How to save more money by limiting your expenses

I think Adam Carolla is right when he says "Be in 'make a buck'-mode, not in 'save a penny'-mode.". The most effective way to improve your savings rate is a higher income. However, there is no need to spend more money than you have to when it doesn’t reduce your quality of life. You will quickly reach diminishing returns following this strategy, that’s why I focus on the low-hanging fruit. Some of these tips are not for everyone but it’s a good starting point if you have never paid attention to your expenses.

• Avoid getting takeout and like Dave Ramsay says “I don’t want to see you in a restaurant unless you work there.”
• Avoid Starbucks or fast food places. Even if you just get a cup of coffee before work, those $2 add up.
• This one’s not for everyone but going hiking / camping certainly makes for inexpensive vacations.
• Find the cheapest plans for all your monthly payments (internet, phone, electricity, insurances, etc.)
• Avoid subscriptions, especially if you don’t use the service enough to justify the cost. Amazon Prime is one of my rare exceptions.
• Avoid replacing stuff, try to repair it. YouTube can be a great help here.
• See if you can borrow from work or a neighbor before buying something you might only need once.
• Buy good quality clothes, they will last you longer. I still wear several 20-year-old Fred Perry shirts.
• Instead of paying for a gym membership, invest in some workout equipment and workout at home.
• If water quality in your area allows it, don’t waste money on bottled water and drink tap.
• Cut your own hair. This one's a bit harder for women, men can get away with a buzzcut.
• Buy used when it makes sense.
• Buy in bulk when it makes sense. Spices are a great example, you can save 90%+ by buying larger amounts online.
• Spend more when it makes sense. A cast iron pan or a good set of knives can last you a lifetime.
• If you are a gamer, wait for sales on video games. This has the added benefit of the games being patched when you get around to playing them.
• Wait a couple of days or calculate how long you would have to work to make the money back before making a bigger purchase like a new smartphone, TV or PC. Most likely what you currently have is still fine.

Implementing all these tips can make a big difference in the long run if you invest the saved money aggressively. If you have any more tips, let me know.

How to use the original cursor in Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

I've been playing Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition these past weeks and while Beamdog have done a good job at polishing the remaster over the years, one thing still bugs me: They use the Baldur's Gate cursor:


instead of the original Icewind Dale cursor:

Here's how to fix this:

1. You first need to get the graphics file for the Icewind Dale cursor. You can either download it from here and go to step 2 or if you prefer to do it yourself, follow step 1a-1c to extract it from the original game files.

1a. You either need one of the original Icewind Dale's or the GOG version of Icewind Dale II for this. Download the tool NearInfinity from https://github.com/Argent77/NearInfinity/releases

(You need Java to use NearInfinity. If you don't have it installed, you can download it here: https://www.java.com/en/download )

1b. Open NearInfinity and navigate to the game folder of the original Icewind Dale I or II. Once opened, you can find the CURSORS.BAM file in the BAM-directory:

1c. Export the CURSORS.BAM file to a folder of your choice:

2. Locate your Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition game folder. For Steam, you can simply right-click on the game in your list, click "Properties", select "Local files" and click "Browse local files..."

3. If it doesn't already exist, create a folder and name it "override" and place the CURSORS.BAM file in it.

4. You're done: