UPDATE: We just got our power back on! The ice cream was starting to melt even though we did not once open the freezer, so I had a bowl with chocolate sauce. Yum! I’ll be back tomorrow with lots of freebies, coupons, and tips!
PREVIOUSLY:
Hi folks,
We lost power this morning but are dry and safe, the worst of Hurricane Irene having already passed.
Not sure if I’ll be blogging tomorrow, but I’ll try my best to restart as soon as possible!
~Julia
Aka Bargain Babe
dieselbug2007 / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
The Supreme Court put the breaks on a job discrimination lawsuit against Walmart. Find out how this decision will impact private employers and YOU. (CNN)
Want to even out your electricity bills throughout the year? Consider these 10 budget billing disadvantages before changing your payment plan with your electrical company. (Compare Electricity Rates)
Borders plans to sell itself by July 1. Have any Borders gift cards? Use them before it’s too late. (The Detroit News)
Why are you in debt? Learn to control these four problem behaviors to stop spending money. (The Digerati Life)
Is Extreme Couponing hurting shoppers’ self esteem? Those who use coupons can’t realistically keep up with the savings. (Suddenly Frugal)
It’s easy to start saving energy and stop wasting money on your energy bills, and if you follow these simple tips you can start today. One of the best ways to reduce the amount of money you spend is by switching your electricity and gas supplier. Have a look at the many comparison websites in existence and you’ll be sure to find yourself the best deal. This may save you a little extra cash, but it’s also important that you actually cut down on the amount of energy you use. Here are five quick and easy tips to help you do just that.
Don’t be on standby
Appliances left on standby make up a huge amount of the energy wasted by homes, so this is one of the quickest and easiest ways to cut down on wasted energy. All it takes is to remember to turn the TV off properly when you go up to bed and before you know it you’ll be cutting down on the energy you waste.
Turn off your clothes dryer
Household appliances that give off heat – such as clothes dryers – use huge amounts of electricity. To cut down on this you should always try and hang your clothes out to dry whenever you can. Simply turning off the dryer and drying clothes outside is a 100% energy saving solution.
Get energy efficient lighting
In most homes, lighting accounts for 10 to 15% of the electricity bill. There is such a quick and easy solution to this – simply replace these with low energy and energy saving light bulbs. You’ll be amazed at the amount of energy you’ll be saving. In most instances this can be as much as 80% of the energy of normal bulbs. If you’re cutting the amount of energy used by this much, just think what this will do for your bills.
Start thinking of jobs at home
One of the most frustrating and messy jobs at home is defrosting your refrigerator and freezer, but it’s also one of the best things to do to save money in your home. Doing this regularly will mean that your appliances aren’t working overtime and are just using the right amount of energy to do their jobs. You can also purchase a special plug which will help the appliances run more economically by adjusting the electricity supply according to the motor’s needs. This will also mean that they become kinder to the environment.
Heat water on the stove
When boiling water it’s more energy efficient to heat it on the stove than using a kettle. This may sound like too much hassle, but often it’s actually quicker to do this than to use a kettle. So get rid of energy zapping appliances and get back to basics and you’ll be sure to notice a change.
Have you already implemented these energy saving strategies?
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earthlydelights / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Before hitting the sun this summer, find out why you need to stop being frugal with sunscreen and stop wasting money on sunscreen with Vitamin A. (Wisebread)
Learn how to read an electricity meter to avoid paying a higher electricity bill. (Compare Electricity Bills)
The latest trend for smartphones and tablets is mobile shopping. Stay ahead of the curve by finding out the latest on shopping technology trends. (The Digerati Life)
Should parents be responsible for their kid’s college education bill? Jason used to think his kids should pay for college, but has since changed his mind. Find out why. (Frugal Dad)
Are you overspending on sites like Groupon and Living Social? Keep in mind that impulse purchases are not a deal. (Suddenly Frugal)
pacdog/Flickr
Is your fridge too big? My sister is considering downsizing her big city fridge (it’s about half the size of a normal fridge) after a conversation with a friend.
I have a German friend, Walli, who has a smaller refridge which sits in a larger closet-like space in her kitchen. She said the huge refridge was “the first thing I threw out” when she moved into her house in NY. Hers is about the size of my fridge, which makes so much more sense for a 1-2 person household and a smaller kitchen.So I am supporting (more…)
tobyleah/Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Ever since I can remember my mother has saved money on laundry by drying our clothes on clotheslines, which are making a comeback among people who want to be green. Once strung up, these simple and electricity-free devices are not always welcomed.
A couple days ago, I read a story from NPR of a New Hampshire activist fighting for his right to use a clothesline. A Google search quickly revealed an array of similar stories. It seems that many communities do not want to see clotheslines in their neighborhoods because they consider them an eyesore. I understand that many do not want to see their neighbor’s skivvies hanging out to dry, but there are ways to be discreet. I use the shower rod instead of leaving my damp clothes outside. You can also get a low-cost drying rack that folds up into tight spaces.
To someone who grew up with clotheslines it is difficult to understand what the big deal is all about. An opponent of clotheslines is quoted in a story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch as saying that clotheslines give an atmosphere of decline and a sense that one is not in a well-off neighborhood.
It maybe the nostalgia in me speaking, but I do not see how a clothesline makes a neighborhood’s status change. Electricity is one of the biggest home expenses that can easily be subsided with a rope and clothes pins, so why not use it?
Have you ever wondered about the best place to start saving money? The answer might be closer than you think: your home. WhiteFence.com is a fantastic shopping site that helps you find great deals on the home services that you pay monthly for. From home phone, TV and your electric bill to natural gas and high-speed Internet, you can find every connection you need all in one spot.
Saving money with WhiteFence.com is easy. As a shopper, just enter your address into the search engine, and within a few minutes you can browse all of the choices available for where you live. The information is laid out in a way that is easy to use, so you can quickly compare prices and categories to see where you can find the best deals. In fact, WhiteFence.com is currently offering up to $200 in gift cards when you order bundles from providers like AT&T and Verizon. When’s the last time you got paid to shop?
The best part of all of this is that using WhiteFence.com is free and requires no registration beforehand. You can even order all of the services straight from the site, rather than having to go individually to each provider to set up your connections. WhiteFence.com works with providers to set up your orders quick and painless, which we all know is welcome after years of dealing with utility companies.
To start saving time and money for your home services, visit WhiteFence.com today!
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