sxc.hu

Most weatherproofing can be done by you, no need to call a professional. Here are a couple of easy jobs that will make a big difference when the cold weather blows in. Clean all gutters and downspouts in early fall and check them again, to make sure they are clear, before winter. Clean or replace the filter in your house heater. Make sure to turn off all outside water spigots and turn the water flow off from the inside.

Buy snow shovels and any other winter supplies early, before the snow hits. Always keep extra bottled water and canned goods on hand in case of an emergency.

Make sure that attic and basement walls are adequately insulated. Look under your doors for gaps where the warm air can escape or cold air can find it’s way into your home. Caulk all window or door frames that are in need of repair.

Feel around the electrical outlets and switch plates for cold air. Insulate where needed. Have your chimney cleaned and test the flue of your fireplace to make sure there is a tight seal when it is closed.

These are just a few ideas to help you save money and to keep you warm throughout the winter season.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Since winter is on the way, here are some ways to save on your winter energy bill.

1)  Install a programmable thermostat.  Have your thermostat drop down a few degrees each day while you’re at work.

2)  Change your filters every month.  Dirty filters can increase your bills by 20% each month.

3)  Keep your thermostat at 68F or below.  Wear a sweatshirt if you need to.

4)  Make sure your fireplace damper fits well.  Close it when not in use.  Install a glass fireplace door.

5)  Remove window air conditioner units.  These let a lot of cold air into your home.

6)  Get a tune-up on your furnace to make sure it’s working properly.

7)  Put caulking and weather strips around doors and windows. 

8) Don’t block vents or radiators with furniture or curtains.

9)  Let the sunlight in.  Open the blinds on the sunny side of your house.  The sunlight will help to warm up the rooms.

10)  Seal your heating ducts.  Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating by as much as 20 percent.

What ways do you save on your winter energy bill?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Keeping the Castle

image from michael’s

Post from: Keeping the Castle

We stopped by our local thrift store to see what they had to offer.  We found this dresser for only $30!  A pretty good buy, I think.  It was a bit dirty and needed a little TLC, but I think it’s perfect for our new family member.

I’m curious to know . . . do you furnish your home with new or used furniture?

image is mine

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Earlier this week, I looked at the pile of items I got very cheaply at CVS and realized one key to saving on groceries: Have a stockpile of necessities.

I’ve always read that buying staples in bulk is a way to save money. Corollary to this idea is buying needed items ahead of time, and only when they’re on sale. When I browse through the blogs of successful coupon shoppers, I often see photos of their stash of toilet paper, toilet paper, toothpaste, diapers and so on. All of these wise shoppers get their supplies when they’re on sale so they never have to pay for anything at full price. Whenever they need anything, they simply go shopping at their stockpile. Another benefit of shopping this way is that they never run out of toilet paper.

Buy only what you’re going to use or give away. Getting excited about sales makes it easy to go overboard, though. How many tubes of sunscreen does one need every year? Buying items just because they’re on sale is never a good idea, regardless of how high the discount is. If you’re never going to use or donate it, it’s a waste of money.

Designate a single place to store extra supplies. I was originally planning to set-up a small area in the basement to store my CVS finds. I was going to simply put everything together, ignoring other storage areas I already have around the house. I initially envisioned my own little ‘grocery store’ to go shopping in when we run out of stuff.

On second thought, I realized that I could easily forget what I already have if they were all lumped with no organization whatsoever. I decided to continue to use those areas where I already put extra supplies. For example, I’ve always placed extra bottles of body wash in the second upstairs bathroom. There was no sense in having another area for storing these, when I already have the habit of checking that bathroom whenever I needed a new bottle. If there are no designated areas, store all extra supplies in one place where it will be easier to check what you already have. Place similar supplies together.

Store supplies in narrow shelves, with identical items stacked together. Make sure you can still see what’s at the back of your shelves. Put those with nearer expiration dates at the front so they will get used earlier.

Do a regular purge of your supplies. Once or twice a year, go through your supplies to find items that will expire soon. These should be used or donated. Get a tax receipt for your donations.

Creative Commons image by ninjapoodles on Flickr

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Everything is more expensive these days. It is harder and harder to stretch a budget and still check off every item on the grocery list. There are ways to cut down on food bills, and still have healthy food for the family.

Today’s food editor Phil Lempert has listed ideas to “fill your grocery cart without busting your budget”. He has suggestions that can be applied to just about anything from the grocery. In addition, he also talks about 10 staple items that you can save money on. These items are milk, eggs, pasta, bread, cereal, rice, produce, fish, meat and beans. I specially like his tip for saving on pasta sauce by making your own from canned crushed tomatoes, herbs and olive oil.

These 10 items are really all you need for good nutrition and you can save money on them by following Phil’s tips. You can find his suggestions at MSNBC.

Creative Commons image by ralphbijker on Flickr

Post from: Keeping the Castle

The editors at Consumer Reports looked at industry surveys and publications to put together a calendar of deals. For June, you can expect to save some money on the following:

* Indoor furniture

* Small consumer electronics

* Summer sports gear

* Swimwear

While weekly store circulars are still a valuable source of information on where the deals are, this calendar could be something to keep in mind if you’re planning a large purchase in the next few months.

Post from: Keeping the Castle