keep your upper body upright and centered over your legs so that your back is straight.

• Routine: In the beginning, step for just one minute, stop for 15 seconds, and then repeat. Work up to 30 minutes for one session before you take a break, but always warm up for a few minutes before you head into a heavy workout. A warm up for this routine could use the beginner’s routine where you step for one minute and rest for 15 seconds for about 10 reps. Or, you could stretch so you can get that blood moving before you tackle the stairs.

• Physical Benefits: Your heart (cardiovascular system) gets a workout, but so do your quadriceps and calves.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase a stair stepper.

• Disadvantage: If you use concrete steps, the hard surface may stress your feet and legs. Since you’re only using one step, you can use inexpensive carpet remnants or folded beach or bath towels to cushion the impact.

2. Arms

Triceps are located in the back of the upper arm, and they’re primarily responsible for extending the elbow. You can tone these muscles with this exercise:

• You need: A sturdy chair with a back.

• What to do: Sit on the edge of the chair and hold the front corners of the seat with your hands, palms down. Walk your feet forward until your derriere is three to five inches away from the chair’s front edge. Lower your body by bending your arms to about 90 degrees, and then press your arms against that chair bottom to raise your body.

• Routine: Beginners may find it difficult to do more than one to three repetitions before resting. Try to work up to two sets of ten repetitions with a fifteen second rest between reps.

• Physical Benefits: Your triceps will get a workout, but your shoulders will benefit as well.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase weights or a triceps machine.

• Disadvantage: You might find this exercise too taxing at the beginning if you’re extremely out of shape. If you can manage to hold your body up with your arms, that’s a good first step. Don’t push your body when you feel uncomfortable.

Your arms also contain biceps, the large muscle located at the front of the upper arm. This next exercise can tone biceps so your arms will look limber and younger:

• You need: Start with two cans of food and work up to milk jugs over time.

• What to do: Hold a can in each hand with your arms slightly bent and palms facing upward. Lift (curl) the can to your shoulder while you squeeze your biceps. Return your arms slowly to the start position.

• Routine: Do two sets of 10 reps with each arm.

• Physical Benefits: Your biceps will benefit, but your wrists also will become stronger.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase weights or circuit machines.

• Disadvantage: None - this is an extremely easy exercise that will produce results quickly if you’re consistent.

3. Shoulders

Yes, your shoulders hold your arms to your body. While this is an important job, many people take their shoulders for granted. The exercise below will help strengthen your shoulders with added bonuses:

• You need: A chair and two cans of food (work up to milk jugs).

• What to do: Sit in the chair and hold a can in each hand with your arms at your sides, elbows slightly bent. Raise the cans outward, arms extended but bent, and keep your palms down. Don’t raise your arms higher than shoulder level, and raise and lower them slowly.

• Routine: Do two sets of 10 reps with a 15-second pause between reps. Don’t use more weight than you can handle.

• Physical Benefits: Your shoulders will thank you, and your chest muscles also will benefit.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase weights, a chest press machine or a weight bench. Plus, you don’t need a spotter to help you out.

• Disadvantage: None. This is another easy exercise that will produce results with your persistence.

4. Stomach & Chest

The following exercise will work on your “core” as it strengthens your lower abdomen:

• You need: A large book.

• What to do: Sit on the floor with your legs extended and heels together. Place the book between your ankles and shins and lie back flat. Keep your legs straight and raise your feet (and the book) about 5 inches off the floor. Hold it for 30 seconds or as long as you can. Lower your feet slowly.

• Routine: Three sets.

• Physical Benefits: This exercise benefits your lower abdominal muscles.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase a fitness ball, and the book may serve a dual purpose if you read it.

• Disadvantage: If the floor proves too hard, use beach towels or a mat for cushions.

The following exercise works your chest and shoulder muscles if needed:

• You need: Two cans of food.

• What to do: Lie on the floor and hold one can in each hand straight up over your chest with hands a few inches wider than your shoulders and elbows soft. Bend your elbows and lower the weight until your elbows reach no more than 90 degrees (going below that height will involve your shoulders). Press the cans back up, and make sure you don’t lock your elbows. Work up to milk jugs filled with water.

• Routine: Do 2-3 sets of 10-12 reps with comfortable weight resistance.

• Physical Benefits: This exercise benefits your chest, but if you lower your arms further than 90 degrees you’ll also strengthen shoulders.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase weights or a chest press machine.

• Disadvantage: Once again, if the floor proves too hard, lie on a mat or on several beach towels.

5. Back

The following exercise can be completed with canned food if you cannot lift and hold the five-pound bag in the beginning:

• You need: A five-pound bag of food.

• What to do: Hold the bag in front of you and stand with your legs a bit wider than shoulder-width apart. Push the weight up and to the right. Squat down and to the left, and “pull” the bag with you. Repeat on the opposite side.

• Routine: Work up to 10 on each side.

• Physical Benefits: This exercise benefits your lower back and obliques (otherwise known as your waist and hips).

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase a medicine ball.

• Disadvantage: You may need to use support in the beginning as you start with squats. Use the back of that chair as support until you feel confident to let go, and then add weights that you feel comfortable with until you can do the squats with the five-pound weight.

Stretch that back for strength…

• You need: A door.

• What to do: Stand about 2 feet away from an open door and hold one door knob in each hand. Bend forward with your legs slightly bent. Tuck your head between your arms while slightly pulling on the door.

• Routine: Do five times, a few seconds per bend.

• Physical Benefits: This routine will strengthen your upper and lower back and your shoulders.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase an exercise or body bar.

• Disadvantage: None. In fact, this exercise can help you build balance for those squats.

Lie face down on the floor and place hands behind head (advanced) or fold them behind your back. Contract your lower back to lift your chest a few inches off the floor and lower back down. You can simultaneously lift legs for more intense exercise.

6. Legs

The following exercise will tighten that derriere and the backs of your legs:

• You need: Two canned goods and work up to milk jugs.

• What to do: Stand with feet hip-width apart and hold cans in front of your thighs. Bend your knees slightly and bend your body from your hips to lower torso towards the floor. Keep the cans close to your legs and stop when those cans reach mid-shin, Squeeze your butt and hamstrings to raise your body back to standing position. Make sure your back is flat throughout the movement and that you tuck your abs in. This isn’t a squat, so don’t bend your knees.

• Routine: Work up to three sets of five reps.

• Physical Benefits: You’ll strengthen your glutes, hamstrings, and back.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase a medicine ball.

• Disadvantage: You may discover you can’t get up once you go down! You might want to substitute a chair back for the weights as support until you strengthen those glutes and hamstrings.

Calf stretches and presses

• You need: Stairs.

• What to do: While holding the stair rail for balance, position the balls of the feet at the edge of the step. Slowly lower your heels to stretch the calves; then slowly raise yourself to your toes.

• Routine: Do two sets of 10 to 20 reps slowly.

• Physical Benefits: Your calves and foot muscles will become stronger with this routine.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase step boards.

• Disadvantage: None. Just hold onto that rail if you can’t balance your body when you begin this exercise.

Walking lunges will make you look silly, but they’ll also shape your legs…

• You need: Canned goods and graduate to milk jugs.

• What to do: Stand with one foot about 12 to 15 inches in front of the other foot. Hold the milk jugs in each hand and your arms next to your body. Keep your upper body straight and inhale as you slowly lower yourself until the thigh of your front leg is parallel to the ground. Exhale and take a big step forward with your other foot and repeat the lunge.

• Routine: Work up to two to three lengths of your living room.

• Physical Benefits: Your calves and foot muscles will become stronger with this routine.

• Advantage: You don’t need to purchase weights.

• Disadvantage: You might want to forgo the weights until you can take those strides with ease. Further, if you can’t walk with lunges, practice lunges without walking until you feel comfortable with taking a stride. These progressions will help you avoid injury.

Finally…

As you begin your exercise routine, you might become curious about what others are doing to get in shape. You can find blogs about weight lifting, running, cycling, and yoga online, or you can search through books at the local library. Remember that stretching routines (like those used in yoga) are different than cardio routines (cycling or running) and strength routines (which you can find in resistance training or with weights). A combination of routines that you enjoy is key to your commitment to these programs.

A sweet plus includes sites that contain ideas about how to continue your exercise routines if you travel for business or pleasure. If you don’t want to pack those milk jugs, you can use the hotel pool instead. Often, the hotel might offer an exercise room filled with machines that you could use for no extra charge. In fact, hotel treadmills often provide a preferable alternative to walking in unfamiliar areas that may be unsafe.

Eventually, you might check out the local exercise scene to see if you can join in on a routine. You can, for instance, join these guys for a beach workout at no charge if you live in the area. Also, you can become an exercise fanatic at the office. Check out local yard sales and second-hand shops to find perfectly good home gym equipment. Look for smaller equipment you can carry home in the car instead of paying for shipping. You could buy new equipment, but few people fail to make good use of the euipment that they’ve purchased (which may be the reason why they’re selling it), so you can often find excellent equipment for half the price.

The point is to get started, as the key to a successful home gym is to build one that you will continue to use with enthusiasm. If you aren’t going to use your equipment, at least the canned goods won’t go to waste, as you’ll eventually consume the contents. However, you may begin to see results from your routines quickly and these results may help you to continue to build a healthy lifestyle.

One blogger discovered recently that a family member’s funeral cost a little over $12,000 for a modest ceremony. One way to avoid costly burials is to plan ahead while you’re still alive so that you can save your family money. In almost every state in the U.S., you can bypass the undertaker depending upon the circumstances surrounding a death. Since funeral homes and traditional burials represent the most costly way to leave this life, why don’t you take charge now to plan a final memorial that’s both smart and frugal?

In the past, entire families were involved with the funeral process, which allowed family members to express grief as they participated in various activities. The trend is to return to that family-oriented aspect and move away from undertakers who take control of everything from casket choices to catering. You take control when you plan your funeral and this activity allows you to plan a more personal and less commercial affair. But how do you go about planning a DIY funeral, and how much can you save?

Warning: If you’re not ready to read about how to plan your funeral, stop here. This article is not for the faint-of-heart.

1. Decide What You Want to Do

Do you want to donate your body to science? Or, would you rather honor religious leanings and strive for a natural burial without embalming? Perhaps you want a traditional funeral but you just don’t want to pay full price. If you don’t know how you want to conduct your funeral and the disposal of your body, you can search for options on the Internet and at your library. You can also consult the organization, Funeral Consumers Alliance. This nonprofit group maintains offices in numerous states, and it’s dedicated to providing information about funerals and dispositions at little to no cost.

You may discover that your choices boil down to one option - whether or not you want your friends and family to view your body after death. If you donate your body to science, for instance, you will be whisked away as soon as the proper papers are finalized - usually within hours. The only option in this case is for the family to hold a memorial service, as they won’t have the option for after-death visitation. If you don’t want to donate your body and you want a viewing, you can still hold one in most states even if you avoid the embalming process. But, you will need to pull everyone together quickly, as you must be cremated or buried usually within two days. Some states, however, will not allow a public or private viewing without embalming (more about embalming in #2).

Cremation isn’t a DIY option, as you must use a licensed crematory for this process. While laws regarding Viking funerals and funeral pyres are unknown, you can expect some problems if you decide to go that route in most western countries. Even though you must use a licensed oven for cremation, nationwide costs for this option can range from $300 to $3,000. These prices are much less than the costs of a traditional funeral, as you don’t need a casket [PDF] for the cremation process - although you may need a permit and your family may need to wait two days for the cremation to take place. The container you use - in most instances - can be as simple as a cardboard box, although some states may require a label that states what’s in that box.

2. Check Legalities

After you decide how you’d like to send your body off after you die, you’ll want to check local and regional ordinances about burials so you understand your options. You can learn more about state regulations through religious sites that advocate natural burials and through the Federal Trade Commission. You’ll learn that more states are leaning toward consumer choices except when certain circumstances prohibit those decisions.

For instance, although you may want to avoid embalming, if you die in a foreign country or if your body needs to be transported across long distances, you may be required to endure that process (not that you’ll feel it). Even if you die in England as a U.S. citizen, your funeral choices might be complicated by several legalities and time delays that will prevent you from avoiding the embalming option. Additionally, some airlines and other public carriers require bodies to be embalmed before transporting. However, your family members may have the choice of placing your body in a refrigerated room or container for transportation in certain instances.

Even if you don’t travel frequently, it’s good to provide options for unusual circumstances so that your loved ones will know how to fulfill your wishes. While you might envision a peaceful death at an old age, the chance that you’ll die a violent or accidental death is just as valid. In the latter instance, laws surrounding the cause of your death may require an autopsy or some other action that will run afoul of your best-laid plans.

Once again, refrigeration can save the day, especially if your body needs to be “kept on ice” for investigations or for other reasons beyond anyone’s control. Check commercial morgue prices vs. hospital morgue prices, as you might be able to make a choice about refrigeration choices before you die (note that most nursing homes do not carry refrigeration capabilities). Additionally, you might want to check about legalities surrounding contagious or lethal diseases. Even if you don’t expect to contract AIDS, you might contract some other disease that legally requires body handling by professionals.

3. Earth Burial, Scattered, or Entombed?

Your choices will include how you want your disposition conducted once your body is prepared for that final journey. If you want an earth burial and you’re lucky, a grandparent might have paid for a family plot years ago and you have dibs on one of those plots by family understanding. But, you may discover along the way that you have access to an available plot that was forgotten by family members. Don’t think you can use it without question, however. You’ll need to confer with cemetery or graveyard management to fulfill legal obligations before you can lay claim to that vacant space.

Even with this ‘traditional’ earth burial you can save money on various options. State laws do not require a vault or liner that keeps the ground from sinking in through the decomposition process and funeral providers may not tell you otherwise. However, many cemeteries might require some type of outer burial container in the future to prevent the grave from sinking. In that instance, you can choose a concrete grave liner rather than a full vault. Plus, it may be less expensive to purchase that grave liner from a third party rather than from a funeral home or cemetery.

The casket is another issue, as some caskets are claimed to be watertight, others don’t contain seals and now you have the option to purchase “green” caskets. If you want your body to be well-preserved, you’ll pay for it. The caskets that are designed to be watertight are much more expensive than any other option. Some green options are more expensive than others. This market is just gaining a foothold, and supply and demand issues might drive some companies to inflate their prices. Check with the Green Burial Council to learn more about your choices in this category.

If you decided on the cremation option and you want your ashes to be scattered, you might need to meet certain laws that prevent scattering ashes on some properties or in certain bodies of water. But, outside some restrictions, the sky’s the limit - literally. You can hire a pilot to scatter your ashes from a plane, be shot up in the air with fireworks, or - at the other extreme - be buried at sea. Realize that any commercial option will add serious cha-ching to your funeral’s bottom line.

You can also decide against scattering, as you can keep ashes in any container and bury it in your yard (check local ordinances first), or you can make your family carry you around forever. I knew a woman who kept her husband’s ashes in a large plastic Donald Duck container in her office, as she couldn’t (or didn’t want to) afford a commercial urn or a burial option.

Finally, you can choose entombment for your body or ashes. This choice, like that watertight casket, is probably the most expensive out of all possibilities. But, if you have a family tomb or you want to share a crematorium space with loved ones, then this is a choice best made with preplanning. Preplannning your funeral will allow you to find the least expensive option while you have time to compare prices. Plus, you can pay in advance for services that may double or triple in price by the time you die (see more about prepayment in #4).

4. Make Your Voice Heard Before and After Death

If you don’t make your wishes for a DIY funeral known to loved ones and to any appropriate authorities or commercial entities before and after you die, your body can end up in the hands of your local funeral director. While this move isn’t the worst option in many cases, the funeral home may try to pressure your family into choices that you never wanted. Specify your wishes in a living will, a will, or in some other pertinent legal document. A warning, however - if you make your wishes known in a will, those wishes may not be known until after several processes have already been conducted (like embalming). But, if you designate a power of attorney and/or an executor/executrix who knows your wishes and who can produce evidence to support those requests in a living will, your funeral might go according to plan.

You may not be old enough to take advantage of benefits provided by AARP (Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons), but you can learn much about funeral preplanning from their online materials. The pre-pay option, for instance, might not be a wise choice if you fear that your money might be wasted with a company that becomes involved in fraud, bankruptcy or mismanagement of funds before you die. You can set aside money specifically earmarked for your funeral, but you will - once again - need to let people know about this money and its purpose. AARP suggests Nolo as a resource for writing your wills and estate plans.

Another option is available for military members and veterans. While the Veterans Administration (VA) carries information about military funerals, you can also refer to the Department of Defense (DOD) and their Military Funeral Honors site. Veterans and active military personnel may find that their funerals can be inexpensive and quite formal, but these choices may meet your wishes. Some wives and children may also be buried with the deceased when they die, so be sure to check all your options before you write your plans for a military funeral in stone.

5. Be Prepared to Make Changes

Finally, you may not remain static during your lifetime. You may marry, have kids, move to another state or country, or divorce yourself from society altogether. In each instance you’ll need to review your plans, wills, and other financial matters as these life changes will alter your funeral plans. Laws may change as well (such as the demand from cemeteries for vaults), or you may find that your funeral no longer fits your personality or lifestyle. What seemed like a great idea a decade ago may now seem frivolous or even frightening ten years later.

These changes provide another good reason not to use prepaid funeral options in the preplanning process. If you made arrangements with a funeral home or through some other entity in one state and you become a resident of another state before you die, those plans may be difficult to carry out. In this case you may end up losing that money as your family finds it necessary to make other arrangements to dispose of your body. Plus, if you avoid prepay options you can also avoid using loans or credit cards to meet expenses that aren’t necessary just yet. Instead, think about a savings plan that gathers interest while you save for your final ceremony.

If you need to make changes to your plans, just follow the steps above again. You may discover that the process becomes easier each time you need to make changes. And, you may discover that your funeral, after all, isn’t for you. It’s really all about the ones you leave behind. If you love those folks then take it easy on them because loss, compounded by unexpected expenses, is a lousy legacy to leave behind for a frugal geek. But, if you want to be a pain in the rear even after you’ve left this world, you can continue that legacy even after you’re gone. It’s up to you - that’s the whole point behind a DIY funeral.

Many people are now turning to the Internet for love and, judging from how many matchmaking sites there are online, seeking a dating service obviously doesn’t have the stigma it once did. Due to the popularity of online romance, you have the opportunity to narrow your prospects with niche dating sites, which brings us to the following list. Below, we have compiled the top 10 dating sites for nerds, many of which are free. However, we have included some paid sites that we feel are worth the investment.

1. Geek 2 Geek

   Whether you are looking for love or just a friend, this is the place to meet other geeks, nerds and weirdos. Creating a profile here is free and, although most geeks are very tech-savvy, you might be happy to know that it is also user-friendly. This site is surprisingly thorough in its profile questions, which allow you to list your favorite comic books, movies, computers, etc. Although there are paid membership options on Geek 2 Geek, you will probably do just fine with the free, basic profile.
   

2. Sweet on Geeks

   While Geek 2 Geek focuses on the hipper, more pop culture-oriented side of nerd culture, this is a dating site for true nerds. If you dream in binary code and have trouble speaking to the opposite sex without breaking into a cold sweat, then you will feel right at home here. There are no pretenses with this dating site and it was created by a married couple, two nerds in love, who wanted to help others find the nerd of their dreams. This is a sweet labor of love on their part and is definitely worth checking out. Joining is free and the profiles are more fun to play with than anything MySpace has to offer.
   

3. Nerd Passions

   This is a hassle-free place to meet up with other nerds, complete with banner ads for upcoming sci-fi conventions. Although it is very no-frills and the profiles are far from creative, the site does attract quite a few prospects and won’t cost you a thing. There are also some popular message boards here that might help you get to know some like-minded people, even if it isn’t for dating. Not sure if you want to join? All profiles are public to search before you join.
   

4. intellectConnect

   Tired of Internet profiles that list The Da Vinci Code under “favorite books”? Do you prefer Beethoven over Beyonce? If so, then you probably feel completely out of place on a majority of social networking sites. intellectConnect was designed to bring friends and potential love interests together for intelligent conversation and cultural outings. Best of all, the site is absolutely free for full memberships. There are no hidden fees and you will never be asked for a credit card number.
   

5. The Right Stuff

   This is a dating site that is so sophisticated, it prefers to call itself “An Introduction Network”. Only alumni and faculty members from the most elite universities in the world can join and, yes, they do require proof. It is also heavy on membership fees, but we included it on this list because it is a great venue for the lonely, upper-crust nerd.
   

6. SquareDating

   SquareDating has similar criteria as The Right Stuff, but their list of select colleges is a bit more inclusive. Also, it is easier to prove your alumni status on this site, as you merely use an email address from your alma mater to receive registration confirmation. This site does charge a yearly membership fee, but you can use their services during a free, 30-day trial before committing. If you aren’t interested in continuing your membership after the trial, make sure that you cancel, as they will have your credit card information from the application.
   

7. Trek Passions

   Trek Passions is part of the same online network that produces Nerd Passions. This dating site, however, is more specific to sci-fi fans. If you are looking for that special someone who speaks Klingon, then you might find him/her here. Keep in mind that you don’t have to be a Trekkie to fit in here, just a lover of science fiction in general, be it film, television or books. This site is 100% percent free to use.
   
   

8. iQcuties

   If you have an above average intelligence, and most nerds certainly do, then you should try iQcuties. As the site suggests, this online hangout “lies somewhere between Mensa and MySpace”. You must pass their IQ test to join, but it won’t be impossibly hard for someone who is specifically looking to date a nerd. In fact, the online test is only six questions in length and there is no time limit. Assuming you pass, you will be granted membership to this exclusive network for fellow brainiacs.
   
   

9. The Onion Personals

   If you enjoy the sardonic wit of The Onion, then you should get to know the other readers. The Onion Personals is geared toward urban sophisticates and young(ish) college graduates with a sense of humor. If your politics are left of center and you’ve read everything that David Sedaris has written, then head toward this free dating site for socializing.
   
   

10. Single Booklovers

    This is a haven for lonely bookworms, whether you are a librarian or just an avid reader. Single Booklovers is an organization that began in 1970, long before the advent of the Internet. It is very different from other dating services in that it primarily focuses on compatibility and “intellectual chemistry”. As such, photographs are not featured on members’ profiles. If you do wish to exchange photographs with a member on your own, however, you are free to do so. Single Booklovers has been widely recognized within the literary community and has even been discussed on NPR several times. However, this is not a free service. Membership fees are $54 a year, which can be paid on the site with a major credit card through PayPal.

Why use a niche dating site and not a mainstream one like True and Match.com? Because you will have to do a lot of digging before you come across someone who shares your nerdy interests. Whether you are searching for a girl who is proficient in Linux or a guy who appreciates all things Joss Whedon, you will have the best luck on a dating site that is dedicated to nerd culture. Women should also take note: you get far less competition on a dating site inhabited by male gamers and techies.

Alcoholism is no laughing matter, but neither is being broke on Friday night with nary a beer left in the fridge. If you have ever searched your couch cushions for happy hour money or contemplated swigging that last drop of Nyquil in the medicine cabinet (shame on you!), then this simple guide will soon become your manifesto. Calm those shaking hands of yours and take our advice: with the following 10 tips, you can drink on very little money.

1. Find a Frat Party — Notice that we didn’t suggest any kind of party, but a frat party. Frat parties are not only easy to find (just peruse your local college’s Greek Row), they always have copious amounts of alcohol at the festivities, including the beloved beer keg and the occasional Jell-O shot. Assuming you are under 30, you can probably blend in, particularly if everyone else has already started drinking. If you are over 30, then just pretend you are a hip liberal arts professor that wants to mingle with the students.
2. Crash a Wedding Reception — A quick glance through your local newspaper will alert you to many weddings in the area. The most common places for receptions are often banquet halls and hotel ballrooms. Assuming the celebration is crowded and you are dressed appropriately, you shouldn’t have any trouble adapting to the crowd. If anyone asks who you are, remember that they are just being polite and not suspicious. A simple “friend of the groom” or “second cousin” should curb their questions soon enough. The best part about crashing a wedding is that you will score free food in addition to the alcohol.
3. Attend a Wake — This is a morbid occasion to enjoy yourself, but there are always a lot of drinks being mixed at a wake. You don’t necessarily have to crash a wake like the wedding or frat party listed above, but you should take advantage of any funerals you are invited to. Hey, it isn’t glamorous, but you wouldn’t be reading this list if you weren’t desperate, would you?
4. Flirt — If you are a woman and have all your limbs intact, then it shouldn’t be too hard to flirt your way into a free drink. While this practice may not do much for your reputation and can get a bit hairy at times (always have a friend with you to bail you out of trouble), flirting is a sure thing for drinking while you are broke. However, for men, this practice is a bit trickier. Yes, women have been known to buy men drinks (appeal to their feminist side), but it isn’t nearly as common as the opposite scenario. Then again, men can always flirt with other men for drinks, provided the venue calls for such a pairing.
5. Become a Bartender — No job is better suited for an alcoholic than that of a bartender. If you weren’t addicted to the sauce before this career move, you soon will be. The hours are great for a drunk who has to sleep off most of the daylight, plus you get to mingle with other drunks, which is good for your self esteem. However, you do need to stay somewhat sober while you are on the job. Don’t worry, as you can hop on the other side of the bar when your shift is over and spend all that tip money on booze.
6. Date a Bartender — Bartenders give free drinks to two kinds of people: other bartenders and loved ones. Sure, you could just make a bartender acquaintance and hope he/she hooks you up when you visit their establishment, but why not date a bartender? If you are an alcoholic, this would be the perfect opportunity to combine all the things you care about in life. Also, you can serve as their guinea pig when they are learning to mix new drinks. An alcoholic dating a bartender is like an obese person dating a chef. It just makes sense.
7. Look at Open Houses — In newer subdivisions, real estate agents will often host open houses, whereby anyone can drop by an empty home and take a tour. In more upscale neighborhoods, visitors are treated with snacks and champagne or wine. Often, this is during the late morning/early afternoon, which is great for the ambitious alcoholic who wants to get a jump on the day’s drinking. Think of this as a free pub crawl.
8. Mooch Off Your Buddies — Assuming they haven’t already wised up to your antics, you should try mooching off your friends for a few rounds, particularly the ones who brought their credit cards along for the party. However, keep in mind that making this a common occurrence means you won’t have friends accompanying you to the bar for very long. In addition to that, mooching off your friends for alcohol on a regular basis could land you in an alcohol intervention. You don’t want that, as it could take hours. Hours that you could be spending at the bar.
9. Tell ‘Em It’s Your Birthday — This is a classic way to score a free drink and/or dessert. Mention it is your birthday in a sly way at a restaurant or bar and see if they offer you something for free. If you are good looking, this trick is even more successful. For some reason, a birthday really excites people in the service industry. Perhaps it helps to break the monotony in their otherwise mundane routine. However, a very jaded server may ask for an ID to confirm it is really your birthday, in which case you need to laugh it off or make your exit if you are really embarrassed.
10. Go Slumming — It would be easy to just suggest that you hit the drink specials during happy hour, but even that can be expensive at high end bars. Remember, you don’t want $6 martinis, you want $2 well shots. You can’t beat the specials at your friendly neighborhood dive. The ambiance may be a bit different from what you are used to, but a hole in the wall is still a fine place to hang out with your friends. Are all bars created equal? Not exactly, but you should still find a dartboard wherever you go.

Assuming your liver is willing to go along with your schemes, the above tips should work for you, just as they have for countless other lushes. Keep in mind that we only shared legal remedies for your alcohol shortage, as we want you to have some modicum of dignity when you pick yourself off the floor tomorrow. Also, remember to use a designated driver on your quest for free libations, as we would like to safely leave the house tonight, as well.