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SAVING money by trading stocks online may be costing you a fortune.It appears that something happens to investors when they put a mouse in their hand. They seem to get trigger-happy. And it hurts.A study by Brad Barber and Terrance Odean at the University of California-Davis confirms it. When investors go online, they change. They start to speculate on stocks rather than invest for the longer term. Their new behavior doesn't work as well as the more steady approach they took before going online.

The Fuel Fund of Maryland said BGE customers will now be able to donate money online to help residents who can't afford their energy bills. Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., which sends out Fuel Fund envelopes with its bills in December and January, will now also offer a "virtual envelope" for customers who pay their energy bills online. The Fuel Fund said fundraising has been slow this year. As a result, the funds it has put toward low-income residents' energy bills have dropped 25 percent compared with last year.

Start shopping and help homeless pets at the same time. That's the idea behind the Maryland SPCA's annual Shop-a-Paw-Looza, which started Friday, Oct. 5, and runs through Tuesday, Oct. 30. Last year, the adoption program raised $40,000 through the online auction.  So what can you get? A vacation in Mexico, a football signed by the Ravens' Joe Flacco, tickets to "The Daily Show," wine tastings, cupcakes, dog beds (pictured here) and animal acupuncture treatments are just a few of the items you can bid on. To place a bid, go here .  Also, if you want to donate items, the Maryland SPCA will be accepting goods and services throughout the month.

We've talked before about subtle techniques restaurants and brick-and-mortar stores use to encourage you to open your wallet. Now let's discuss how online retailers nudge you toward buying. According to Vouchercodes.co.uk , pages that load swiftly, one-click purchasing and loads of reviews go a long way toward getting people to complete a purchase, as do limited-time offers, like "daily deals" and countdowns to savings. (Click to see Vouchercodes' infographic ) For me, I know the likelihood I'll buy something online depends a lot on the distance between my laptop and the credit cards in my purse --- is it something I need badly enough to walk all the way to my wallet to get it?

S ometimes I just have to take a break from the incredible stress that comes from my job as a weekly humor columnist. Often, I'll play a quick game of "Text Twist" on the computer. The object of this free online game is to beat the clock by rearranging random letters to create as many words as you can, so you proceed to the next level and amass points. Some of you may prefer backgammon, or FreeCell, or setting up house with The Sims, but I'll bet you've got some sort of diversion bookmarked.