Cool cost-cutting Web sites

One thing we love about The Buck List -- and there are many reasons to love that blog (not many undertake the task of writing a humorous post about funeral planning) -- is the occasional cool Web site blogger Buck Weber finds and shares with readers.

Buck, whose blog focuses on how he makes and saves money in his current unemployed state, seems to be a magnet for the odd cost-cutting or time-saving Web site. Read his blog closely. He sprinkles them about like blogger's word candy.

For instance, is an appliance like the dryer or dishwasher not working right in your home? Buck suggests you visit with the Samurai Appliance Repair Man at Fixitnow.com.

Good timing, Buck. The microwave hasn't been heating evenly or well. We checked to see what the Samurai Appliance Repair Man had to say about that.

We couldn't find our exact problem in the troubleshooting section, but we learned some interesting microwave facts, like why some foods explode and others get tough spots, and what other types of microwave problems could indicate. Plus, the site is fun. At one point, the samurai says, "Let us open our Appliantology hymnals to the Second Law of the Prophecy wherein it is written, 'All appliances break.'"

Among other handy resources provided by Buck:

• BoxCycle: Buy used boxes and sell your own.
• Fixyourownprinter.com. Here you can order a repair kit to fix your malfunctioning printer.  Better yet, there's a forum to discuss your printer problems and hopefully learn a free fix.
• Rideshare Directory: Going somewhere, looking to carpool to work, or are you hitchhiking? This is your site.
• IMshopping: You can find answers here to all kinds of shopping questions, including "Where can I find a good Miku Hatsune costume?" (Good grief. They're expensive.)
  • Bing: Miku Hatsune
• WBUGB.com, short for We buy used golf balls. Who knew there was a market for them, and apparently it's not the only Web site dedicated to this purpose.
• Flipswap: Here you get paid money for your old cell phone.
• Abundant Food Savings: Restaurant and supermarket deals can be found at this site.
• Tollfreeairline.com: Need a toll-free phone number or Web site for an airline? They're all listed here.
• Homemade caskets: Actually it's a post at Mother Earth News.

Which brings us back to Buck's amusing take on funerals -- "How to save money after you die." He writes:

Eternal frugality? Not quite, but there are plenty of ways to hold down costs from the time of your death until final disposition of your remains. Ready for a cheery post? Let's go!

Related reading:

• Does Craigslist have good free stuff?
• The 100 most useful Web sites
• 70 government Web sites you should bookmark NOW!
• 4 Web sites that help you gift shop