DTV 2009 – Converter Boxes – Coupons – FAQs
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Saving Money, Shopping
You’ve seen the ads on TV. In February of 2009 you television set will go black. You’ll no longer have access to analog television stations.
According to the TV Converter Box Coupon Program website, they say:
At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.
This issue can be confusing. The TV Converter Box Coupon Program website has the facts. Here are a few links to their site:
1) Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
2) Your Options.
3) Application for a coupon
4) Locate a converter box retailer near you.
For additional information, including eligible converter boxes and partners, including fact sheets in English and Spanish, click on the TV Converter Box Coupon Program website.
Tags: analog switch, analog television, converter box, converter boxes, coupon program, coupons, digital broadcasting, dtv, fact sheets, february 17, power television, programming options, television set, television stations, tv box, tv converter, united statesHow To Save Money During A Recession
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Finances, Saving Money
Saving money during an economic slow down, or recession, often becomes a topmost priority for many.
Until a stimulus kicks in, or the economy turns around on its own, we are left struggling to pay our bills, put food on the table, survive from day to day, while looking for ways to save money until the recession passes.
Listed below are a number of small ways to save. Utilizing more than one method, will increase your overall savings. Whether in a recession or not, these are all great ways to save money on a day to day basis.
For Your Vehicle and Driving
1) With gas prices at an all time high, drive only when necessary. Take time to plan your trips. Combine trips to the grocery store, with dropping the kids off at school, or with another set appointment.
2) Keep your tires properly inflated. Most tire stores will check your tires for free if that’s where you purchased your tires from.
3) If you always get your tank filled, start filling your tank when it reaches half. Although this won’t save you money, you can spread the cost to fill your tank over several days or weeks.
4) Remove any “car carriers” you may have on the top of your car.. Keep your vehicle as aerodynamic as possible. Car carrier can reduce your miles per gallon.
5) Keep your car tuned up. An improperly running car may cause an excessive use of gas.
6). Carpool If possible carpool with others thus sharing the expense. Or, if you are running errands, ask friends and/or family if they need you to pick up something for them, or vice versa.
7) Use public transportation Instead of driving, take the bus or train. Use this time to listen to music, read, write, journal, etc.
Walk Walking is one of the best exercises. Instead of driving to the corner store, put on your sneakers and enjoy the fresh air.
At Home or Work
1) Buy generic brands. The taste difference for most generics is minimal.
2) Buy in bulk. If the packages contain too many, share the cost for friends or family
3) Stretch hamburger recipes with grated potatoes. By adding grated potatoes to hamburgers or hamburger dishes, less meat can me used, thus saving money on groceries.
4) Click and use coupons. Coupons can often be doubled, saving you even more. Check the local newspaper for the “double up” coupons.
5) Search online for low cost recipes. Many websites have classifications of low cost recipes. Soups are often low cost to make. Add a salad and some bread for a great and filling meal
6) Order off the $1.00 menu at fast food restaurants. With most fast food being high in fat and calories, you’ll not only save money, but may save a few extra calories as well.
7) Buy take and bake pizzas. Papa Murphy’s offers a wide selection of choices. Check for others in your area. Remember to check their weekly specials. By calling in your order, you will also save time. Refrigerate the pizza until you are ready to bake it.
8.) When eating out, consider sharing a meal. Some restaurants may add a “plate charge” for a shared meal, however this will be much less than the cost of two separate meals. Desserts can usually be shared at no additional expense.
10) Change out your light bulbs. Use the compact fluorescent light bulbs in as many fixtures as possible. Start by replacing the light bulbs in the fixtures which are used most often. There are also compact fluorescent light bulbs available for appliances such as refrigerators and vent hoods. I bought mine at WalMart.
11) Do comparison shopping via the telephone. Most businesses will tell you what a product costs over the telephone. Comparison shopping is also easy to do online. Look for sites that offer free or low cost shipping.
12) Recycle By recycling paper products, cans, and bottles, you may be able to reduce the size of your curbside garbage container. Also, ask your garbage company if you can save by only having your garbage picked up every other week (instead of weekly). Most garbage companies also have a “vacation” plan if you are going to be gone for any length of time.
13) Stop or reduce newspaper deliveries. If you only read the Sunday paper, stop subscribing to the daily ones.
14) Visit the library Instead of buying new books, get a library card and check out books from your local library for free.
15) Keep your receipts. If you buy an item and find it doesn’t serve it’s purpose, return it. Often impulse buying can cost us hundreds of dollars, only to have items hanging in the closet with price tags still on them. Do not remove price tags until you are certain the item will be used.
16) Be a smart shopper. When shopping, ask yourself, “Do I really, really, really love this?”, “Does it fit?”, “Do I have a spot in my house for it?”, “Do I really, really need this?”. Often you’ll realize you have one at home just like it, or you don’t have a spot for “it”.
17) Close the doors/vents. If you have rooms in your home that are not being used, close the heating vents, and close the door. It doesn’t make sense to heat a room that is not being used.
18) Install ceiling fans. Remember, heat rises. Use ceiling fans to push the heat back down.
19) Make and pack your lunch for work. Bringing your own lunch to work, can save thousands of dollars over the course of a year.
20) Decrease your purchases of daily lattes/mochas/specialty coffees. Paying $3-$4 for a cup of coffee adds up fast. One cup, every day of the month is will cost over $90 a month/$1000+ a year. Over a five year period, you can easily spend $5000. For more information on “the latte factor”, here’s a great article titled: Where Have All The Dollars Gone, which includes tips on how to chart your expenses, and curb spending.
21) Stop buying bottled water. Buying bottled water at $1.00 a piece can add up just like purchasing specialty coffee drinks. Filter your own and store in reusable water bottles. For more information on the actual cost of bottled water, read this eye opening article, titled Are You Paying Too Much For Water?, which details how the cost of bottled water can surpass the price of a gallon of gas.
Save on energy costs – 30 ways.. Click on the link and learn an additional 30 ways to save on your energy costs.
Save Money – 16 Ways. More great ways to save money.
Another 16 great ways to save money. Here’s another list to save you a few coins.
Uses for Baking Soda. This great article plus the links included, will show your hundreds of uses for baking soda, a very cheap alternative to cleaning chemicals.
22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas. Save money on gifts by checking out this list of 22 ideas. It may spur your creativity for more great ideas.
Disclaimer: Some of the above links may include duplicate information, however, that does not reduce the effectiveness of the money saving tips.
Photo Credit annia316 ?’s photos
Tags: blog, car carrier, car carriers, food on the table, generic brands, Gift Idea, photo credit, saving money on groceries, taste difference, tire stores, topmost priorityDr. Oz Lists Five Foods To Avoid
Filed under: Archives, At Work, Diet & Health, Saving Money, Weight Issues
If you have watched Oprah, Dr. Oz is often the guest.
When talking about diet issues, Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen have often spoken of five food “groups” to avoid.
They are:
1) Hydrogenated oil or partially hydrogenated oil and/or trans fats
- Image via Wikipedia
2) Sugar
3) High fructose corn syrup
4) Enriched flour
5) Saturated fat
Often, you will hear some of these called “white foods”.
White foods have all of the nutrients and fiber stripped from them.
By reading labels, and making a conscientious effort to avoid these five ingredients, you will become a more informed consumer.
By reincorporating “whole foods” back into your diet, weight loss may result.
It is often written, to “shop the outer aisles of the grocery store”. That is where you will often find fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains.
Do you want more information about Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen? Check out their Real Age website, their book, The Real Age Diet or read more on Oprah.com
Update: Dr. Mehmet Oz now has his own TV show, named Dr. Oz
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Easy Trip Planning – Find The Best Deals
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Saving Money, Travel
If you travel, or are planning a vacation, finding the best airfare and/or hotel deals can take lots of work. You may check with your favorite airline, or decide to use Orbitz, Travelocity, Cheap Flights, or another travel site.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a free, one stop shopping site, for trips and vacations?
A search engine, for travelers?
A search engine that would provide comparisons between airlines, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and/or vacation packages?
Well, now there is.
Actually there are two.
1) Kayak.com
2) Sidestep.com
Both of this sites offer that one stop shopping (searching multiple sites) you may be looking for.
All you do is, enter your trip information, and these sites do the rest of the work for you.
They scan hundreds of sites, and give you dozens of results to choose from.
They both offer side by side comparisons, and provide a link to the specified site.
Keep in mind, these sites are not “resellers”, or online “travel agencies”.
I checked out both sites.
I input the same flight information into both sites, and both basically gave me the same results.
Whether you use one or the other, becomes a personal preference.
Check out both, and add them to your “favorites”.
In the future, when you are planning a trip, you are just one click away from all of the best deals and travel information you will need.
No tags for this post.Need Money Fast – Know The Truth About Payday Loans
Payday loans or payday advances are considered to be short term loans, which are marketed as emergency, or one time funding, for those who find themselves in a temporary financial bind.
The payday loans have extremely high interest rates, but for those who need money now, the interest rate becomes irreverent.
Typically, a borrower may pay $15.00, or more, for every $100.00 borrowed. Normally, a payday loan has to be paid back within two weeks. When calculated, the annual percentage rate (APR) could be as high as 400%, or more. Compare that to a high interest credit card’s interest rate of 30% +/- APR.
Payday loans can be acquired by anyone who has a checking account, and a source of income (wages, retirement, social security, etc…). The payday advance company uses either post dated checks (checks which are dated “in the future”), and/or, the banking information as collateral.
To quote the Center For Responsible Lending (CRL), a non profit, non partisan company, established to be a resource for predatory lending opponents,
According to CRL’s research, borrowers who receive five or more loans a year account for 90 percent of the lenders’ business.
What happens in a lot of instances, is that the borrower cannot pay off the loan in the allotted amount of time. Additional fees are added to the original loan, and things begin to “snowball”, propelling the borrower into possible financial ruin.
If you find yourself facing a financial crisis, before heading down to your local payday loan store, read the facts on the CRL website.
Take time to read their article (under “Payday Lending”), titled “Financial Quicksand – Payday lending sinks borrowers in debt with $4.2 Billion in predatory fees every year”.
Be an informed consumer.
Unfortunately, when faced with a financial crisis, individuals will turn to whatever source is readily available, to gain access to cash.
Although payday loans, or advances, is not a wise choice, often, it’s the easiest, and………….one of the most expensive methods of borrowing.
No tags for this post.How To Save On Energy Costs – 30 Ways
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Home Improvement, Saving Money
Energy costs are on the rise.
How to save money on energy costs, is partly common sense, but can also be time consuming, and may involve a monetary investment.
Using some of the following ideas will help to reduce your energy costs, and put more money in your pocket.
1) Install or increase insulation in any part of your home that needs it.
2) Replace air filters in your furnace. Dirty filters will reduce the efficiency of a furnace.
3) Have your furnace professionally cleaned and serviced on an annual basis.
4) Seal air leaks in doors and/or windows. Replace caulk and/or weather stripping, as needed.
5) Buy energy star appliances
6) Use compact florescent light bulbs
7) Turn lights off when you leave a room
8.) Turn your computer off when it’s not in use. Unplugging it, will save even more.
9) Unplug small appliances when not in use
10) Dress warmer in the colder months, to avoid turning up the thermostat
11) Lower your thermostat to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, at night. With a programmable thermostat, you can have the furnace come on shortly before you get out of bed.
12) Install an energy star programmable thermostat
13) Have blankets and/or throws handy to use when sitting, watching TV, and/or reading.
14) Use styrofoam vent “plugs”, to keep cold air from entering the crawl space of your home. When spring arrives, remove the vent plugs to allow air movement under your home. Save the vent plugs, as they are reusable for the future. (The can be purchased at most home improvement stores)
15) Use LED lights where ever possible, e.g. Christmas/holiday lights, under the counter lights, etc.
16) Close heat vents in rooms that are not being used. Then, close the door to avoid heating an unused room
17) Use ceiling fans to push warm air down….heat rises.
18) Close window blinds when the sun sets. Open them in the morning to let the sun shine in, which will produce more light and natural heat.
19) Install storm windows, or use a protective barrier on older windows
20) Wash clothes in cold water
21) When you are shopping for a new washer, consider a front loading HE (high efficiency) model. They use less water, less detergent, and energy.
22) When drying clothes, use the automatic sensor, that will shut the dryer off when the clothes are dry.
23) Turn down the temperature of your hot water heater
24) Insulate your hot water heater with a hot water heater “blanket” (they can be bought in home improvement stores)
25) Use heavy drapes in the winter months to avoid cold air from “seeping in” from windows
26) For the summer months, lower the thermostat on your air conditioner
27) Planting shade trees will also help to keep your home cooler.
28) Keep the filters in your air conditioner clean, and/or changed often.
29) Have your air conditioner professionally cleaned and serviced on an annual basis.
30) Close window blinds in the summer to keep your home cooler.
Using these tips could potentially lower your energy costs, and result in substantial savings. That, is also something, that is great for the environment.
Last Minute Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Saving Money
If you are looking for last minute cheap, themed, Christmas gifts, here’s a list of 20 great ideas.
These last minute gifts, can be put together in a short period of time, without “breaking the bank”.
1) Reading theme: Get a magazine subscription
2) Car Detailing Theme: Buy a plastic bucket. Inside the bucket, place car washing soap, a chamois, wash mitt, window wash, tire brush, roll of paper towels, and a product like Armour-all.
3) Popcorn themed gift. Large bowl filled with a bags of microwavable popcorn, plus some popcorn seasoning. For an added bonus, a include a movie DVD
4) Pedicure theme: Line a small basket, or plastic basin, with a washcloth or hand towel. Add spa socks, Johnson’s Foot Soap, and a bottle/tube of foot lotion, and maybe some nail polish.
5) Painting theme: Fill a paint tray with a roller + handle, brush, stir stick, blue painter’s tape, etc. Add a coupon for “a free day of help painting”. Place the items in a box and wrap with white butcher paper, using the blue painter’s tape as the “ribbon. Add a blue or white bow.
Wrapped in the real estate section of the newspaper, this would also make a great house warming gift.
6) Craft Theme: Place skeins of yarn and knitting needles (or crochet hooks), in a basket. Add a “how to” book. Place items in a box, wrap with brown kraft paper and use yarn as your “ribbon”. Insert two knitting needles or crochet hooks into the “bow”.
7) Scrap booking Theme: Buy a plastic scrap book “box”. Fill it with assorted papers, stickers and embellishments. Check your local dollar store for these items. Add a pair of fancy scissors and some glue.
8.) Cooking Theme: Buy a cookbook
9) Kids Theme: Buy a toy or board game. Wrap it in the comic section of the newspaper. Use a jump rope as a “ribbon”.
10) Kids Money Theme: Instead of giving them a $20 bill. Get twenty ones. Wrap them in a box, or put them in a wallet or purse. The kids will think they’re rich, with their big “wad”. Or use Origami, and fold the money into different shapes. Make the Origami book as part of the gift.
11) Tool Themed Gift. Pick up a plastic tool box. Add a few tools and a gift card for their favorite home improvement store.
12) Quilters Themed Gift: Buy a pack of “fat quarters” (most fabric/quilting stores will have these available). Add a pair of small sewing scissors, and spools of thread. Place in a small basket. Wrap the box with piece of fabric, as an added bonus.
13) Exercise theme: Get a pedometer. Add a subscription to a “health” magazine (See #1)
14) Baking/cooking theme: Does someone love a specific recipe of yours? Make a “batch”. Deliver it in a casserole dish, or on a pretty plate (for them to keep). Include a copy of the recipe.
15) Another baking theme: Buy tubes of sugar cookie dough and cookie cutters. Add a sheet pan, rolling pin, some sprinkles, wax paper, and maybe a plastic spatula. Place in a box. Use a cookie cutter, as part of your bow decoration. Make sure to tell the recipient to open the package right away. (the prepared cookie dough needs to be refrigerated) Making, cutting, and decorating sugar cookies is a great way to get children to help in the kitchen. (Just remind them to wash their hands often)
16) College Student Theme: Buy a laundry basket (or bag). Add a small container of detergent, fabric softener, and some plastic hangers. Other “essentials” can also be added to this gift.
17) Spa Theme: Buy some candles, candle holder(s), bath salts and/or bubble bath. Add to that a CD of relaxing music, and maybe even a plush towel.
18) Cheese Theme: Buy small packages of specialty cheeses. Add a cutting board and a small knife. Include boxes of gourmet crackers, as an added bonus. (Remember to keep the cheese refrigerated)
19) Wine Theme: Purchase a bottle wine and two (or more) pretty wine glasses. Wrap the wine in a cloth wine bag or round wine box. Ask the store where you purchase the glasses from if they have a box for the glasses. Use some plastic grapes as part of your “bow” on the box of glasses.
20) Music Theme: Buy a package of blank CD’s. Add a gift card/certificate to Shop at iTunes“. Wrap it in sheet music, or sheet music looking paper.
Don’t forget those less fortunate. Pick names off of your local “tree of joy”. Involve your children, and teach them the true meaning of the holiday season. As an added incentive, donate to, and/or volunteer at the local soup kitchens, and help to serve holiday meals.
For additional inexpensive gift ideas, see: 22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas
Do you have other great gift ideas…themed or not?
Feel free to add them to the comment section, so they can be shared with others. 
Save Money With Energy Saver Appliance Bulbs
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Saving Money
Saving energy by changing out light bulbs, can save hundreds of dollars over a short period of time.
I am in the process of changing out most of our light bulbs, and replacing them with long lasting, compact fluorescent, energy saver bulbs.
I started by replacing the light bulbs in the lamps and fixtures we use most often.
I recently found energy saver appliance bulbs at WalMart. They are for use in appliances, ceiling fans and garage door lights.
I bought a package of three, and replaced the bulb over our stove, and the one in our refrigerator.
The brand I purchased, is Lights of America. The package of three was under $8.00.
The bulbs are 7 watt, which are similar to a normal 40 watt incandescent bulb.
According to the information on the package, it claims I can save $20.00 in energy cost, per bulb (based on one hour of usage per day).
Each bulb is guaranteed to last five years.
On the back of the package, the “Caution” statement says not to use the bulbs where they may be directly exposed to water (electrical shock may occur), or in emergency exit lights or fixtures. They are not to be used with dimmer circuits, nor are they recommended to be used with timers, photocell, and motion control devices. The minimum starting temperature is -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have never used energy saver, compact fluorescent, light bulbs before, when you turn the light(s) on, the light starts out dim. Within a short period of time, they brighten to, what appears to be, the same brightness as a regular incandescent bulb.
No tags for this post.22 Cheap Holiday Gift Ideas
Filed under: Archives, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Projects, Saving Money
Cheap holiday gift ideas are sometimes hard to come by.
With gas prices being at an all time high, real estate in a slump, people losing their jobs, and the holidays just around the corner, it may be necessary to curb spending, and revert back to finding creative, cheap holiday gift ideas.
Listed below are 22 cheap holiday gift ideas.
1) Knit a scarf or hat, or make one out of fleece.
2) Bake a cake, cookies, bars, bread, or pie. Wrap it with cellophane and ribbon, for great presentation.
3) Make a “jar” gift. Stack the dry ingredients for a simple cookie or soup recipe, in a jar. Attach the recipe, and top the jar with a pretty piece of fabric
4) If a young child needs a specific article of clothing, check with your local fabric store for material and a pattern, and sew it yourself.
5) Make hand/machine sewn pillows. Attach pretty buttons, fringe, or other embellishments to customize it to the “recipient’s decor. Quilted pillows are also an option.
6) Create a photo collage in a pretty inexpensive collage frame
7) For bird lovers, make a pine cone bird feeder.
8.) For those who like to read, purchase a gift card, and attach a bookmark to the package
9) For the cook in your life, sew an apron, and even matching towels. Towels can be made out of cotton table cloths. One large table cloth will yield at least a dozen towels. As an added embellishment, sew ribbon on the towel. Potholders are inexpensive to make, as well.
10) For young children, fill a basket with coloring books, crayons, and other goodies, from your local dollar store. With toy recalls being a major concern, check the CPSC’s (Consumer Protection Safety Commission) website for the current list.
11) For that “someone special”, create a “coupon book”. Use your computer to create coupons for such things as a back rub, foot massage, pedicure, manicure, car wash and/or detailing, ….the possibilities are endless. Get creative! Use humor. Include drawings or photos.
12) Coupon books would also be great for children to give to their parents or grandparents. They could include coupons for chores they normally don’t do.
13) For a family member or friend, frame a favorite picture. Choose a frame that will match their decor. Try processing the photo in black and white, for something different. For free photo editing, try Picasa.
14) Instead of buying gifts for everyone in a large family, “pick names” and set a budget. Plan a fun filled evening, for your gift exchange.
15) At work, draw names for a “secret Santa”. Buy for one person, set a budget, and pick a day to exchange gifts and reveal who’s “Santa” you were.
16) Burn a CD with favorite photos or music. Wrap it in a plastic CD holder.
17) Give the gift of tea or coffee. In a napkin lined basket, place a box of tea or a bag of coffee, a cup, and a package of biscotti.
18) For those who still prefer to hand write letters, buy a pretty box of stationery, and include a pretty pen. Maybe even some stamps.
19) Shop discount stores for pretty baskets of lotions and soaps. Pick a scent that the recipient likes. If you’re real creative, make handmade soaps. Attach a tag and wrap with a pretty ribbon.
20) Candles are great inexpensive gifts. Buy a candle and matching candle holder.
21) Movie tickets are inexpensive. Give a friend or family member two tickets, and a coupon for “free babysitting”. That would make for a great “date night” for parents who don’t get out much.
22) There are many beautiful ornaments on the market. Buy a pretty ornament, and an ornament holder from your local craft store.
Any gift can be made even prettier, by using beautiful ribbon. Buy a big roll at a discount store, and use it for all of your packages. Just pick a color that will match an array of holiday papers.
Wrapping paper can get expensive, but by using an alternative, you can save even more money. For ideas on cheap wrapping paper, read a previous article of mine, titled: Cheap Wrapping Paper.
Take time to wrap your gifts with love and care.
Find a box your gift will fit into. Line it with pretty tissue.
Wrapped boxes create a beautiful present. Attach a hand written card, for greater impact.
A cheap holiday gift idea, that’s well thought out, and beautifully wrapped, can hold more meaning than an expensive store bought item.
Who can put a price on that?
For great themed gift ideas, see: Last Minute Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas
Conserve Energy With Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Filed under: Archives, At Home, At Work, Saving Money
Conserving energy, saves money.
Using compact fluorescent light bulbs is one way to conserve energy in your home or office.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are now available in all shapes and sizes.
Although you will pay more for the compact fluorescent light bulbs, in the long run, they will save you both money and time (replacing light bulbs).
When replacing standard light bulbs with the compact fluorescents, start with the lights in your home that are on the most.
When using compact fluorescents, when you first turn on the light, you will notice that the light appears dim. As time passes, the light will become brighter.
Watch for rebates on compact fluorescents, and save even more.
No tags for this post.Life Saving Tips
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