Energy Savings : Fill the Freezer

Posted by Tad Johnson - Apr 2nd, 2008 at 18:04

Your refrigerator is probably the biggest electricity user in your kitchen. With energy costs going up, you don’t want it to work any harder than it has to. Fortunately, there are some very easy ways to keep it running efficiently :

img_2234.JPG

  1. Replace the ancient model. If you’ve had the same refrigerator for 20 years or more, it’s time for an upgrade. Newer models are so much more efficient that they pay for themselves in energy savings in just a few years.
  2. Keep it clean. There’s a reason your fridge has wheels–you need to clean behind it every month or two. Dust buildup prevents even heat transfer, making it work harder.
  3. Fill the freezer. You want your freezer about 90% full for optimal efficiency. If you keep lots of frozen foods on hand, great. If not, fill the extra space with something easy, like ice. I fill up my empty milk cartons with water and place them in the freezer. If I need the space, I’ll just empty a few and throw out the cartons.

Remember, saving energy not only saves you money, it benefits the globe. Don’t let your fridge be an energy hog!

5 Tried and True Financial Fundamentals [via SavingsAdvice.com]

Posted by Tad Johnson - Mar 27th, 2008 at 22:03

Phoning this one in, folks. Click through for the full story.

http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/03/23/102071_tried-and-true-financial-principles.html

Five Tried and True Financial Fundamentals - SavingAdvice.com Blog via kwout

Self Reviews

Posted by T.W. Hanson - Mar 25th, 2008 at 18:03

goals

Twice each year, I find it useful evaluate my professional life. The introspective few hours spent looking at past performance and setting goals for the future can be more useful than reviews from your peers. You know what you have done well and poorly and where you really stand to improve. Give it a try sometime in the next few months, and try to achieve your goals. It could save you from the axe in the current economic environment.

Here is a small sample of what I will be working on:

Networking: Having just moved from the East to the Midwest, I have much work to do to meet new people. I intend to become more involved in the community through recreation, volunteer work and even faith based activities.

Smiling More: Although I am proud of my general stoicism, I know it can come across as depressing at times. I have gotten much better at this, but there is room for improvement.

Increasing Efficiency: By concentrating more between the hours of 7 and 6, I hope to cut back on the late nights and weekends in the office. This may just result in more work. We will see.

The Budget Theater

Posted by Tad Johnson - Mar 24th, 2008 at 20:03

Even with all the media alternatives, I still enjoy the good old fashioned movie theatre. There’s something comforting about the sticky floors, the warm popcorn, and the giant screen. The problem is, tickets have gotten expensive.

movie-tickets-popcorn.jpgGone are the days when you and a date could view a movie and get snacks for under $20. (At that price, you could buy the DVD!) Fortunately, there’s an easy alternative : the budget theatre.

Here in Milwaukee, the budget theatre costs a whopping $2 for a ticket ($1 on Tuesdays) and plays second-run movies–usually just before they’re released on DVDs.

Is it worth waiting a month to see that new movie? I sure think so. Since I’m a regular budget-theater-goer, I’ve more or less adjusted my internal movie release clock (after all, they’re all new movies until you see them!)

Saving a few bucks on a movie ticket isn’t going to make you a millionaire alone, but it’s just another example where a little patience can save you a bundle in the long run.

New from Amazon : Subscribe & Save Subscription

Posted by Tad Johnson - Mar 21st, 2008 at 7:03

Everyone’s favorite book music movie everything store (Amazon) has a pretty great deal on groceries : subscribe to your favorite items and they’ll deliver them automatically on a set schedule and give you 15% off and free shipping. Not bad for a vicenarian on a budget!

amazon subscribe

There’s my first (and only) subscription. I eat a lot of Clif Bars, and they are kind of expensive in the store (usually ~$1.15/each). Between the bulk discount and the 15% subscription discount, I’m getting them for $0.85 a piece! Plus, they’ll magically arrive at my door every two months. Thanks, Jeff Bezos!

Powered by WordPress with GimpStyle Theme design by Horacio Bella.
Entries and comments feeds. Valid XHTML and CSS.