As a fairly avid music fan on a budget, I often struggle with spending lots of money on concert tickets, downloads and music magazine subscriptions. I want to stay connected to what's going on and to what's new, but it's rough with all the TicketMaster fees and with the ever-present temptation to pirate music instead of legitimately paying for it.

I have, however, found a few ways to maintain my music knowledgeability without spending all my monies on music and music-related purchases.

Here are a few tips to help you stay hip without breaking the bank...

Even when you've only been a college graduate for 3 months, looking back on those four years of your life evokes a powerful sense of nostalgia. Some of my friends spent that time being voluntarily swamped with work from challenging majors, and others took advantage of the fact that until you put on that mortarboard, you're technically not an alcoholic. The one thing most of us have in common is that college was a time when we turned cheapness into an art form and learned to get by on as little money as possible.

For me that was especially true; although my scholarship spared my parents and me from being haunted by the specter of student loans until the year 2030, it made me ineligible for campus work study jobs and left me bereft of spending money.

Here are some of the things I learned from four years of being an academic peasant:

I was confronted with an interesting situation when I went to pay my T-mobile bill online the other day: either I "go green" with their paperless billing, or pay $1.50 for privilege of receiving a paper bill each month. The choice was a no-brainer.

I "chose" to go green...

Today, let's talk about free. Although Savings.com has a great selection of software deals, what better way to save than to pay nothing at all, right? For smaller projects that require less expertise, there are many free graphics programs out there. I've compiled a select few that I've tested and used--none of which are of the illegal download variety. But all are perfectly legitimate scaled-down alternatives to full-featured (and full-priced!) graphics software packages that I've picked up on through the years.

So you may have noticed by reading the blog posts at Savings.com that most of us here have some level of expertise on a given category, and we do our best to save folks money on the items we are knowledgeable about. When I asked myself what is my area of "deal" expertise two things sprung to mind: motorcycle parts/maintenance and beer. The first is a bit niche, so we'll table that and focus on how one saves money on beer.

While wine-colored toenails are optional, men everywhere are getting manicures and pedicures. And why not? Sure beats craggly toes at the end of the bed. With 30% of salon clients being male, we thought we'd give you guys some DIY tips for the perfect home mani/pedi.

Enjoy.

If you're planning your next trip on a budget, don't rule out international travel just yet. Many hot travel spots can be visited for prices much lower than local resorts and cruises. So, just where does one find such treasures?

Follow these tips to get started.

Attending a professional sports game is a one of a kind experience. Almost every aspect of it is better than watching a game on TV except one: it's expensive. However, I'm here to tell you there is a close alternative that is much cheaper. I'm talking about sports bars.

Here are some advantages of going to a sports bar instead of the actual game:

Wingardium Leviosa! Furnunculus! Expelliarmus!

If you're looking to learn charms to make things float, to inflict boils on an enemy, and/or to disarm your dueling opponent, the Harry Potter books and movies are certainly a good place to look. I'll bet, though, that you didn't realize you could learn some sound financial advice from the wizards of Hogwarts. Well, it's true.

Here are five financial tips from the magical world of Harry Potter.

Thinking about getting in shape, but you don't want to shell out the $30-$60 a month to join a gym? I've got good news for you: you don't have to. There are tons of ways to get in shape without spending all that money on a gym membership that you probably won't be using for more than a couple of weeks.

Here are some of my favorites:

Annie's recent post about money-saving wedding ideas reminded me that wedding season is upon us. While we all love watching family and friends get hitched, and the party that inevitably follows, being a good guest can get costly. And stressful, when you start worrying about "The Gift."

How much do you need to spend? Does it have to be on the registry? What on earth is a ramekin and why do they want it?

Answers: Not as much as you think, no it doesn't, and I have no idea. Read on for thoughtful and creative gift ideas the new Mr. and Mrs. will love, all priced under $50.

This month, Lauren Conrad graces the cover of Cosmo. Promoting her new book and fashion line for Kohl's, the young socialite is all about California Chic. No matter what you think of former Hills star, one thing is for sure: the girl has great summer style.

Want to get that look without a full-time makeup artist? Here's how to do it for a steal. I found money-saving deals on top brand products that can give you this look. Then, if you want the look for less, I offer alternatives for a song--the whole look for around $30.