Make every day a brown bag day.

Remember back to when you were a kid in school.  Your mom used to send you off each morning with a kiss and a brown paper lunch bag.  Maybe you even had a nifty lunch box.  The point is, you were taking your lunch to school with you.  Today your lunch at work could cost you $10 to $20 a day depending on where you live and work.  A sack lunch with a sandwich or side salad or leftovers will probably run you under $2.

You do not have to bring your lunch every day, though it sure would save you some money if you did, but try it for two or three days a week.  You could even bring your breakfast instead of going through the drive through at McDonald's or Burger King as well.  You will eat healthier and save some money in the process.

Free or Fee, that is the question.

Why pay for something when you can get it for free?  We don't mind spending $3 at the video rental store or even $20 for a movie at the department store.  We don't mind spending $30 a month on premium movie channels.  We don't mind paying $10 a month to Netflix or to Blockbuster Online.  Have you checked your local library?  Many of these movies may be 100% free for you to watch.

Libraries are not just for books these days.  Most libraries have movies, Cds and games.  Some are older and may be special interest but many of the movies in your local library may still be in the new release section at the video store.  Free is always better.  Going to the library for a movie may take some getting used to but give it a try and save $3 to $10 a month.  It adds up.

If your library does not have movies or CDs, ask them to add the section.  You could even volunteer to help get them started with a DVD/CD drive for people to donate their older DVDs and CDs.  People can also make monetary donations to libraries with stipulations on what is bought with the money.

FREE! After Mail-in Rebate!

This Holiday Season it seems that every company is trying to get you to buy their product.  In fact some companies make it so that their products are almost 100% free to you, after mail-in rebate.  This is really great for the consumer if a few things are done to insure that you get your rebate.

Many companies have started using "instant" rebates or "on-line" rebates but many are still doing a mail-in rebate system.  This generally requires the consumer to fill out some paperwork, make some copies of a receipt and send it in for a rebate to be mailed to you within 30 to 90 days.  Yes, there is a little work involved but it sure helps to save money by doing this, especially on big ticket items like Flatscreen TV's or Blu-ray players.

There are some things that the company does count on to not give you the rebate.  Most are very time sensitive and must have a postmark by a certain date.  Best rule is to fill out the rebate forms the day you get the item.  Make a notation on your calendar, you may need this later.  Most companies bank on the idea that you will miss the deadline and they won't have to pay.  Be sure to make notes on your calendar of when to expect your rebate so that you can start calling the company if the rebate is later than they say it should be.

Be sure to make a copy of all the forms and the receipts for your records.  You may need this later as well.  Most companies are very good about issuing the receipt checks but some are notorious for not issuing the rebates.  Having a little bit of info to provide proof that you filed for your rebate can make the difference.

Whether is is a $1 rebate or a $500 rebate, there is no sense in not filing the proper paperwork to get the money back.  The company promised it and the rebate was probably a factor in you purchasing the item.  Make the most of your money.

Sometimes the fastest isn't the best!

It seems that everyone wants the fastest Internet speed that they have available in their area.  It must be a "keeping up with the Jones'" thing because there is so little difference between the fastest and the second fastest and even the third fastest tier of Internet speed that most would never even notice the difference.  That is until the bill comes. 

The average household now has three to five computers connected to the Internet.  Just 10 years ago the average was just two computers.  Speeds have gone from dialup to almost directly connected to the Internet.  ISP's have continually added higher speeds as fast as they were available to them.  The "tier's" start at around $10 a month and can be as much as $100 a month.  The question is how much value is the highest tier?

If you have four computers constantly downloading four different video feeds, then yes, the highest tier is probably for you.  However if it is rare that you have simultaneous video downloads than you may be fine by picking a speed closer to the middle tier.  You can save $10 to $50 a month just by dropping your Internet speed.  That is $120 to $600 a year in savings.

Save a bundle by putting together a bundle!

 How much do you spend each month on your home phone, your cell phone, your cable and your internet?   Combining these services with one single provider can save you hundreds of dollars a year.  They do not only save you money, they can save you time and effort by providing you with one single bill.  This single bil is much easier to budget for as well because it is usually the same amount every month.

Most companies will allow you to bundle three of your services into one account, while there are other companies that you can bundle all of your services.  Just check to see what kind of offer they have.  Cable companies started this a while back and companies like AT&T followed suit.

If you live outside of town and do not have a cable provider, there are still options.  We bundled our cellphone, got DSL and Direct TV in our bundle.  We ended up saving about $35 a month, which does not seem like all that much until you look at the yearly savings of around $420.  Not a bad deal, huh?

Replace Your Heating and Cooling System to Save Money

Heating and cooling systems have come a long way in the last few decades.  It is recommended that you upgrade your systems every 10 to 15 years.  Systems break down when they are most needed.  You A/C will never break down in the middle of the winter and your heater will never stop working in July.  Have a heating and air contractor come give you a free estimate.  In fact, have several different companies come out and give you an estimate.  Newer systems are also better for the environment.

Some things to keep in mind when you are in the market for a new system are cost, efficiency and ease of maintenance.  A new A/C system can cost $upwards of $5000 and a new furnace can be over $3500 so you want to get the best system for the money.  Never let a sales person talk you into a system that is bigger than you need.  If you have a 1600 square foot house you do not need a system that will cool 4000 square feet you will just end up paying more to cool your area.

When thinking about a new heating system you may want to consider an outdoor wood furnace.  Some of these systems are much more efficient than standard furnaces.  The investment may be a bit high but it will pay off in the long run. Shopping around will get you the best deal.  Just a side note, spring and fall many heating and air companies run specials that can save you a lot of money.

No Cost Energy Savings Tips For Your Home or Apartment

Here are a few no cost energy savings tips that can help you to save some money:

1.  Turn that thermostat down - For every degree that you lower the thermostat you can save up to 5% on your heating cost.  This could translate to $5 to $10 a degree a year.

2.  Open the curtains and let the heat in - The sun is the most efficient and low cost way to heat.  Opening the curtains in the winter time will allow the sun to heat your home.  It may not seem like much but every little bit counts.  Be sure to close the curtains in the evening to keep the heat in.

3.  Don't block the air flow from vents - If your vents are blocked by furniture you are not heating efficiently.  Move objects out of the way of the air flow.  Vents should be pointed to the walls if in the center of the room and to the center of the room if they are near the walls.

4.  Don't let the heat escape up the chimney - If you are not using your fireplace make sure that the flue is closed and any covers on the fireplace are closed.  An open unused fireplace can allow 10 to 15% of your heat to escape.

Wait for the Sale Before You Buy Christmas Decoations

Christmas decorations build up over time.  They can be used from year to year but no matter how many decorations you have there is always something that catches your eye.  You may end up changing the theme from year to year as well.  Paying full price is both costly and unnecessary.

Christmas decorations are now out as soon as the Halloween stuff goes in the clearance section these days.  By Thanksgivings many stores have already put their Christmas decorations on sale at a reduced rate.  Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabrics, and Michael's as well as many other craft stores carry a huge selection of decorations and they run weekly sales.  Many offer 40 to 60% specials as well.  Check their websites and see what is on sale when.  There is always a sale going on.

Another option is to go to yard sales and garage sales close to the Holidays.  Many people that change themes sell their old stuff at sales.  Thrift stores and flea markets also do big decoration sales close to the holidays.  But the best way is to buy the decorations for next year when they go on clearance.  Shop around and save a few dollars.

Santa Isn't the Only One That Needs a Clean Chimney

It is time for the first fire of the season and you clean out all of the ashes out of your fireplace, dust the cobwebs out of the flue and remove the cover from the top of the chimney, you're done right?  Wrong.  Chimneys build up soot when the smoke passes through.  This soot and tar is flammable and can cause a house fire.  It is time to hire a chimney sweep to clean your chimney.  Santa isn't the only one who will be happy that the chimney is clean.

Though there are a lot of products on the market that claim to be just as good as hiring a real live chimney sweep, there is no substitute to experience.  Most of these products work by creating an intensely hot fire with the idea of burning off the soot and tar.  In some cases that actually makes things worse.  A chimney sweep is going to use brushes and physically remove the soot.

For about $100 a trained experienced chimney sweep will come to your home and clean your chimney the right way.  Take the potential disaster out of the equation and have the chimney ready to go before you need to build that first fire.  Check your local paper or your local telephone directory and call around for a few quotes.  You will be glad that you did.

Is You Home Insulated Enough?

If you live in a house the chances are that you do not have enough insulation in your attic.  Depending on the zone you live in the recommendations for "R" values are much higher than the "R" value construction codes.  Rule of thumb is if the insulation is 6 inches or less(R-19) in your attic you need more.  There really isn't such a thing as too much insulation.  Roll insulation usually has the "R" Value on the paper side of the insulation.

While spray in insulation is one of the most efficient forms of insulation it can be an expensive investment.  The investment can and will return over the years of lower heating and cooling costs.  Be sure to check around with different companies in your area to find out what it might cost. 

The good thing about roll insulation is that you can do it a little bit at a time as your finances allow.  You will start to notice the results almost immediately.  In addition to insulating the attic ceiling you may want to go under your home or basement and insulate the underside of the floors.  This is a bit messy but is really worth it, especially in the wintertime.

Programmable Thermostats Can Save you up to $150 a Year

Programmable thermostats have begun to take over as the thermostat of choice in homes and apartments all over the country.  They have also come down in price by a great deal.  Now for under $100 a year you can save up to $150 each and every year.  You do not have to be a home owner to have one either.  Most apartment buildings now furnish them for you and if they do not, they are very easy to install.

The way it works is you get to choose when the heat or cool comes on.  You can program it to not heat or cool during the day while you are at work but to come on an hour before you get home.  You can program it to drop or raise the temperature while you are asleep as well.  Throwing an extra blanket on the bed and turning the heat down can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Reduce Air Leakage in Your Home and Save Big Money

There are many places in most homes (even new homes) where your heating and cooling air escapes.  Drafts around windows, doors, pipes electrical light switches and outlets can cause an average of 10% of your energy cost to escape your house.  10% may not seem like very much but if your average heating and cooling bill is $200 a month you would be throwing away $240 a year.  Wouldn't that $240 be nice this time of year so close to Christmas?

One of the quickest money saving things you can do is caulk, seal, and weatherstrip every seams, cracks, and any other openings that can let your air escape.  Large leas can often be found around chimney pipe openings, recessed lighting, wiring and plumbing.  You might want to look into having some infrared photos done of your house on a really hot day and really cold day to see where the worst leaks are.

Seal Your Duct Work and Close Your Vents to Save Money

Check all of your duct work for leaks, disconnects and proper insulation.  The duct work will most likely be in either your attic or your basement .Sealing the leaks can reduce the energy needed to heat your house by making sure the heat gets to the rooms you want heated.  To seal the leaks use mastic or UL approved duct-sealing tape.  Contrary to popular belief duct tape may be really good for fixing cars and making wallets but it is very inefficient for actually sealing ducts.  Duct tape can however be used to tape insulation to your duct work.  Please note that there are types of insulation specifically used for insulating duct work and this should be used.  Your annual heating bill can be cut by 10 to 20% by investing in some inexpensive insulation and tape.

Another thing  that can help to reduce your heating and cooling costs is to close off the vents in the rooms that you are not using.  This will direct the air to other rooms in your house that you use more often.  Closing the vents in unused rooms also increases the airflow to the vents that are open and make things heat up and cool down much faster.

Heating System a Tune-up Saves Money

Call your local heating contractor to schedule a tune-up of your heating system before you start running it every day.  A simple tune-up can reduce the energy needed to heat efficiently in your home.  This can reduce your heating costs by 5 to 10% or more.  The potential savings are only $25 to $45 a year, but proper maintenance can save you thousands in the long run.