1)  Check with your local utility company to see if they offer a free energy use assessment.  Some companies provide inspectors to poke around your home from top to bottom, looking for ways it can be made more efficient.

 2)  Install a programmable thermostat.  Have your thermostat drop down a few degrees while you’re away at work.

 3)  Keep your thermostat at 68 or below.  Put on a sweatshirt if you have to.

 4)  Open blinds during the winter.  This allows the heat from the sun to come in and warm up your house. Close blinds or curtains at night.

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

 6)  Don’t block vents or radiators with furniture or window coverings.

 7)  Make sure your fireplace damper fits properly and close it when not in use.  Install a glass door fireplace screen.

 8)  Put caulking and weather strips around doors and windows.  Put plastic sheeting around older windows or windows that have a draft.

 9)  Consider replacing some things in your home that are not energy efficient.  Homeowners have until the end of 2007 to take advantage of a one time $500 energy conservation tax credit.  Check out the IRS website for more information. 

10)  Close the vents and the door to unused rooms. 

11)  Remove window air conditioner units during the winter.  These let a lot of cold air into your home.

12)  Seal your heating and cooling ducts.  Click here for more info.

13)  Consider taking on bigger projects such as adding insulation in areas where it is missing.  Many homes are lacking sufficient insulation in their attics.

14)  Get a tune-up for your furnace to make sure it is working properly and not using more energy.

Check out these federal tax credits for energy efficiency.

Can you help add to this list?  What ways help you save on your winter utilities?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

A few weeks ago, I gave you some tips on saving money on your summer electric bill.  There are more ways to save throughout the year that you might want to consider.  Here are some ways to cut back on the expense of water usage.

1.  Put an approved insulation jacket/blanket on your electric hot water heater.

2.  Insulate hot water pipes.

3.  Wash clothes in cold water, if possible.  Always rinse clothes in cold water.

4.  Clean and maintain hot water heater.  Drain water from bottom of water heater to remove sediment, at least once a year.  This one definitely needs to be done at my house.

5.  Take showers instead of baths.

6.  Make sure your shower head is one that is designed to reduce water usage.

7.  Try not to stay in the shower more than 5 minutes.

8.  Fix leaky faucets.

9.  Use your dishwasher.

10.  Shut off faucet when shaving, brushing your teeth, and doing dishes.

11.  Only use washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load.

12.  Adjust washing machine water levels to match your load.

13.  Use cold water in the garbage disposal.

14.  Check water efficiency ratings before buying new appliances.  Some washing machines use a few gallons less per load.

15.  Avoid using sprinklers and water soakers to water your grass.  Instead, collect rain water in buckets.  You may even want to invest in a rain barrel.  These can also be attached to your gutters to help collect the most water.  We considered purchasing one of these a few years ago because of water restrictions. 

16.  Check toilets for leaks.  The inside plumbing for a toilet is only a few dollars.  A few years ago, our water bill kept rising every month.  The water dept suggested that we put a packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid in the tank to see if it drained into the bowl.  The color immediately drained into the bowl and we got our toilet fixed, which saved us a lot of money.

17.  Chill water in refrigerator, rather than running faucet for water to cool down before filling a glass.

18.  Consider getting an on-demand hot water heater.

19.  If you have a gas hot water heater, make sure your pilot light is adjusted and working properly.  Make sure your flu pipe is clear with no bird or insect nests inside.

20.  To reduce water usage from your toilet, fill a small water bottle with sand or water and place inside the tank.  Do not use a brick because the brick can dissolve and cause future problems.

21.  Reduce your water heater temperature to 120 degrees.  If your dishwasher does not have a booster heater, you may need to set it higher.

22.  Install aerators on your faucets, which will reduce the flow of water.

23.  Cover swimming pools when not in use to help keep the water from evaporating.

24.  Avoid using the toilet as a trashcan.  Throw away cotton swabs, tissues, and other items rather than flushing them.

25.  If you need to water your plants, try to water them in the early morning or evening.  Watering them during the heat of the day will cause the water to evaporate quickly.

Ok, I’ve racked my brain for too long.  Do you have any tips to share?

Picture from sirrusshowers.com.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Anyone is free to join in and try this.  You can view the rules, join a support group, and review FAQ.  For more information, go on over to Frugal for Life.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Oh, I am so ticked!!!  The bill I got was from a collection agency.  We haven’t had that account in years . . . 4 1/2 to be exact!  They certainly haven’t sent me a bill for the money owed or I would have paid it.

I called the collection agency.  So far, the bill hasn’t gone against my credit.  One of the people from the agency advised me to pay the $64.  Errrr!  I am so mad!  I have a way awesome credit score and I don’t want to ruin it.  I asked for proof that I owed the money. 

The agency even said that the last payment that U.S. Cellular received from me was in June 2002.  Then they said that U.S. Cellular tried to send me a bill, but we had moved.  We didn’t move for over a year after June 2002.  I asked why I am just now receiving a bill from a collection agency when I didn’t even know I owed any money.  They said they are receiving a lot of calls from other people about this same issue.  Errrr!  I’m so mad!

I guess I have 2 options:  1) pay the $64 whether I owe it or not or 2) dispute the amount owed.

You may say just pay the $64 and be done with it.  But why should I pay $64 of my hard earned money if I don’t know if I owe it?  Should I just pay money to every company that sends me a bill for $64 because I am scared that my wonderful credit score will be tarnished? 

Where is Clark Howard when I need him?  I wish I had his number on speed dial.

So what do YOU think I should do?  Impatiently waiting for a response . . .

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1.  Open blinds during the winter.  This allows the heat from the sun to come in and warm up your house. Close blinds or curtains at night.

2.  Change filters every month.  Dirty filters can increase your bills by 20% each month.  Ouch!  Also, get a “tune up” for your furnace.  You will save money if it is working properly.

3.  Try to keep your furnace on 68 degrees.

4.  Make sure your fireplace damper fits properly and close it when not in use.  Leaving a damper open can suck a lot of heat out of your home.  Install a glass door fireplace screen.

5.  Put caulking and weather strips around doors and windows.  Put plastic sheeting around older windows or windows that have a draft.

6.  If you’re going away for a few days, turn your thermostat down to about 55 degrees. 

7.  Put your thermostat on a timer.  Have the temperature drop 2-3 degrees while you’re gone to work and set it to warm back up before you arrive at home.

8.  Consider replacing some things in your home that are not energy efficient.  Homeowners have until the end of 2007 to take advantage of a one time $500 energy conservation tax credit.  Check out the IRS website for more information. 

9.  Close the vents and the door to unused rooms.  We quit heating and cooling our basement.  It’s a bit chilly down there, but we’re not in the basement for very long anyway.

10.  If possible, remove window air conditioner units during the winter.  These let a lot of cold air into your home.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

A lady died this past January, and the credit card company billed her for February & March for their annual service charges on her credit card, & added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance that had been $0.00, was now somewhere around $60.00. A family member placed a call to the credit card company. Here’s the exchange:

Family Member: “I am calling to tell you she died in January.”
CCC (Credit Card Company): “The account was never closed and the late fees & charges still apply.”
Family Member: “Maybe, you should turn it over to collections.”
CCC: “Since it is 2 months past due, it already has been.”
Family Member: “So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?”
CCC: “Either report her account to frauds division or report her to the credit bureau .  . maybe both!”
Family Member: “Do you think God will be mad at her?”
CCC: “Excuse me?”
Family Member: “Did you just get what I was telling you – the part about her being dead?”
CCC: “Sir, you’ll have to speak to my supervisor.”
(Supervisor gets on the phone):  Family Member: “I’m calling to tell you, she died in January.”
CCC: “The account was never closed, so the late fees and charges still apply.”  (This must be a phrase taught by the bank!)
Family Member: “Do you mean you want to collect from her estate?”
CCC: (Stammering) “Are you her lawyer?”
Family Member: “No, I’m her great nephew.”
CCC: “Could you fax us a certificate of death?”
Family Member: “Sure.” (fax number is given)
After they get the fax:
CCC: “Our system just isn’t set up for death. I don’t know what more I can do to help.”
Family Member: “Well, if you figure it out, great!  If not, you could just keep billing her.  I really don’t think she will care.”
CCC: “Well, the late fees & charges do still apply.”  (What is wrong with these people?!?)
Family Member: “Would you like her new billing address?”
CCC: “Yes, that will help.”
Family Member: “Odessa Memorial Cemetery, Highway 129, Plot Number 69.”
CCC: “Sir . . . . . . that’s a cemetery!”
Family Member: “What do you do with dead people on your planet?

The sad part is that many credit card companies and lenders continue to harrass family members after the death of a loved one.  This happened to my mom after my grandfather died.  They will try harrassment, phone calls, guilt trips, endless letters, and anything else to get you to pay for the debt.  They are not sympathetic to your grief.  Remember that you are not responsible for someone else’s debt after they have passed away.  See, I found a moral lesson through this silly email. 

I hope this little funny made you smile today. 

Post from: Thrifty Mommy