Energy-Saving Tips

The change in season with it's cool air makes being indoors so warm and inviting. My family enjoys being together in our family room with hot drinks - the kids are loving hot apple cider and freshly baked pumpkin bread! Mmmm... we are already looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas with all the fun activities, gift-giving and baking.
However, the fall and winter months bring something I'm not so fond of - higher gas & electric bills, so of course I'm always looking for ways to lower our expenses. Here's a few tips:

1. Check out The Home Energy Saver website to find out how much the average home energy bill is in your area, then find ways to make your home more energy efficient.
2. Use a programmable thermostat to manage your climate control; program your heating to meet your family's schedule and needs and avoid heating your home unnecessarily.
3. Train your family to close doors and windows, turn off lights in rooms that aren't being used and to use less hot water. (I know... good luck with that!)
4. If it's time to replace any of your household appliances, be sure to compare the energy efficiency labels before you buy. Also, check with your local utility company for any rebate programs being offered.
5. Heating water can account for up to 20% of your energy bill, so do pay attention to how long you let the water run while you are doing dishes or showering etc.
6. Set your outdoor lights on a time or dusk to dawn sensor so that you don't accidentally leave them on all day.

Keep looking for ways to save, those small changes can make a difference!

Smart Mom

Fall Checkup

As the weather starts to change (at least where I live) it's time to do some spot checks around your home to prevent costly repairs later and also to minimize your energy loss.

• Check your gutters, get them cleaned out, look for any holes or broken/ loose areas, better to do maintenance now than during the wet season.
• If possible, check your roof for any loose shingles. Be careful... only assume this task if you are physically able to handle going up a ladder onto the roof. If not, consider hiring a professional for an inspection.
• Check the seals around your windows and doors. Use caulk where necessary to fill any air gaps and reduce your heat loss.
• If you have ducting in your home, clean the vents and ducts if possible.
• Put away any outdoor furnishings that would deteriorate with exposure to the fall/winter weather.
• If you live in an area prone to snow and freezing temperatures, make sure you have outdoor faucet covers ready as well as a snow shovel and ice melt.
• Make sure you have adequate insulation around your pipes.
• Check your outdoor lighting, replace any burnt out lighbulbs.
• Be prepared for possible power outages - locate flashlights, batteries, candles and other emergency supplies. Organize them in an easy to find location.
• This is also a good time to test your smoke detectors and change the batteries.

If you have any other tips to share, please leave a comment, thanks.
Smart Mom

Simplify your life

Where does the time go... has it really been two weeks since my last blog entry? Wow.. things have been hectic around here, I'm hoping to get it together here soon, and having said that I want to share some tips for simplifying your life to reduce your stress and save you energy!

Examine:

Take stock of what is consuming your day. If you don't know where your time is going, keep a log for a day or two. Write down everything you do and how much time you spend on each task. You might be surprised at what you find.

Evaluate:

Evaluate each item/task on your list and determine if it is a necessary/valuable use of time (obviously if you have a job to go to, you better not quit). Prioritize the use of your time. Time for fun and relaxation should be part of your day too.

Eliminate:

Eliminate things from your which are unnecessary, add stress, or take away from any goals you have established for your life.

In addition you might want to consider these tips for simplifying your life:

• discard junk mail as soon as you get it, to prevent piles of paper growing in your home


• clean out your refrigerator and pantry


• purge your e-mail inbox and unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read


• donate or sell unwanted items and clothing

Watch for more tips in the future. Be sure to let me know if you have any great tips to share too.

Smart Mom

Save On Your Services

The temperatures are in the 90's here right now and I wish I could think of some Smart Mom tips to cut back on the misery of being too hot without air conditioning. I'm trying to keep my home cool with all the usual methods, but I'm failing.... it was still in the 80's after 10 pm last night, so cooling off overnight is a myth at the moment... oh well, may as well try to find other areas to save....

After taking a look at your major accounts, you might want to evaluate some of your everyday expenses to see if you can reduce your budget without compromising too much on the things you want. Some areas to look at could include:

• Cable TV/Satellite TV: try cutting back to a more limited service, I reduced my bill by about $40 a month and we still get enough channels (so few are worth watching anyway!)


• Phone/ Long distance calling: don't pay for more than you will use each month, the phone companies always try to up sell you to a better package - and they should, that's their business- just be aware of what you are paying for, you might be able to eliminate some features you never use. Take a look at Skype for free calling and video calling http://www.skype.com/ I haven't used this service but I have friends who have and they gave it a thumbs-up.


• Cellular phone service: if you don't use it much, look into a prepaid or pay as you go plan; if you use your cell phone a lot be sure to get unlimited minutes in your plan. Shop around


• Internet service providers: you can find many services online for free, but typically you will have to pay someone to provide you with access to the internet. Compare services from your phone company, cable/satellite company, cellular company. Be sure to find the service that meets your needs, really, who wants dial-up anymore

Check out the discounts you would receive if you bundle your services with one provider, and watch your mailbox for special offers. Of course, if you find you don't need any of the services I mentioned, cool.. you can eliminate them altogether. (Did I say cool? I must be dreaming of lower temperatures.)

Well, gotta go now, see you tomorrow.

Smart Mom

Getting a Handle on Housework

Perhaps you love to spend your weekend cleaning up after your family, or not.... does your week get so busy that your house looks like a battle zone by the time Friday rolls around? Help is just a few short tasks away, here's a few tips to get your household chores under control so that you can spend less time cleaning on your days off and more time doing the things you want to.

• Get a laundry organizer basket, something with at least 3 compartments (you could probably find one at Wal-Mart or Target). Sort your dirty laundry as you put it in the hamper, so you will easily see when you have a full load to do and it'll be ready to throw in the washer. Teach everyone in the family to sort their laundry as they put it in. Make sure everyone picks up their dirty laundry EVERY DAY. Schedule it in to your kids routines, even toddlers can learn to sort their clothes by color.


• Don't ever leave dirty dishes in the sink, take care of them right away, then wipe the counters clean.


• Before bed do a quick sweep around the house - that is, pick up items that were taken out and put them away.


• Keep a container of disposable disinfectant wipes (eg. Clorox or Lysol) in each bathroom. Each morning after everyone is done with showers etc., give the bathroom a quick wipe down with a disposable wipe. Your bathrooms will always look clean and this will probably only take you 1-2 minutes.


• Make your bed each morning, after your shower is a good time, then pick up any clothing etc. and leave your bedroom looking neat. You'll be glad you did when bedtime comes around!

These are just a few ideas to get you started, again you'll be making investments each day which will save you time later!

One last suggestion... don't feel like you have to do everything yourself, get your family involved!