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Lowering Your Expenses
Friday, February 13, 2009 2:02:29 PM
Lowering your expenses can be as easy as changing your lifestyle.
Top 10 Tips To Save Energy
Source: Florida Power and Light
- Air Conditioning: Cool your home at 78 degrees or warmer, with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when you are away from home.
- Heating: In the cooler months, heat your home at 68 degrees or cooler, with the thermostat fan switch on "auto." To save even more, lower your thermostat to 65 degrees or cooler at bedtime, or when you are away from home.
- Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically and maximize your energy savings. It also helps to maintain a comfortable temperature when you wake up or return home.
- Clean or replace your air conditioner's filter every month to trim your cooling costs and help your unit run more efficiently.
- Turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month depending on size and age.
- Avoid pre-rinsing dishes before putting in dishwasher. It can save up to $70 a year.
- Limit the time you run your pool pump. Run it no more than six hours a day in the summer, and no more than four hours a day in the winter.
- Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse.
- Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load to dry your clothes faster and save money.
- Use your dryer's auto sensor function, if it has one, to conserve energy by not overdrying your clothes.
Your Home
- Replace 100-watt bulbs with 60-watt, or use one of the new energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
- Clean and change air filters, and wrap your water heater.
- Make sure your water heater is set to 130 degrees or lower.
- Request to get interest on a security deposit for your apartment.
- Buy old furniture at yard sales, and refinish it yourself.
- Share housing with a friend or family member.
- Have your water company do an audit so you are not charged sewage fees for water used in your garden.
- Refinance your mortgage.
- Move to a less expensive place to live.
- Use low flush toilets or water saving devices in the tank.
- Drop unneeded telephone services like call forwarding or caller ID.
- When you buy a home, negotiate the sales price and closing costs.
- Caulk windows and doors.
- Cut your cable television down to basic.
- Don't use your dishwasher dry cycle; open the door and let them air dry all night.
- Water your garden at night or early in the morning
- If your income is low, contact utility companies about reduced rates.
- Seal windows and doors with caulking or weatherstripping to keep out the heat or cold.
- Use curtains to prevent the sun from heating your home in the day, and to keep in the warmth at night.
Shopping
- Use coupons at the grocery store.
- Grocery shop with a list. Limit your trips to the store.
- Grocery shop on double-coupon days.
- Buy fruits and vegetables in season.
- Never grocery shop hungry.
- Volunteer two hours a month for reduced cost food through the Share Program: shareflorida.org
- Buy "no frills" vitamins.
- At the grocery store, comparison shop by looking at the unit price.
- Buy in bulk food warehouses.
- Shop in thrift stores.
- Shop around for eyeglasses.
- Shop around for prescriptions including mail order companies
Medi-Mail: (800) 331-1458, Action Mail Order Drugs: (800) 452-1976, AARP: (800) 456-2277 - Buy, sell and trade clothes at consignment shops.
- Shop at discount clothing stores.
- Shop at auctions or pawn shops for jewelry and antiques.
- Buy software at computer fairs.
- Search the Internet for freebies.
Family
- Use the phone book instead of directory assistance.
- Carpool.
- Rent out a room or garage.
- Make long distance calls at night and on weekends, instead of midday, midweek.
- Get hand-me-down clothes and toys for your kids from family and friends.
- Brown bag your lunch.
- Make your own baby food.
- Drop duplicate medical insurance.
- Apply for scholarships and financial aid.
- Form a babysitting cooperative with friends and neighbors.
- Hang clothes out to dry instead of using a dryer.
- Get preapproval from your medical insurance company before undergoing any procedures or tests.
- Don’t be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash.
- Recycle.
- If you pay for childcare, make use of the dependent care tax credit or your employer's dependent care flexible spending account.
- Plan your weekly food menu before shopping.
- Buy preowned toys and children's books at garage sales.
- Have potluck dinners with friends and family instead of going out to eat.
- Use old newspapers for cat litter.
- Cut the kids' hair yourself.
- Compost to make your own fertilizer.
Transportation
- Buy spare parts for your car at a junkyard.
- Use public transportation.
- Change the oil in your car yourself regularly.
- Trade down your car for a less expensive, lower maintenance one.
- Bicycle to work.
- Shop around for auto insurance discounts for multiple drivers, seniors, good driving records, etc.
- Buy a good used car instead of a new model car.
- Shop around for auto financing.
- Keep your car properly tuned.
- If your car has very little value, you probably only need liability insurance.
- Increase your insurance deductible.
- Maintain your car.
- Pay cash for gas. Some stations charge for credit.
- Tighten the gas cap to prevent gas evaporation.
- Keep tires inflated. Improperly maintained tires waste fuel.
- Don't rest your left foot on the brake. Pressure causes a drag.
- Clean your car. The more junk you haul around, the more gas you will use.
- Don't speed. It wastes gas!
- Buy gas away from the freeway.
- Check prices at places like BJs, Walmart, etc.
- Don't use premium gas unless your car requires it.
- Manufacturers usually suggest oil changes every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, not 3,000 miles like many oil change places recommend. If you don't use your car very often, change it at least twice a year.
- Use a dealer's maintenance schedule instead of the factory's.
- Use independent shops for major services instead of the dealer. According to MSN Money, using an outside garage does not violate a car's warranty.
- Replace your air filter and your wipers yourself.
- Wash your car yourself -- or if you prefer someone else do it, look for a bargain. There are a lot of places these days that charge $3 or $4 for a wash and throw in the do-it-yourself vacuuming.
Personal
- Ask for generic prescriptions instead of brand-name.
- Do your own nails.
- Throw pocket change in a jar, and take it to the bank when it's full.
- Go to museums on free days.
- Quit smoking.
- Meet friends for coffee instead of dinner.
- Take a shorter shower.
- Write letters instead of calling.
- Exercise for free. Walk, jog, bike or get exercise videos from the library.
- Buy your clothes off-season.
- Go to a matinee instead of an evening show.
- Take a date for a walk along the beach or in the woods.
- Make cards and gifts for friends.
- Convert your cash value life insurance to term.
- Avoid using your ATM card at machines that charge a fee.
- Ask your doctor for samples of prescriptions.
- Borrow a dress for a big night out, or go to a consignment shop.
- If you qualify, file for Earned Income Credit.
- Shop around for the lowest banking fees.
- Iron your own shirts.
- Purchase all of your insurance from the same company to get a discount.
- Go to an optometrist for routine vision tests or to change an eyeglass prescription.
- Use the library for books, video tapes and music.
- Inspect clothing carefully before purchasing it.
- Make your own coffee..
- Skip annual full mouth X-rays unless there is a problem. The ADA recommends x-rays every 3 years.
- Shop around for long-distance rates.
- Hand wash instead of dry cleaning.
- Grow your own vegetables and herbs.
- Donate time instead of money to religious organizations and charities.
- If you are leaving a room for more than five minutes, turn off the light.
- Request lower interest rates from your creditors.
- Trade in old books, records and CDs at book and record exchanges.
- Pay bills the day they arrive. Many credit card companies charge interest based on your average daily balance.
Source: NEAS Company
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