Saving in the winter . . .

Been thinking of remodeling? Winter is the time to get your price quotes and do the work. Since contractors have it slow this time of year, you'll end up reaping the savings.

Ask your electric and/or gas company for an energy audit or go to energystar.gov for tips on doing your own (under Home Improvement). Often your electric company or gas company will do this for free.

Now would also be a good time to clean your fridge or freezer. (I don't mean the inside, though that might be good too). Pull your appliance out, unplug it and vacuum or brush the condenser coil. This will reduce the energy it needs to run. Repeat every six months.

Also, if your freezer contents are running low this time of year (or anytime), fill plastic bottles with water and put in to freeze. Leaving them will prevent the freezer from working just to keep the air cold, saving on your energy bill.

Hope any of this helps.

Things to think About . . .

Just some things here to think about in the near future:

If your thinking about a vacation, but worried about high hotel costs, try calling hotels in the area you are going to directly. Call on Sundays around 4pm their time and after and speak to the supervisor personally. They are more likely to negotiate to a lower price at that time with no one for them to "ask permission" from.

Buying a new car? Not many people know, but the best time for the best deal is the week between Christmas and New Year's!

It might be tough, but to save money in the long run, add some extra cash to the principal of your house payment. You end up paying less in interest and, many years down the road, you could keep hundreds or thousands of dollars in your wallet.

It's been a while . . .

It has been a long time from my last post, but I have found new motivation: Both of my children are now off to school. My oldest boy started 1st grade this year and my little one has started (and loves) kindergarden.

Anyway, here are some awsome tips to make life easier for parents like us:

MAKE IT YOURSELF!
The Indoor Snowball fight. Anytime is a great time for a snowball fight! Hate getting out in the cold or you just don't have any snow around? Just use cushions from the couch or the furniture itself for a fort or two and throw socks as snowballs. My little ones love this!

TIP : Need to remove an oder on furniture, but the store products either don't work very well or just are to pricey to buy? Just sprinkle baking soda on your cloth furniture, let set about 10 minutes and vacuum away.

Holiday Decorations

Well, here's a quick tip for packing up the holiday decorations. Use an egg carton to store bulbs and other small trinkets. They stack well and store well, making life just a bit easier.

=0)

!!!!!!!Happy Holidays!!!!!!!

Make Room Deodorizers

Put a few drops of an essential oil on several cotton balls and place in a decorative jar with lid. Remove lid when you want to deodorize the room. Try peppermint, lavender or eucalyptus.

Hard Water Stain

Remove hard water stains in your bathroom with a dab of toothpaste on an old toothbrush. Scrub away. =0)

Clothes Drying

Stop-and-start drying uses more energy because the dryer has to warm up each time you begin a new load. Just dry clothes in consecutive batches to save money when drying. =0)