Open the Blinds! Save on Heating

Open Your Blinds and Save on Your Heat Bill

A lot of people sit in their apartments or houses with the blinds closed for privacy and don't give it a second thought.

First of all, keep in mind, people usually can't see inside during the day.  The reflection of the sun usually blocks their view inside your window.

Second, open the blinds and let the sun shine in!  We shouldn't be surprised that the sun can help us heat our homes in the fall and winter.  It heats the whole planet!

Opening your blinds and letting in the natural heat from the sun, can increase the temperature in your home by 2 to 4 degrees.  That's gonna keep your furnace from working that much harder and also give you some natural light.  Therefore, you're not only saving on your heat bill, but also your 'light bill' as everyone called it when I was a kid.

Don't Shop the Clearance Rack

Ok, I'm not going to say don't shop the clearance aisle or rack, at all.  But you should certainly stay away from that rack if you don't need something, especially if you are the type who can't resist a good deal.

Usually, when you buy something on clearance, it isn't something you need.  Think about it, how many items do you have sitting in a corner, or hanging in your closet with the tags still intact.  You got a good deal on it, but it's money you would not have spent on an item you didn't  need. 

Say it's the end of summer and you completely wore out your summer sandals or were short on summer apparel this year, then, of course it's not only acceptable, but a smart choice to hit that clearance rack.  Find those much needed shorts and get a great deal on sandals for next year.

However, if you are looking at the rack just to see what kind of good bargains they have.  Skip the rack. 

You won't get the good deal on something you don't need, but the money will remain in your pocket!  And that's an even better deal!

Quit Living Week to Week!

Follow these steps, and you'll see how easy it is to quit living week to week.

Stock Up While It's On Sale

All of us have certain items that we use on a regular basis, from your favorite soda or your favorite cereal, to your favorite laundry detergent.  These are items that are always in the house, or we need to pick up if we run out.

If you watch the ads close enough, you will find certain items go on sale at certain times of the year.

For example, my favorite soda is Mountain Dew.  It goes on sale frequently enough, but it's usually at it's lowest price for about two weeks before each holiday.

If I buy a case of Mountain Dew when it's on sale for $5 instead of the regular price of $7, I save $2 a case.  Considering I go through a case about every other week, that's a savings of $52 dollars a year!

If you do this with everything you buy, these savings add up!

Another example, canned vegetables usually go on sale in the fall, just before Thanksgiving.  It's September and I still have enough vegetables in my cupboard from last Thanksgiving, to do me until November. 

It may seem like a lot of money to put out, at first, but after a while it will be less than your normal grocery bill. 

Next you'll find yourself only going to the store to buy necessity items, unless there is a good sale. 

Do this with your meats, too.  Keep your freezer stocked so that you aren't running to the store two or three times a week to pick up something for dinner 'tonight'!

You'll find you are not only no longer living week to week, but you also have free time to spend with your kids.  Or you'll have the extra cash to go out for dinner and a movie without worrying about next month's rent!

 

Homemade Pet Flea Shampoo

Are you tired of paying outrageous prices for flea shampoo for your dog or cat?  Here's a great homemade recipe that can be made with items you already have in your home.

Homemade Pet Flea Shampoo

1 cup dish liquid
1 cup vinegar
1 quart water

Mix ingredients and use just like you would normal pet shampoo.

Increase Your Income

Have a little bit of savings, but don't want to dip into it.  Use it to increase your income, why not, that's what the wealthy do!

Check out Value Line, (you can also find their reviews at your local library), for a list of companies that regularly raise their dividends.

Take that extra savings, and purchase shares of stocks from these companies and enjoy the benefits of quarterly dividend earnings.

Do a thorough background check on the companies' whose stock you wish to purchase.  Find companies that also allow you to purchase additional shares direct.  Save on brokerage fees by only making the first purchase through a broker, and additional shares directly through the investment relations department of the company!

Gift Cards vs. Cash Back

I, for one, have been using the Cash Back program from Discover to make all of my monthly purchases since 2004....that's almost a decade!

Recently, I decided to review their gift card program.  Since I am planning a trip, I have found that it is worth the money to cash in my cash back for gift cards instead of cash. 

If you dine out often, travel or shop at one of their affiliates often, it is definitely worth your time to investigate the program.  You can get gift cards for less cash than the cost of the card.  For example: $50 Red Lobster gift card for $45.  Same deal with Best Western.

An even better deal thru the Discover card is their Hyatt gift certificate.  You can get a $100 Hyatt gift certificate for only $40 cash back dollars.  If you are going to be staying at the Hyatt on vacation, why not save $60!  What a great deal.

Check with your other credit cards and bank accounts as well.  I recently signed up for a bank account that gives 1 point for $2 spent.  The points can be cashed in for gift cards, gift items, and more.  I received 5000 points for signing up for the program.  When I referred someone, I received another 5000 points.  I'll end up with about $75 worth of gift cards with just the sign up points. 

What an easy way to pay for vacation.

Where There's a Will...

I titled this one, Where There's a Will, because I have always believed if you want to do something, Where there's a will, there's a way!

So, let me just tell you how 5 people went to the Brickyard 400 this past Sunday for only $147.00.

I'll begin by letting you know that we found a deal for free NASCAR tickets.  We received 4, but then decided to buy a 5th ticket, for a designated driver at the last minute.

We could only buy tickets by the set.  So we purchased 2 discounted tickets on Stub Hub, for $40 each.  After shipping and fees, we ended up spending $105.  Sold the 2nd ticket for $55, so we only had $50 in the extra ticket.

Next, we spent $47 in gas, roundtrip.  We brought most of our drinks and food, but ended up spending about $50 between the 5 of us.

Not bad for a professional sporting event!

So, the next time you decide you want to do something different, or just getaway, don't say you can't afford it.  Instead say, "Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Look for free or discounted tickets.  Find someone to split the gas.  Bring sandwiches and drinks along, so that you don't have to pay high convenience store and venue prices.