Lowering Your Electric Bill

I've been sitting here thinking about my most recent electric bill. Mine was nearly $300, which may not seem too bad to some, but it's the highest one I've ever received. I know people (family, actually) whose electric bill was almost $900! For one month! Of course, living in an all-electric mobile home has quite a bit to do with my higher bill, and the winter has, so far, been a tough one. Keeping my home warm enough is simply taking more electricity. A larger bill is only logical; however, the power company has raised rates dramatically, and that just makes the problem worse.

So I've done a bit of research to find suggestions to help me lower the monthly cost of electricity in my mobile home. I found some common, and some not-so-common, ideas that you may find helpful whether you live in a mobile home, condo, apartment, or regular house. I'm sure going to give them a try!

• If you live in a mobile home, be sure to use under-pinning or under-skirting.
• Insulate, insulate, insulate! This includes your water heater, too. And pipes that transfer water from room to room under the house will hold their temperatures better if you insulate them.
• Lower the temperature on your hot water tank. Most sources recommend 120 degrees as a good setting.
• Seal every window, either with weather stripping, removable caulking, or plastic sheeting. Just make sure that you can still open the windows in case of an emergency.
• Wood floors are lovely, but consider throw rugs in the winter if you don't use them or have carpet already. Carpet and/or rugs hold in heat and feel much better on bare feet on cold mornings!
• Replace standard incandescent light bulbs with the newer fluorescent bulbs. They can be a bit pricier initially, but they pay off in the long run. And, depending on the bulb, they may take a little getting used to because some take longer to brighten up completely.
• If you don't use every room in your house all the time, close off or at least shut the door to those unused rooms. Also close heat vents in those rooms. Just make sure those rooms have nothing that will be damaged by lower temperatures (like freezing pipes) or higher humidity. Especially watch the humidity levels in closed-off rooms. I closed the door to my son's room since he is married and lives out of state now, but I ended up having to re-open it because the wood in the room actually started to mold!
• Turn off lights when a room isn't being used, and use only lights that you absolutely need otherwise. This goes for outdoor lighting, too. Just don't sacrifice safety.
• Speaking of light, I think natural light is better anyway! Keep your insulated curtains drawn at night and on the cooler side of the house (usually the north), but allow the sun to warm and brighten up rooms during the day. Allowing sunshine into your home will also help with the "winter blues", or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
• Plant trees that will block cold winter winds on your property.
• However, some trees will also block the sun and prevent it from warming your home during the day. As much as I absolutely hate cutting trees, I suggest that you try to remove trees (or at least any limbs) that block the sun.
• Cook with appliances that use less power. An electric oven is a huge energy drain. I use my microwave a lot, but you can also use crock pots, grills, and even your outdoor barbecue.
• When you are cooking on your electric stove, turn off the burner a minute or two before whatever you are cooking is 100% done. The burner will stay warm enough to finish cooking the food, but that minute or two will add up to save a bunch of energy.
• Clean your refrigerator coils often.
• Change the furnace filter regularly. Don't make your furnace work harder than it has to.
• Most people can't just go out and buy new appliances whenever they want, but when you do have to purchase new ones, go for the most energy-efficient ones you can afford.
• Unplug anything not being used! Electronics especially will continue to draw power even after you turn them off. Unplugging them will nip that in the bud. Of course, this isn't always a good idea with computers, but at least turn off your monitor and printer.
• Get used to washing with cold water, and never do a partial load of laundry.
• Run your dishwasher only when you have a full load.
• Make sure your electric meter is working properly. One way to test it is to unplug or turn off everything that draws power or flip breakers to everything in the house so there is no power drain whatsoever. If your meter still registers power as being used, your meter probably has been giving inaccurate readings and needs replaced.
• You can use a similar method to determine where your greatest power use is coming from. Flip off all breakers, then flip one on at a time to see which registers the greatest power use. Use this knowledge to help you lighten your electrical use in that area or room.
• Lower your thermostat at least a degree or two. Even small changes make a difference. Just keep one thing in mind. Remember that heat rises and cold air falls, so it will feel colder at floor level. Small children and pets are closer to the ground than we adults are and they'll feel the cold sooner than we will. Older people also have a problem with regulating body temperature and may feel the cold more intensely. So, don't set your thermostat too low for others in your home.
  

Now that's a start. Does anyone else have any money-saving ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Sherry

Mom

 

It's been a difficult couple of years.  My father passed away in December of 2009. Then, just last month, my mother-in-law lost her battle with lung cancer.  This past Wednesday, my mother passed away. 

Words cannot describe how I feel.  My heart is filled with an incredible sadness. There are so many things I don't understand regarding the last couple of years of my parents' lives.   I know I just need to give it all to God, and I am.  I am reminded of  Psalm 46:10:  "Be still and know that I am God."  I trust, in His time, he will show me. 

God Knows You

God knows you by name and has your best interest at heart.

He will be with you and will carry you when you can't find the strength to stand on your own.

Remember during difficult times that you are cared about, prayed for, and never, ever alone.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. Romans 15:13 NIV

Encourage someone today by letting them know that God is with them and will carry them through their difficult time. He will empower them with His strength, and will never, ever leave them.

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New Kitchen Faucet

Old Kitchen Faucet

Like most of the rooms in our home, redecorating the kitchen has been an ongoing process for quite some time.  Doing it this way makes it gentler on the budget.   If you've been following along with me, you'll remember some time ago, we painted the walls, cabinets and countertops, and added beadboard wallpaper.  Last spring, we replaced all of the appliances with stainless steel ones.  Then, a  few months ago, we replaced the light fixture, window treatments, and counter stools.  

The most recent update is the new sink fixture. Picking up on the bronze cabinet hardware, I choose a Price Pfister Avalon single-handle side faucet with soap dispenser in Tuscan Bronze.

New Kitchen Faucet

What a difference a new faucet can make! I love how it looks and functions, especially the soap dispenser.     

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Thanks to Susan of Between Naps on the Porch, for hosting Metamorphosis Monday.

Call it Good

I read this devotional a couple of days ago at Our Daily Bread.    It definitely puts a different spin on how you look at things.  

Today's Reading:  Psalm 13

I have trusted in your mercy. - Psalm 13:5

Can we really know whether to label life’s circumstances as good or bad?  
For instance, your car breaks down right before you are to take a family road trip. But when you take the car to the shop, the mechanic says, “Good thing you didn’t take this out on the road. It could have caught fire.” Is that bad because of the inconvenience, or good because of God’s protection?

Or perhaps your child decides to pursue interests that aren’t all that interesting to you. You wanted her to play basketball and run track in high school. But she wanted to sing and play the oboe. You feel frustrated, but she excels and ends up with a music scholarship. Is that bad because your dreams weren’t fulfilled, or good because God directed her in ways you could not have predicted?

Sometimes it’s hard to see how God is working. His mysteries don’t always reveal their secrets to us, and our journey is often redirected by uncontrollable detours. Perhaps God is showing us a better route.

To make sure we benefit from what might seem bad, we must recognize and trust God’s “unfailing love” (Ps. 13:5 NIV). In the end, we’ll be able to say, “I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me” (v.6 NIV).

The circumstances in our lives
Seem random and unplanned;
But someday we will surely see
The order of God’s hand. —Sper

We may not be able to control events,
but we can control our attitude toward them.

Written by Dave Branon

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Affordable Florida Spring Getaway

Ah, snow...it's pretty, but you definitely get tired of it when you can measure what's on the ground in feet rather than inches.  Wednesday, when I was out shoveling this ...

I was thinking about this

and this

That's because last weekend, I booked our spring break trip to Florida, and I'm glad I did. The price of oil just hit $98.00 a gallon, which means airfare prices will soon skyrocket, due to the higher cost of fuel. If you're planning to book airfare for a spring getaway to Florida, you should probably do it soon.  

Saving on Airfare

There are several ways to save on airfare.  First and foremost, always try to book flights with an airline that doesn't charge to check bags.  Most airlines charge $25.00 per bag for each leg of the trip.  That's $50.00 per bag, per person, round trip.  This can add up; for a family of four, it will cost $200.00, in addition to airfare.  The exceptions are JetBlue and Southwest Airlines.  JetBlue allows one suitcase per person to be checked for free, and Southwest  does not charge their customers an additional fee for checked bags.  

Second, book your travel on Monday - Wednesday, and be willing to travel early in the morning.   If you do this, you'll save a bundle and will likely be able to find a direct flight. I did exactly that on  JetBlue.   I found three round trip, direct flights from Boston to Orlando for $241.40 each, including all taxes and fees.

Saving on Accommodations

Instead of staying at a resort within the parks, you can save a bundle staying at a villa within driving distance to the Orlando area attractions.  Villas typically have all the comforts of home, including full kitchens, dining areas, washers and dryers, and community pool, clubhouse and fitness center.   With a full kitchen, you can save money by eating a few meals in.

However, keep in mind that the weather across the nation has been cold and snowy this winter, so it's likely many more people are probably thinking about warm weather spring getaways.  Therefore, if you want to find affordable accommodations, you should act quickly.  Affordable villas are renting fast this year, according to Paul at Call Free Villas.  

Clubhouse at Venetian Bay Villages

I reserved a villa for our family at Venetian Bay Villages through Call Free Villas. This will be our third vacation staying at Venetian Bay, and we really enjoy the amenities.  They include:

• 4 swimming pools, a spa and sundecks.
• a basketball court.
• tennis courts.
• a sand volleyball court.
• 4 playgrounds
• a gated entrance
• gardens and a nature walk.
• a spacious clubhouse.
• a video arcade and game room.
• a computer room with high speed Internet access.
• wireless Internet
• a full fitness center.
• a conference room.
• a movie theater.

Each unit is very spacious, with 3-4 large bedrooms and 2-3 baths.  With all that room, you could split the cost with family or friends and save even more.  

Now that our airfare and lodging have been booked, I just need to find some attraction and restaurant coupons.  I'll let you know what I find. 

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Lots of Snow

The storm that was predicted for today has certainly lived up to its hype!   We had heavy snow accompanied by thunder and lightning early this morning.  This was how the back deck looked earlier today. 

 The above photo was taken from my office window.  It's pretty, but the cleanup is a lot of work.

Thank God my husband's office was closed today.   Since we were all home, it seemed like a good morning to make apple cinnamon waffles.  I made these with Fiber One waffle mix.  Using the basic directions on the box, I replaced the water with apple cider and added one grated apple to the mix.  I then tossed in about a teaspoon of cinnamon and filled the wells of my preheated waffle iron.  Once they were cooked, I added some chopped walnuts to the maple syrup, which I heated in the microwave.  Yum!  Good  fuel for ...  

  Snowblowing and shoveling!

Once everything winds down, we should end up with between 18-20 inches.  I'd better get out there and help shovel the stairs and walks.   It's good exercise, so I think I can skip the gym today.

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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

My sister-in-law Mae is an amazing cook! She can invent really good recipes at the drop of a hat, and when she actually uses a recipe, she knows how to make alterations that will make it even better. She also collects old cookbooks and often will try recipes from them. In her collection is one called The Household Searchlight Recipe Book from The Household Magazine. The copy she has was printed in 1936, but the first edition came out in 1931. Each recipe has the name, city, and state of the person who submitted the recipe, and I really like that. I try to imagine the person back then and what cooking was like in that era, and I wonder if she (and it's almost always a "she" in the older cookbooks) is still with us. I wonder what she would think knowing that her recipe is still being used by people all over the country. This particular recipe was submitted by a Mrs. J. Walker in Kansas City, Missouri. I'm sure that today there are a thousand Mrs. J. Walkers in a city that size, but three-quarters of a century ago, perhaps there weren't quite so many. Intriguing, isn't it?

Yesterday, Mae made a gingerbread recipe from this book, and, of course, it turned out beautifully! The recipe she used is below and exactly as it was printed in the book 75 years ago. She did make a few changes that cut the calories dramatically and also skipped the loaf pan and changed the shape into individual biscuit-shaped servings (as you can see in the photo). She eliminated all of the marshmallows and whipped cream, and she also left out the raisins because she didn't have any on hand. She used buttermilk instead of "sour milk", too. (And, am I the only person who has never heard of lima bean flour?) As with most any recipe, you can make your own changes to suit your nutritional and family preferences.

Enjoy!

Sherry

Ingredients:

1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Sour Milk
3 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup Molasses
3/4 Cup Melted Shortening
2 Eggs, Well Beaten
1 Teaspoon Baking-Soda
1 Teaspoon Ginger
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Directions: 


Combine eggs, sugar, shortening, and molasses. Sift flour, measure, and sift with baking-soda, salt, and spices. Add alternatively with milk to first mixture. Beat until well blended. If desired 1 Cup chopped raisins may be added to batter. Pour into well-oiled pan. Bake in moderate oven (375 degrees F.) about 40-45 minutes. The loaf may be sliced in 2 layers, and marshmallows placed close together between the layers. Cut in squares and garnish with whipped cream. (Soy bean or lima bean flour may be substituted for one Cup of the white flour.)

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My Fashionista Bargain of the Week

On Friday, I received a $10.00 gift card in the mail from Dress Barn.  Apparently, these were sent out to all Dress Barn cardholders. This afternoon, after dropping my daughter and her friend off at the mall, I headed over to Dress Barn to look around.

To my surprise, I found this pretty ruffled sweater I had previously admired in the store a few weeks ago.  It was now on a clearance rack.  The original price was $39.99, but today, on clearance, it was $18.50.  

I tried it on and love, love, love it!  It's the type of sweater that looks great with jeans and boots, over a top and dress pants, or even over a sweater dress.  

After applying the $10.00 gift card from Dress Barn, I walked away with this beauty for $8.50--and, of course, a huge smile on my face!  Thanks, Dress Barn!


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Gadget Review--The Kindle

I am a voracious reader. I collect books like crazy, especially older books. I love those printed prior to, oh, say...1940, especially. They tend to be clean, innocent reads, and that appeals to me. I'm crazy about many of the classics, of course, and I love children's literature, young adult literature, and various new grown-up works, too. But, I have to say that my book collection can take over the house at times, so I frequently force myself to pass some on. I take lots of them to work and give them to students and co-workers. Unfortunately (if you could call it unfortunate), I tend to replace those given away just as quickly!

You might say I've always been a bit of a book "purist". I love the feel of a book in my hand. I like the sound of pages turning, and I enjoy the way words just look on paper. And the smell of a book--one of my favorite childhood memories involved reading Childcraft books in my second-grade classroom. I can still remember the wonderful scent of those lovely books! So with all of the talk of e-readers, I've wondered whether or not I'd really like to read from a device that didn't have the same feel, scent, or look as a "paper" book. But then, living with bookshelves that bow under the weight of all the books they hold is honestly a little disconcerting!

Well, this Christmas, Santa (disguised as my son and daughter-in-law) understood my situation and brought me an amazing surprise--a Kindle ebook reader from Amazon! And I absolutely love it! It's simple and easy to use, thank goodness. It holds tons of books and will even play mp3 music! It comes with this ingenious little combination power cord and USB cable; all you have to do is pop the power cord prong end off, and underneath is a USB end! You can charge it using a wall socket or a computer, and you can download books and music via the USB cable or Wi-Fi. Handy! And a charge last for ages. I've been reading from my initial charge since Christmas Day, and my son has a friend who only has to charge his about once a month. Not bad!

It also comes with a helpful guide built in, plus a dictionary, but no digital books. So I went to Amazon and found a bunch of free books to download. These are all copy-right free because of age or author's permission. I downloaded about 20 books here, including some classics like Dickens' Great Expectations (currently on Oprah's list!). I also found a book called Troublesome Creek (by Jan Watson), which I was immediately drawn to. It is set in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky, not long after the Civil War. My Dad grew up near there, and I have other family connections to that area, so I really wanted to read it. I'm about half-way through it now, and it's a wonderful, sweet story. It was on the free download list (which changes frequently), but now it has been moved off that list and must be purchased. However, the price is definitely reasonable and quite a bit less expensive than the hardcover edition.

You can also download free books from various sources like The Gutenberg Project or others you can find online, as long as you choose the right format. Most of these will be much (and I do mean, much) older or obscure books (which, of course, will have their share of gems). However, if you want something new and current, I strongly recommend Amazon. Yes, new ebooks on Amazon have a price, but it is usually significantly lower than the same book in paper form. I've noticed that about digital books on Amazon--some of them can be incredibly inexpensive. I've actually seen books on there for less than $1.00! Needless to say, that will make my ebook collection easy to expand on (and save my poor bookshelves!). Oh, I forgot to mention that you can subscribe to certain newspapers and magazines on your Kindle. Talk about saving trees! I am such a tree-hugger anyway-- so that's a big plus about the Kindle for me. It's an ecological wonder when it comes to that sort of thing.

If you are looking for color or a back-lit screen, the Kindle doesn't have it. Or at least, the one I have doesn't. But that has definitely not been an issue. It shows illustrations in black and white, and even when the device is turned off, the screen shows a different illustration as a sort of a "screen saver", and I really like that. The lack of color and a back-lit screen are energy-savers, too. I believe that is one of the main reasons a charge lasts as long as it does. The six-inch screen is glare-free and easy to read from. The print is a good size and is adjustable. It's easy to forget that you aren't reading a paper book. It's light-weight and very portable. I mean, it fits in my purse! The model I have is the $139.00 one, but there are two other more advanced ones that you can choose from. Being the slightly technology-challenged person that I am, simpler is better!

Oh, by the way, I'm working on designing my own Kindle case/cover. You can purchase one, of course, but why not make one? When I get it figured out, I'll post it here, okay?

Anyway, go to Amazon and check it out here. I really think the Kindle is a worth a look-see. I adore mine and really recommend it!

Sherry

P.S.!!! My son came to visit this week and showed me two things I didn't know about my Kindle. It will actually read a book aloud to me! That will be fabulous if I want to lie in bed at night and just listen to a story, and it will also be really great for listening to when I'm driving. What a cool thing!
And he also discovered that my Kindle will surf the Internet. I thought it just went to Amazon's website, but Stephen (my son) went to CNN's website and checked the news. I am SO happy about that! I'll be zipping out my Kindle to check Frugal Fine Living whenever I find a Wi-Fi Hot Spot! Yes!!!!!