In This Issue
From The Budget Coach
Featured Tips & Information:
-- Unplug Your Fridge and Fund Your Trip to Greece
Inspiration For The Month
Your Question for the Month
Spe*cial Offer of the Month
Recommended Resources
Recent Media Announcements
Contact/General & Unsubscribe Information
From The Budget Coach
Welcome to my "Common Cents Budgeting Tips" Newsletter.
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I'm delighted to have the opportunity to share these tips with you. Remember, you are a vital part of this whole exchange and if you ever have questions or some valuable experience or resource you want to share with others, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Many of the new sections that were added to The Budget Kit workbook over the various revisions these last many years, came from insightful readers and clients like you who wanted to help make a difference.
Remember to email me at judycents@moneytracker.com with any tips, resources or comments you would like to share as well as any questions. Working together is how we can all make a difference in our financial lives.
Have a fulfilling and prosperous day!
To Your Success,
Tips & Information
Unplug Your Fridge and Fund Your Trip to Greece
Pay Attention
There comes a time when it really does pay to pay attention. How many times have I stated this in my Budget Kit workbook? Or when interviewed for radio shows or magazine articles and asked “What immediate tip would I recommend for getting a handle on finances”, my answer is always “Pay attention to your spending.”
So how did I manage to forget to pay attention to the spending leaks in my utility bills?
It’s not like I don’t have the hardwiring in my mental system to turn off unused lights, keep the thermostat low, use ceiling fans, and buy some energy efficient bulbs. Somehow life gets hectic and like most people, after a while I started to only deal with the top issues on the list. High utility bills were frustrating me, but still did not get my attention.
Enlightening Information
One day a friend was telling me how he used to work for the electric company and would go to homes to determine if people qualified for assistance. I was aware of energy audits and various services. What I did not realize is that under certain qualifying conditions, people were eligible to receive brand new refrigerators, new energy efficiency shower heads, hot water heater blankets, full weather-stripping, caulking, glass replacement, attic insulation, plus installation of fluorescent light bulbs – all for f^ree.
Finally I was ready to pay attention, make the call and arrange for my own energy audit to get to the bottom of the high utility bills. During the energy audit, it became apparent very quickly where my money was leaking away.
Funding a Flight to Greece
When I bought the home, all the appliances came with it, including a second refrigerator. Great, I had a place to store those extra cases of beverages for parties. Big mistake!
One of the men on the team noticed a picture of Greece on my wall from a trip years ago and said “You could take another trip to Greece in 5 years with the money you’re spending to keep those drinks cool. Suddenly he was speaking my language! I could save close to $20 a month if I unplugged my second refrigerator. In 5 years, that certainly would cover the airline ticket and maybe more!
More Funding for the Trip
If I arrange to have my furnace pilot light turned off during the 6 months of our great warm weather each year, I could save $7.50 a month and in 5 years probably pay for a number of my meals in Greece.
Okay, so now how about some credit for all my diligence in turning off the lights. Yes, I do save pennies – one half penny per hour. However, what I was not paying attention to was costing me hundreds of pennies. The energy audit guys started pointing out my clock radios, clocks on my microwave and stove, cordless phones, computer, DVD player, all the remote controls – all those gadgets with digital readouts. Every single item was pulling it’s own little bit of energy at one half penny per hour, 24/7. Boy, I could cover my hotel in Greece with the hundreds of dollars a year I was spending for the conveniences of knowing the time and having access to all the electronic gadgets in my environment.
Fund Your Own Trip
Walk through all the rooms in your home or apartment and just start adding up how many plugged in gadgets you have. Just ten different gadgets at one half penny each per hour adds up to close to $500 a year! I actually had to punch those numbers in a few times to be sure this was correct!
By now I’m sure you get the picture. It really does PAY to pay attention. If you are experiencing a tight stretch right now and wondering where to squeeze out a few more dollars after doing all the cut backs already, the answer may just be blinking at you.
I’ll list a few more tips I picked up from the energy guys, just in case you haven’t been aware of these costs. Be sure to check out the Resource Section for more ideas on how to save money with your utility bills.
By the way, be sure to ask about discounts for elderly or low income situations. In some cases the total bill can be reduced by 20 percent. Also, the unit fee (kwh) for use of electricity can be capped at a specific amount - meaning, the unit fee does not go up as your volume of use goes up, which translates into more savings for you.
Energy Costs in Your Home
(From Pacific Gas and Electric Company flyer -January 2005)
Refrigerator $4 - $30 /month
(depending on age and size)
Freezer $15 - $30 / month
Range $2 - $5 / month
Coffee Maker (Automatic Drip) $.02 - $.65 / hour
(For you coffee hounds, having that coffee pot going 6 hours a day could be costing you $117/month or $1400 a year – you could have your daily latte for this amount.)
Water Heater Electric: $20 - $70 / month
Gas: $7 - $19 / month
Clothes Washer Per Load: $.03 (cold wash and rinse)
$.23 (hot wash/warm rinse)
Clothes Dryer Per Load: Electric: $.34 - .67
Gas: $.15 - $.26
(Be sure to use the heat sensitive versus timed drying cycles for saving money)
Color TV $.01 - $.05 per hour
(Having that background sound for 12 hours a day could be costing you $18/month or over $216/year)
Water Bed $6 - $22 / month
Aquarium $2 - $12 or more/month
To learn more, please check out the websites in the Resource Section.
As always, I appreciate the email feedback. Please keep it up!
Let me know how much you end up saving with a few changes in your household.
It’s always exciting to hear your comments.
Have a great month and be sure to be in touch!
PS - BTW, if you love Greece, see the movie, "The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants." The Greek Island scenes are beautiful and the movie is actually very good.
Please let me know how you liked today’s information and feel free to share it with others.
Thank you so much for being part of my online “family”.
Have a very abundant and fulfilling 2005.
For more information, feel free to contact me at
judycents@moneytracker.com
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