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How an Energy Audit Can Save You Money 

04.12.2022 by Harry //

If you are a homeowner or a tenant who pays electrical utilities, you may be inclined to know whether you can cut energy costs by making your building more energy-efficient.

However, your home’s energy efficiency can be affected by things like the weather where you live and how well your home was built.

Completing an audit is the first step to identifying opportunities to reduce your energy consumption, save money, and improve the comfort of your home. By making your home more energy-efficient, you also cut down on your carbon footprint and impact on the world.

What is Assessed?

An energy audit may sound intimidating because of the negative connotation most of us associate with the word “audit.”

However, this audit assesses the needs and efficiency of your home’s electrical use while seeking opportunities for energy savings.

You can use the information you get from this audit to make smart decisions about your home, which will help you save money.

During an energy audit assessment, you can expect the energy specialist to walk through all the rooms of your house to evaluate the physical condition of the building, including door and window seals, insulation, and ventilation.

They will also check the functions of mechanical systems such as appliances, heating, air conditioning, and lighting. They should also perform a blower-door test to depressurize the house and its airflow test.

Your auditor will likely discuss numerous ways in which you can cut down on phantom loads, upgrade appliances, and strategize ways to minimize your heating or cooling needs. You can use the information you get from this audit to make smart decisions about your home, which will help you save money.

The audit report may also include information related to your local climate, thermostat settings, roof overhang, and solar orientation. This information can be used to improve the accuracy of the estimates by looking at how much energy you use over time.

How to Prepare for an Audit

  • First, to find an accredited auditor, check to see if your utility company has an in-house specialist who can support your audit. If they don’t, you can check with the Residential Energy Services Network.
  • It is a good idea to ask for references and ensure that the auditor uses a calibrated blower door to test the building ventilation.
  • Before the audit, come up with a list of questions for them to help you understand your home better. For example, maybe you have noticed that a specific room is always cooler than others, or you are having issues with condensation on the windows.
  • If you already have some efficiency upgrade ideas in mind, a specialist can help you prioritize the ones that will have the most significant impact.
  • Be sure to provide copies of your monthly energy bills that demonstrate your energy use patterns.
  • Some auditors may already have access to these, but it is good to be prepared to make good use of everyone’s time.
  • It all comes down to this: the more prepared you are for your audit, the more accurate the recommendations for making your home more energy efficient will be if you follow them.

How Much Does It Cost?

HomeAdvisor reports that energy audits cost between $100 and $1,650, or $409.

Keep in mind that the larger your home is, the higher the cost. Even though you will have to pay an upfront fee to have a professional come and do an energy audit, the money you will save each month will cover the fee and add up over time.

How to Save Money With an Inexpensive Energy Audit

It is also important to keep in mind that with so many community sustainability initiatives, there are often opportunities for government grants and or power company subsidies to help cover the cost of energy audits and retrofits. With their audits, many power companies offer free sealing or supplies, free testing, or other things.

How Much Will You Save?

According to Millionaires, energy audits can reduce your annual energy consumption by 30%. So long as energy prices remain stable, this would translate into a 30% savings on your energy bill. However, keep in mind that this may only be possible if you follow through with the advice that is given to you by the energy specialist.

Making energy-efficient improvements to your home may include updating lighting to LED lightbulbs, replacing old appliances with energy-efficient alternatives, replacing windows, or updating heating and cooling systems.

As you may realize, this could require a hefty initial investment that may take longer to recover. However, your home will be more comfortable as it will be able to moderate temperatures during cold winters or hot summers, leading to a better quality of life.

Still Unsure?

If you still are not sure whether you want to have a professional audit completed, you can start with a do-it-yourself home energy audit instead.

You may be able to access free, simplified tools from state agencies or local utility providers, or you can complete a fundamental assessment without any specialized tools. Make sure to follow a checklist that has been carefully thought out so that you can inspect your home and look for ways to make it more energy-efficient.

Image credit: [Arthon Meekodong].

Categories // Expenses, Savings

Budget-Friendly Tips to Plan a Child’s Birthday Party

04.11.2022 by Harry //

Every parent wants to make their kid’s birthday as unique and memorable as possible. However, the party planning process can be daunting with so many picture-perfect birthdays and tons of decor and theme selections. This is especially true if you must stick to a budget and try not to overspend.

There are so many elements of a party to look after and plan, which can pile up your total costs. However, there are ways you can pull off a fantastic birthday party for your child without making a dent in your wallet.

You need some creativity, imaginative thinking, and hands-on effort to cut costs while throwing a fabulous birthday party your child will never forget. 

Here are some of the best tips to help you plan a budget-friendly perfect birthday without breaking the bank:

Tips to Plan a Child’s Birthday Party on a Budget

1. Find a Public Space with Free Rentals

Finding an excellent location and booking a venue can be one of the highest costs when planning a birthday. If you decide to rent out a place, you’ll have to take out a big chunk of your budget.

You might be considering booking a bowling alley, restaurant, or popular commercial venue, but this usually will not be a cheap option.

One idea for saving money is to look at free community spaces for public use. Then, all you must do is make the arrangements, set up the décor, and bring in your food and games. 

You will also have to consider the weather, as winter birthdays can be a little harder to pull off.

Another idea is to host a slumber party at your own house. This can keep things simple, cozy, and fun for everyone.

2. Host the Party Outside at a Park

If the location is still one of your primary concerns and the weather allows it, you can host a party outdoors in a playground or park. This will be particularly appealing for younger kids. They will be able to run around and play with complete freedom and enjoy the fresh air.

A birthday party at a park also provides entertainment for the little guests without any expenses. In addition, not hosting the party at your house means you will not have to worry about cleaning up or clearing space for everyone. 

You can also opt to do it in your backyard, on a reservoir, or at a local beach for an outdoor birthday party. You can also ask friends and relatives with bigger backyards if you could host the party at their place.

3. Make a Budget

A fundamental rule for planning a budget-friendly party is to first make a budget. Then, it would help if you took some time to consider how much you are willing to spend on your child’s birthday party. Being practical and realistic is essential for good planning.

Jot down the main categories or things you will be spending on and an estimate of how much you plan to spend on each item.

For example, you can divide the expenses into categories like decorations, food, games, party favors, cake, etc. This will keep you organized and clear-minded throughout the process. 

9 Tips for a Budget Friendly Birthday Party

Keep the Guest List Small

You do not have to invite 40-50 people to your child’s birthday party, especially when trying to keep it within a budget. Your costs will go up or down depending on how many people you invite.

Try to think carefully about the guest list and only invite the people relevant to the birthday party. For example, keep your guests limited to your children’s friends and close family.

Make Simple Invitations

If there is one thing you do not have to overspend on- it’s invitations. Buy birthday invites from a stationary store nearby or design them yourself and get them printed.

If you want to cut down on expenses even further, send digital invites to the guests, and you’ll be good to go. 

Make Your Decorations

You can look for an event manager or vendor to arrange the decor for your child’s birthday, or you can do it all yourself. This may sound tough, but it’s doable and saves money. 

Look up DIY decor videos on YouTube or Pinterest and follow the instructions. You can work with balloons and streamers, construction paper, glitter, and other supplies. This will be a fun activity for you and your child, and it will also be a huge money saver. 

Head over to the nearest dollar store and buy paper plates, utensils, cups, tablecloths, and other ready-made decor supplies. 

Cook and Bake Yourself

When you are planning a budget-friendly birthday, going completely DIY is one of the best options. You can save a lot of money by baking the cake, cupcakes, and dessert yourself.

Of course, it is much easier to order a customized and fancy cake from the bakery. However, this will be much more expensive and unnecessary. 

So, gather some sprinkles, edible decorations, and food colors, whip up a yummy icing, and customize your home-baked cake. It may not be perfect, but you can create unforgettable memories with your children while working on the cake together.

Food and snacks can also be made at home with some legwork.

There are many easy recipes you can look up online and follow. Some simple foods you can make include french fries, sandwiches, hamburgers, and pizza. You can also buy snacks from the store like pretzels, popcorn, marshmallows, candies, and chocolates for the children. 

Another affordable snack idea is to cut slices of apples, carrots, crackers and serve them with yummy dips. The kids would surely love munching on these light snacks, plus they will be healthy too.

https://lifeasmama.com/6-clever-tips-for-planning-a-kids-birthday-party-on-a-budget/

Go for Simple Games

There is no need to splurge on expensive new games or rent a bouncing castle for the birthday party. Instead, you can plan your games and have tons of fun. Think of simple games like soccer, baseball, blowing bubbles, or activities like painting, pottery, etc. 

Here are some fun game ideas that are simple and can easily be hosted at home without any spending at all: 

  • Three-Legged Race
  • Simon Says
  • Duck, Duck, Goose
  • Freeze tag
  • Musical Chairs
  • Hot Potato
  • Freeze Dance
  • Charades

Keep the Party at a Good Time

If you hold the party near lunch or dinner time, your guests may expect you to serve a full meal. So, it would be wise not to start the party at noon or after 5 pm.

Instead, keep it at any other time slot when snacks will be enough for the guests. This is a simple yet effective way of saving on expenses.

Reconsider the Party Favors

Party favors are often considered essential for a kid’s birthday party. However, you can decide to skip them altogether.

On the other hand, you can come up with affordable party favors consisting of a single homemade item, like a cookie or cupcake. You can also look for simple one-dollar items as party favors.

Image Credit: [Robert Kneschke].

Categories // Debt Free Adventures, Savings

Top Hiring Trends in Job Searching

04.01.2022 by Harry //

Job searching right now is no easy feat, but there are ways to ensure you stand out from the crowd when competing against others in the current job market. Unfortunately, the pandemic has changed a lot of industries, meaning it will take different strategies to get noticed. 

Taking the time to understand what recruiters and employers are looking for is the first step to tailoring your application to their current needs. 

More flexibility is demanded

Both employers and employees hope for more flexibility regarding the job at hand. Some employers have seen the need to adapt to allow for work/life balance, given how COVID-19 has forced us all to juggle our responsibilities in new ways. 

Furthermore, employees are more upfront about their needs outside of work and demand respect for those needs. 

Due to a dearth in the workforce, recruiters are also seeing more pressure to find employees who are willing and able to be flexible to ensure all the business needs are met. This pressure is also compounded by the need to find ways to cut costs and stretch their employees’ skill sets were possible to get more done with less. 

While this brings an intriguing balancing act to the forefront, it will shape job searching tremendously, especially for high-demand roles and roles that have constantly been working throughout the pandemic. 

Remote work may not be temporary

The pandemic also forced many employers to allow their employees to work remotely. While there are mixed reviews for how people have responded to working from home, you can expect that your job search will include many more remote positions.

This also breaks barriers for what companies you could potentially work for, given that you do not have to live close to the company to work there anymore. 

Many employers were opting for remote work to run their businesses more efficiently while people were staying home, but they have seen multiple benefits from shifting to this working model.

Employers with office buildings and rented space see the ability to downsize or eliminate those costs since people can perform their jobs just as well from a home office. 

Diversity has become a priority 

Companies are starting to finally see the value in having people from different backgrounds and with different abilities contributing to their work environment. Thus, there is some hope that job searching will be a more equitable process for all, but time will only tell. 

This makes it extremely important to highlight your particular skill set on your resume and through your cover letter, given that those are what recruiters will focus on, rather than letting their own biases influence recruitment. 

https://www.themuse.com/advice/job-search-trends-tips-2021

Edit your social media before applying

You should be cognizant of your online profiles before beginning your job search. Because if you do not believe employers Google you, you are mistaken. It is worth changing your privacy settings and removing any posts that are not reflective of your character. 

Additionally, recruiters and employers are interested in viewing LinkedIn profiles once again, so it is worth dusting off your dormant profile or starting one if you have not already. 

Hiring trends will change 

There has been a relatively consistent wave of hiring that one could follow when job searching, but it was shattered when the pandemic occurred. However, hiring trends are no longer as predictable as they used to be. 

The typical wave used to be that many jobs were available when a new year started and during the fall. However, businesses tend to be slower in the summer and during the holidays, so they were not hiring as much. 

COVID impacted many industries because of restrictions that severely altered how businesses could run. Some industries were hit harder than others, such as dining, gyms, and retail, being that these business models could not completely pivot their operations to virtual or curbside. 

The closer we get to higher vaccination rates and properly implemented safety protocols, there should be a surge in available jobs; thus, hiring trends will change. 

Some industries are in desperate need of talent

Even if you may not specialize in a particular industry, it is worth taking inventory of your transferable skills before job searching to make sure those are highlighted.

Similarly, if you are planning on brushing up on some new skills or going back to school, it is worth taking some time to sift through recruitment platforms to see what industries are looking for a lot of talent right now. 

Industries such as health care, technology, financial technology, and customer service are all industries that desperately need talented employees. Unfortunately, this trend will likely not change for the next few years, so keep these industries in mind when refining your job search and skill development. 

Recruitment Trends in 2022

Freelancers and contract workers are wanted

While job security is a worry for those who work freelance or on contract, more employers opt for this help for several reasons. First, freelancing or contracting allows the company to bring in more talent with different skill sets to collaborate on projects. 

There are some benefits to taking on a contract or freelance job. First, it allows you to gain experience working at different companies and demonstrates your flexibility. Furthermore, it also allows you more flexibility in your schedule. 

The downside can be that these jobs are temporary, and further employment is not always guaranteed. But on the other hand, freelance jobs can be a great way to bulk up your resume and get back into the workforce comfortably. 

Editing your resume for each job is crucial

Being that companies get a ton of resumes for one job posting, many are using automated services that help them sift through the virtual pile of resumes to select ideal candidates. This eliminates a lot of grunt work for recruiters and employers. 

The downside for someone currently job searching is that, through no fault of their own, their resume might be overlooked because of a system. However, there are ways to tailor your resume to the jobs you are interested in to beat the system. 

Pay attention to some of the buzzwords and critical skills that the job posting highlights. Then, take these terms and add them to your resume, either within your description of your job experience or in your summary of qualifications. 

This software that more companies are using to select candidates for interviews. The software will pick up on those key terms that the job posting highlights and put them in your resume. So, again, this gives you an advantage in getting selected for an interview. 

The competition is real 

Regardless of what type of job you are searching for, there will be some steep competition. Not only are people looking for jobs out of necessity, but many have chosen to change careers over the last couple of years due to the pandemic. So, it is more important than ever to find ways to stand out. 

This could include learning a new language, taking online courses to boost your technology skills, or getting creative in how you market yourself to potential employers. Having an online presence, such as a LinkedIn profile, is also a great way to network and make new connections. 

As previously mentioned, tailoring your resume to the job you are applying for, while more labor-intensive, will boost your chances. But unfortunately, many people mindlessly apply to jobs without taking this initiative, making it more likely to be passed over. 

Final Thoughts 

Job searching can be a stressful endeavor, but there are strategies you can implement to streamline your experience to what employers are looking for in the current climate. However, all strategy aside, it is crucial to stay authentic to yourself throughout the entire process and be sure to advocate for your worth.       

Image Credit: [everydayplus]

Categories // Career

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