12 Free Ebook Download And Search Sites

With the Advent of the Apple iPad, the ebooks market is getting more crowded.  The Amazon Kindle has remained the leader up until now.  Sony, Barnes & Noble among many others will be upgrading or joining this joyride.  Buying the device can cost you a bit of pocket change, luckily ebooks are cheaper than the paper alternatives.  An even better option is to find FREE ebooks.

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To help you find more FREE ebooks than you can read in a lifetime, I've put together a list of sites that either host the books themselves or helps you search for the books.  Project Gutenberg is probably the most widely known.  Most of you have also heard about Google digitizing books.  Below you will find links to these and more.

1. pdfgeni.com
2. scribd.com
3. Project Gutenberg
4. Manybooks
5. Feedbooks
6. Books In My Phone
7. Queens Library
8. NYPL
9. Online Computer Books
10. Free Tech Books
11. Free Computer Books
12. Google Books

What sites do you use to download or find Ebooks?

Recommended Book: The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

Love Reading? Get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Food, Entertainment and Free Events

Looking for some Free events in NYC for this week?  You'll sure to enjoy at least one of these events.

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1. Enjoy great food at your favorite restaurant during Restaurant Week.  Need another reason to dine out?  If having three courses for the price of one isn't enough; you'll get a $15 statement credit if you dine out three or more times at any participating restaurants during NYC Restaurant Week.  Just pay with your registered American Express Card.
2. Jaliya Kafo, Master kora player and BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Award winner, performs at David Rubentein Atrium at Lincoln Center.  Thursday January 28, 2010 at 8:30 pm
3. Marine Mammal Watch: The beach may be empty of all its human swimmers, but don't forget about the seals, whales, and dolphins!  Come learn about local marine mammals and try and catch a glimpse of them.  Saturday, January 30, 2010 11:00 a.m. Coney Island Beach (Boardwalk at West 10th Street)
4. Advanced Hiking: Hike at a vigorous pace through the Inwood forest to Dyckman fields and over to Fort Tryon.  Bring proper footwear and prepare for a challenge.  Inwood Hill Nature Center, Inwood Hill Park (Enter park at West 218th Street and Indian Road)  Manhattan.  Saturday, January 30, 2010 10:00 a.m.
5. Birds of "Paradise": A walk through this diverse habitat to see winter waterfowl, shorebirds, and many forest dwellers.  Binoculars recommended.  Powell's Cove Park, Intersection of 130th Street and 11th Avenue, Queens.  Sunday, January 31, 2010 11:00 a.m.

Know of any other upcoming events coming soon?  Share them with us in the comments.  If you would like to contribute or guest post on FrugalNYC, email or send us a tweet.

Recommended Books:

• 2010 New York City Restaurants (ZAGAT Restaurant Guides)
• Not for Tourists 2010 Guide to New York City (Not for Tourists Guidebook)
• Frommer's NYC Free & Dirt Cheap (Frommer's Free & Dirt Cheap)

If you love Reading, you may be interested in the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation).  Largest screen size on a Kindle yet!

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Dine Out For Haiti

Many of the restaurants participating in Restaurant Week are also participating in Dine Out For Haiti. This is a great way to support and help those in Haiti via Action Against Hunger, Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health. I'm sure many of you have done your part to help out the fundraisers for Haiti. This is another small step we can all take, and this doesn't cost you a dime if you are already dining out.

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Lists of participating restaurants for Dine Out For Haiti

• Eater NY has compiled a list of restaurants participating. This list has a map showing locations of the restaurants.
• Open Table also has a great list of participating restaurants. You'll find the restaurant name, neighborhood, type of cuisine and price point for each of the participating restaurants.
• TimeOut New York also has compiled a list of participating restaurants. This list includes names of restaurants, dates of participation, how much they are donating and other types of donations that are accepted.

There are many other ways to contribute to this disaster relief.  Many do not cost you much, such as Swagbucks' Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund Donation.  You can donate your Swagbucks to help this cause.  If you're not a member of Swagbucks, you can sign up here - Free (you earn points for cash and prizes just by searching).  You should find out how much of your donation actually goes to helping those in Haiti.  Direct donations to the American Red Cross or Doctors without Borders are two of the best ways to help this disaster relief.

Haiti has always been a country in need, and it is more so now than ever.  To read more about Haiti, you can check out some of these books.

Haiti Related Books:

• Travesty in Haiti: A true account of Christian missions, orphanages, fraud, food aid and drug trafficking
• An Unbroken Agony: Haiti, from Revolution to the Kidnapping of a President
• On That Day, Everybody Ate: One Woman's Story of Hope and Possibility in Haiti
• Paradise Lost: Haiti's Tumultuous Journey from Pearl of the Caribbean to Third World Hotspot
• Haiti in Focus: A Guide to the People, Politics, and Culture (In Focus Guides)
• Haiti in the Balance: Why Foreign Aid Has Failed and What We Can Do About It
• Seven Days in Haiti

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

2010 Winter Restaurant Week Kicks Off

Restaurant Week kicks off on Monday January 25, 2010 in NYC. Due to it's popularity and the Great Recession, it is once again 2 weeks, from January 25th to February 7th. There are some new additions this year.

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This year, there are 260 restaurants participating. Some new additions include dell'anima, SD26 and Breslin Bar & Dining Room (in the Ace hotel). In addition, there is a new Restaurant Week Truck making rounds across the city serving soups from 24 of the participating restaurants. The truck will run week days only from 11 am to 2 pm January 25th - February 5. To find out where the truck is you can check nycgo.com or via twitter

Prices for three-course lunches are $24.07 and dinners are $35. So those of us who have been saving up and eating out less, pick a good restaurant and try it while the prices are low!

Make reservations early, as the best restaurants fill up fast! Bon Appétit!

Recommended Books:

• 2010 New York City Restaurants (ZAGAT Restaurant Guides)
• Not for Tourists 2010 Guide to New York City (Not for Tourists Guidebook)
• Frommer's NYC Free & Dirt Cheap (Frommer's Free & Dirt Cheap)

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Upcoming Free Events & Winner of Business Card Giveaway

The winner of the Business Card Giveaway is Jessica. Congratulations Jessica!

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I know many of you read FrugalNYC for the freebies in NYC, so here are a number of them for this week!

1. January 19, 2010 11 am to 3 pm - Wave Hill - Winter Workspace Drop-in Program: Spinning & Knitting Wool.  OK, so you're not into spinning or knitting?  Wave Hill is still a great place to visit.  Admission free on Tuesdays and Saturdays until noon.
2. January 21, 2010 from 12 noon to 1 pm - Catch Cast members from the Broadway show Memphis, at The Pond
3. January 21, 2010 at 8:30 pm - Michael Arenella and His Hot Eight at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center

Hope you enjoy these events.

Recommended Books:

• Frommer's New York City 2009 (Frommer's Complete)
  
• The Best Things to Do in New York City: 1001 Ideas
  
• Fodor's New York City 2010 (Full-Color Gold Guides)
  
• The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Five Free and Frugal Things To Do This Weekend

Happy Friday everyone. Looking for something free or frugal to do this weekend? Here are five things you may want to check out.

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1. Go to Dylan's Candy Bar, if you have a sweet tooth, this will be your favorite destination. It is quite different from most candy stores.
2. Visit Grand Central and check out the Transit Museum's 8th annual Holiday Train Show! It is available until 1/18/09.
3. While you are at Grand Central, check out the whispering gallery of Grand Central Terminal. Read more about it at NewYorkology.
4. If you like tech and gadgets, go visit the Sony Wonder Technology Lab. This is where I'll be heading to this weekend. You'll enjoy a couple hours of fun for FREE.
5. Take the Roosevelt Island Tram. You'll get a bird's eye view of the East river that you can't get any other way. It costs the same as a subway ride.

What low cost activities can you suggest for this weekend?

Today is the final day to enter the Business Cards Giveaway.

Recommended Books:

• The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.
• Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone.
  
• Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing: No-Nonsense Rules from the Ultimate Contrarian and Small Business Guru
  

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

This Wednesday's Unemployment Chat

Thanks to BudgetPulse, we had another great chat this Wednesday January 6, 2010 at 7 PM EST 4 PM PST. I co-hosted this week and we discussed the topic of Unemployment.

Unemployment is one of the largest global issues right now, not just in the US. Below are some of the questions, topics and things discussed during the Twitter chat session.

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Items Discussed

• Stimulus plans are more about winning votes than savig the economy
• Friend on unemployment is changing sectors.
• do you run the risk of being a job hopper? How long should you stay at the job you didn't want?
• Stimulus $ was intentionally backloaded to match up w/election years. If situation so dire, why not spend all right away?!
• Not even all the fed stimulus spending has really rolled out yet.... apparently only 30% has. Job Growth more over 2010, 2011.
• If you can make more through unemployment than a job you are offered should you take the job or stay unemployed?
• Some people think they'll only be unemployment a few weeks, but that may turn into a few months (or longer)
• California employment doesn't seem to be improving - apparently unemployment there is 12+%
• Important to know that unemployment benefits are only about 50 - 70% of your most recent salary/wages
• Emergency Fund
• Health Care Alternatives
• HSA - Health Savings Account
• High Deductible plans
• Mandatory health care
• Many go without and then end up paying if a catastrophe of sorts does hit.
• COBRA, but it can be expensive #bp High risk pools in most states. Individual and family plans exist too.
• Business Startup Fund
• When to file for unemployment.
• Right Away - after you are given notice and are qualified. Same day is best since it takes a few weeks to kick into effect
• In these days of freelancing and contract "employees" not everyone qualifies for unemployment 
• If ur fired for just cause, or not showing up to work you can't just collect it. For some reason people think this
• it's important to note that you don't automatically qualifty for unemployment
• I agree and think that happens to a lot of ppl. By the time they file and get in funds their finances are already wrecked.
• What would you do if you were laid off today? 
• Become a person of Value
• Career Plan
• Review Expenses and Budget
• Emergency Fund
• Plan ahead for Unemployment
• Family Savings Rate
• Weigh upside of your expenses before cutting them
• Unemploytrepreneurs should consult pro re impact on benefits. 1099 work; controlling forprofit legal entity raise ?s

What expenses to cut?

• Entertainment and Dining out
• Cable TV - More value from internet than from TV
• Cut Expenses now, don't wait till you are unemployed
• Cheaper shampoo
• Downgrade internet
• Figure out what value you get before cutting. Are you willing to give it up?
• Make sure what you cut does least damage in your life
• New Clothes
• Gourmet ingredients for cooking
• small things that add up - coffee, bagel, magazine, gum
• Eating out. Anything monthly - examine it.
• Cut back on cell phone plan or go prepaid
• Magazines
• What not to cut?  Gym

Getting re-employed

• Personal Branding
• pink slip parties, volunteering, social networking, asking people for "informational interviews" on their job/career paths
• networking in the same group is a no go. Connecting groups has value though
• Talk to people via phone not just via net
• there is a lot of empty networking where people just bring business cards. Why not just bring a phonebook
• LinkedIn and Facebook
• Build your network for potential job leads before you actually need them. Social media a great place to start.
• Sometimes it's not who you know but what you know
• a couple killer recommendation letters are always a major plus. It's who you know. Annoying but true.
• networking at local events was the best way to get job leads. Also helps to build long term relationships.
• Look for work internationally
• a lot of young professionals are taking jobs in China.

People who joined in this week

@BudgetPulse @FrugalNYC @moneystrands
@FrugalDad @enemyofdebt @freefrombroke
@EverydayFinance @clarifinancial @RainyDaySaver
@BSimple @skduck2003 @jesssteyers
@MoneyEnergy @extremejacob @SpendOnLife
@BudgetsAreSexy @B4UInvest @thedavidbeach
@KWdesignonline @Matt_SF @FabFinclySav
@patreniaspears @chrisnooney @fiscalgeek
@JonMorrow @CraigKessler @MoneyCrashers @newNYers

If you would like to join us for future Personal Finance chats, the #bp chats take place every Wednesday at 7 PM EST 4 PM PST and usually lasts an hour.  You can also follow along with this PF-Chat list I created on Twitter.

Recommended Book: The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.
Business Card Giveaway: Don't forget to enter our Business Card Giveaway.  It will help you network or build your new business.

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

FrugalNYC - UPrinting Business Cards Giveaway

Welcome back to FrugalNYC. Today we are giving away a set of 250 Business Cards from UPrinting.com to coincide with the Twitter Chat session regarding Unemployment.  I hope these cards will help you network your way into a new job or new business of your own!

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Rules

1. It's very simple to enter, just leave a comment on this post telling us how you will be using the set of business cards if you win.  Be creative!
2. Make sure you send an email or twitter DM with contact info to me so I can notify you when you win.  Basically, make sure I can find you if you win. Otherwise, an alternate winner will be selected.
3. To get additional entries, Tweet or blog about this giveaway.  Make sure to send me a link :)

Winner

The Winner will be selected on January 15, 2010 and will be announced shortly thereafter both on this blog and via Twitter.

Details, Details...

Here are some details to the prize:

Giveaway Prize: 250 Business Cards for one (1) lucky winner

Size: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)

Paper:  14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock     

Shipping: Winners have to pay for shipping (as will I since I'll be getting a set of 250 for this giveaway)

Eligibility: Limited to US Residents due to shipping costs

UPrinting.com will be providing me a set as part of this giveaway, I'll be making very good use of it myself - building  connections and hopefully growing business for my tech services.

Good luck to all and I hope your New Year has started out on the right track!


Elsewhere

• 10 Ways To Free Up Disk Space Quickly

Recommended Books:

• The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.
• Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone.
  
• Profits Aren't Everything, They're the Only Thing: No-Nonsense Rules from the Ultimate Contrarian and Small Business Guru
  

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Happy New Year 2010

Happy New Year!! Thank you for visiting and your continued readership of FrugalNYC!

New to FrugalNYC? Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

2009 has been a roller coaster year for me and I'm sure for many of you as well. Much of that ride has been rocky and unexpected. Looking forward to 2010, I hope to accomplish much more and find better direction for many aspects of my life. I'm still contemplating on what roads to take going forward. As for FrugalNYC as a blog, I'm looking to include more of you readers in my posts.

As a wrap-up of 2009, here are the top 10 visited blog posts of 2009 for FrugalNYC.

1. 10 Free Places To Visit In NYC Today
2. 10 Free Things To Do In Queens
3. 10 Free Blackberry Games
4. Governor's Island
5. Interesting Twitters
6. Free Games That Children Play
7. Frugal Entenmanns Baked Goods
8. Facts Of New York City You May Not Know
9. FrugalNYC Broadway Ticket Giveaway
10. Metrocards

Many of you voiced your opinion on Giveaways, I will be very happy to do more of them. In order to do more, I also need to grow the readership and participation. That is why I have decided to include your voices in future posts. I'll be doing reader interviews, getting more opinions from fellow bloggers and looking for more bloggers who would like to do guest posts on FrugalNYC.

I want to thank all our sponsors for the giveaways on FrugalNYC in 2009, this includes UPrinting.com, Metropolitan Opera, Season Of Savings, ZulaWorld.com, Workman Press and H&R Block. Also a big thank you to all our partners who link to us and help us in many ways.  They include The405Club, many great folks on Twitter, Craig of BudgetPulse, Hennie, Chris of Lifestyle Project, Jay Frawley (are you still around?),    I can go on for a long time.  I will thank each one of you individually!

Most of all, I want to thank my family and YOU!  Please continue to help spread the word about FrugalNYC, especially if you like the content or find it helpful. Tell your best friend, your co-workers, fellow bloggers, your neighbors or anyone else who you think would find this blog helpful. If you would like to get involved or help FrugalNYC, send me a tweet, dm, or email!

Looking forward to speaking to you all.
-Qi , Blogger - FrugalNYC

Recommended Book: The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.