We all know that it costs a fortune to heat our homes and it doesn't matter whether you heat with oil, gas or electric; it is all expensive. While we can't (shouldn't) make our homes 100% leak free, we should do our best to make sure we aren't trying to heat the great outdoors or our attic spaces.
Here is an article from The New York Times on preventing heat loss from your homes. It gives hints on how to find leaks, where they are most likely to be found and how to fix them.
God bless,
Pam
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Credit Maintenance
You maintain your car and home, but have you ever maintained your credit? We all know how negatively having a low credit score can affect our financial lives. Let us be good stewards of our finances by keeping our credit squeaky clean.
There are three credit report companies: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Each of these companies are required by law to provide you with one free credit report a year. This means that you can get a free copy of your credit report every four months.
Right now, before I go any further write these names on your calendar as a reminder: January - Equifax, May - Experian, September - Transunion. When you see these names on your calendar run your credit report through the listed company.
Once you have your credit report in front of you check it with a fine toothed comb. Is every bit of information correct? If not, immediately call the credit reporting company and tell them that you want to contest the incorrect information on your credit report.
We have found incorrect information on our credit report several times and have found it easy to correct. Keeping your credit clean is very frugal.
God bless,
Pam
There are three credit report companies: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. Each of these companies are required by law to provide you with one free credit report a year. This means that you can get a free copy of your credit report every four months.
Right now, before I go any further write these names on your calendar as a reminder: January - Equifax, May - Experian, September - Transunion. When you see these names on your calendar run your credit report through the listed company.
Once you have your credit report in front of you check it with a fine toothed comb. Is every bit of information correct? If not, immediately call the credit reporting company and tell them that you want to contest the incorrect information on your credit report.
We have found incorrect information on our credit report several times and have found it easy to correct. Keeping your credit clean is very frugal.
God bless,
Pam
Friday, January 28, 2011
Save Money On Homeowners Insurance
Lately, while speaking to friends and family, I've come to the realization that insurance (homeowners, health and car) is consuming a large percentage people's income. Often insurance is 20% or more of a family's money.
Deciding to go without insurance is risky, but I am aware that, for some people, it is their only option. But, there are some ways of reducing your homeowners insurance premiums:
Make sure you are only covering you house for replacement value. Your lot will never blow away or burn down; no need to insure it.
Raise your deductible. Keep a savings account with enough money to cover the amount of the deductible and let that money earn interest for you.
Upgrade your security/protection devices. An alarm system, smoke detectors, deadbolt locks, fire extinguishers and storm shutters can lower your premiums.
Buy a house in a neighborhood with a low crime rate. Also see how close the house is to fire hydrants and the fire station.
Keep your credit clean.
Use the same insurance company for all of your policies.
Stay current. Are you insuring a five year old computer for the purchase price or it's current, devalued price?
Pull out your insurance declarations and start checking your coverage. If there is something you don't understand, don't hesitate to call your company's customer service and ask.
God bless,
Pam
Deciding to go without insurance is risky, but I am aware that, for some people, it is their only option. But, there are some ways of reducing your homeowners insurance premiums:
Make sure you are only covering you house for replacement value. Your lot will never blow away or burn down; no need to insure it.
Raise your deductible. Keep a savings account with enough money to cover the amount of the deductible and let that money earn interest for you.
Upgrade your security/protection devices. An alarm system, smoke detectors, deadbolt locks, fire extinguishers and storm shutters can lower your premiums.
Buy a house in a neighborhood with a low crime rate. Also see how close the house is to fire hydrants and the fire station.
Keep your credit clean.
Use the same insurance company for all of your policies.
Stay current. Are you insuring a five year old computer for the purchase price or it's current, devalued price?
Pull out your insurance declarations and start checking your coverage. If there is something you don't understand, don't hesitate to call your company's customer service and ask.
God bless,
Pam
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Frugal Soup Container
Try keeping a freezer container or bag in the freezer labeled "soup scraps". Place these little bits of leftover food into the container; meat, gravy, vegetables, just about anything. When your container is full, place the leftovers in a pot with some broth. Let it simmer for an hour to merge the flavors, taste and adjust the seasonings. You will be amazed at how good this type of soup can be.
God bless,
Pam
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Don't Over Shop
Once you become experienced at saving money it can be hard to ignore a good sale opportunity. Getting a deal can be addicting, but it is no longer frugal when you buy such a large number of one type of item that there is no hope of your using it before it goes bad, or you don't have room to store it.
As an example I have purchased enough deodorant to last my family for a year. Now I pass up great sales on deodorant, no matter how tempting they are, unless I get them for almost free and I plan to donate them. When our supply gets low I will again buy deodorant.
Another example is when someone I knew discovered thrift stores. She enjoyed saving so much that she ended up spending more money on used clothes than she would have allowed herself to spend on new. She had become addicted to the process of getting a good deal.
Learning to use and stack coupons and shop sales is wonderful, but know when it is appropriate to say, "I have enough".
God bless,
Pam
As an example I have purchased enough deodorant to last my family for a year. Now I pass up great sales on deodorant, no matter how tempting they are, unless I get them for almost free and I plan to donate them. When our supply gets low I will again buy deodorant.
Another example is when someone I knew discovered thrift stores. She enjoyed saving so much that she ended up spending more money on used clothes than she would have allowed herself to spend on new. She had become addicted to the process of getting a good deal.
Learning to use and stack coupons and shop sales is wonderful, but know when it is appropriate to say, "I have enough".
God bless,
Pam
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Homemade Whitening Mouthwash
You can replicate the expensive tooth whitening mouthwashes with just a few basic ingredients: To a 32 ounce bottle add 1/4 cup peroxide, then top off with water. Add 1-2 drops of mint extract, shake and taste to see if it is minty enough. If not, add extract just one drop at a time until the desired intensity is reached.
Use this mouth rinse once a day, before brushing your teeth. Do not swallow it! Your teeth will gradually become whiter, but remember that tooth enamel has a natural color. Your teeth are not supposed to be glaringly white.
God bless,
Pam
PS. I was going to put a photo of white teeth here, but all the images I found were kind of scary. So think of a pleasant smile with white teeth.
Use this mouth rinse once a day, before brushing your teeth. Do not swallow it! Your teeth will gradually become whiter, but remember that tooth enamel has a natural color. Your teeth are not supposed to be glaringly white.
God bless,
Pam
PS. I was going to put a photo of white teeth here, but all the images I found were kind of scary. So think of a pleasant smile with white teeth.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Radical Homemakers: Changing Educational Needs
I have read three quarters of the book "Radical Homemakers" by Shannon Hayes and I am finding that some of the ideas posed in the book parallel thoughts that I have been musing over lately.
Over the past few years I have watched our current economic crisis change the criteria for finding employment. The job market has completely changed, yet our educational systems are still spitting out graduates that have been trained to serve a now defunct industrial/consumer based economy.
Well, guess what, we are not consuming. All of a sudden the skills necessary for survival consist of creativity, cooperation and flexibility. Skills such as how to make repairs, raise food and making the items your family needs.
During the Great Depression subsistence farmers were in a better survival situation than were bankers. The farmers were able to feed their families well and their creativity led to clothing being made from feed sacks. They taught their children how to do everything. I remember that my grandfather and my uncles could fix anything and hunt to put meat on the table. My aunts could make anything that was needed for cleaning, dress their families, raise food animals and gardens and preserve their homegrown food.
I am not sure what the answers are for economic survival, but I know that I want my daughter to be competent in our new economic world. I don't know if our current university system will be able to help her, but I will do my best to teach her the subsistence skills I know and that we can learn many things together.
This is a complicated time with an unpredictable future. Flexibility will be our most valuable tool.
God bless,
Pam
Over the past few years I have watched our current economic crisis change the criteria for finding employment. The job market has completely changed, yet our educational systems are still spitting out graduates that have been trained to serve a now defunct industrial/consumer based economy.
Well, guess what, we are not consuming. All of a sudden the skills necessary for survival consist of creativity, cooperation and flexibility. Skills such as how to make repairs, raise food and making the items your family needs.
During the Great Depression subsistence farmers were in a better survival situation than were bankers. The farmers were able to feed their families well and their creativity led to clothing being made from feed sacks. They taught their children how to do everything. I remember that my grandfather and my uncles could fix anything and hunt to put meat on the table. My aunts could make anything that was needed for cleaning, dress their families, raise food animals and gardens and preserve their homegrown food.
I am not sure what the answers are for economic survival, but I know that I want my daughter to be competent in our new economic world. I don't know if our current university system will be able to help her, but I will do my best to teach her the subsistence skills I know and that we can learn many things together.
This is a complicated time with an unpredictable future. Flexibility will be our most valuable tool.
God bless,
Pam
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