winter

Tuesday’s Tip: Hold It In!

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With the weather in Chicago turning (much!) colder, my husband and I had our yearly conversation about how to keep electric and heating costs down this winter. Not that our bills are outrageous. In fact, ours seem to be lower than a lot of people we talk to, but it takes a little effort to keep them under control. Still, we want our family to be comfortable, so when our daughter came to us complaining that she had to pile six blankets on her bed to keep warm at night, we were concerned. Hubby and I looked at each other. The window? And not just any window. A set of three large windows, actually, that take up virtually one entire wall of the bedroom. Without a word, we both trudged up the stairs to assess the situation. Our hands hovered over every joint, edge, and seam of the windows, searching for the tell-tale draft we were sure was turning our little girl into an icicle. We couldn’t find it, but we did notice how very cold it was. The giant wall of glass provided no insulation from the cold that secretly seeped into the room.

What to do . . .

Well, way back in the day, when I was in college (and, no, I’m telling how far back) my roommate and I shared the top floor of a century-old house with windows facing every direction to the outside world. It was great when it was sunny, filling the apartment with warm sunshine. But during the winter, the wind’s icy fingers crept into our little home, making the radiators moan with the effort of keeping us warm. We asked our landlady what to do and all she offered in the way of advice was to stuff towels along the seams and hang old blankets from the curtain rods. Huh . . . yeah, ok. Sure. That’ll work. We tried it anyway, but didn’t like the fact that the blankets blocked out the natural light, making us feel like we were living in a dungeon. And it didn’t do a very good job of stopping the drafts from finding other gaps in the window sills. So, we asked our parents. They suggested putting plastic over the windows. We did, and it worked. It wasn’t perfect, but we were much warmer and, subsequently, happier knowing we weren’t going to have to take a blow dryer to our toes in the morning anymore.

So, my husband stopped by the hardware store on his way home from work the next day and picked up a package of insulating wrap. It was only about $8 or $10 and was made for large windows and patio doors. After dinner, we set out to keep our daughter from freezing while she slept. Start to finish, it took us about 45 minutes. We took down the valances and curtains, wiped the surfaces, then rolled the double-sided tape along all the edges. Next, we carefully placed the plastic around the window, trying not to make any wrinkles. Then my husband waved my hair dryer over the entire surface until the plastic was taut. Then we replaced all the curtains. Done. The next morning, our daughter gleefully informed us that she was so warm that night that she had to take off her socks and shed a blanket or two. Naturally, we were relieved and glad we wouldn’t be treating her for frostbite.

Surprisingly, the process of insulating windows with plastic isn’t very difficult. Plus, it’s an inexpensive way to block drafts and chilliness while holding the heat in, which will save you money on heating costs. You can even see through it. If you have drafty windows, but can’t afford to replace them just yet, consider installing these plastic insulating wraps to your windows. You can find them at hardware, grocery, and discount stores. (Chances are they’re on sale right now.) They also come in several different sizes with everything you need to protect your windows, including instructions. You supply the hair dryer. It’s an easy, inexpensive alternative to freezing to death or going broke.

Tuesday’s Tip: Membership Pays

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Well, summer has officially begun! It’s the time of year we dream of during the cold, winter months when the skies are bleak and gray. It’s a time that brings about cherished memories of summers past. A time we eagerly anticipate as the world begins to thaw and spring to life once again. A time to venture out of our homes, to explore the wonders that surround us . . . but do you ever find yourself wondering: What should we do? There are so many different options during the summer months but, while we’d like to do all of them, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time . . . or enough money.

So consider this: a membership.

If there’s a particular place you enjoy visiting, or a certain activity you engage in frequently, then you may want to consider becoming a member. But the cost of membership seems so expensive! you might think. It’ll never pay for itself. Ok. Valid concern. Let’s take a closer look at it . . .

Let’s say you love going to the zoo. You have a family of 5. To park your car, that’ll cost $10. General admission is $30 for 2 adults, and $31.50 for your 3 kids under age 11. The subtotal, so far, comes to $71.50 – just to walk in the gate. Now your kids are begging you to see the dolphin show. That’s another $7.50. Oh! And there’s a super cool special exhibit, for this summer only, that your kids are dying to see. That’s an additional $19. That brings our total to $98. And now they’re thirsty. And hungry. And there’s an awesome something-or-other at the gift shop that only costs $10 . . .

Oh! I’m sorry . . . is your head spinning? Breathe. Take deep breaths. In through your nose. Out through your mouth.

Ok. Same scenario – but as a member. The cost of a family membership is $115. That includes unlimited admission and parking for a year, plus a free guest, 4 tickets to the dolphin show, 4 tickets to ride the tram, some free passes you can give to your family or friends, admission to the children’s play zoo, and discounts on everything from food to merchandise to special events and exhibits. So, if we do a little math (don’t panic!) we see that, even if you choose to simply walk around, skip all the extras, and buy absolutely nothing, the total cost of 2 visits is $143 – which means the membership will have already paid for itself. If you return several times throughout the year, you’ll save hundreds of dollars just in admission and parking fees alone. For example, if I paid $71.50 for each of 5 trips to the zoo, I’d pay a total of $357.50. If I buy a zoo membership for $115, I’d save $242.50 over the course of the year. Want to get really nuts? $115 divided by 5 visits means that the cost per visit would only be $23. For the whole family. That’s a lot better than $71.50.

What else can you do? Who else offers deals and memberships? Ask around. Look up your favorites online. If you enjoy swimming, check out the cost of a pool pass. Do you like museums? How about amusement parks? Or maybe camping? Local sporting events? Golf? Whatever the case may be, do a little research. Find out what’s included in the cost, what the perks are, and if it’s something worth doing. Calculate how much it would cost you for multiple visits and then compare it to the cost of a membership. Or, you can take the cost of the membership and divide it by the number of visits you could realistically make and see what the cost per visit is. Either way, you may just find that being a member can be a very economical way to do the things you enjoy most.

Tuesday’s Tip: Holiday Feasts

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One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is EAT! I make meals or goodies that I don’t normally make . . . friends and family do the same . . . and whenever we get together to celebrate the holidays, sometimes we end up acting more like grazing cows than humans. Don’t get me wrong. Our family Christmas feast is a full-on, sit-down, stuff-your-face event with all of our favorite foods. But other social gatherings offer a help-yourself-as-many-times-as-you-can selection of foods and before you know it, you’ve filled your plate five times in one evening. Oh well. It doesn’t happen very often, right? Right?!

So, what does eating have to do with saving money? Well, as anyone can tell you, preparing for a holiday feast can get pretty expensive, not to mention stressful, especially if it’s left up to one or two people. Everyone knows someone who insists on taking care of absolutely everything, while others don’t seem to mind letting everyone else do all the work. So, for those of us that fall somewhere in the middle, it helps to share the responsibilities of preparing the meal. If you’d like to try divvying up all the work among family or friends, but don’t know exactly how to go about doing it, here are a couple of strategies that might work for you.

First, let each family or guest make their own favorite dish or two to bring to the table. Or, if you’re like my family and you already know who-likes-what, simply count up the number of different favorites and then split them up evenly among everyone. Then again, there’s my dad who insists on buying the shrimp, but doesn’t want to cook it! LOL (Love you, Dad!)

Second, try letting each family pick a part of a multi-course meal: appetizer, main dish, dessert, or drinks. For example, we have something called “Neighbor Night” and four families get together on a somewhat regular basis. Well, at least we try. And we’ve agreed to rotate responsibilities whenever we get together. For instance, whoever is hosting the party at their house provides all the drinks. The other three families then supply the rest, and it changes with every party. That way no one is stuck with the same thing every time.

With the economy the way it is right now, I don’t know too many people who can foot the entire bill on a huge holiday gathering. But then again there’s just something fun, exciting, and comforting about sharing a meal with the people we love and sharing our favorite things with them all. It’s not only easier on the wallet, but also less stressful knowing it’s not all on our shoulders. And who knows, you just might discover something new about yourself, your family, friends, and oh yeah . . . food!

Yum!

Tuesday’s Tip: Beware the Ads

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‘Tis the season to spend money . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la la la . . . Getting ripped off isn’t funny . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la la la . . . Tell the cashier that you’re watching . . .  Fa la la . . . la la la . . . la la la . . . And be careful what you’re charging . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la . . . la . . . la!

Ah yes, the season of giving is upon us. It’s that time of year when we all gather ’round the blazing fire, sing carols, share our favorite foods and memories, and bask in the warmth and love of our families.

‘Tis also the season for long checkout lines, cranky customers, outrageously ridiculous retail hours, and headaches from trying to keep track of all the holiday sales and the lengthy receipts that accompany the trips to the mall.

It’s an exhilarating time of year, filled with good cheer (for the most part) and the satisfaction of seeing the excited faces of our loved ones as they open the gifts we’ve picked out especially for them. We’d love to buy something for everyone . . . and thus begins our quest to find the perfect gift at the right price so we don’t end up in the poorhouse. Every year I watch the news reports come in about how much people are spending and I’m inclined to believe that Black Friday for the stores puts everyone else in the red.

There are things you can do to survive the season, however. First, you can apply your willpower. (If you don’t have any, I strongly suggest you get some . . . quickly.) Second, you can buy my book or take my seminar and learn how to save up enough money throughout the year to cover your holiday expenses. (Yes, of course it’s a shameless plug, but what do you expect? :)) Third, you can learn how to read and understand store ads so you can get the most for your money without being taken for a ride.

For example, “2 for $15” is not the same as “Buy 1, get 1 free”. If it says, “2 for $15” you can usually buy 1 for just $7.50. You don’t always have to buy 2 to get that price. It’s a marketing strategy to move merchandise by getting consumers to buy more than 1, thereby spending more money. That’s not the case with “Buy 1, get 1” sales. If an item is normally $40 and it’s being advertised as a “B1G1” item, then you must buy 2 in order for the price to average out to $20 each. See the difference?

Some stores offer a percentage, such as 10%, 15%, or 20% off your total purchase. Take a close look at the ad though. You may not be able to get 20% off unless you spend a certain amount, like, say, $100. If you intend to spend that much at one store, $20 off is nice, but if you’re going for just one or two items you may not get any savings at all.

And if you use a coupon for anything that you buy, whether it be merchandise or food, check the coupon closely for any restrictions or conditions. I recently wanted to use a coupon at the grocery store and realized, too late, that I could only save the printed amount when I bought both of the items pictured. It wasn’t a “save 75¢ on this or that”, it was a “save 75¢ on this and that”. Ugh.

With all of the goofy new shopping hours to accommodate those people who just can’t seem to wait until 8 am, be careful to read their ads. The fantastic price on that TV, video game system, or automatic whatever-it-is may not be honored by the time you get to the store at 10 am. That price was only good from 1 am to 4 am. Sorry . . .

Or they may only have 3 of them and if you’re not waiting in line 3 days ahead of time, forget it . . .

Or you may only be allowed to buy 1 or 2 to get that ‘special’ price . . .

So . . . my advice? ALWAYS read the fine print on store ads and circulars. And when in doubt, ask at the checkout or ask a manager to clarify. You’re a savvy shopper, my friend. And you have a right to know. You also have the right to save a little dough. Then you can pat yourself on the back, relax, and enjoy the holidays with everyone you love. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway . . . ?

Tuesday’s Tip: All Heated Up

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Since the cold(er) weather is quickly approaching, if not already beginning to settle in, I thought maybe I’d talk about heat. Specifically, heating our humble abodes.

Gas and electric companies always seem to be crying hard times and raising our rates even though just about everyone I know is crabbing about their bills! So, in an effort to save some moola this winter, try lowering the temperature in the house a couple of degrees. We have a digital thermostat that does a very good job of regulating the temperature in our house. And with good insulation, it’s even better. We have the temperature set at 68 degrees right now, but even during the winter we don’t usually set it above 70.

Whenever we get together with friends or family and we’re just sitting around chatting (especially with the “older” crowd), the conversation never fails to include the rising cost of things. I find it slightly humorous that people are continually surprised by the fact that our heating and electric bills are lower than everyone else’s. Well, that’s because we don’t turn our house into a sauna in the wintertime. Yes, we wear sweaters and socks or slippers in the house, but we’re comfortable that way. It’s not as if we’re huddled in front of a tiny space heater under 15 layers of clothing and blankets just trying to save a few bucks. Our bills have been $75, $100, or more, lower than some of the people we know. Talk about being surprised!

True story: A couple of friends were complaining about how high their bills were during the winter. Then we went to their house for a small gathering – and nearly suffocated! We were dressed in jeans and sweatshirts, but we were greeted at the door by our friends wearing shorts and T-shirts! No joke! The house was so warm that they actually dressed as if they were headed to the beach. I’m not saying you should have the temperature so low that you can see your breath in the house, but holy cow! Really???

So . . . Don’t think it matters? Guess again. The warmer you have the house, the more your furnace kicks on to maintain that temperature. The more it works to keep your house warm, the more energy (gas and electricity) you use. The more energy you use, the higher your bills will be throughout the winter.

So before you crank up the heat, think about setting the temperature slightly lower and dressing for the season. Try a few different settings, and maybe even dropping the temp a little lower at night. I’m not talking 10 degrees, I’m talking 2 or 3 depending on where you normally have it set. Hey, I’m all for comfort, but I’d like to be able to afford food, too. And I happen to like sweaters . . .