A step below a premium account.

Is there any any reason why we couldn't get an account where we get a decent stipend, but don't have any land allowance? Maybe for like $5 a month instead of $10?

If you're concerned about the cost, you could always sign up for a longer period of time each cycle. I believe the pay structure is drastically lower the longer the period you "commit" to.

Furthermore, at the going rate for the standard MMO being about $15 per month, Premium in Second Life can in many ways be a steal if you know how to work it within your means. But that's my opinion.

If you pay yearly, a premium account at the basic level is $6/month

Great points, Hiro and Jeffrey.

It is really an awesome deal - even the three months at $7.50/month is good if you can't commit to the full year. At both of those rates, it is like buying L$2,000 for less than market value and getting the land ownership deal as a bonus.

Seriously, considering how much most of us spend on games we buy and play a few times, for less than a couple of XBOX games, you can have a year of SL and the land and money to really enjoy it.

SL... the gift that keeps on giving... what a great deal.

Of course, that doesn't stop a bargain shopper from still trying to pull out savings at all stops!

Richard, one arrangement you might wanna consider is this: if you're on Premium, then get some land, and arrange with someone you trust to rent it out to them. That way, your stipend gets even higher, they get the land they presumably want, and L$ can of course be exchanged for US$ so the option to make your money back is also available.