Though new technology is often synonymous with high cost, there are actually devices and software offerings on the market today that will help you reduce spending and stay on budget. Here are a dedicated techy few.

With mobile phone bills out of control because of social nets, Opera Mini is here to keep you connected and in control. This free mobile phone browser reduces the amount of data that is sent to your phone during a mobile surfing session.

Since most are charged based on what you are downloading, Opera Mini has been known to make data charges on your monthly bill up to 10 times cheaper. The Opera Mini system works by compressing web pages to a smaller size before they are sent to your phone. The result is faster browsing and less waiting, as pages load much quicker when you download less data. To get Opera Mini on your mobile phone, go to www.opera.com/mini.

Voice over IP (VOIP) has reached the masses, and more people than ever are avoiding land lines and turning to their broadband connection when placing a call.

Skype is a popular VOIP technology that allows you to call computer-to-computer at absolutely no cost. Computer-to-mobile phone and -land line calls are also possible at a much cheaper rate than the typical long distance phone plan. Currently, a mobile phone version of Skype is in the works. This is a good way to make inexpensive calls, especially for those who have unlimited data plans on their phones.

Find out more about Skype at www.skype.com or search the Web for “VOIP” to find loads of alternatives.

Anyone who’s ever bought a computer knows that stocking that empty machine with the necessary software can get expensive. What your friendly salesperson neglected to tell you is that there are free, high quality alternatives out there.

For example, check out the AVG Anti-Virus software, Open Office suite and the Ubuntu operating system and break the chains tying you to that overpriced software.

Smart power strips saving you cash: Stop sucking up all the power and invest in socket boards for all your computer equipment, including the PC, monitor, speakers and printer. Just plug your devices in and when you shut your computer off, the board will cut power to all the peripheral devices that continue to draw electricity while on standby.

Smart Power Strips are reasonably priced, and manufacturers claim that they pay for themselves within a few weeks. Who wouldn’t love reducing their power bill while staying environmentally friendly?

One for the really committed with a large initial cost (upwards of $5,000 ), residential windmills are a long-term investment for reducing your power bills.

By generating your own wind power (how cool is that!), you are putting electricity back into the grid through your power box, essentially running your meter backwards when you’re not using power.

Meet an Opera lover who claims she has been bitten by the photography bug. So, we're faced with the consequences (if by "consequences" she means awesome images! ).

She's also one of the moderators of the popular Blog Designs group. She has a very nice design of her own blog as well.

Luckily, she's not as dangerous as it seems. Congratulations, Class10a1! You are this week's member of the week!

Gaming is a popular activity for a lot of people. Some gamers raise the bar how good you can get and in "World of Warcaft", these players make up "Elitist Jerks", probably the best theorycrafting Web site in the world.

“Opera knows that the vehicle for online gaming is the browser, so why not make the browser a part of the game?” says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “Gaming is something we have always taken very seriously, and by creating a custom browser for gamers, we hope to make their online adventures even better.”

The browser for the Elitist Jerks community is filled with numerous customized features, including a pre-set Speed Dial complete with important theorycrafting sites, selected RSS feeds and an array of helpful, built-in bookmarks. Elitist Jerks members or fans will feel right at home, as the skin and layout are designed to match the look and feel of their Online community Web site.

“It’s a thrill to finally have our own Elitist Jerks browser. Our community members have worked hard to build our site into the success it is today, and it is great to get the recognition from Opera who provided us a custom-made browser to enhance the overall experience,” said Andrew Hunn aka Boethius from the Elitist Jerks community.

• Download Opera's Elitist Jerks browser:
• Windows Version
• Mac Version