Tips to Save on Electricity this Summer

As we approach the hot summer months here in Houston, it strikes panic in my heart and wallet because I know the higher electricity bills are coming!

It’s time to get ready. Now, don’t go running and screaming or burying your head in the sand! There are things you can do to lower your electricity bill!

Here are 10 tips to help you save this summer:

1.  Get an energy audit. This is a great idea because it will point out your biggest energy wasters. You should then have a plan of attack to correct any energy wasters in your home and still have time to get them corrected before the dead heat of summer gets here.

2. Seal leaks. Your precious conditioned air could be seeping out of places you don’t even know of, like your chimney flue, around doors and windows, and even your electrical outlets.

3. Install programmable thermostats. These allow you to set thermostat higher while you’re away and program to cool when you’ll be home.

4.  Turn on the ceiling fan before you turn down the A/C. Fans use a while lot less energy and can make you feel a few degrees cooler almost instantly! Just remember to turn the fan off when you leave the room. While it makes you feel cooler, it doesn’t actually cool the room.

5. Keep the sun out.  Keep your blinds closed when the sunlight is coming in directly, use insulated window treatments that are now available, or put UV sunscreens or window film on your windows to block the heat.

6. Equip your attic. Believe it or not, in the sixth grade, my science fair project was called “Attics: Keep ‘em Cool”. There are definitely significant energy reductions to be had when proper insulation, radiant barrier and ridge vents are installed in your attic. Also, if you’re having a new roof installed, try to choose the lightest color shingle for your home. It helps!

7.  Shop electricity providers. Here in Texas we have options when it comes to electricity providers. Use sites like electricitytexas.com and shop for the best rate and program for you.

8.  Do chores during cooler times of the day. Running appliances (washer/dryer, vacuum, etc) produces heat. Do your chores first thing in the morning or later in the evening when you’re a/C unit doesn’t have to compensate for the extra heat.

9. Keep filters clean. Keep fresh filters in your a/c units so they’re not working overtime to cool your home.

10. Cook outside when possible.  Keep the heat outside so you’re not paying to cool the inside. You don’t have to eat outside, but it could make for some great family picnics!

Tuesday Topic - Kroger to End Double/Triple Coupons

(whew! just made it)

This may be news to some of you, and to others not. Kroger has announced that they are putting an end to doubling and tripling coupons effective April 13, 2011. For me, this was pretty devastating news. I spent the better part of Saturday grieving... first in shock, then sad, then mad. How can they do this?!?! One of the main reasons I shop Kroger is because they had this perk. One of the main reasons I started this site was to share how much you could save shopping with coupons, and how you can save even more at Kroger because of their awesome coupon policy!  What on earth am I going to do now?!?! How am I going to show people how to save when the savings aren't as amazing anymore?

Well, here's where I am now. Still wondering. Still hoping they'll change their minds. Still hoping I am not forced to change grocery stores. Hoping I can figure everything out quickly so I can continue to help you save.

I know we'll be okay in the end. We'll just have to help each other out... finding deals and maybe new stores. 

If you would like more information about what Kroger's reasons were for making this decision and what stores will be affected, please visit them on Kroger's Facebook page. Also, Stephanie at Katy Couponers is a wealth of information. And, If you feel inclined to voice your opinion or discuss what we can do to try to affect change, go to Kroger Couponers.

I want to hear from you! How do you feel about Kroger discontinuing double/triple coupons? Please leave a comment and let me know!

Tuesday Topic - 25 Best Ways to Waste Your Money

My brain is wrecked from being on vacation all last week. It was Spring Break here in Texas, and we traveled to my parents' house for the week. Since I'm late getting this posted and can't think of a single great idea at the moment, I'm going to share an article I found on Yahoo a little while ago. I found it very accurate, so I feel good about referring you to it.
Go check it out here:  25 Ways To Waste Your Money.

Tuesday Topic ~ How to save on Gasoline!

Gas prices are on the rise again, so I'm always looking to save on filling up my gas-guzzling vehicle. There are a few ways I like to save: comparison shop, use discount offers, and use gas conservatively. 

Compare Prices:

I like to use GasBuddy.com to price compare in the area to find the best price on gasoline. You can search by zip code online, and you can even get an app for your iPhone, Android, or Windows phone.

Discounts:

• Kroger offers $.03 off per gallon everyday with your Kroger Plus card. If you purchase $100 worth of groceries or $50 in giftcards in a month, you can get $.10 off per gallon. You can earn multiple discounts per month. The $100 threshold is not necessarily what you have paid out of pocket, but the price you would have paid before coupons. :-) This works out to be a very good deal for me most of the time.
• Shell has partnered with Kroger recently to offer the Kroger discount at Shell stations in certain areas. You should look into this in your area, and you may be able to get your discount even when you are not close to a Kroger. Go here to search for a participating Shell station.
• Murphy USA (gas stations at Wal-mart) also offers a $.03 per gallon discount if you use a Wal-mart giftcard or Wal-mart credit card at the pump.

Don't Waste:

• Plan your trips to take care of multiple errands in the same trip rather than drive back to the same area twice. Make sure you know what you need at the store before you go - you don't want to eat up all your savings making multiple trips!  
• Don't leave the engine running when you aren't going anywhere.
• Maintain your vehicle and your tire pressure.
• Don't speed!

For more tips on how to save gasoline, go here.

Getting Started - My TOP FIVE Ways to Save!

If you are starting from the beginning, just coming to the realization that you need to start saving or want your money to go further, I have compiled this list to help you get started. This is, by no means, an exhaustive list, but just a start. I will continue to share, in the weeks to come, ways you can save in specific areas of your home, bills, and everyday expenses.

Here are my TOP FIVE WAYS TO SAVE:

5. Leave the loyalty to your dog - We all want our family, friends, and pets to be loyal, but there is no reason to be loyal to your toothpaste brand. I understand that we all find our favorites when it comes to some things, but in order to get the best deals on everyday items, you will be better off not sticking with one brand.

4. Shop around - With today's technology, there is no reason you should make a big-ticket purchase without doing a little comparison shopping. All it usually takes is a simple search through your favorite search engine, and you can find the best deal. There are even iPhone Apps out there where you can scan the UPC, and it will tell you where the best price is on that item in your area!

3. Shop for value, not lowest price - Did you know that the tags on the grocery store shelves actually give you the information you need to know which item is the best deal? Instead of looking at the price, check out that smaller number near the bottom corner of the tag that tells you the price per unit (whether it be ounces, pounds, item, etc.) Companies have gotten very good at making their packages seem comparable, when in fact one box/jar/can can have significantly less product; therefore, making the product much more expensive. If the information is missing from the shelf tag, simply divide the price by the unit of measure labeled on the package. Hint: Toilet paper can be especially deceiving when all the available items have the same number of rolls. Check out the sq. ft. measure and see if you're really getting as much for your money as you think.

2.  Pair Manufacturers' Coupons with sale prices - Manufacturers are constantly issuing coupons for their products in hopes of snagging you as customer. Use them to your advantage and purchase their products when they are on sale. This maximizes your savings. Items typically go on sale to their lowest price approximately every 12 weeks. You should buy enough of the product to last you through until the next lowest-price sale.

1. Evaluate your needs vs. your wants - If you are being intentional about saving, your wants will sometimes have to wait. Make sure what you are spending money on are legitimate needs. Here are some areas where you could probably save immediately: groceries, coffee, restaurants, clothes, cable bill, and cell phone bill.

You could realize great savings just by being a conscious consumer, being intentional in your spending, and taming your impulse purchases. Being frugal is a mindset. It takes awareness and sometimes a little more time, but in the end I think it's worth it.

What are the ways you save money? Leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you!

Why do you save?

I am realizing the more that I search for bargains, clip coupons, and share deals with you, how all-consuming this can become! In addition to the great deals I share with you, I would like to start writing and opening this blog for discussion on a variety of topics related to saving money. I will be sharing tips and tricks I use, asking you questions, and answering your questions. I truly want this site to help you! That was my main motivation behind starting this!

So here is what's going on inside my head tonight... I wanted to share with you a few things that I have been learning over the past couple of years when it comes to saving money and bargain-hunting.

1. No deal is a good deal if you are spending money that you don't have.

2. The sale will always come back around again.

3. There are several reasons to save money - pay off/stay out of debt, kids' college, retirement, and (the biggest reason)... so you can GIVE.

Here's a great quote I saw the other day by C.S. Lewis, "If we live at the same level of affluence as others who have our level of income, we are probably giving away too little."

Does that get to you, like it does to me?

If you are someone who has never thought twice about the money you spend, never even looked at a coupon, or paid full price for everything your entire life; or you are someone who has had to scrimp and save your entire life or just like the rush of getting a good deal, I think it's always a great idea to examine why we do what we do. What is your motivation to save money?

Why do you save?

Please leave comments and let me know why you try to save money. I would love to hear from my readers!