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Energy Saved is Money Earned

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Let’s start with some facts about energy consumption.  It’s estimated that 1/2 of the energy consumed in an average home comes from heating and cooling. When left open without a fire, a fireplace flue damper wastes about 8% of furnace heat straight up the chimney. Another 6% of total home energy is used by refrigerators and freezers alone. Conserving energy means conserving dollars.

Electric, propane or natural gas

These are the most commonly used energy sources so let’s start here.

We all know about turning off lights when not in a room, but we can also use energy efficient bulbs to save energy. Currently the most popular bulbs are incandescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs may cost more but only use ¼ the energy used by incandescent bulbs. As an example, if we replace all bulbs in the house we save 75% more energy, which translates into a smaller electric bill. It won’t take long for the savings to catch up to cover the higher costs of the compact fluorescent bulbs, then it’s all savings from then on – and CF bulbs last much longer than incandescents. The Department of Energy estimates that replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs could potentially save 190 terawatt-hours annually – the equivalent of lighting over 95 million homes.

Matt’s note: Betsy and I don’t use CF bulbs because we don’t like the half spectrum lighting and aren’t crazy about their high levels of mercury, but if this doesn’t bother you… go for it. It is also commonly known that CF bulbs lose brightness over time and rarely live up to manufacturer claims of long life. As a safer and better lit alternative try LED bulbs but be aware they are also half spectrum lights.

Ever heard of phantom power? Even when turned off certain electronics and appliances still use energy just by being plugged in. Common culprits of phantom power are microwaves, toasters, TVs, computers, and even mobile (cell) phones. To reduce phantom power you can unplug these power hogs when not in use. One easy way to do this is to have them plugged in to a power strip so you can power them all off with the flip of one switch. Look for power strips that double as surge protectors to further protect your electronic assets.

Matt’s note: I once had a power surge blow up my cable modem, television, and Xbox! I now use surge protectors all over the house.

It is also recommended that pipe insulation be placed on water pipes leading into and from water heaters. The insulated pipes keep cold water cold and hot water hot longer making the water heater more efficient. Water heaters are also preset when first installed at 140 degree temperature settings. Consider lower the heat setting to 120 to save energy and as a preventative measure to protect children and the elderly from being scalded.

Matt’s note: We installed pipe insulation on all accessible water pipes. We also covered our water heater in an insulation blanket to help keep water hot longer.

You should also check into different types of energy sources available in your area that may be less costly than what you’re currently using. Investigate the possibilities and change if it makes sense. Many utility companies employ programs encouraging people to use ‘greener’ energy sources like wind or solar. They may offer discounts for such alternative energy plans so it’s worth checking into.

Windows, doors and appliances

Drafty homes leak heating and cooling energy year around. Use caulks and sponge sealers around doors and windows to seal the drafts. You can also use plastic to cover windows.

There are tax breaks, or possibly even home assistance programs, for buying energy efficient windows and doors that help to conserve energy. There are also many programs and energy companies offering assistance for updating to energy efficient stoves, refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers. The energy supplier in my area will pick up old appliances (even if they’re no longer working) and offer a rebate on our energy bill if we replace them with a new energy efficient model.

There are even web sites that base possible energy reduction tactics specifically for the area or time zone where you live. This can include sun angles, average wind directions for windbreaks to be used, and landscaping tactics providing shade or encouraging natural sun warmth for energy efficiency.

In conclusion, there are many, many ways to save energy and keep more money in your pocket. Don’t be afraid to type “energy saving” into your favorite search engine for extra tips and ideas.

Make it like a game with your family by having everyone look around for energy saving ideas and reward those with good ideas. You can also propose a contest to neighbors to see who can get to the lowest energy costs per square foot. Be creative and get started!

By themselves these tips are infinitesimal but taken together they add up to a considerable monthly savings.

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Cash For Trash

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You have all heard the saying “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”  Well this holds true.  How many items are around your home that you don’t use?  Appliances, furniture, clothes and books are often left sitting unused because they no longer work right, no longer fit, don’t match the décor, etc.  Take a look around and make a list of everything you no longer use. Put everything unused on the list, don’t second guess yourself… just write it down, you’ll be amazed at what other people are willing to buy.

Organize your junk

After writing out your list look it over and organize it into categories such as appliances, furniture, metal, non-working parts, wood, clothes, etc.  This makes it easier to turn your junk into cash because different piles will need to be dealt with differently.  Name the categories anything you want, just don’t get carried away. Remember to K.I.S.S. (Google it.)

Sell your organized junk

Many people get stuck on this step because they’re way better at accumulating stuff than getting rid of it.  There are countless ways to do it and I could list them all here but instead I’ll point you to the best resource I know of to help you sell your crap and make some money.

Trade for things you need

You don’t necessarily have to get cash for your items, you can trade some of it for things you need.  Trading can save you from having to spend time and cash buying things new.  You can also profit from trading items if you practice up on your negotiating skills. Some shops will take your clothes and allow you to take something from their shop in return.  I once traded in five pairs of generic jeans that didn’t fit for two nice pairs of name brand jeans that fit great. Me sexy! Consignment shops are everywhere these days… when’s the last time you’ve been in one?

Some appliance stores will take your old appliances to repair and re-sell them.  Why not see if they will exchange your unneeded appliances for something you do need?  There are also internet sites like Craigslist that allow you to trade items you don’t want for things you do.

Sell, sell, sell

Junk removal businesses will come to your home, help you organize your junk, then take it to the appropriate scrap yards or stores and split the cash with you.  This takes a lot of the work out of your hands while still delivering a profit – nice.  Do your best to check the reputation of the businesses performing these services to be sure they’re reliable. Check their rates too; some charge more so compare costs and services offered and go with your gut.

Call your local scrap yards for current price lists of what they’re willing to take.  Try to get rid of as many items as possible at each place so you limit travel costs. Commonly accepted items include: old junk batteries, wire, aluminum, small engines, steel, cast iron, copper… the list goes on.  You’ll be surprised what they take and pay for.  Always check to see if they have free pick up, that will save a lot of work and money.

Websites like Craigslist and eBay allow you to open your junk yard to the world wide web.

Donate to the needy

If you’re going to give something away be sure the person or organization wants or needs it. Call around to your local homeless shelter, Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. and ask for a list of items needed. Providing for the needy makes you feel good, it’s the right thing to do, and you can write it off on your taxes.

Go get started!

Like Matt said in point 4 of yesterday’s article, getting rid of stuff is hard at first… but it feels great when you’re done and it gets easier as you go.

What are you waiting for? Quit reading this and go give your unused stuff a new home – I promise it will make you feel good.

Pinch a Penny and Find a Dime

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Let’s face it – times are tough.  Thanks to the recession (or whatever they’re calling it these days) most of us have had to buckle down. There are ways to get by, but sometimes people aren’t aware of them so let’s go over a few ways to stretch dollars in tough times.

Loose Change, Tight Dollar

We all know people that leave change laying around, dropped in their vehicles, on floors of their house and outside on the ground.  Then they complain they don’t have money.  How many pennies does it take to make a dollar?  How many dimes?  Ten dimes added together means you have a dollar.  Pick up the pennies and put them in a container.  When you have 100 of them you have another dollar.  One dollar plus one dollar equals 2 dollars!  Look around at what you really need to get by and live.  There are a lot of necessities that cost less than two dollars.

Those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters aren’t just toss away items.   They are used to make change from dollar bills for a reason.  They have value and should be used to purchase needed items, not just for getting coins in return for purchasing something that costs under the dollar bill provided.

No Laughing Matter

I have friends and family that tease and joke about how I pick any change up that I see laying on the ground or on floors.  The last time I sorted and turned in all my change they didn’t laugh as loud when they saw what it added up to.  Coin sorting machines are in banks, credit unions, stores and at many other locations for a reason.  It’s there for people to turn in their coins to get back the value of them in dollar bill currency and put the coins back into circulation to be used again.

I have a dish that sits on my dryer that I throw coins in.  Look how many times there is a coin in a pocket you don’t know about that you find in your dryer or wash machine?  How many times were you walking around outside in a parking lot or outside of stores and you look down to see a penny, nickel, dime or quarter?  Those pennies you find are more valuable when added together than they are when you put it in your shoe for good luck.  My thought is that a penny found is worth more than a pound and has its own luck just by being discovered to begin with!

I also have change collecting containers on my kitchen counter, bedside the table and on the end table in my living room.  I take all the smaller containers and dump them into one big container and let it keep filling up.  It can turn into a worthwhile hobby that pays quite well.  It doesn’t cost anything to do so there isn’t any ‘investing’ to get the change together, unless you decide to buy a bank or another container to put the change in.  I don’t even do that though, a coffee can or old jar works just fine.

Make it a Hobby

Many people crochet, sew, draw or knit as a hobby while watching TV or just passing the time.  There certainly is nothing wrong with those hobbies and I’ve done each of them myself at one time or another.  But even with these hobbies you have to have the materials to do them and those can cost money too.  How much is yarn, thread, crochet hooks or knitting needles as well as material, paper, pens, pencils, etc.?  When you do get done with one of those hobbies do you get anything of value from them?  You can if you can find someone that wants to buy it from you but then subtract out the cost you have invested to make the item to begin with and how long it takes to find a buyer.

I’ve found that while watching TV or just passing the time I can sort all the coins into perspective containers, putting each type of coin in its own container.   I then start counting them into piles and hand rolling them.  Fifty pennies in a 50 cent penny roll, 20 nickels into a $2.00 nickel roll and so on.

The best thing about passing time using this hobby is the immediate pay back you can get.  You don’t have to worry about buying materials to use.  The banks will give you the coin rolls to use and you don’t have to worry about finding a buyer to sell your coin rolls.

I’ve not only got myself a well-deserved treat occasionally from saving change this way, but  I was even able to pay a bill or buy something needed for home.

So make sure you pinch those pennies and save that dime you find.  It is its own reward.