Energy and Money Saving Tips

Saving money is always a good thing, and being energy efficiant does just that. 

So over the years I've heard all kinds of different ideas, but I decided I wanted to know which ones really work and are worth my efforts.  So below is a compiled list of ideas I found and will be trying out. 

Both to see, how much I save and how convenient they work with my life style.

Here is the list and soon to come...my findings.

TURN IT OFF

1. Turn off the lights!

2. Use natural light (windows) when the    temperature outside isn't too hot.
3. Use energy saving light bulbs
4. Turn of bathroom, kitchen, laundry room ventilating fans right when the job is done
5. Unplug what you don't use and try to unplug anything when not in use.
(even if it is turned off it still uses some energy)
6. Turn of Computer Monitor when ever not in use, it uses high amounts of electricity.


TEMPERATURE
1. Keep doors closed when air or heat is on.
2. Open windows and doors when the temperature outside is more desireable,
but be sure to close them as the temperature changes to less desireable
3. Use sunlight wisely. During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny
days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close
shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in
use later in the day.
4. Open blinds when sunny to warm up the room.
5. Close blinds and drapes when cold or at night, to keep in the heat.
6. Keep your thermostat above 78 in the summer and below 68 in the winter and 55
during the night, or when not home.
7. Use ceiling fans, room fans, in summer.
8. Use space heaters, electric blankets, and electric heating mattress pads in winter.
9. Wear several thin layers over one thick layer when trying to keep warm.
10. Use extra blankets.
11. Use white shades on your windows. They reflect the heat in the summer.

WATER
1. Set water heater between 120-130 degrees. Too low and you'll run out of hot water or
spend extra working over time, too high and you waste extra money heating the water.
2. Take more showers than baths
3. Take shorter showers.
4. Turn off, or down the water while brushing teeth, washing hands, scrubbing dishes.
5. Use energy saving shower heads
6. Place filled water bottle in toilet tank, if you don't have a low flow toilet. It saves water
with each flush.
7. Wash laundry loads on cold or warm...not hot.
8. Wash full loads
9. Dry full loads, but not over full.
10. Empty lint every cycle, it saves energy and doesn't work as hard.
11. Don't over dry clothing, air dry whenever possible.
12. Separate light and heavy fabrics so you don't over dry your lighter clothes in the dryer.

IN THE KITCHEN
1. Use the microwave, toaster oven, slow cooker, electric grill, etc instead of the oven or
stove. They use substantially less energy and don't heat up the house in the summer.
2. In summer “cook” less and “prepare” cooler meals or cook outside.
3. Use pressure cooker, they cook much faster on the stove than normal pots.
4. Use size appropriate burner on stove for the size of the pot, to reduce loss of heat.
5. Keep refrigerator and freezer door closed as much as possible.
6. Don't over preheat, or open the oven to “check” the food. In winter when finished
cooking in oven, turn off oven but keep doors open to warm up the room.
7. Check and place thermostat on freezer (0-5 degrees) and refrigerator (38-42 degrees)
8. Maintain your appliances. For example, occasionally vacuuming your refrigerator
condenser coils will help it run smoother.
9. Fix defective plumbing or dripping faucets.
10. Run dishwasher when full and on short cycle, unless dishes are extremely dirty. Use
fast dry or avoid using the drying feature and let your dishes air dry.



A few other good ideas, but they take a bit more work:


1. Attach an UV film in your windows to help your house stay cooler.
2. Put an insulating blanket around your water heater.
3. Periodically drain a little water from your water heater to remove the sediment-laden
water that can build up and reduce efficiency.
4. Change air conditioning and furnace filters frequently. Dirty filters make them work
harder. Regular maintenance in general will make your air conditioner and furnace run
smoother and cost you less.
5. Install reflectors between the wall and radiator. These foil-covered cardboard reflectors
are easy to find at most hardware stores and help reduce radiator heat loss through
exterior walls.
6. Install a screen to shade your air-conditioning unit. Make sure that it doesn't interfere
with operation.
7. Seal your ducts. This website will help with simple techniques:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=ducts.pr_ducts
8. Insulate! Insulation keeps your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
See this website for insulation basics: http://www.ecologicalhomes.com.au/insulation.htm
9. Weatherize! This means sealing windows and doors to prevent leaks of warm or cool air.
See: http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/weatherize.html

Thanks to:
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/saveenergy.html
http://www.mge.com/home/saving/lowcost.htm

Grocery Shopping and Price Matching

I am all for finding a great deal. I used to run around from store to store to buy all the great sale items, and “couponing”. This was time consuming and a hassle. Then I realized how simple it is to price match at Walmart. As long as you know the rules and a few tricks, it is really easy. And you can apply your coupons to the prices you match.

Plus, I've often found that, when at Walmart to price match, what is a “killer deal” at a regular grocery store is still higher in price than the regular price for the same item in Walmart's brand.
So I can choose to save money and price match for the name brand, or save on the Walmart brand...which ever works for what I want. Either way, price matching saves a ton of time, hassle, and money.

Now, you should know that I hate to stall up the line and bother the cashiers...so that is why I follow a simple plan (explained below) that I have yet to slow down the line, bother a cashier or fellow shopper!

Here is what I do:
First while at home, I look at the adds, and plan what meals I will make for the week with a consideration of what is on sale.

Then I look for which items are on a good deal that I will need. These are staple items and non perishables like, canned food, freezable meats, condiments, flour, etc. Or items I know we constantly go through like: cereal, granola bars, bread, ziplocks, foil, etc. All of these items I buy when on the best deals so that when I need them I don't have to go out and pay full price or even an “okay” sale price when I need it.

Second, I look on coupon and deal websites like pinchingyourpennies, hip2save, or sistersavings and see if there are any additional deals or if they have a coupon I can print for something I need.

As I find each item I list it by category: produce, meat, dairy, etc. So that it makes a faster more organized shopping trip (less back tracking in the store).

Now to make the price matching fast and easy...

1. When there is an item I want to match, I write it on my list with the brand, and the name of the store that it is on sale, with their advertised price.

            Example: Yoplait Yogurt (Alb. 2/$1) So I know it is on sale at Albertson's 2 for $1.00

This way, I can quickly tell the cashier what the price is and where, without the hassle of going through the adds or forgetting.

*If I have a coupon I also write that next to the item on my list, so that I don't forget to use it and can compare the “couponed” price with the store brand...to make sure it is a better buy.

2. ALWAYS choose a young teenage cashier!!! They are easy going and fast about price matching. The older cashiers want to look at every add and they get frustrated faster. This is a simple trick a friend passed to me and it totally works!

By doing these steps my shopping trip is smooth and easy.


A few Walmart "rules" to know
Walmart price matches:
- Any competitors sale price, except Buy One Get One Free, or a % off of a price.
-If a competitor's "Store Brand" is on sale they match it to Walmart's store brand, Great Value.
-When matching prices check size and quantity.  (For example: the ounces of the package need to match.)
-When matching prices check the varities specified (usually Walmart isn't picky about the variety when it says "select varities" only when it says "excluding" a certain variety)
-They accept manufacture's coupons

Meal Planning

**UPDATE: More on Meal Planning found in this post: Meal Planning Saves Money & here: More on Meal Planning

So, I am one of those that hates to not have what I need for dinner in the house. I don't like going to the grocery stores more than I need to. I figure once a week is plenty. So after many nights preparing dinner only to realize that I was missing an ingredient, and repeatedly running to the store, I decided I needed a plan.


Furthermore, I don't like buying an ingredient that I only partially use, leaving the rest to go bad! But using it all up often means eating the same meal or a very similar dish, night after night.


And finally, being a small family with the ability to change plans at the last minute, I also hate when I buy the food for a meal or a few meals that I don't get around to making. Whether we went out to eat, met up with friends or got home too late to cook...I don't like seeing my produce get soft. And although it is not necessarily “bad”, I definitely don't want to eat it.


So my dilemma goes as follows:
I want a variety of meal selections with all of the ingredients needed for at least a week at a time. (hence the once a week grocery trip) But, with some flexibility.


So here is the plan I came up with...


1.I started with a list of meals. I divided it into categories such as: Mexican, Italian, Salads, Soups, Fast and Easy, Fun...etc.

2.Then, from this list, I pick my meals for the week. I try and pull from several different categories, so that there is variety each day...and each week. I start by picking 5 meals. I leave one day open for left overs and one day open for going out. (But I make sure to have 1 back up plan, like a meal that I would have all the ingredients on hand...maybe it is a freezer meal, canned soup, rice and beans, etc...so that if we don't end up with left overs or going out...I am still prepared.)


3.Now here is the trick, as I pick my meals I think of two things.
First, what is on sale this week and Second which meals have similar ingredients so that I get the most for my money and don't waste extra perishable ingredients


4.Then I place them on this sheet, and list the ingredients needed next to them.

A few other suggestions that might help:


1.I have two different Weekly Meal Planning sheets...I prefer Weekly Meal Plan A over Weekly Meal Plan B. This way when I shop at the store everything is in order by location.  But it is just preference!


Weekly Meal Plan A:                                                   Weekly Meal Plan B:

2.To further my simplicity in this whole process, I have a binder that I keep all of my recipes in and I have a section for Meal planning with the Meal List, several copies of My Weekly Meal Plan sheets, and Grocery Sheets. This way I can do it all at once.


3.Kraftfoods.com- what I like about this site is you can enter in three different ingredients you have and it will come up with several recipes to try. (This is something I do when trying to use up extra ingredients I might have)


4.I also, like to find ways to freeze or save the extra ingredients. Found in this post: Meal Planning Saves Money & here: More on Meal Planning

Welcome!

So I have been putting off starting this, since I didn't quite know where to begin.  I have so many things and thoughts going through my mind, I couldn't quite figure out where to start.  Basically this is a place for me to organize my ideas, tips, and anything I think is a great idea!  I hope it will help others and I'm crossing my fingers that others will one day respond with their own suggestions for me!

I am a "Stay at Home" mom with lots of side ambitions and interests I like to be involved in, but my first priority is my family and home.  So I constantly try to find ways to improve what I am doing, simplify, while keeping the quality!  I love to be organized and have a sparkling clean home, but I don't like to be stuck cleaning all day.  I love things that are healthy and wish I didn't love things that aren't...but I do!  I love decorating, projects, and crafts...but I don't like to spend lots of money or too much time!  So with all of this, and much more I didn't include, I am looking to do it all, with out running thin....so here is to balance!