--- SPECIAL EDITION ---

How to save money when

Inflation is on the rise

Have you noticed that when the government reports the rate of inflation, the rate seems low? That's because for the last 25 years, you've been hoodwinked by a statistical tool called the "Core Rate of Inflation."

Rotten to the core

The so-called "core" rate does not include the cost of food, energy, or housingf. When UCAN looked at the annual rate of inflation during the last 35 years, we found that in 31 out of 34 years inflation tracked very closely with the cost of crude oil. In fact, for the majority of years, there was a direct correlation between increased energy prices and increased inflation. But, by reporting the deceptive "core" rate, the government hides the financial impact of high energy prices.

High-energy prices spur high inflation

When oil reached its first superspike in 1974, the United States saw double-digit inflation for the first time in 50 years. At that time, the price of oil increased from $3.30 a barrel to $11.60 a barrel. Earlier this summer the price of oil reached nosebleed highs of $147 a barrel, yet the government continued to downplay the impact of high energy, food and housing costs on you.

But we aren't. In this special inflation-fighter edition of the Watchdog, we've listed our 24 best tips for saving money during what will likely be amongst the worst of times and, for some UCAN members, at least, the best of times. 
 

Water: San Diego's Challenge of the Century

 
Sydney has solved its water shortage problems. So can we.

UCAN's Challenge of the Century report - released August 7 - has the potential to forever change San Diego's history. The report defines the shortages that face San Diego and prescribes aggressive remedies that can free us from water shortages without rationing.

When it comes to water, San Diego may be the most vulnerable community in California. More than 90% of our water is imported from the Colorado River, or derived from snow pack in the Sierras and delivered by pipeline. Serious climate-related drought, depleted snow packs and environmental damage have forced us to accept reduced allocations from the state water project.

Australia, Great Britain, Israel and the cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, Atlanta and others have addressed equally challenging water problems. The City of Sydney, Australia, for example, uses less water now than it did in 1974, even though Sydney's population has grown by one million people. We can do the same - if we proceed with the proper sense of urgency. You can read the full 88-page report at www.ucan.org

UCAN's "Double Dozen"

A selection of our staff's 24 favorite inflation-fighting and money- saving tips!

In June, we asked UCAN's staff to come up with the 24 fbest money-saving tips that they've seen in recent years. Hundreds of ideas were vetted, and voted on. We have published the "best of the best" of them here. You can also see many more at our Web site at www.ucan.org.

1) Lower your property taxes. Lower taxes? That's right. If you bought a home recently, it could pay to have your property reassessed. Check the value of real estate in your area and compare it to the assessed value of your home. You may be overdue for a tax break. Learn More.

3) Get 411 info - for FREE! The 911 on 411 is that it is overpriced ... unless you use a host of free 411directory services. For company and government numbers use: 800-GOOG-411 (Google) or 800-CALL-411 (Microsoft). Both are great from a mobile phone since they are hands-free and will complete your call for you at no charge. For residential numbers, use 800-FREE-411. This service makes you listen to an ad before you get your number, and it is not hands-free.

Use generics: Brand-name drugs can cost $35-$50 for the co-payment whereas generics would cost between $5-$20. If a generic isn't available, ask for a cheaper drug that delivers the same result.

Ask your doctor for free samples: Many physicians will offer free samples ... but you have to ask.

Comparison shop. Companies such as Walgreens, Walmart and Costco offer big savings. What's more, Rite Aid and CVS will match lower costs of competitors. Rite Aid will match Costco's prices. Visit ucan.org, keyword: cheapdrugs.

14) Use "OPV" to drive the car you want.
For years, real estate hucksters have employed the principle of OPM, or "Other Peoples' Money." Now, you can benefit from OPV - Other Peoples' Vehicles, specifically their SUVs, Corvettes, and Ferraris. Studies show that people who buy 4WD vehicles only use the four-wheel drive option less than 1% of the time, yet they are paying for it 100% of the time. This is where it makes sense to rent instead of buying a car. You can even rent Ferraris and Corvettes. Visit ucan.org, keyword "OPV" for a list of rental car resources.

15) Avoid "FUELISH" buys with gas-saver gimmicks.
With gas prices hovering at $4 a gallon, rip-off artists are hawking magical devices touting improved fuel economy. Almost all of them either increase gas consumption or violate the laws of physics. And no, you can't run your car on water, or magnetize your gas for better fuel efficiency. It's a scam. For a complete list of fuel-saving scams, visit ucan.org, keyword: gasscam.

16) Get to the root of your water problems
When you water your yard, focus on the roots. That's where your plants take their sips of water. Most plants don't require watering every day. In fact, less watering helps your plants establish a better root system. Soaker hoses that weep moisture and root feeders, buried below ground, can be effective methods of watering. When you do water, water deeply. Light or shallow watering will be lost to evaporation and won't do your plants much good. Keyword: bottomfeeder.

17) Insist upon a real voice. Hey, your time is worth something, isn't it? Unfortunately, the big corporations don't see it that way when you phone them. You can avoid those annoying "press this / push that" phone systems and get help right away if you know what to do. Check our Web site for a list of the latest shortcuts for America's largest utilities (keyword "gethuman") or try these tricks:

1 - Press 0 (or 0# or #0 or 0* or *0) repeatedly, sometimes quickly. Unfortunately the same keystroke does not always work for each company. Many automation systems will connect to a human after a few "invalid entries", although some will hang-up.

2 -Talk. Say "get human" (or "agent" or "representative") or raise your voice, or mumble.

3 - Stay on hold, pretending you have only an old rotary phone.

4 - Connect to account collections for sales or account cancellation; they always seem to answer quickly.

5) Toll call - For credit cards, if the expected wait time is too long, hang up and try to call back on their non-toll-free number, as they often have shorter queues.

6) Selecting the option for Spanish will often get you a bilingual human more quickly than waiting for an English-only operator. You can visit our Web site to learn more, (keyword: "gethuman") or call UCAN's Fraud Squad at 619-881-UCAN between 9AM and 5PM M-F for personal help.

#18 Avoid the flue. We mean, your chimney flue. When the fireplace is not in use, keep the flue damper tightly closed. A chimney is designed to let smoke escape, so until you close it, air escapes--24 hours a day! Keeping the damper open is like keeping a 48-inch window wide open during the winter. If you don't use your fireplace, seal the flue.

#19 Be a fast food chef. Speed cooking saves you time AND money. Nothing is more energy efficient for cooking than a microwave. It uses two-thirds less energy than a stove. Stir-fry - good. Deep frying - bad. Slow cooking and baking are sumptuous, but they cost more.

#20 Keep your fridge full - with water. An empty refrigerator is a terrible waste of energy. Filling the unused space in your fridge and freezer with plastic water jugs will minimize the loss of cold air when the doors are opened or closed and will keep your food chilled during a power outage. Cost: Free.

#21 Watch the water. Take steps to cut water use such as installing faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, and low-flush toilets. As much as 19% of California electricity is used to pump, transport and treat water. And much of your natural gas bill goes to water heating. If you don't have them already, low-flow showerheads and faucets cut your hot water heating expenses by 10-16%. Cost: Less than $20 for most showerheads, more for faucets.

#22 Phantom of the appliances. In the average home, 75% of the energy used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Avoid these electric vampires by unplugging the appliance or by getting a power strip and using the switch to cut all power to the appliance Cost: less than $10

Fueltracker is back!

Go to www.ucan.org, click on "Gas and Autos" and find the cheapest gas stations in your area.

Note: members without Internet access can call our Member Hotline at (619) 881-UCAN.

#24 Bad computer habits. If you think your screen saver saves energy, think again. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning the monitor off is always the best energy-saving strategy. Also, consider buying a laptop for your next computer upgrade. They use much less energy than desktop computers. Cost: Free.

One extra tip, with an extra "charge ..."

#25 Recharge and recycle. Using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more cost effective than throwaway batteries. If you must use throwaways, check with your trash removal company about safe disposal options. Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not being used. Cost: less than $20 per year.

For even more money-saving ideas, head to our Web site at www.ucan.org.

Get the BENEFITS
of UCAN Membership! 

Save money on phone service

Avoid cell phone hell with a pre-paid plan
For the infrequent cellphone user who wants the convenience and peace of mind that a cell phone offers, a prepaid plan should definitely be investigated. The following web site asks you 12 questions and then gives you a list of the five plans that best meet your answers. You will also be given links to those plans and the options to choose a cell phone offered by these prepaid cell phone companies.

Web sites:

http://cellphones.about.com/od/prepaid_phones/qt/prepaid_plans.htm

Clean up your phone bill and get extra cash
When it comes to paying bills, most people look for the amount due and just pay it. This goes double for phone bills. When you get your next phone bill, take the time to look at your charges, particularly your extra calling features. Multiply each feature by 12 to find out how much you're paying a year. You might just want to pocket that $120a year for Caller ID or maybe $72 a year for Call Forwarding could be better spent. Add those to my favorite, Wire Pro, at $72 a year and you have an extra $264 in your pocket.

Web sites:

https://www.customerservice.att.com/assistance/faq/qa.jsp?faqCategoryId=faq_undrstd_bill

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/16286135-3BB8-41B9-B5FD-5537CC92CEE7/0/CommRateChangesNovDec07.pdf

Save money when you terminate your cell phone
When a mobile phone the company makes a change to your contract, for example, changes text message, services, or other fees, you can cancel your contract and avoid Early Termination Fees (ETFs). This is because the company made a "materially adverse" change to your contract.
Web site:
http://www.ucan.org/telecommunications/wireless/how_to_cancel_get_out_of_your_cell_phone_contract

Block data charges, and set caps on your kids' phones
Some companies allow an account holder to block data charges like media, ringtones, and text message services. Some companies are now even offering the account holder the ability to set caps on phones to avoid excessive charges. This is especially effective on family accounts where a parent wants their child to have a cell phone, but doesn't want excessive charges from ringtones, media, and other data services. Check with your carrier to see if you can either block data services, or place a cap on charges to your phone.

Save on long distance charges
With minimum usage charges, discretionary surcharges and taxes, a long distance customer can face a $5 to $10 long distance bill before making any calls. The best ways to avoid this Catch 22 is to drop your long distance and local toll carrier and use a prepaid calling card.

Don't let your phone roam free ....
International roaming service can be blocked to save you time and money. Protect yourself from errant charges from international roaming. Some companies slickly add international roaming to your plan with little notice. The problem is, international roaming is one of the most fraud-ridden areas in the cell phone industry. You can protect yourself from liability for any charges by simply asking your provider to disable or block your international roaming service.

Hold out on cell phone contracts
Hold out at the end of your cell phone contract. Save money and get features by not rushing into another two-year commitment. When you reach the end of a cell phone contract, you shouldn't just bite at the first offer that comes your way! Hold out and you have the freedom of a month-to-month contract with the ability to cancel at anytime with no Early Termination Fee. If you do sign up again, don't go cheaply. It costs the company hundreds more to get a new customer than it does to keep you, so this is an opportunity to get what you want.

Saving money on automobiles and gasoline

Spanked at the tank? Consider e-85!
Build a list of flex-fuel compliant vehicles. Develop an "e85 calculator" to help motorists determine if e85 is a fair deal. Right now e85 is about $1 a gallon cheaper than gasoline, however, according to federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) averages, it delivers from 28 to 32% fewer miles per gallon because of inefficient engine designs. The calculator will help the owner determine the price-point where "green gas" is cheaper than regular.
Web sites:

Ethanol & Octane = http://www.itsgood4.us/ethanol_mileage.htm

Lists of cars that are ethanol compliant = http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrid_sbs.shtml

Get the 411 on the 511: Plan a traffic-free, effortless commute with 511
With the addition of the Sprinter and the Coaster in San Diego County, UCAN has upgraded the public transit options in San Diego from "Absolutely Atrocious" to "Merely Horrible." In fact, you'd be surprised to learn that it may be easier to take public transportation than to drive. In fact, you can bring your own liquor on the Coaster. Talk about a stress-free alternative to rush hour. Nothing beats a glass of fresh Beaujolais, a Pacific Coast sunset, and the view of 50,000 sweaty, irritated drivers at the I-5 merge as you glide serenely by on the Coaster.
Web sites: http://www.sdcommute.com/ or dial 511 for planning help.

Are hybrid vehicles a good buy?
If you want to drive, go "green." Buying a hybrid car is a great thing to do, but if your primary purpose is to save money, think again. Consumer Reports rates only two hybrids - the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius - as vehicles that will save you money in the first five years. In fact, even with high gas prices, a new hybrid will likely cost you more money in total than keeping the car you've got now (unless of course it is an SUV). Fuel savings can be offset by the higher price that a hybrid commands - especially the SUV versions.
Web sites:

EDMUNDS TRUE CAR COST CALCULATOR
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/cto/CTOintroController

EDMUNDS HYBRID SHOPPING GUIDE
http://www.edmunds.com/hybrid/index.html

http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/index.cfm?story=20080613-suv-versus-fuel-efficient-car&cid=1012

http://www.soultek.com/clean_energy/hybrid_cars/robbed_buying_a_hybrid_vehicle_today.htm

http://www.bnm.com/ravsd.htm

Web sites for 4WD vehicles:

Alamo 800/327-9633 Avis 800/831-2847 Budget 800/221-1203
Enterprise 800/325-8007 Hertz 800/654-3131

Get a gas-sipping scooter
To discerning car buyers, a hybrid has one a horrible, fatal, flaw: They are not convertibles. Not to worry, the "scooter" is making a comeback, and for the most part they get better mileage (up to 80 MPG) and are easier to park than a hybrid. And unlike a hybrid, scooters are easy to maintain and won't electrocute you if you touch the wrong engine parts. Best of all, if the scooter has a 50cc engine, you do not need a special license to drive one, insurance is cheap, and many can be purchased for close to $1,000 online with shipping included.
Web sites:

SCOOTER AFFORDABILITY:

http://www.gsmotorworks.com/owning_a_scooter/c8/Riding_Life.html

Cheap Scooters that can be sold in CA.

http://abacus-es.net/motorscooter/californialegalmotorscooters.html

Expensive Scooters ($2k to $6K)

http://www.vespaoceanside.com/Portal/Products/tabid/63/Default.aspx

Saving money on home energy bills
Turn down the heat .... on your water heater There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used to heat water - use less water and use cooler water (about 80% to 85% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water). Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load's energy use in half. Turning your water heater down by a few degrees will also trim your utility costs. Free

Clothes lines - This cheap investment can cut your bill by as much as 20%. Check with your homeowner's association before installing. Cost: less than $3.
Torch the Torchiere - If you have torchiere fixtures with halogen lamps, get rid of them. Or, alternatively, get rid of your oven, because a torchiere is an oven on a stick. In fact, halogen torchieres are a fire risk because of the high temperature of the halogen bulb. Compact fluorescent (CFL) torchieres use 60% to 80% less energy, can produce more light (lumens), and do not get as hot as the halogen torchieres. Use CFL bulbs in all the portable table and floor lamps in your home and, where possible, start to look for LED bulbs and lighting fixtures, as they represent the next wave in energy efficient lighting. Cost: varies, but CFL bulbs generally pay back in less than one year.
Don't be dim - Use dimmer switches. Rheostats allow you to control the brightness of a lightbulb with a dial, and are easy to install. There are now CFL bulbs that are dimmable. Cost: Less than $20.
Get rid of the leaks - Whether you are trying to heat or cool your home, caulking and weather stripping are the easiest and least expensive weatherization measures and can save you more than 10% on energy bills. If you can see daylight around door and window frames, then the door or window leaks. Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air, and seal them up! Cost: Less than $20 for most caulk and weather stripping. Rebates: $3 per home for caulking; $5 per door for weather stripping.
Get "incensed" with those leaks - On a breezy day, hold a lit incense stick next to your windows, doors, electrical boxes, plumbing fixtures, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches and other locations where there is a possible air path to the outside. If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you have located an air leak that may need caulking, sealing or weather-stripping. In addition, recessed light fixtures can be a major source of heat loss. Almost free.
Try a "Texas" Air Conditioner - If you're sweating to death during the daytime this summer, keep a rotating stock of water-filled gallon containers in your freezer (see above). Put the frozen gallons in a large tub or basin and place a fan behind the tub, aimed at you. This is cheap evaporative cooling, folks. For the cost of running your fan, you can stay nice and cool. Free.
Plant a tree - Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units - but don't block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10 % less electricity than the same one operating in the sun. Shade trees planted in front of west-facing windows will cut down on the amount of heat that gets into your home during the summer. Carefully positioned trees and vines can save up to 25% of a typical household's energy used for heating and cooling. The Dept. of Energy predicts that just three trees, properly placed around the house, can save an average household between $100 and $250 in heating and cooling energy costs annually. Trees can also deflect winter winds. Cost: A little more than $20.
Make your refrigerator purr - Gently brush away dirt and dust from the exposed tubes at the back of your refrigerator, and make sure it has breathing room. Also, check the seals on the doors to make sure they are tight. If you can put a dollar bill in the door and pull it out after it is closed, you probably need new seals. If your fridge is more than ten years old, it may pay to get a new one. Cost: Nothing to clean it; new seals vary.
Get paid to save energy - Research rebates and incentives available to you for making energy-efficient improvements in your home.

Appliances
Dishwasher - Energy Factor of 0.62 - 0.67 Tier I - $30 *
Dishwasher - Energy Factor of 0.68 or greater Tier II - $50 *
Refrigerator - ENERGY STAR-qualified - $50
Room Air Conditioner - ENERGY STAR-qualified - $50
* not all ENERGY STAR-labeled dishwasher units will qualify for a rebate
Home Improvements
Attic and Wall Insulation - $0.15 sq/ft
Gas Water Heaters - 30-gallon minimum, minimum Energy Factor of 0.62 - $30
Electric Water Heater - 30-gallon minimum, minimum Energy Factor of 0.93- $30
Pools
Single Speed Pool Pumps and Motors - $30
Two Speed Pool Pumps and Motors with Automatic Controller - $100 **
Pool Time Clock Reset - $25 per pool

http://www.ucan.org/energy/electricity/available_rebates

Save money on music and software

Save money by listening to music for free using the Internet. There are plenty of places on the Internet where you can listen to music for free. Just to be clear, we said "listen," not "download." The types of sites fall into three categories and it doesn't matter what operating system you are using.
WEB: Streaming Internet Radio
Like radio, but better, more customizable, and on your computer. "Stations" are programmed around your favorite artists and sites can predict your tastes over time.
Pandora LastFM

Music Blogs and Music Blog Aggregators
As the name suggests, music blogs are blogs dedicated to music. When songs are blogged they are usually posted so that readers can listen, discuss, and comment. Aggregators gather songs from various blogs and stream/organize them from a single site.
The Hype Machine

Online Music Stores
While music stores want you to buy their music, they recognize that some people like to listen to music before purchasing it. Some stores let you listen to entire songs, some stores only let you listen to a clip, and other stores limit the number of songs you can listen to.
Napster Rhapsody
Web sites: See above, and for a general guide, visit http://www.newmediarights.org/guide/how_to/how_listen_music_internet_freelegally

Saving money on your finances
Track your spending
Keep a log of all of your spending for a month. It is difficult to decide where savings can be found within a household's budget if you don't know where the money flows. After you know that you spend $1 a day for a cup of coffee at the coffee cart, which is conveniently located near your office, you may find that a savings of $5 a week can add up to $260 a year. Website: www.crediteducation.org/page.php
Tell your automated teller where to go
According to About.com, you may be paying 15 percent for the privilege of accessing your money when you use the convenience of an ATM. Fees are added if you make an out-of-network transaction. The seemingly small fee for a transaction adds up swiftly if you make several visits per month.
Web Sites: http://financialplan.about.com/cs/banking/a/AvoidATMFees.htm
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/lesson3/
Pay yourself first
That sack lunch may not seem like a retirement plan at first glance, but add a little discipline and time to the bag and you could be talking real money in no time at all. Instead of eating your lunch at a fancy restaurant or greasy taco stand, try carrying it. Set the daily savings aside in an envelope or a drawer. But at the end of a week, make sure you take the necessary step of actually moving the cash saved into a savings vehicle so that your reward can accrue. fInterest compounded over time is a wonderful benefit.
Web Sites:
http://beginnersinvest.about.com/cs/personalfinance1/a/051701a.htm
http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/millionaire/2058
http://www.wikihow.com/Pay-Yourself-First
Free online software can save big bucks
Many open source software projects have equaled or surpassed their proprietary competition. A key example of this is the firefox Internet browser, available for free at firefox.com. In addition, you can save that $150 on Microsoft Office, or that $1000 on Adobe Photoshop, by choosing great open source programs like Open Office and The Gimp. Heck, you can even create a website or blog free with programs and services like drupal.org and wordpress.com. Want a completely free, customizable Operating System, just visit wubi-installer.org and easily install Linux alongside Windows today! You can even use programs like BitPim to take control of your cell phone and avoid paying for costly services like ringtones.
Web sites:
Openoffice.org, gimp.org, firefox.com, wubi-installer.org, http://www.newmediarights.org/guides/how-to/open_source/software/how_hack_your_cell_phone_using_bitpim

Do your memberships keep you financially fit? Memberships can be a great thing, if you actually use them. Bankrate.com puts gym memberships as number 10 in it Top Ten List of Money Drains. You can easily find yourself spending $40 a month on a gym pass which adds up to $480 a year. That $480 would look a lot better in a savings account if you're not flexing those muscles at the gym. Some memberships offer money-saving services that can help reduce the cost of a service or item. Pull your wallet out and do a quick audit of the membership cards that you find. Discover some of the services like family health insurance, travel, entertainment, florists, and pharmacies that the memberships offer. Maximize your memberships; after all, that is why you have them. If you discover the yearly membership isn't worth it, don't renew it.
Web site:
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/Financial_Literacy/July07_savings_money...
Investigate reverse mortgages
If you are 62 years of age or older, live in your home, and are cash poor and house rich, a reverse mortgage is a card in your playing deck that might be a good strategy to play. The options are a little complex, but for someone whose income is fixed and insufficient, it may a good plan to consider. A reverse mortgage allows you to receive money from the lender instead of making a payment to the lender. Generally, repayments are made after your death, at the sale of your home, or when the house is no longer your principal residence.
Web site: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/homes/rea13.shtm.
Cut cable-viewing costs
Save more than $40 a month. Drop down to Basic Cable and let your mouse do the viewing. Stay informed with the 19 stations available with basic cable and explore these five Web casters that offer stand-alone viewers and cable-like channel lineups, as well as new ways to interact with what you're watching and who else might be watching with you.
Web sites:

Joost http://www.joost.com/
Vuze http://www.vuze.com/app
Blinkx Broadband Television http://www.blinkxbbtv.com/
Babelgum http://www.babelgum.com/index.php
Veoh http://www.veoh.com/

Get a FREE college level education
Expand your knowledge and education by using the immense free learning resources on the Internet.
Example, MIT's OpenCourseware.org. MIT's Open Courseware website offers more than 1800 complete MIT courses for free to the public. Most courses have lecture notes, exams, etc., and there are a number that have a substantial amount of audio, video, and multimedia content as well.
Web site: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm

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This bank will pay YOU every time you make a "deposit."
You'll laugh all the way to the bank ... the "Sperm bank," that is.
Here's the easiest way for fertile healthy, bright and good-looking males to make money. Help offset the costs of medications, health insurance and the multiple other inflationary costs for which San Diegans are burdened, selling sperm can provide additional income.

Sperm deposits are used in artificial insemination procedures involving a highly invasive series of medical tests & genetic profiling that are provided to prospective customers. On average, only about 5% of applicants qualify. BUT once accepted, you can donate frequently and earn up to about $1,000 per month.
Price: $75 per Deposit.
Requirements: Numerous and extensive.
Pain Level: Already known-none.
Legalities: None.
Ease of Sale: Once you pass the screening, it's "hello income".
Note that some sperm banks buy sperm for "research only" purposes and they do so with few if any qualifications - you can even be HIV positive. These banks often pay much less for these deposits (around $20 each) but its extremely easy money.

Web sites:

http://yosemite.epa.gov/OPA/ADMPRESS.NSF/8401b8750376e55085257359003d4806/9e9f6a2515c8ed15852570d60070f983!