More on Black Friday

Just a friendly reminder that if you don't need it don't buy it.  We know the Black Friday deals are quite tempting.  But try and remember that if you are going to spend $400 just to gain 10 inches on your LCD Flatsceen TV that you are probably not going to notice that big of a difference.

If you are planning to do some Christmas shopping at Black Friday try and keep to your list.  Try not to buy things just because they are a good deal.  Those deals will be around later in the year when the next round of Flatscreen TVs come out.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Thank you for following our blog on how to save money.  Tomorrow is Black Friday so don't forget to be sensible in your shopping.  Overspending is dangerous, especially in the current economy.  Saving every little bit you can will make things better in the future.  We hope your Thanksgiving is a happy and safe one.

Keep That Door Closed!

With the Holidays come chilly weather and expensive heating costs.  When your family and friends join you for your Holiday party or dinner, encourage them to drop their coats off in the spare bedroom and keep the door closed.

If you have friends or family who smoke cigarettes and you do not smoke inside your house or apartment try to encourage them to all smoke together to minimize the amount of times the doors are opened.  If you have a garage, encourage smokers to use that as the smoking area.  Less heat will escape if you use interior doors to the garage.  

Every time the door is opened a little heat escapes and a little cold sneaks in. It is okay to make rules about opening the door because it is your place and you are paying the bills.  When you are saving money every little bit counts.  Thinking up creative ways to save money is fun, try some on your own and send them our way.  We'll post them for all to read.

Saving Money This Holiday Season

The Holiday Season is upon us and that means spending more than we have.  That has been the theme for many years.  It is time to break free and and not participate any longer.  This year why not try something a little different.  Something that does not add undue debt to you.


This year my family is doing handmade and or recycled gifts.  The rules are pretty simple, either you make the gift or you buy it from a thrift store or flea market.  You can also give something that you already own.  All of the kids are now old enough to finally appreciate the fact that spending money you do not have can cause problems.

Another option is to set a cap on spending for gifts.  $5.00 to $10.00 is a great price range.  This will insure that no one gets any more or any less than anyone else.  By putting a cap on spending you are being responsible yet making the gift buying a little bit challenging.  There are several different Dollar Stores out there that have many fun gifts.

Black Friday Deals

Yes, it is that time again, Black Friday.  The one day of the year when you can save up to 75% off at many of your favorite stores.  Some people plan their attack and send any family member with a car to the different stores to get the very best deals possible.  The stores get to dump a lot of their year end inventory and you can save a bundle.

It isn't just about electronics any more, either.  Yes, you can get a new LCD or Plasma or even a new LED flat screen TV for a fraction of what they have been all year long.  But you can also get towels and sheets and dishes and clothes.  The deals are so good in some stores that in recent years fights have broken out in the middle of the isles.

Be sure to read the ads to see which items are going on sale at what time.  Walmart has started some of their deals at 12:01 a.m. Friday rather than doing all of them at 5:00 a.m.  This should help cut down on the crowds that you may have experienced in recent years.

Though most stores have their ads on line it may be tough to figure out where they are on their site.  Black-Friday.net has done a very good job of getting copies of all the ads scanned.  They also have conveniently given a listing of each item that is on the ads.  There are some stores listed that you might not have even thought would do a Black Friday sale as well.

As you plan your assault, try and remember that just because something is priced lower than normal does not mean that you absolutely need it.  Remember to shop responsibly.

Wrap Your Pipes

You don't much think about how much energy is lost through heat loss on your water pipes. Depending on the size of your house and the distance from your water heater to your shower or sink you could be wasting a lot of hot water. The water in the pipes will average out to the temperature in which the pipes lay. That is why the further the source of hot water the longer it takes to warm up in the shower or the sink.

There are several things that can be done to keep from losing heat. Wrapping the pipes with some type of insulation is the best way. Several companies make foam insulation that goes around pipes. These generally are slit so that they can go over the pipe easily and be removed if a repair is ever needed. Be sure to get the right size insulation for the pipe.

Should you insulate the cold water line? It does help in the long run to insulate all of the pipes. Insulating the cold water pipes will also help to keep them from freezing in the winter time. If you have a rental house ask your land-person to either wrap the pipes or allow you to do it and take the cost off of your next months rent. This is an improvement that most home owners should do.

Remember every little bit helps. You won't just be saving money, you will be helping the environment. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them.

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Change your Filter.

The filter in your air conditioner or central heat and air conditioner helps to keep dust and other particles out of the air. It also keeps dust and other particles from entering the mechanical parts of your system. Window unit air conditioners and heaters usually have a washable filter and central heat and air units usually have a disposable one.

For the window unit filters it is recommended that you clean the filter after every 120 to 320 hours of use. That is about one to two weeks of use. Certain conditions may require cleaning more often. Usually you can use a shop vac to clean the bulk of the dust out of the filter. Then you can gently spray out the rest with either a shower head or spayer head at your sink. Allow the filter to dry and then replace it.

Central heat and air units generally use a disposable filter, but there is a trend toward washable filters for that as well. It is recommended by most manufacturers that you replace your filter every two weeks to month. you can prolong the life slightly by vacuuming out the filter once a week or so. This is almost necessary if you happen to have pets. Otherwise just throw the filters away and put in a new one. The filters are usually sold in packs of two or three.

Changing the filters not only help to keep your air free of particles that could cause allergies it can also keep your air conditioner or central heat and air unit from needing costly repairs. If a unit is going to break down it is going to be when you most need it. Keep those filters clean and save money while doing it.

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Save More Money on Heating Your Home

This week, we have been talking about ways to help lower your heating cost. I wanted to share a product that I have been using for a couple of years. It is called the Water Eater™ and it has more than one function. The main function it is sold for it to absorb moisture around windows and doors. It also works great for blocking drafts in older houses.

In the small town I live in, most of the houses are 50 to 75 years old. A lot happens to a house after that long. Gaps start appearing around windows and doors. Sometimes it is impossible to close all the gaps. You can just about see your heating dollars blowing out of those cracks.

Purchasing and installing weather stripping can help but the Water Eater™ takes no tools or any know how to use. Just put it in the windowsill and let it do the job. They help to take the moisture out of the air around it. I have no idea how it works but it does work. I purchased mine from Improvementscatalog.com and though they may seem a little pricey they make up for it in the long run. Cheaper heating bills and not having to repaint my windows almost every year from the water damage associated with condensation has made it all worth the money I spent.

Have you had really good luck with a product or really bad luck? We would like to know. Leave us a comment or e-mail us at tightenyourbelt@gmail.com

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Ceiling fans can help keep you warm in the winter.

Some may not know that ceiling fans have two directions, forward and reverse. Knowing which mode is best for what season can help to keep your heating and cooling costs down. In this economy every penny counts. It is best to check with the manufacturer of your fan to find out the best way to change the direction of the fan blades but most have a switch on the side just below the blades.

In the forward mode the fan turns and pushes air downward. This is used in the summertime to give you a 'wind chill' effect. In the winter time the fan should be in reverse mode. In the reverse mode the fan forces air upward which helps to circulate the air in the room.

The direction the blades turn for forward and reverse will vary depending on the manufacturer. Without reading the instructions that came with your fan or looking up the model on-line the best way to tell if your ceiling fan is in forward or reverse mode is to stand directly under it. If you feel air blown your way it is in forward mode and if you do not feel the air you are in reverse. Remeber when you do decide to change the direction of the fan blades to make sure that it is at a complete stop before trying to flip the switch.

While we are on the subject of ceiling fans it is good to note that you should clean your fan blades at least every week or two. The buildup of dust actually causes more drag and causes the motor to work harder. This will cause the life of your ceiling fan to be cut short. So, to insure a long life with your fan, clean the blades! Swiffer actually makes an attachment just for cleaning ceiling fans. Though I have never used the Swiffer for my fan, I have heard that it works quite well as long as you maintain a routine and don't let the blades get too dirty.

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Winter nears, are you ready?

As winter approaches it is time to start thinking of ways to cut our heating costs. You may not know this but one easy way to do this is open your drapes on a sunny day. By opening your drapes you let the sun warm your room. It may not seem like much but every little bit can help. Especially if you live in a cooler region. Just remember to close the drapes before it gets dark. Heating your room by one or two degrees takes a little stress off your central heat.

Don't have central heat? Maybe you have a fireplace or wood stove. Remember to buy your wood in the off season. Prices for wood can actually double when it gets close to time to need it. You can get some excellent deals on wood in the early spring into summertime. People want to sell the last of what they cut before it is warm enough to not need it. If you happen to go this route, be sure to cover your wood pile and protect it from the elements.

In the coming weeks we will have plenty more money saving tips and tricks. We will also be doing some product reviews that will help you to choose some nifty items for making your house more efficient for both winter and summertime. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

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