By Andrew Bicknell
With the rising gas prices of today many people have begun to look for an alternative way to put fuel in their cars. A biodiesel kit fits the bill for many people who have started making this oil saving fuel in their own backyards. And why not make your own fuel, the hit to wallets and bank accounts with high gasoline prices makes finding alternative fuel sources imperative these days, particularly with the price of gas and oil in the news on a daily basis.
A biodiesel kit is a great way to save a substantial amount of money on your fuel costs. The basic function of such a kit is to convert vegetable oil into biodiesel, a fuel source that can be used in vehicles that currently run on diesel fuel. It is important to note that not all car companies endorse the use of biodiesel fuel in their vehicles and will void the warranty if an engine is damaged by its use. Be sure to research this before buying a new vehicle with a diesel engine. For older diesel cars and truck there are engine conversion kits that will make the change to cleaner burning biodiesel much easier.
There is a minimal amount of supplies needed to use a biodiesel kit. You will need basic tap water, methanol and access to a good amount of vegetable oil, which can usually be obtained from restaurants and such. You can set the kit up just about anywhere, although most people do put them outside in a shed or under an overhang. You will be making a fuel oil so setting up in the house may not be a real good idea.
When it comes to pricing a kit the more features to be found the more expensive the kit. The most expensive models are built to prevent fumes and odors from escaping during the refining process. Having an odorless refining process may be important for those wishing to refine their fuel near their home. If you live on a farm or a large acreage this may not be as important as the kit can be located farther from the house. Of course if you can afford it go ahead and get the more expensive closed system just because they are very easy to use.
If for some reason you already have a large amount of cooking oil that you need to dispose of then a biodiesel kit would work perfectly. It does take more time to process used oil but the results are the same, a more environmentally friendly fuel that can be put into a diesel powered vehicle.
Considering that the price of gasoline is on an ever rising trend making biodiesel for personal use can be seen as a smart move. Having your own biodiesel kit producing a constant supply of a low cost environmentally friendly fuel right in your own backyard would remove the sting of high pump prices.
Do you want to know more about
biodiesel kits and the fuel they make? Click here and find out all about biodiesel.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Bicknell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-With-A-Biodiesel-Kit&id=412175
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Save Money Save Time Save Gas Save Pollution By Using A Shopping Mall
By Gordon Mchale
Yes, you can save money because the goods for sale in an online shopping mall are normally a lot cheaper than in a physical shopping mall, you will also save time as you do not have to travel from one shop to another carrying heavy shopping bags as the online mall has all the products in the one place, and you do not have to wait at a busy checkout.
You can save gas because you do not have to drive to the mall to do your shopping nor do you have to spend time looking for a parking spot. Also as you are not burning gas you are in fact lowering the amount of pollution in the atmosphere and helping with the war on global warming, and as you are not driving to and from a shopping mall you save even more money.
You do not have to wait for sales at the shopping mall as prices in the online shopping mall are a lot lower on just about every product.
You can browse as much and as long as you feel like without being followed around the store by sales people, you can decide if you want to buy at your own pace .
Just bookmark the page and return to it as many times as you like in order to make up your mind or even show friends or family to get their opinion before you decide to purchase an item.
There is a huge range of products for you to browse, if you can think of something it is most likely to be at the shopping mall.
So don’t get the car out and drive for perhaps thirty minutes in heavy traffic, try to find a parking spot within walking range of a shopping mall and then go from store to store carrying your purchases and then waiting for up to twenty minutes at a busy checkout, then driving home again in heavy traffic and carrying your purchase into the house.
Just turn on your computer and browse at your leisure while having a cup of coffee and order the products you want and have them delivered to your door, from the shopping mall.
Now that’s what I call shopping.
Gordon Mchale Lives In Australia. Go To This Link And SAVE now http://gordonm.FSCStore.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_Mchale
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-Save-Time-Save-Gas-Save-Pollution-By-Using-A-Shopping-Mall&id=424245
Yes, you can save money because the goods for sale in an online shopping mall are normally a lot cheaper than in a physical shopping mall, you will also save time as you do not have to travel from one shop to another carrying heavy shopping bags as the online mall has all the products in the one place, and you do not have to wait at a busy checkout.
You can save gas because you do not have to drive to the mall to do your shopping nor do you have to spend time looking for a parking spot. Also as you are not burning gas you are in fact lowering the amount of pollution in the atmosphere and helping with the war on global warming, and as you are not driving to and from a shopping mall you save even more money.
You do not have to wait for sales at the shopping mall as prices in the online shopping mall are a lot lower on just about every product.
You can browse as much and as long as you feel like without being followed around the store by sales people, you can decide if you want to buy at your own pace .
Just bookmark the page and return to it as many times as you like in order to make up your mind or even show friends or family to get their opinion before you decide to purchase an item.
There is a huge range of products for you to browse, if you can think of something it is most likely to be at the shopping mall.
So don’t get the car out and drive for perhaps thirty minutes in heavy traffic, try to find a parking spot within walking range of a shopping mall and then go from store to store carrying your purchases and then waiting for up to twenty minutes at a busy checkout, then driving home again in heavy traffic and carrying your purchase into the house.
Just turn on your computer and browse at your leisure while having a cup of coffee and order the products you want and have them delivered to your door, from the shopping mall.
Now that’s what I call shopping.
Gordon Mchale Lives In Australia. Go To This Link And SAVE now http://gordonm.FSCStore.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_Mchale
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-Save-Time-Save-Gas-Save-Pollution-By-Using-A-Shopping-Mall&id=424245
How To Save Money On Your Utility Bills - Windows
By Elizabeth Guinn
Old wood windows, single pane glass windows or poorly hung windows and doors can be a major cause of energy loss. Everyone has experienced at one time or another, the cold blasts of winter seeping in around icy windows that are not insulated and sometimes won’t lock or even shut completely. Wood windows can be a maintenance nightmare as well. Replacing these energy hogs with vinyl, double-pane, low E windows can make a world of difference in not only energy savings but in noise reduction and lowered maintenance costs.
While some replacement window firms tend to come in with astronomical prices for replacing all the windows in your house, a quality home improvement contractor should be able to install an average sized replacement double hung window for about $400-$450 per window including the cost of the window. And while you are bound to get the best price if you have the entire house done at once, using a good home improvement contractor will allow you to do a portion of your windows at a time if doing the whole house would just stretch your budget too far.
If you have gaps around your doors, try contacting a contractor skilled in installing doors and see if it can be adjusted to hang properly to minimize outside air intrusion. If this isn’t possible, installing a storm door may be just what you need to add that extra insulation. Consider purchasing storm doors with moveable panels and screens for those warm days in spring and fall when you want to open up the house and take advantage of Mother Nature’s breezes. The added cost for the moveable panels will more than pay for themselves on the days when you can turn off the heat or air conditioning and open up the house.
Since most new construction doors do not have low E coatings on the glass, look into either having a coating installed or purchase one yourself at a home improvement store and coat the glass as a weekend project. A low E coating reduces the amount of heat that can penetrate your window glass and can make a big difference in you summer time utility bills as well as preventing areas with southern exposure from overheating in the bright sinter sun.
All of these tips will make huge differences in you energy bills. Since the cash that you put into improving your house can generally be recovered when you go to sell your house and money spent on utility bills cannot, it makes great sense to spend your cash sprucing up your house instead of sending your money to the utility company. Increase value of your home and lowered monthly utility costs make these types of improvements a huge success.
Contact Elizabeth and Dan Guinn at Elizabeth info@danguinnhomes.com for the free report, “Top Ten Best Ideas to Reduce Utility Bills and Spend the Savings on What You Really Want!” Just send me an email requesting a copy and I will speed one out to you!
Elizabeth Guinn is an Urban Systems Engineer with a degree from George Mason University. She and her husband are custom home builders and designers in Virginia's Tidewater area. Combined they have over 40 years experience in the design and construction fields. They adhere to Green construction practices and are members of the U.S. Green Building Council. Visit us on the web http://www.danguinnhomes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Guinn
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-On-Your-Utility-Bills---Windows&id=400750
Old wood windows, single pane glass windows or poorly hung windows and doors can be a major cause of energy loss. Everyone has experienced at one time or another, the cold blasts of winter seeping in around icy windows that are not insulated and sometimes won’t lock or even shut completely. Wood windows can be a maintenance nightmare as well. Replacing these energy hogs with vinyl, double-pane, low E windows can make a world of difference in not only energy savings but in noise reduction and lowered maintenance costs.
While some replacement window firms tend to come in with astronomical prices for replacing all the windows in your house, a quality home improvement contractor should be able to install an average sized replacement double hung window for about $400-$450 per window including the cost of the window. And while you are bound to get the best price if you have the entire house done at once, using a good home improvement contractor will allow you to do a portion of your windows at a time if doing the whole house would just stretch your budget too far.
If you have gaps around your doors, try contacting a contractor skilled in installing doors and see if it can be adjusted to hang properly to minimize outside air intrusion. If this isn’t possible, installing a storm door may be just what you need to add that extra insulation. Consider purchasing storm doors with moveable panels and screens for those warm days in spring and fall when you want to open up the house and take advantage of Mother Nature’s breezes. The added cost for the moveable panels will more than pay for themselves on the days when you can turn off the heat or air conditioning and open up the house.
Since most new construction doors do not have low E coatings on the glass, look into either having a coating installed or purchase one yourself at a home improvement store and coat the glass as a weekend project. A low E coating reduces the amount of heat that can penetrate your window glass and can make a big difference in you summer time utility bills as well as preventing areas with southern exposure from overheating in the bright sinter sun.
All of these tips will make huge differences in you energy bills. Since the cash that you put into improving your house can generally be recovered when you go to sell your house and money spent on utility bills cannot, it makes great sense to spend your cash sprucing up your house instead of sending your money to the utility company. Increase value of your home and lowered monthly utility costs make these types of improvements a huge success.
Contact Elizabeth and Dan Guinn at Elizabeth info@danguinnhomes.com for the free report, “Top Ten Best Ideas to Reduce Utility Bills and Spend the Savings on What You Really Want!” Just send me an email requesting a copy and I will speed one out to you!
Elizabeth Guinn is an Urban Systems Engineer with a degree from George Mason University. She and her husband are custom home builders and designers in Virginia's Tidewater area. Combined they have over 40 years experience in the design and construction fields. They adhere to Green construction practices and are members of the U.S. Green Building Council. Visit us on the web http://www.danguinnhomes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Guinn
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-On-Your-Utility-Bills---Windows&id=400750
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
How To Save Money On Your Homeowners Insurance?
By Tim Gorman
In order to save money on your homeowners insurance you have to consider several price determining factors. One of the biggest factors is whom your insurance provider ends up becoming. You should consider shopping around in order to get as many price quotes as possible. Try to get at least three as a minimum. You can visit insurance companies directly; call them on the phone or search for quotes online. Aside from price other factors you may want to ask about include customer service, complaint records and responsiveness.
Deductible - As with your auto insurance, raising your deductible can help save money on your homeowners insurance. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay a claim. Only consider a deductible amount that you can afford in the case of an emergency. Remember you’re dealing with your primary residence so you want to be careful.
Multiple Insurance - In many instances most insurance companies want more of your business. With that in mind they sometimes offer generous discounts if you have multiple insurance policies with them. For instance your auto and homeowners insurance policies.
Housing Improvements – By making some improvements to your house allowing it to become more weather, earthquake and other natural disaster resistant you can lower the amount you would have to pay on your house insurance bill.
Rebuilding Costs – When deciding on how much insurance coverage you really need make sure to subtract the land that the house resides on. Your land doesn’t require insurance protection and having it as part of the basis for your insurance needs will raise your total cost.
Discounts – Ask your insurance company if the offer discounts for security devices, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems and other burglar devices. They may even offer senior discounts if you’re over the age of 55. Ask if you qualify for any other discounts they may offer.
Policy Limits - You want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home. But you don't want to spend money for coverage you don't need. However be careful about eliminating floater insurance. This insurance covers your valuable possessions such as your jewelry, Rolex watches and fur coats. Your computer equipment may also need a floater policy. Failure to have them could result in not receiving adequate reimbursement if those items are ever damaged or stolen.
Location – If you really want to save money on your homeowners insurance then you need to make sure your house is built to withstand the natural weather occurrences that take place in your local area. Earthquakes, floods and fires behave differently in different parts of the country.
Hopefully this information can help you focus in on some areas within your homeowner’s policy that you can review with your insurance agent in the hopes of actually lowering your house insurance rates instead of raising them.
Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides more insurance information and offers discount auto, life and home insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his website
Other websites operated by Tim
Cellular-Phone-Solutions.com - Free information and resources regarding cell phones and cell phone plans.
Military-Loans-Online.com – Which provides free money saving loan quotes on all of your loan needs to include home equity loan information.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-On-Your-Homeowners-Insurance?&id=10862
In order to save money on your homeowners insurance you have to consider several price determining factors. One of the biggest factors is whom your insurance provider ends up becoming. You should consider shopping around in order to get as many price quotes as possible. Try to get at least three as a minimum. You can visit insurance companies directly; call them on the phone or search for quotes online. Aside from price other factors you may want to ask about include customer service, complaint records and responsiveness.
Deductible - As with your auto insurance, raising your deductible can help save money on your homeowners insurance. The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay a claim. Only consider a deductible amount that you can afford in the case of an emergency. Remember you’re dealing with your primary residence so you want to be careful.
Multiple Insurance - In many instances most insurance companies want more of your business. With that in mind they sometimes offer generous discounts if you have multiple insurance policies with them. For instance your auto and homeowners insurance policies.
Housing Improvements – By making some improvements to your house allowing it to become more weather, earthquake and other natural disaster resistant you can lower the amount you would have to pay on your house insurance bill.
Rebuilding Costs – When deciding on how much insurance coverage you really need make sure to subtract the land that the house resides on. Your land doesn’t require insurance protection and having it as part of the basis for your insurance needs will raise your total cost.
Discounts – Ask your insurance company if the offer discounts for security devices, fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems and other burglar devices. They may even offer senior discounts if you’re over the age of 55. Ask if you qualify for any other discounts they may offer.
Policy Limits - You want your policy to cover any major purchases or additions to your home. But you don't want to spend money for coverage you don't need. However be careful about eliminating floater insurance. This insurance covers your valuable possessions such as your jewelry, Rolex watches and fur coats. Your computer equipment may also need a floater policy. Failure to have them could result in not receiving adequate reimbursement if those items are ever damaged or stolen.
Location – If you really want to save money on your homeowners insurance then you need to make sure your house is built to withstand the natural weather occurrences that take place in your local area. Earthquakes, floods and fires behave differently in different parts of the country.
Hopefully this information can help you focus in on some areas within your homeowner’s policy that you can review with your insurance agent in the hopes of actually lowering your house insurance rates instead of raising them.
Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides more insurance information and offers discount auto, life and home insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his website
Other websites operated by Tim
Cellular-Phone-Solutions.com - Free information and resources regarding cell phones and cell phone plans.
Military-Loans-Online.com – Which provides free money saving loan quotes on all of your loan needs to include home equity loan information.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-On-Your-Homeowners-Insurance?&id=10862
How to Save Money on Workers Compensation Insurance
By Jeremy Maddock
When you purchase workers compensation insurance for your business it is important to remember that your employees won’t be contributing to the premiums. This is one expense that employers are required by law to bear all by themselves.
That also means that if you want to get a good deal on this essential insurance coverage all the work will have to be done by you. Depending on your jurisdiction, workers com rates may or may not be predetermined. Even in regions where they are predetermined, however, calculating exact premiums is not a totally cut-and-dry process, and quotes may differ depending on a broker’s approach. That’s why it’s always a good idea to get quotes from three different brokers, regardless of your province or state.
Also keep in mind that once you buy workers comp coverage, it is not unheard of to be mistakenly overcharged. That’s why you should make routine checks to ensure that your employees are classified correctly, and that your business is being charged the correct amount for each employee. If rates ever go up unexpectedly, it’s up to you to look into the situation and get an explanation as soon as possible.
Finally, if you want to keep premiums down, it’s a good idea to make a habit of providing a safe and healthy environment for your employees. That’s the best and only way to keep your record clean, and prevent claims against your policy.
About the Author:
Jeremy Maddock is a successful web-based freelancer, who writes articles about business insurance policies and other business services.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Maddock
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Save-Money-on-Workers-Compensation-Insurance&id=297854
When you purchase workers compensation insurance for your business it is important to remember that your employees won’t be contributing to the premiums. This is one expense that employers are required by law to bear all by themselves.
That also means that if you want to get a good deal on this essential insurance coverage all the work will have to be done by you. Depending on your jurisdiction, workers com rates may or may not be predetermined. Even in regions where they are predetermined, however, calculating exact premiums is not a totally cut-and-dry process, and quotes may differ depending on a broker’s approach. That’s why it’s always a good idea to get quotes from three different brokers, regardless of your province or state.
Also keep in mind that once you buy workers comp coverage, it is not unheard of to be mistakenly overcharged. That’s why you should make routine checks to ensure that your employees are classified correctly, and that your business is being charged the correct amount for each employee. If rates ever go up unexpectedly, it’s up to you to look into the situation and get an explanation as soon as possible.
Finally, if you want to keep premiums down, it’s a good idea to make a habit of providing a safe and healthy environment for your employees. That’s the best and only way to keep your record clean, and prevent claims against your policy.
About the Author:
Jeremy Maddock is a successful web-based freelancer, who writes articles about business insurance policies and other business services.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Maddock
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Save-Money-on-Workers-Compensation-Insurance&id=297854
Save Money Through College Scholarships
By Tim Shank
For many of us, the chance to go to college is a dream that we have had for a long time. It is a chance for education, a chance for training and a chance for the type of future that we long to have. Many people feel that college is out of their reach simply because of finances and they fear that their dream won't become a reality. The truth is, with all the college scholarships available this dream can come true.
Most of us know about the two main types of college scholarships: academic and athletic. We have all heard that if we work hard and get good grades that we would qualify for many academic scholarships. Similarly, those who have an athletic ability can get part or all of their tuition paid if they agree to pay sports for the college and keep their grades up.
Both of these are excellent opportunities, but what about those who don't have the 3.5 and above grade point average or who don't have any athletic ability? Do they not deserve the same opportunity? The answer is yes! Thankfully others feel the same way and scholarships are available for a variety of different people.
Minority scholarships are available for just about any race and ethnic background from African American students to Native American students to students planning to study abroad in a country other than their native country.
Scholarships have been established for many unique traits, hobbies and demographics. For instance, there are scholarships for left handed people, twins and people entering certain fields such as nursing. The best way to find out if there is a scholarship available that fits you is to search the internet. Search by any category that you can think of.
There is plenty of money out there just waiting for students to find it. All you have to do is to take the time to search for it. Taking a couple of hours to research scholarships could get you a free or discounted trip to the college of your choice.
For more information on BrowardCommunityCollege, AustinCommunityCollege, or SantaRosaJuniorCollege visit our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Shank
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-Through-College-Scholarships&id=421084
For many of us, the chance to go to college is a dream that we have had for a long time. It is a chance for education, a chance for training and a chance for the type of future that we long to have. Many people feel that college is out of their reach simply because of finances and they fear that their dream won't become a reality. The truth is, with all the college scholarships available this dream can come true.
Most of us know about the two main types of college scholarships: academic and athletic. We have all heard that if we work hard and get good grades that we would qualify for many academic scholarships. Similarly, those who have an athletic ability can get part or all of their tuition paid if they agree to pay sports for the college and keep their grades up.
Both of these are excellent opportunities, but what about those who don't have the 3.5 and above grade point average or who don't have any athletic ability? Do they not deserve the same opportunity? The answer is yes! Thankfully others feel the same way and scholarships are available for a variety of different people.
Minority scholarships are available for just about any race and ethnic background from African American students to Native American students to students planning to study abroad in a country other than their native country.
Scholarships have been established for many unique traits, hobbies and demographics. For instance, there are scholarships for left handed people, twins and people entering certain fields such as nursing. The best way to find out if there is a scholarship available that fits you is to search the internet. Search by any category that you can think of.
There is plenty of money out there just waiting for students to find it. All you have to do is to take the time to search for it. Taking a couple of hours to research scholarships could get you a free or discounted trip to the college of your choice.
For more information on BrowardCommunityCollege, AustinCommunityCollege, or SantaRosaJuniorCollege visit our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Shank
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-Through-College-Scholarships&id=421084
Landlords-Save Time And Money By Building Your Rental Like A Tank
By Kevin Kiene
It’s nice to think that a tenant who rents a property would treat that property as their own, but as you can image this is rarely the case. A lot of people who rent a car for instance will mistreat or even abuse it, claiming “oh, it’s just a rental”. There are just way to many stories of a tenant’s that move in and totally destroy rental property. What can you do as a landlord? Simple, build your rental like a tank. You need your rental to stand up to the extra abuse of a tenant. Most landlords will typically use the cheapest material available in an effort to save money but this is usually a costly mistake.
All rental properties should use high quality materials that are built to last. This includes such items as floor tile, carpet, paint, light bulbs, smoke detectors, and many more. Most of the time you will find that higher priced material will stand up to abuse and last much longer than so called “economical” materials. There is floor tile for instance that is designed to last one year, five years, 10 years and all the way up to a lifetime guarantee. The cost of re-tiling a floor is far greater than the extra cost of good tiles. In the end if you use good, tough and high quality materials, you will save money and have a much nicer property to boot. You can purchase smoke detectors with a 10 year battery, lifetime light-bulbs and many other products to last an extra long time or even a lifetime.
You will find that using high quality materials and products will really cut down on the work and maintenance calls as well. When a tenant moves out, pay attention to the repairs or replacement of items that need to be made. Next time you stay in a hotel, look around at what material they use in their rooms. You will often find low pile carpet, heavy duty doors, ceramic tile floors and many other tough, high quality items.
As a landlord you will almost always have to deal with both roach and rodent problems. However, there are good solutions to handling these common landlord problems as well. Go online and locate professional exterminating products. There are products that eliminate roach problem for at least one year, this is much longer than any exterminating spray.
Getting a handle on these common landlord problems will make your job as a landlord much easier and go much smoother. Whenever you have a maintenance call, think about how you can prevent that problem from ever happing again. Don’t allow the same problem to happen again and again, this is what will drive a landlord crazy. Take care of your rental and it will take care of you year after year.
Get links to heavy duty products for landlords at http://www.ezlandlordforms.com Just go to resources, links and then general. Use our state-of-the-art lease builder to build your next lease agreement. Download free, printable landlord forms from the #1 site on the web for landlord forms.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Kiene
http://EzineArticles.com/?Landlords-Save-Time-And-Money-By-Building-Your-Rental-Like-A-Tank&id=420098
It’s nice to think that a tenant who rents a property would treat that property as their own, but as you can image this is rarely the case. A lot of people who rent a car for instance will mistreat or even abuse it, claiming “oh, it’s just a rental”. There are just way to many stories of a tenant’s that move in and totally destroy rental property. What can you do as a landlord? Simple, build your rental like a tank. You need your rental to stand up to the extra abuse of a tenant. Most landlords will typically use the cheapest material available in an effort to save money but this is usually a costly mistake.
All rental properties should use high quality materials that are built to last. This includes such items as floor tile, carpet, paint, light bulbs, smoke detectors, and many more. Most of the time you will find that higher priced material will stand up to abuse and last much longer than so called “economical” materials. There is floor tile for instance that is designed to last one year, five years, 10 years and all the way up to a lifetime guarantee. The cost of re-tiling a floor is far greater than the extra cost of good tiles. In the end if you use good, tough and high quality materials, you will save money and have a much nicer property to boot. You can purchase smoke detectors with a 10 year battery, lifetime light-bulbs and many other products to last an extra long time or even a lifetime.
You will find that using high quality materials and products will really cut down on the work and maintenance calls as well. When a tenant moves out, pay attention to the repairs or replacement of items that need to be made. Next time you stay in a hotel, look around at what material they use in their rooms. You will often find low pile carpet, heavy duty doors, ceramic tile floors and many other tough, high quality items.
As a landlord you will almost always have to deal with both roach and rodent problems. However, there are good solutions to handling these common landlord problems as well. Go online and locate professional exterminating products. There are products that eliminate roach problem for at least one year, this is much longer than any exterminating spray.
Getting a handle on these common landlord problems will make your job as a landlord much easier and go much smoother. Whenever you have a maintenance call, think about how you can prevent that problem from ever happing again. Don’t allow the same problem to happen again and again, this is what will drive a landlord crazy. Take care of your rental and it will take care of you year after year.
Get links to heavy duty products for landlords at http://www.ezlandlordforms.com Just go to resources, links and then general. Use our state-of-the-art lease builder to build your next lease agreement. Download free, printable landlord forms from the #1 site on the web for landlord forms.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Kiene
http://EzineArticles.com/?Landlords-Save-Time-And-Money-By-Building-Your-Rental-Like-A-Tank&id=420098
How To Save Money On Your Utility Bills - Programmable Thermostats
By Elizabeth Guinn
One of the easiest and quickest ways to lower your utility bills is to install a programmable thermostat in your house. An average decent programmable thermostat will run you anywhere from $60 to $100. Of course if your house has more than one heating and cooling unit you will need more than one thermostat.
Even the most well organized person will forget to adjust their manual thermostats every time they go to bed, rise, and leave the house. And if you have an upstairs and a downstairs thermostat, running up and down the stairs can begin to wear on you. Unless you desire the added exercise, then the programmable thermostat is the only way to go.
How exactly will a change as simple as a thermostat save you cash? The single largest consumer of energy in the average house is the heating and cooling system consuming 50to 70 % of the total energy costs of a house depending on where you live. Therefore, any reduction in energy usage is going to have a big effect on your bottom line. For every degree that you lower your thermostat for an eight hour period, you lower your energy usage by 1%. So if you can stand to sleep with the household temperature ten degrees lower at night during the winter, then you could save 10% on your energy costs with just that one change alone. With a 7-day programmable thermostat you could not only lower the temps at night but also during the day if everyone is either at school or work. And the change will be painless because you can program the thermostat to warm things up before you get home from work.
With such a small initial outlay of cash and just a little work by either yourself or your favorite home improvement contractor, you could have this home improvement paid for and earning you cash in around 6 months. There aren’t many projects that can boast that kind of quick turnaround.
Contact Elizabeth and Dan Guinn at Elizabeth info@danguinnhomes.com for the free report, “Top Ten Best Ideas to Reduce Utility Bills and Spend the Savings on What You Really Want!”
Elizabeth Guinn is an Urban Systems Engineer with a degree from George Mason University. She and her husband are custom home builders and designers in Virginia's Tidewater area. Combined they have over 40 years experience in the design and construction fields. They adhere to Green construction practices and are members of the U.S. Green Building Council. Visit us on the web http://www.danguinnhomes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Guinn
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-On-Your-Utility-Bills---Programmable-Thermostats&id=400753
One of the easiest and quickest ways to lower your utility bills is to install a programmable thermostat in your house. An average decent programmable thermostat will run you anywhere from $60 to $100. Of course if your house has more than one heating and cooling unit you will need more than one thermostat.
Even the most well organized person will forget to adjust their manual thermostats every time they go to bed, rise, and leave the house. And if you have an upstairs and a downstairs thermostat, running up and down the stairs can begin to wear on you. Unless you desire the added exercise, then the programmable thermostat is the only way to go.
How exactly will a change as simple as a thermostat save you cash? The single largest consumer of energy in the average house is the heating and cooling system consuming 50to 70 % of the total energy costs of a house depending on where you live. Therefore, any reduction in energy usage is going to have a big effect on your bottom line. For every degree that you lower your thermostat for an eight hour period, you lower your energy usage by 1%. So if you can stand to sleep with the household temperature ten degrees lower at night during the winter, then you could save 10% on your energy costs with just that one change alone. With a 7-day programmable thermostat you could not only lower the temps at night but also during the day if everyone is either at school or work. And the change will be painless because you can program the thermostat to warm things up before you get home from work.
With such a small initial outlay of cash and just a little work by either yourself or your favorite home improvement contractor, you could have this home improvement paid for and earning you cash in around 6 months. There aren’t many projects that can boast that kind of quick turnaround.
Contact Elizabeth and Dan Guinn at Elizabeth info@danguinnhomes.com for the free report, “Top Ten Best Ideas to Reduce Utility Bills and Spend the Savings on What You Really Want!”
Elizabeth Guinn is an Urban Systems Engineer with a degree from George Mason University. She and her husband are custom home builders and designers in Virginia's Tidewater area. Combined they have over 40 years experience in the design and construction fields. They adhere to Green construction practices and are members of the U.S. Green Building Council. Visit us on the web http://www.danguinnhomes.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Guinn
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-On-Your-Utility-Bills---Programmable-Thermostats&id=400753
10 Ways To Save Money On Your Electricity Bill
Author: Ward Miller
Saving your hard earned cash on your next electricity bill just got easier than you ever imagined. In this article, I have compiled the a list of the top 10 tips to help navigate you on your campaign to save money and knock your electricity bill down. Along with each tip you will see the possible energy savings you can potentially expect to receive.
In addition to conserving your money, you will be making your house more enjoyable, and you will be helping to preserve the enviroment and your surroundings.
1. Adjust your water heater's temperature to 120 degrees (save up to 10 percent on water heating costs; verify this by placing a thermometer below some of your taps). Most people in general don't comprehend that their electric water heater is essentially constantly on heating the water.
If you will set the water temperature around 120 degrees your water heater will not have to re-heat the water as much as it does at hotter temperatures therefore saving you electricity and money.
2. Wash and dry only full loads of garments. Use cold water as much as possible (save 2 to 4 percent on your energy costs). This additionally saves time when you plan ahead and wash a full load of your items. Who wants to fold thir stuff more than necessary?
3. As a general rule, typically once a month, change your air conditioner's air filter (save up to 5 percent on your yearly electricity bill). Moreover, this helps with dust and dirt in the air making your house cleaner and more enjoyable place to live.
4. Put compact fluorescent lights in high-use fixtures (save close to 66 percent on lighting cost per light). Furthermore, these type of lights manage to last much longer than the conventional light bulbs that many of us use today.
5. On hot, sunny days, keep your drapes shut on windows facing to the south and west (save 2 to 4 percent on your energy bill). The drapes will help keep the suns heat from heating up your house which means you use less energy to stay comfortable.
6. Keep your doors and vents shut in rooms that are not being used (save up to 3 percent on cooling costs). There is no need to spend money cooling off rooms that are not being used – this can be a huge savings depending on how many square feet you have in your house.
7. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors (save 1 to 4 percent on your energy bill). Many folks skip over this step, but heat seeping around cracks means you have to use more air condition and essentially more power which means you're wasting money.
8. During hot weather place your thermostat at 78 degrees or above when you're at your house, and at 85 degrees when no one is there (you save 1 to 2 percent per degree increased on your electricity bill). Additionally, use a ceiling fan or a fan that rotates back and forth. This can make a room appear nearly 4 degrees cooler!
9. Use your microwave oven instead of your conventional cooking range (save up to 50 percent on cooking costs). Microwaves are much more electricity efficient than ordinary traditional ovens. A traditional oven uses a lot of energy to heat up and to stay hot.
10. Take advantage of super low electricity rates from Ambit Energy and save up to 16% on your next electricity bill – for the average user this is over $250 per year!
This is one of best ways to save money right off the top of your electricity bill with doing almost nothing. All you have to do is switch your electricity provider and you can do it online in just a couple of minutes.
About the Author:
Ward Miller is an expert at helping others save money on their electricity
bills. You can find out more about saving money from your electricity company by
visiting the site today.
Saving your hard earned cash on your next electricity bill just got easier than you ever imagined. In this article, I have compiled the a list of the top 10 tips to help navigate you on your campaign to save money and knock your electricity bill down. Along with each tip you will see the possible energy savings you can potentially expect to receive.
In addition to conserving your money, you will be making your house more enjoyable, and you will be helping to preserve the enviroment and your surroundings.
1. Adjust your water heater's temperature to 120 degrees (save up to 10 percent on water heating costs; verify this by placing a thermometer below some of your taps). Most people in general don't comprehend that their electric water heater is essentially constantly on heating the water.
If you will set the water temperature around 120 degrees your water heater will not have to re-heat the water as much as it does at hotter temperatures therefore saving you electricity and money.
2. Wash and dry only full loads of garments. Use cold water as much as possible (save 2 to 4 percent on your energy costs). This additionally saves time when you plan ahead and wash a full load of your items. Who wants to fold thir stuff more than necessary?
3. As a general rule, typically once a month, change your air conditioner's air filter (save up to 5 percent on your yearly electricity bill). Moreover, this helps with dust and dirt in the air making your house cleaner and more enjoyable place to live.
4. Put compact fluorescent lights in high-use fixtures (save close to 66 percent on lighting cost per light). Furthermore, these type of lights manage to last much longer than the conventional light bulbs that many of us use today.
5. On hot, sunny days, keep your drapes shut on windows facing to the south and west (save 2 to 4 percent on your energy bill). The drapes will help keep the suns heat from heating up your house which means you use less energy to stay comfortable.
6. Keep your doors and vents shut in rooms that are not being used (save up to 3 percent on cooling costs). There is no need to spend money cooling off rooms that are not being used – this can be a huge savings depending on how many square feet you have in your house.
7. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors (save 1 to 4 percent on your energy bill). Many folks skip over this step, but heat seeping around cracks means you have to use more air condition and essentially more power which means you're wasting money.
8. During hot weather place your thermostat at 78 degrees or above when you're at your house, and at 85 degrees when no one is there (you save 1 to 2 percent per degree increased on your electricity bill). Additionally, use a ceiling fan or a fan that rotates back and forth. This can make a room appear nearly 4 degrees cooler!
9. Use your microwave oven instead of your conventional cooking range (save up to 50 percent on cooking costs). Microwaves are much more electricity efficient than ordinary traditional ovens. A traditional oven uses a lot of energy to heat up and to stay hot.
10. Take advantage of super low electricity rates from Ambit Energy and save up to 16% on your next electricity bill – for the average user this is over $250 per year!
This is one of best ways to save money right off the top of your electricity bill with doing almost nothing. All you have to do is switch your electricity provider and you can do it online in just a couple of minutes.
About the Author:
Ward Miller is an expert at helping others save money on their electricity
bills. You can find out more about saving money from your electricity company by
visiting the site today.
Lower Your Interest Rate And Save Money By Refinancing Your Auto Loan
By Sam Peterson
Loan refinancing is nothing new, people has been refinancing their mortgages to lower their interest rates and to consolidate debts for a long time. But it is fairly recently that the option of refinancing an auto loan has been offered. Even though car loans are typically much smaller than mortgages, it can still be a smart choice to save money.
As cars are becoming progressively more sophisticated, they are also becoming more expensive. The average size of auto loans in the US is around $20,000 and that poses an opportunity to save money. For example, a few years ago car loan interest rates were as high as 9.25%. By refinancing your auto loan at a new rate of around 6%, you can theoretically save up to $1,500, which is a nice chunk of change for anybody.
Your decision to refinance or not should be taken carefully, and among the factors to consider is the term of the loan. If your loan is a short term loan, refinancing will probably not save you all that much. On the other hand, if the loan is for a longer term, as the case is with most expensive cars, making use of car loan refinancing can prove to be a good idea.
If you bought your car more than a year ago, it might be time to look into opportunities to obtain a lower interest rate. There will probably be some costs involved in getting a new auto loan, like the transfer of the loan papers to the new finance company. Make sure you gather all the facts about costs, effective interest rates and such before signing anything. And then do the math carefully to be certain that you will in fact save money over the life of the loan.
To stay informed about the economy and interest rates is important in the modern world we live in.
Sam Peterson is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. To get more information visit his auto loan site where you can find more advice and information including about Chase auto loans. Please visit us at autoloanhome.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Peterson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Lower-Your-Interest-Rate-And-Save-Money-By-Refinancing-Your-Auto-Loan&id=424740
Loan refinancing is nothing new, people has been refinancing their mortgages to lower their interest rates and to consolidate debts for a long time. But it is fairly recently that the option of refinancing an auto loan has been offered. Even though car loans are typically much smaller than mortgages, it can still be a smart choice to save money.
As cars are becoming progressively more sophisticated, they are also becoming more expensive. The average size of auto loans in the US is around $20,000 and that poses an opportunity to save money. For example, a few years ago car loan interest rates were as high as 9.25%. By refinancing your auto loan at a new rate of around 6%, you can theoretically save up to $1,500, which is a nice chunk of change for anybody.
Your decision to refinance or not should be taken carefully, and among the factors to consider is the term of the loan. If your loan is a short term loan, refinancing will probably not save you all that much. On the other hand, if the loan is for a longer term, as the case is with most expensive cars, making use of car loan refinancing can prove to be a good idea.
If you bought your car more than a year ago, it might be time to look into opportunities to obtain a lower interest rate. There will probably be some costs involved in getting a new auto loan, like the transfer of the loan papers to the new finance company. Make sure you gather all the facts about costs, effective interest rates and such before signing anything. And then do the math carefully to be certain that you will in fact save money over the life of the loan.
To stay informed about the economy and interest rates is important in the modern world we live in.
Sam Peterson is a writer and website publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. To get more information visit his auto loan site where you can find more advice and information including about Chase auto loans. Please visit us at autoloanhome.info
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Peterson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Lower-Your-Interest-Rate-And-Save-Money-By-Refinancing-Your-Auto-Loan&id=424740
How To Save Money On Groceries
By Jeffrey Strain
Unlike a fixed monthly cost such as your mortgage or car payment, the amount you spend on groceries each month is somewhat flexible. While the common advice of clipping coupons and buying generic brands to save money while shopping is sound, by far the best way to truly keep your grocery shopping expenses under control is by understanding how grocery stores entice you to spend more than you really want. By fully understanding the ways grocery stores encourage you to spend, many of which you probably never even noticed before, you can combat their strategies and spend money only on the merchandise you really need.
Although a grocery store may appear to be simply a place to purchase food and other household necessities, in reality it's a cutting edge example of "how to sell more than consumers really need." Since you are the consumer, it's important that you realize these sales tactics so that you walk into a grocery store to get only what you need while avoiding everything else that the grocery store wants to sell you. Here are some ways that grocery stores manipulate you into spending more than you had planned and some simple steps you can take to counter them:
Smell: One of the first things you'll notice when you enter a grocery store is the mouth-watering smell. There is a specific reason why grocery stores smell of freshly baked goods, and also why the bakery is almost always found near the store entrance. The reason is that a bakery making bread and desserts gives off an enticing smell, and that smell is likely to make you hungry. The grocery store also knows that if you feel hungry while you shop, you are likely to spend more money - a lot more - than if you are not hungry.
A simple way that you can combat this is by going grocery shopping only after you have had a meal and are full. If timing doesn't allow for you to do this, at least drink a couple of glasses of water before leaving to make you feel full before shopping. Shopping while you're full makes it much easier to resist the great smelling temptations that the grocery store will flaunt in front of you.
Overall Store Layout: Did you ever notice that when you only need to buy a few staple items, you have to travel the entire grocery store floor in order to get them? While one might assume that the convenience of putting basic staple items in the same general area would make happier customers, grocery stores know that the longer that they can keep you in the store, the more money you are likely to spend. They also know that making you walk as far as they can inside the store will make it more likely that you'll pick up impulse items. Stores are specifically designed in such a way as to make you spend as much time as possible inside them and walk the entire store floor to get the basic staples that everyone needs.
Although there is no way around going to the far corners of the store to get the groceries you need, you can avoid the trap of impulse purchases on the store floor by taking the time to make a list of the items you need and sticking to it when shopping. Getting into the habit of making a single trip once a week to take care of all your grocery shopping needs instead of several smaller trips throughout the week will also greatly reduce your time in the store and the chances that you'll buy items you don't really need.
Item Display Layout: Manufactures of brand named products pay hefty stocking fees to stores to have their merchandise placed on the shelves at adult eye level (and child eye level in the case of products aimed at children such as cereal). Manufactures are willing to pay these prices because they know that you are much more likely to purchase something that you can easily see as you are walking down the aisle than something you have to stop and search for. The result is that the products placed at eye level are usually the most expensive.
Before grabbing the first item you see, take a few seconds to look at the upper and lower shelves. Similar products are placed together and simply looking will often reveal the same product at a much better price.
"Sale" Merchandise: Grocery stores will advertise a certain number of items at rock bottom prices (called "loss leaders") to get you to come to the store. While these can be genuine bargains, don't get fooled into thinking that everything that has the words "sale" or "bargain" above it is really that. While aisle ends are reserved for these "bargains," they aren't always the deals they seem to be and the discounted products are often displayed along side higher price products. You can sometimes even find similar products in the regular aisle section that are less than the end of aisle "sale" merchandise.
The important thing to remember when grocery shopping is to focus on the price of the product and not all the fancy advertising and slogans promoting the product. Take the time to check the other brands and see if there is a better deal. Also, remember that if you weren't planning to buy the item and you don't really need it, then it really isn't a bargain for you no matter what the price. Only consider those items that you regularly use and you have a need for.
Product Appearance: Product packaging at grocery stores is bright, usually in red and yellows since these colors attract the eye. Just because something grabs your attention, however, doesn't mean that you have to buy it. Keep focused on your shopping list and don't get distracted by products you don't really need.
Packaging will also be much larger than the actual product for many food items. Manufacturers know that shoppers assume that larger sized packaging equals a better deal. It would make sense since bulking items together saves the manufacturer on packaging, shipping and stocking which they can pass along to you. With a mantra "buy in bulk" now firmly grounded in most people's minds as a way to save money, manufacturers are taking advantage of this. While still not the norm, more and more larger sized packages are less of a deal than their smaller sized counterparts since manufacturers know you will make the above assumptions and probably not compare the per unit cost.
Before grabbing the largest box of a product, take the time to calculate the per unit or per weight cost. More often than you would expect, smaller packages of an item are actually a better deal than buying the same item in a larger package.
Check-Out Layout: The check out aisle of a store is like a mini mart in itself. This is because grocery stores know that they have a captive audience while you wait in line to pay for your groceries. They squeeze in every little thing that might remotely peak your interest to rack up a large amount on impulse sales.
The best way to avoid these temptations to is plan your shopping during off peak hours. Avoid the weekend if at all possible since this is when grocery stores are most crowded, as well as the evening when everyone has just gotten off work. With many grocery stores now staying open 24 hours a day, late night and early morning trips when the aisle and check out lanes are practically bare are the perfect time to get in and out of the grocery store as quickly as possible.
By taking the time to understand how the grocery stores try to influence your shopping and spending habits, you have now put yourself in control. Utilize the suggestions about how to counter the grocery store's selling techniques and you will be able to control your grocery spending to a much greater extent and should have a much easier time keeping to your monthly food budget.
Copyright (c) 2004, by Jeffrey Strain
This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author's information and an active link (where possible) are included. A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to the site where the article is posted would be greatly appreciated.
About The Author
Jeffrey Strain has published hundreds of money saving articles and the creator of the Daily Money Saving Challenge Program. He is the co-owner of http://www.savingadvice.com -- a website dedicated to saving you money.
savingadvice@gmail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Strain
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-On-Groceries&id=18171
Unlike a fixed monthly cost such as your mortgage or car payment, the amount you spend on groceries each month is somewhat flexible. While the common advice of clipping coupons and buying generic brands to save money while shopping is sound, by far the best way to truly keep your grocery shopping expenses under control is by understanding how grocery stores entice you to spend more than you really want. By fully understanding the ways grocery stores encourage you to spend, many of which you probably never even noticed before, you can combat their strategies and spend money only on the merchandise you really need.
Although a grocery store may appear to be simply a place to purchase food and other household necessities, in reality it's a cutting edge example of "how to sell more than consumers really need." Since you are the consumer, it's important that you realize these sales tactics so that you walk into a grocery store to get only what you need while avoiding everything else that the grocery store wants to sell you. Here are some ways that grocery stores manipulate you into spending more than you had planned and some simple steps you can take to counter them:
Smell: One of the first things you'll notice when you enter a grocery store is the mouth-watering smell. There is a specific reason why grocery stores smell of freshly baked goods, and also why the bakery is almost always found near the store entrance. The reason is that a bakery making bread and desserts gives off an enticing smell, and that smell is likely to make you hungry. The grocery store also knows that if you feel hungry while you shop, you are likely to spend more money - a lot more - than if you are not hungry.
A simple way that you can combat this is by going grocery shopping only after you have had a meal and are full. If timing doesn't allow for you to do this, at least drink a couple of glasses of water before leaving to make you feel full before shopping. Shopping while you're full makes it much easier to resist the great smelling temptations that the grocery store will flaunt in front of you.
Overall Store Layout: Did you ever notice that when you only need to buy a few staple items, you have to travel the entire grocery store floor in order to get them? While one might assume that the convenience of putting basic staple items in the same general area would make happier customers, grocery stores know that the longer that they can keep you in the store, the more money you are likely to spend. They also know that making you walk as far as they can inside the store will make it more likely that you'll pick up impulse items. Stores are specifically designed in such a way as to make you spend as much time as possible inside them and walk the entire store floor to get the basic staples that everyone needs.
Although there is no way around going to the far corners of the store to get the groceries you need, you can avoid the trap of impulse purchases on the store floor by taking the time to make a list of the items you need and sticking to it when shopping. Getting into the habit of making a single trip once a week to take care of all your grocery shopping needs instead of several smaller trips throughout the week will also greatly reduce your time in the store and the chances that you'll buy items you don't really need.
Item Display Layout: Manufactures of brand named products pay hefty stocking fees to stores to have their merchandise placed on the shelves at adult eye level (and child eye level in the case of products aimed at children such as cereal). Manufactures are willing to pay these prices because they know that you are much more likely to purchase something that you can easily see as you are walking down the aisle than something you have to stop and search for. The result is that the products placed at eye level are usually the most expensive.
Before grabbing the first item you see, take a few seconds to look at the upper and lower shelves. Similar products are placed together and simply looking will often reveal the same product at a much better price.
"Sale" Merchandise: Grocery stores will advertise a certain number of items at rock bottom prices (called "loss leaders") to get you to come to the store. While these can be genuine bargains, don't get fooled into thinking that everything that has the words "sale" or "bargain" above it is really that. While aisle ends are reserved for these "bargains," they aren't always the deals they seem to be and the discounted products are often displayed along side higher price products. You can sometimes even find similar products in the regular aisle section that are less than the end of aisle "sale" merchandise.
The important thing to remember when grocery shopping is to focus on the price of the product and not all the fancy advertising and slogans promoting the product. Take the time to check the other brands and see if there is a better deal. Also, remember that if you weren't planning to buy the item and you don't really need it, then it really isn't a bargain for you no matter what the price. Only consider those items that you regularly use and you have a need for.
Product Appearance: Product packaging at grocery stores is bright, usually in red and yellows since these colors attract the eye. Just because something grabs your attention, however, doesn't mean that you have to buy it. Keep focused on your shopping list and don't get distracted by products you don't really need.
Packaging will also be much larger than the actual product for many food items. Manufacturers know that shoppers assume that larger sized packaging equals a better deal. It would make sense since bulking items together saves the manufacturer on packaging, shipping and stocking which they can pass along to you. With a mantra "buy in bulk" now firmly grounded in most people's minds as a way to save money, manufacturers are taking advantage of this. While still not the norm, more and more larger sized packages are less of a deal than their smaller sized counterparts since manufacturers know you will make the above assumptions and probably not compare the per unit cost.
Before grabbing the largest box of a product, take the time to calculate the per unit or per weight cost. More often than you would expect, smaller packages of an item are actually a better deal than buying the same item in a larger package.
Check-Out Layout: The check out aisle of a store is like a mini mart in itself. This is because grocery stores know that they have a captive audience while you wait in line to pay for your groceries. They squeeze in every little thing that might remotely peak your interest to rack up a large amount on impulse sales.
The best way to avoid these temptations to is plan your shopping during off peak hours. Avoid the weekend if at all possible since this is when grocery stores are most crowded, as well as the evening when everyone has just gotten off work. With many grocery stores now staying open 24 hours a day, late night and early morning trips when the aisle and check out lanes are practically bare are the perfect time to get in and out of the grocery store as quickly as possible.
By taking the time to understand how the grocery stores try to influence your shopping and spending habits, you have now put yourself in control. Utilize the suggestions about how to counter the grocery store's selling techniques and you will be able to control your grocery spending to a much greater extent and should have a much easier time keeping to your monthly food budget.
Copyright (c) 2004, by Jeffrey Strain
This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, author's information and an active link (where possible) are included. A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to the site where the article is posted would be greatly appreciated.
About The Author
Jeffrey Strain has published hundreds of money saving articles and the creator of the Daily Money Saving Challenge Program. He is the co-owner of http://www.savingadvice.com -- a website dedicated to saving you money.
savingadvice@gmail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Strain
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-On-Groceries&id=18171
Save Money By Cooking At Home
By L. David Thomas
Today most women work out of the home. Yet even with two incomes coming in, there are a lot of households that are struggling to make ends meet. One great thing we can do to solve the money crunch is to stop eating out so much and do more cooking at home. It is estimated that families and singles eat out an average of four meals per week. That is an increase of 23% from just a few years ago.
Why is this happening? It certainly isn't healthier to be eating more of our meals out. One of the biggest reasons we are eating out more is because of the time issue that is involved in fixing our own meals. First you have to go to the grocery store to pick up what you need for your meal, then you have to bring it home and actually cook it. It can just be more than we want to deal with after a long day at work with the kids screaming.
There are some things we can do to make eating at home almost as easy as eating out. First you need to take a little time make a meal plan for the week. As you are making your plan, make a list of what you are going to need from the store. Take your list with you and get all of your groceries in one trip so you don't have to take the time to go again later in the week.
When you have some spare time on the weekend, sit down and make a menu for the week. This doesn't mean you are locked in and can't change your plans, but it will help you with not wasting food and cut prep time later in the week. When you plan your menu, coordinate your meals so you can use "leftovers" for a couple of your meals. For instance, buy a larger beef pot roast, eat it one night with the standard vegetables, and a night or two later make a quick beef stroganoff served with noodles or rice. No one will ever know it is leftovers and it only took minutes to prepare.
You can also do the same type of thing with a pork roast. Serve the roast pork on night and then make another meal later like sweet and sour pork or make barbequed pork sandwiches. The possibilities are endless. Cook once and get two or three or four meals out of it. If you don't think you can eat the larger roast in a few days, go ahead and throw your stroganoff or your sweet and sour pork together and freeze it for another week. I don't recommend just freezing the leftover roast without having it ready to eat in a finished dish because you will simply look at it when it is frozen and think "I should have thawed that out so I could use it today". If your beef is already cut up and already has the gravy and the mushrooms, you can thaw it out in minutes in the microwave while your noodles or rice is cooking and dinner is set.
To speed up vegetable prep time, don't be afraid to buy some of the pre-packaged lettuce, but be sure to use it up rather quickly. They don't seem to last very long. Or you might try cutting your lettuce ahead and use your vacuum sealer or some of the new vegetable bags that retard spoilage. The prepackage cabbage lasts a lot longer than the lettuce. Try it on your tacos and other dishes you might not have thought of. It gives tacos and dishes a real crunch you might like better than lettuce.
Check out websites and cookbooks to get ideas. For example, buy a roasted chicken and use the leftovers to make a chicken salad the next day. Or use the leftovers to make a chicken sandwich to take to lunch the next day. If you have steak one evening, use what is leftover to make fajitas the next day. You get the idea....
Another way to save time is to cook extra on the weekends. If you make lasagne, make extra and freeze it for a meal next week. Keep things simple. Sometimes the kids will be happy with frozen pizza or hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. There are many simple recipes out there that are amazingly simple and delicious.
For more tips on home cooking and recipes go to www.cookingandrecipes.smmsite.com.
There are lots of free recipes and tons of ideas to great food.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L._David_Thomas
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-By-Cooking-At-Home&id=390800
Today most women work out of the home. Yet even with two incomes coming in, there are a lot of households that are struggling to make ends meet. One great thing we can do to solve the money crunch is to stop eating out so much and do more cooking at home. It is estimated that families and singles eat out an average of four meals per week. That is an increase of 23% from just a few years ago.
Why is this happening? It certainly isn't healthier to be eating more of our meals out. One of the biggest reasons we are eating out more is because of the time issue that is involved in fixing our own meals. First you have to go to the grocery store to pick up what you need for your meal, then you have to bring it home and actually cook it. It can just be more than we want to deal with after a long day at work with the kids screaming.
There are some things we can do to make eating at home almost as easy as eating out. First you need to take a little time make a meal plan for the week. As you are making your plan, make a list of what you are going to need from the store. Take your list with you and get all of your groceries in one trip so you don't have to take the time to go again later in the week.
When you have some spare time on the weekend, sit down and make a menu for the week. This doesn't mean you are locked in and can't change your plans, but it will help you with not wasting food and cut prep time later in the week. When you plan your menu, coordinate your meals so you can use "leftovers" for a couple of your meals. For instance, buy a larger beef pot roast, eat it one night with the standard vegetables, and a night or two later make a quick beef stroganoff served with noodles or rice. No one will ever know it is leftovers and it only took minutes to prepare.
You can also do the same type of thing with a pork roast. Serve the roast pork on night and then make another meal later like sweet and sour pork or make barbequed pork sandwiches. The possibilities are endless. Cook once and get two or three or four meals out of it. If you don't think you can eat the larger roast in a few days, go ahead and throw your stroganoff or your sweet and sour pork together and freeze it for another week. I don't recommend just freezing the leftover roast without having it ready to eat in a finished dish because you will simply look at it when it is frozen and think "I should have thawed that out so I could use it today". If your beef is already cut up and already has the gravy and the mushrooms, you can thaw it out in minutes in the microwave while your noodles or rice is cooking and dinner is set.
To speed up vegetable prep time, don't be afraid to buy some of the pre-packaged lettuce, but be sure to use it up rather quickly. They don't seem to last very long. Or you might try cutting your lettuce ahead and use your vacuum sealer or some of the new vegetable bags that retard spoilage. The prepackage cabbage lasts a lot longer than the lettuce. Try it on your tacos and other dishes you might not have thought of. It gives tacos and dishes a real crunch you might like better than lettuce.
Check out websites and cookbooks to get ideas. For example, buy a roasted chicken and use the leftovers to make a chicken salad the next day. Or use the leftovers to make a chicken sandwich to take to lunch the next day. If you have steak one evening, use what is leftover to make fajitas the next day. You get the idea....
Another way to save time is to cook extra on the weekends. If you make lasagne, make extra and freeze it for a meal next week. Keep things simple. Sometimes the kids will be happy with frozen pizza or hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. There are many simple recipes out there that are amazingly simple and delicious.
For more tips on home cooking and recipes go to www.cookingandrecipes.smmsite.com.
There are lots of free recipes and tons of ideas to great food.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L._David_Thomas
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-By-Cooking-At-Home&id=390800
How To Save Money With Cheap Wedding Favors
By Diane Winter
Weddings nowadays cost a fortune, so it helps to cut costs where you can. A great idea is to go with cheap wedding favors. This doesn’t mean that you have to give wedding favors that are unappealing. Rather with a little creativity you can give great wedding favors without spending too much.
Your Creativity Can Save You Money
No matter what style wedding you are having, it is appropriate to have wedding favors for everyone. Since rarely does someone show up without a gift for the newlyweds, it is in good taste to show your appreciation by giving out wedding favors. If you have a pretty large guest list, wedding favors can get very expensive. That’s why many people are now taking advantage of cheap wedding favors that look great.
It is important to come up with a budget before you ever begin planning a wedding. Within this budget you will want to decide how much you are willing to spend on each aspect of the ceremony and reception. So once you have an idea about everything you will know whether you will need to go with relatively cheap wedding favors or extremely cheap wedding favors.
Presentation is everything. If you can make the cheap wedding favor look good, no one will realize that it was cheap. For example, at my wedding I bought a big bag of inexpensive mints to use as favors. To make it look nice, I found a bunch of small cheap wedding favor fold up boxes and put some mints in them with tool placed nicely around the mints. Then I printed out questions about my significant other and I on clear labels and pasted them on the side of the box along with pasting our names and the wedding date on the other side of the box. With about twenty different questions created, each box had one question on it. Then inside the box I put a card with the answer to the question. This cheap wedding favor not only had good presentation, but it also worked as an ice breaker for people at each table as they asked each other what question was on their box.
Another good thing to keep in mind in having cheap wedding favors is to avoid purchasing wedding favors that have a wedding theme to them. For example, buying a little box shaped like a wedding cake will cost more than another really cute box. Great things to use are candles. Right now everyone is on the candle craze so they are perfect for favors considering how cheap they can be. Another wonderful thing about using candles for cheap wedding favors is that they can double as decoration during the reception. By cutting the light a little and having candles burn on the tables, you create a much more romantic mood, making everything look more beautiful. Simply decorate the candles really nice and make sure to add your names and wedding date to it in a creative way and they will work great as cheap wedding favors.
For more ideas and tips on cheap wedding favors visit also http://www.dream-wedding.eu, a website that specializes in helpful hints on planning your own wedding.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Winter
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-With-Cheap-Wedding-Favors&id=421422
Weddings nowadays cost a fortune, so it helps to cut costs where you can. A great idea is to go with cheap wedding favors. This doesn’t mean that you have to give wedding favors that are unappealing. Rather with a little creativity you can give great wedding favors without spending too much.
Your Creativity Can Save You Money
No matter what style wedding you are having, it is appropriate to have wedding favors for everyone. Since rarely does someone show up without a gift for the newlyweds, it is in good taste to show your appreciation by giving out wedding favors. If you have a pretty large guest list, wedding favors can get very expensive. That’s why many people are now taking advantage of cheap wedding favors that look great.
It is important to come up with a budget before you ever begin planning a wedding. Within this budget you will want to decide how much you are willing to spend on each aspect of the ceremony and reception. So once you have an idea about everything you will know whether you will need to go with relatively cheap wedding favors or extremely cheap wedding favors.
Presentation is everything. If you can make the cheap wedding favor look good, no one will realize that it was cheap. For example, at my wedding I bought a big bag of inexpensive mints to use as favors. To make it look nice, I found a bunch of small cheap wedding favor fold up boxes and put some mints in them with tool placed nicely around the mints. Then I printed out questions about my significant other and I on clear labels and pasted them on the side of the box along with pasting our names and the wedding date on the other side of the box. With about twenty different questions created, each box had one question on it. Then inside the box I put a card with the answer to the question. This cheap wedding favor not only had good presentation, but it also worked as an ice breaker for people at each table as they asked each other what question was on their box.
Another good thing to keep in mind in having cheap wedding favors is to avoid purchasing wedding favors that have a wedding theme to them. For example, buying a little box shaped like a wedding cake will cost more than another really cute box. Great things to use are candles. Right now everyone is on the candle craze so they are perfect for favors considering how cheap they can be. Another wonderful thing about using candles for cheap wedding favors is that they can double as decoration during the reception. By cutting the light a little and having candles burn on the tables, you create a much more romantic mood, making everything look more beautiful. Simply decorate the candles really nice and make sure to add your names and wedding date to it in a creative way and they will work great as cheap wedding favors.
For more ideas and tips on cheap wedding favors visit also http://www.dream-wedding.eu, a website that specializes in helpful hints on planning your own wedding.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Winter
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Save-Money-With-Cheap-Wedding-Favors&id=421422
3 Tips To Save Money With Google AdWords Advertising
By Shrinivas Vaidya
Google AdWords is an advertising system that follows the pay per click model of advertising. This means that it doesn't cost anything to display your ad on the Google search engine results but if someone clicks o your ad, Google will charge your credit card the amount you have setup for the particular keywords for which your ad got displayed.
There are 3 ways to cut down the cost of your AdWords campaign.
1) Opt out of content network program..
The AdWords system has two parts as well as publishing the ads is concerned. When a marketer creates an ad in his account, it becomes "live" immediately. The ad gets displayed on the Google search engine's result pages as well as on the thousands of publisher's web pages that have applied (and approved) by Google under the AdSense revenue sharing program.
Opting out to publish your ad in the AdSense (called as content network) can dramatically lower AdWords cost.
2) Set a lower content bid.
If you want to at all display your ad in the content network (for huge exposure) be sure to lower the bid amount. The lowering of bid amount for content network will make a big difference in ad budget in the long run.
3) Write relevant ads
By writing relevant ads, your ad gets more clicks and more clicks means less you pay. Google's pay per click system is slightly different than other systems. With AdWords the more clicks your ad gets the less you will have to pay.
I hope these tips will benefit you in your online business practices.
Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya
AdWords is the registered trademark of Google Inc.
Learn how ordinary people are earning a loads of cash with AdWords. Subscribe to 5 days FREE eCourse and get the insiders secrets that can double your website traffic by spending less even on high competitive keywords. Visit http://www.PayPerClickWonders.com to start TODAY.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shrinivas_Vaidya
http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Tips-To-Save-Money-With-Google-AdWords-Advertising&id=419871
Google AdWords is an advertising system that follows the pay per click model of advertising. This means that it doesn't cost anything to display your ad on the Google search engine results but if someone clicks o your ad, Google will charge your credit card the amount you have setup for the particular keywords for which your ad got displayed.
There are 3 ways to cut down the cost of your AdWords campaign.
1) Opt out of content network program..
The AdWords system has two parts as well as publishing the ads is concerned. When a marketer creates an ad in his account, it becomes "live" immediately. The ad gets displayed on the Google search engine's result pages as well as on the thousands of publisher's web pages that have applied (and approved) by Google under the AdSense revenue sharing program.
Opting out to publish your ad in the AdSense (called as content network) can dramatically lower AdWords cost.
2) Set a lower content bid.
If you want to at all display your ad in the content network (for huge exposure) be sure to lower the bid amount. The lowering of bid amount for content network will make a big difference in ad budget in the long run.
3) Write relevant ads
By writing relevant ads, your ad gets more clicks and more clicks means less you pay. Google's pay per click system is slightly different than other systems. With AdWords the more clicks your ad gets the less you will have to pay.
I hope these tips will benefit you in your online business practices.
Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya
AdWords is the registered trademark of Google Inc.
Learn how ordinary people are earning a loads of cash with AdWords. Subscribe to 5 days FREE eCourse and get the insiders secrets that can double your website traffic by spending less even on high competitive keywords. Visit http://www.PayPerClickWonders.com to start TODAY.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shrinivas_Vaidya
http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Tips-To-Save-Money-With-Google-AdWords-Advertising&id=419871
Biodiesel - Save Money & Help The Environment
By Assaf Katzir
More and more people choose to use biodiesel as their alternative fuel for their diesel vehicle. There are so many reasons and incentives to use biodiesel instead of petrodiesel. The biodiesel is produced from vegetable oil or animal fat. The vegetable oil has to pass a simple chemical process that is called transesterification in order to become biodiesel.
You go to local restaurants and fast food branches, ask to speak with the manager and explain him or her that you would like to have their used vegetable oil before they through it away. Most of the restaurants' managers will be happy to supply it for you since you pick their "garbage". You can provide them the container that they will fill up with the vegetable oil and agree with them when is best to pick it up.
Most of the diesel engines do NOT require any modification in order to use bio-diesel instead of petrodiesel. Only diesel engines that have natural rubber parts instead of synthetic rubber parts cannot use biodiesel, but these engines are not as common as the engines that can use the biodiesel.
Using biodiesel is very cost effective and can save a lot of money. When you make the biodiesel yourself the average saving is more than 50%. Even though that using biodiesel is much more than just saving money, this reason alone is a great incentive to do so. An engine that runs on biodiesel is much healthier so the saving is not just by the biodiesel cost compared to petrodiesel but by the maintenance costs.
The ecological reason of using biodiesel is not less important than saving money. When powering diesel engines with biodiesel, the pollution is reduced significantly. Studies showed that several pollution parameters levels were reduced while using biodiesel as opposed to petrodiesel.
You can save money and help to reduce pollution as well. It is very easy to make biodiesel at home.
Assaf Katzir invites you to learn how to make biodiesel at home and more at http://www.OnlineBioDiesel.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Assaf_Katzir
http://EzineArticles.com/?Biodiesel---Save-Money-and-Help-The-Environment&id=402657
More and more people choose to use biodiesel as their alternative fuel for their diesel vehicle. There are so many reasons and incentives to use biodiesel instead of petrodiesel. The biodiesel is produced from vegetable oil or animal fat. The vegetable oil has to pass a simple chemical process that is called transesterification in order to become biodiesel.
You go to local restaurants and fast food branches, ask to speak with the manager and explain him or her that you would like to have their used vegetable oil before they through it away. Most of the restaurants' managers will be happy to supply it for you since you pick their "garbage". You can provide them the container that they will fill up with the vegetable oil and agree with them when is best to pick it up.
Most of the diesel engines do NOT require any modification in order to use bio-diesel instead of petrodiesel. Only diesel engines that have natural rubber parts instead of synthetic rubber parts cannot use biodiesel, but these engines are not as common as the engines that can use the biodiesel.
Using biodiesel is very cost effective and can save a lot of money. When you make the biodiesel yourself the average saving is more than 50%. Even though that using biodiesel is much more than just saving money, this reason alone is a great incentive to do so. An engine that runs on biodiesel is much healthier so the saving is not just by the biodiesel cost compared to petrodiesel but by the maintenance costs.
The ecological reason of using biodiesel is not less important than saving money. When powering diesel engines with biodiesel, the pollution is reduced significantly. Studies showed that several pollution parameters levels were reduced while using biodiesel as opposed to petrodiesel.
You can save money and help to reduce pollution as well. It is very easy to make biodiesel at home.
Assaf Katzir invites you to learn how to make biodiesel at home and more at http://www.OnlineBioDiesel.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Assaf_Katzir
http://EzineArticles.com/?Biodiesel---Save-Money-and-Help-The-Environment&id=402657
Discount Clone Golf Clubs - Save Your Money for the 19th Hole!
By Kevin Fairbanks
Anyone who plays golf knows the sport is not at all cheap. With membership fees, golf green fee costs, golf shoes, golf clothes, golf clubs, golf carts and golf balls, even a minimalist wishing to play has to fork out a small fortune. With the availability of clone golf clubs, there is now an area where you can keep some money in your own pocket and still achieve the same results on the course.
It can be boring if you finish a great game of golf, but don’t have any money left over for a beer or glass of wine at the end. You want to save money where you can for the social side of golfing. Instead of buying over priced brand name golf clubs, why not get clone golf clubs instead, and save money for a bit of fun with your golfing friends?
Clone golf clubs are not golf clubs made to OEM or original manufacturer standards as some people suspect. They are in fact clubs made to their own specifications and own use of modern technology. Clone golf clubs are made from quality materials and can also be custom designed for your specific and individual requirements.
Brand name golf clubs such as Callaway, Ping, Nike, Taylor Made or Titleist are very expensive and only golfers with money to burn can really afford to buy them. A famous pro golfer once said “The ball can’t tell the brand”, which is true and means people are only buying expensive, over-priced clubs to show off to their peers and advertise their wealth.
If you can’t afford to buy your name-brand golf clubs with cash up front, maybe you are buying out of your league. You could get clone golf clubs that do the same job for half the price or less. Value does not mean low quality, it just means low prices for a product that performs just as well. The clone golf clubs have proven themselves to be reliable, long-lasting and made with quality design and modern technology.
Clone golf drivers are less expensive without compromising the quality or size of the club head. Whether your game is to try the new age square driver heads or you prefer the traditional shaped drivers, you will find a clone golf club that is similar to the name brand for considerably less money. The price you would expect to pay for a clone golf driver is around $70 - $100. The same goes for other clubs such as golf woods, golf hybrids, golf wedges and golf putters. The range of clone golf clubs is versatile and the clubs are stylish, new age and high quality.
You will always play golf with a smile on your face when you know you haven’t had to pay a fortune for your clubs. Within reason, if the clubs you are using are the right specifications for your size, once you are used to using them, you can master how to play with them. It doesn’t matter if you spend $70 or $700, this is still the case. Next time you need a new club or set of clubs, choose clone golf clubs – you won’t be getting second best, you will just be paying less!
Kevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.
http://www.GolfClubsHome.com
http://CollectibleSport.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Fairbanks
http://EzineArticles.com/?Discount-Clone-Golf-Clubs---Save-Your-Money-for-the-19th-Hole!&id=422384
Anyone who plays golf knows the sport is not at all cheap. With membership fees, golf green fee costs, golf shoes, golf clothes, golf clubs, golf carts and golf balls, even a minimalist wishing to play has to fork out a small fortune. With the availability of clone golf clubs, there is now an area where you can keep some money in your own pocket and still achieve the same results on the course.
It can be boring if you finish a great game of golf, but don’t have any money left over for a beer or glass of wine at the end. You want to save money where you can for the social side of golfing. Instead of buying over priced brand name golf clubs, why not get clone golf clubs instead, and save money for a bit of fun with your golfing friends?
Clone golf clubs are not golf clubs made to OEM or original manufacturer standards as some people suspect. They are in fact clubs made to their own specifications and own use of modern technology. Clone golf clubs are made from quality materials and can also be custom designed for your specific and individual requirements.
Brand name golf clubs such as Callaway, Ping, Nike, Taylor Made or Titleist are very expensive and only golfers with money to burn can really afford to buy them. A famous pro golfer once said “The ball can’t tell the brand”, which is true and means people are only buying expensive, over-priced clubs to show off to their peers and advertise their wealth.
If you can’t afford to buy your name-brand golf clubs with cash up front, maybe you are buying out of your league. You could get clone golf clubs that do the same job for half the price or less. Value does not mean low quality, it just means low prices for a product that performs just as well. The clone golf clubs have proven themselves to be reliable, long-lasting and made with quality design and modern technology.
Clone golf drivers are less expensive without compromising the quality or size of the club head. Whether your game is to try the new age square driver heads or you prefer the traditional shaped drivers, you will find a clone golf club that is similar to the name brand for considerably less money. The price you would expect to pay for a clone golf driver is around $70 - $100. The same goes for other clubs such as golf woods, golf hybrids, golf wedges and golf putters. The range of clone golf clubs is versatile and the clubs are stylish, new age and high quality.
You will always play golf with a smile on your face when you know you haven’t had to pay a fortune for your clubs. Within reason, if the clubs you are using are the right specifications for your size, once you are used to using them, you can master how to play with them. It doesn’t matter if you spend $70 or $700, this is still the case. Next time you need a new club or set of clubs, choose clone golf clubs – you won’t be getting second best, you will just be paying less!
Kevin is the husband of Becky and the father of 2, Nicholas and Kirsten. He is an avid sports fan and over-all good guy. He has taken his love of sports and developed web sites that offer that love of sports to others.
http://www.GolfClubsHome.com
http://CollectibleSport.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Fairbanks
http://EzineArticles.com/?Discount-Clone-Golf-Clubs---Save-Your-Money-for-the-19th-Hole!&id=422384
Save Money And Feel Happier By Organising Your Finances
By Steve Richbell
There are some relatively straight forward steps you can take in order to start taking control of your personal finances.
Firstly it is important to keep track of your income and expenditure so that you can work out a monthly budget. You will then be aware if you struggle to meet all your bills and need to take further action. You will also know whether you can afford additional expenses. For example perhaps you are hoping to take out a new car loan, or to extend your mortgage for home improvements. Alternatively perhaps you are in a position to invest some money in a savings plan.
Organising your finances will seem an impossible task if you have piles of unopened statements and bills. Make time to clear the backlog then keep up to date with paperwork and pay bills on time. Do not ignore your bills as they will still be there next month and may incur additional charges due to late payment.
Credit cards should be viewed as a convenient method of payment rather than a loan. It is a good idea to restrict yourself to one or two credit cards. This will make it easier to see how much you are spending and reduce the amount of paperwork you have to deal with. If at all possible then clear your credit card bill each month.
Think ahead and be realistic when taking out a mortgage or personal loan finance. Consider whether you will be able to keep up the payments now and in the future, and do not overstretch yourself. Make sure you know how you will repay the debt at the end of the loan period. This is particularly important on any interest only arrangements.
It is a good idea to have a contingency fund in case you need money in a hurry. Advisers usually suggest you have three months salary set aside for unforeseen circumstances. You may also want to save funds for expected future spending, such as university fees or holidays.
It is never too early to contribute to some form of pension scheme. If you will be relying on the state pension in retirement, then you are likely to face a drop in your standard of living. Also think about how any dependents would manage in the event of your death, or if you could not work through ill health. Do you have adequate life insurance?
Free financial health checks are available on some websites. These can help sort out your priorities and offer practical advice.
Nothing pleases Steve Richbell more than giving great financial advice. You'll save money by reading his guidance on loan finance on the site http://www.financeorganiser.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Richbell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-And-Feel-Happier-By-Organising-Your-Finances&id=420943
There are some relatively straight forward steps you can take in order to start taking control of your personal finances.
Firstly it is important to keep track of your income and expenditure so that you can work out a monthly budget. You will then be aware if you struggle to meet all your bills and need to take further action. You will also know whether you can afford additional expenses. For example perhaps you are hoping to take out a new car loan, or to extend your mortgage for home improvements. Alternatively perhaps you are in a position to invest some money in a savings plan.
Organising your finances will seem an impossible task if you have piles of unopened statements and bills. Make time to clear the backlog then keep up to date with paperwork and pay bills on time. Do not ignore your bills as they will still be there next month and may incur additional charges due to late payment.
Credit cards should be viewed as a convenient method of payment rather than a loan. It is a good idea to restrict yourself to one or two credit cards. This will make it easier to see how much you are spending and reduce the amount of paperwork you have to deal with. If at all possible then clear your credit card bill each month.
Think ahead and be realistic when taking out a mortgage or personal loan finance. Consider whether you will be able to keep up the payments now and in the future, and do not overstretch yourself. Make sure you know how you will repay the debt at the end of the loan period. This is particularly important on any interest only arrangements.
It is a good idea to have a contingency fund in case you need money in a hurry. Advisers usually suggest you have three months salary set aside for unforeseen circumstances. You may also want to save funds for expected future spending, such as university fees or holidays.
It is never too early to contribute to some form of pension scheme. If you will be relying on the state pension in retirement, then you are likely to face a drop in your standard of living. Also think about how any dependents would manage in the event of your death, or if you could not work through ill health. Do you have adequate life insurance?
Free financial health checks are available on some websites. These can help sort out your priorities and offer practical advice.
Nothing pleases Steve Richbell more than giving great financial advice. You'll save money by reading his guidance on loan finance on the site http://www.financeorganiser.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Richbell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Save-Money-And-Feel-Happier-By-Organising-Your-Finances&id=420943
Five Tips to Slash Your Home Finance Costs
Cut your mortgage down to size with these five instant money saving tips.
It’s no wonder that the majority of homeowners dream of one day being able to pay off their home loan and live a life free from the shackles of interest rates, home finance and worries about meeting the monthly mortgage payments because the largest expense the majority of us take on in a lifetime is our mortgage and each month our home finance payments take a substantial chunk out of our take home pay.
Just think what you could do with all the extra money you would have spare if you didn’t have to meet your mortgage each month! Interested? Well, here are five steps that you could take today to substantially slash your mortgage repayments and the overall cost of your home loan and even speed up your rate of repayment so that the day when you’ve paid off your home finance and are free to live the life you want comes that much sooner.
Step One – Demand Better Service!
As a loyal customer of your mortgage lender isn’t it about time you were rewarded for your financial commitment, for making your regular payments and for being a good, long term customer?
Well, you can rest assured your mortgage lender will not reward you unless you ask for a better deal on your mortgage!
So get on the phone, call up your lender, ask to speak to someone in customer services or the customer retention department and explain that you’re looking around for a better mortgage deal. Ask them for an evaluation of how much you have left to pay so that you can give it to any one of the hundreds of other mortgage lenders out there all willing to give you a better deal.
If you are indeed a valued customer you should receive favourable feedback to your demands and receive details of better offers currently available to you from your current lender.
Remember, if you don’t ask you don’t get and be adamant about what you want!
Step Two – Shop Around.
If step one doesn’t get you the deal you deserve, shop around. There really are well in excess of a hundred lenders out there all seeking new customers who will offer you incentives to take up their mortgage product.
Use the internet to get an idea of rates being offered and special deals available to you. Do remember that lenders will do everything they can to make their deal seem like the most attractive one available and do everything within their power to attract new customers so you need to be shrewd.
Look for any hidden charges or tie in clauses and make sure you evaluate products offered on a like for like basis taking into account all the features of the mortgage offers available.
Step Three – Call in the Cavalry.
Well, not the cavalry exactly but expert assistance in the form of a licensed and regulated fee free independent mortgage broker. In the UK these guys are now regulated by the Financial Services Authority and in the US they should come under the scope of The Responsible Lending Act.
As independent brokers they have access to and understanding of every single mortgage product available and they should be best placed to assist you find a better deal than the one you have now where your repayments will be less, your interest rate will be lower and the amount you repay over the entire duration of your loan is reduced.
Make sure your broker is fee free and remunerated by any company you decide to take a mortgage out with. More importantly than this, make sure they are regulated and licensed correctly and if possible ask for professional references or testimonials.
Step Four – Cut Out All Extras
Mortgage lenders are notorious for selling overpriced add-ons such as life insurance, home insurance, contents insurance, income protection cover…all these insurances have their value of course – but you can bet your bottom dollar that you can every last one of them for a fraction of the price by going directly to an independent insurance house or even seeking the services of an independent financial adviser to find you the best deal available.
You could literally save yourself thousands each year in insurance premiums!
Step Five – Throw Some Money at It
So, you’ve cut your interest rate down to size, reduced your monthly repayments, maybe received a cash lump sum from a new lender and saved yourself thousands on insurance products – now turn all those savings back into your mortgage and repay early.
Make sure you have it negotiated into your new mortgage contract that you can make early repayment or lump sum annual top ups and get rid of the millstone round your neck, free yourself from your largest financial commitment as soon as possible and save thousands in interest payments and enjoy freedom of life once again!
About the Author
Rhiannon Williamson is a freelance writer whose articles about property investing and emerging real estate markets have appeared in publications around the world. She is currently working on a brand new property investment resource http://www.amberlamb.com/Use Gas Credit Cards Carefully
Gasoline prices are on everyone’s mind, and so is saving money. With some gas prices crossing the $4.00 per gallon mark in certain areas of the United States, it is not surprising that many consumers are looking for new ways to save money at the pump. Gasoline credit cards are a great way to make this happen, but they must be used carefully.
This type of credit card works exactly the same as any other card in most instances, however when purchasing gasoline the card offers a certain reward in return. Many offer up to 5% cash back, while others have points or even free gas.There are many things you must keep in mind when choosing a gasoline credit card. The first of which is not all rewards cards offer cash back. Many offer shopping discounts or merchandise for making purchases. If you are looking for this merchandise, then you can actually get more value out of your credit card because rewards programs tend to offer more back when cash is not involved. If the point of this card is too save you money however, cash back is the way to go.Be sure not to limit yourself to the point that you cannot accumulate rewards from your credit card. Some card offers are limited to which gas stations you can make purchases at, while others offer rebates for a limited time or in a limited area. If you make purchases within these very specific limitations, you can save some money. If however you get the wrong offer and live or travel to an area without the correct stations, then you are out of luck. The more limited the offer, generally the better the return, so if you can use your card within the specified limitations it is possible you can create more value for yourself.Credit cards will cost you money if you carry a balance, and gasoline credit cards are no different. If you are getting 5% cash back on your rebate card, it can look pretty good until you carry a balance that incurs a 12.5% interest fee. Now the cash back is completely nullified, and the card is costing you money. If paid off every month however, these gas cards can be a real savings, especially in today’s economy where gas prices are through the roof.At the end of the day the spending habits of the consumer will decide if a credit card is right for them. The trick is to be careful, research all your options, and get the most value from the credit card you choose.About the Author
Jon Norwood is a founder and managing partner of the credit card directory BankCardFinder.com, a site dedicated to providing fast and accurate financial information regarding credit cards that consumers need to make an informed decision on which credit company is right for them.4 Computer Money-saving Tip
Here are four tips that’ll save you money when buying your next computer.
Tip #1 -- Rebates: A rebate is not always a bargain. Computers with rebates are often close to being discontinued. You may pick up a good deal or purchase technology that's about to become yesterday’s news. What's more, stores will often package computers with a bunch of free items to make it look like you're getting more value. Chances are the extras are either poor quality or items you're unlikely to use. Also, they’re counting on you to not redeem your rebate, a very common occurrence.
Tip #2 -- Extended Service Warrantees: Buyer Beware! They're a gamble, but not always a bad idea. If you're purchasing a laptop and you plan to travel a lot, an extended warranty that covers replacement of the monitor/display can be a good gamble. Replacing a display can cost $400-$600, making the warranty worthwhile. On the other hand, if you plan on buying the warranty for routine maintenance; save your money. Oftentimes it can take weeks for the store to send your PC out for service. Also, remember the store where you purchased your computer does not always do warranty work during the first year, instead you may have to ship it directly to the manufacturer. In general, extended warranties cover electronics [things you can't see]. They don't usually cover physical damage. Most extended warranties have large gray areas, leaving the warranty provider a lot of room to reject claims.
Tip #3 -- Monitors: Don’t throw away your monitor if it's still working properly. Instead, keep it and save a chunk of money by just replacing your old CPU [computer tower]. Monitors last much longer than CPUs and the technology is usually compatible between your old monitor and the new CPU. However, if you’re dissatisfied, then monitors, keyboards and mouses are the three tools to spend extra money on, since you use them every day!
Tip #4 -- Networking: How are you connecting to the Internet? If you're using a high speed Internet connection, such as cable broadband or DSL, you'll want to make sure you have a network card built into your system. If you have a wireless network at home or at the office, save money and installation time by buying the wireless card built right into the computer.
About the Author
About the Author
Sharron Senter is co-founder of http://www.VisitingGeeks.com - an on site computer repair, security and networking company serving north of Boston, Southern NH and Maine. Visiting Geeks’ technicians are crackerjacks at squashing viruses, popups and securing and making computers perform faster. Learn more about Sharron at http://www.SharronSenter.com
How to “pump” money back into your pocket. Gas money saving tips.
With Gas prices around $2.60 dollars a gallon, how would you like to get 15, 20 or even 35 cents off each gallon you buy? At www.pumpandsave.com you can learn gas saving tips, compare and apply for great offers and save Big at the Pump each and every time.
Here are few tips from www.pumpandsave.com:
1. Stay within posted speed limits. The faster you drive, the more fuel you use.
2. Use overdrive gears. Overdrive gears improve the fuel economy of your car during highway driving.
3. Use cruise control. Using cruise control on highway trips can help you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, reduce your fuel consumption.
4. Anticipate driving situations. If you anticipate traffic conditions and don't tailgate, you can avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, and improve your fuel economy by 5 to 10 percent.
5. Avoid unnecessary idling. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait. No matter how efficient your car is, unnecessary idling wastes fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air.
6. Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
7. Remove excess weight from the trunk. Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by one to two percent.
8. Keep your engine tuned. Studies have shown that a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent depending on a car's condition.
9. Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. Underinflated tires cause fuel consumption to increase by six percent.
10. Change your oil. Clean oil reduces wear caused by friction between moving parts and removes harmful substances from the engine.
11. Check & replace air filters regularly. Your car's air filter keeps impurities in the air from damaging internal engine components. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10% increase in fuel consumption.
12. Buy only the octane level gas you need. Remember, the higher the octane, the higher the price. Check your owner's manual to determine the right octane level for your car.
13. Own a fuel efficient vehicle. The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $1,500 over 5 years.
And here are the top best ranked Gas Credit card offers. You can easily compare the offers and choose the best gas cards at www.pumpandsave.com
- Gas credit cards will SAVE you money if you use them correctly.
- Discover® Platinum Gas Card consider to be the BEST overall Gas credit card. You can get up to 5% Cashback Bonus® on gas purchases & up to 1% Cashback Bonus® on all other purchases. Here is the best part you can DOUBLE your Cashback Bonus® when you redeem for gift cards or certificates. The APR starts off as low as 7.99% and it's easy to get approved! Get introductory 0% APR for 12 months, too.
- If you carry a balance or need to make a balance transfer, the Chase® Cash Plus Rewards card gives 0% APR for up to 12 months on both. Plus, get 5% cashback on ALL gas purchases.
- If you use Hess for your gas, use the Hess® Card from Chase. Get a full 10% cashback at Hess for 90 days, then 5% lifetime at Hess. Get 1% cashback everywhere else. The most popular station specific card.
- If you have Excellent credit, the Citi® Dividend Platinum Card gives you 5% cashback at all gas stations, supermarkets, and drugstores. A great way to save money on everyday purchases. Students can also get 5% cashback with the Citi® Student Dividend Card.
About the Author
Dmitry Popov- the founder of www.pumpandsave.com - on line portal for the web users to learn money saving tips, compare offers and apply for the top performing gas crdedit cards to save money on high gas prices.
Life Insurance – Money saving Top Tips
Buying life insurance online is easy but this article provides 5 money saving tips that the man in the street would otherwise be unaware of. Essential reading.
More and more people are buying life insurance online and the numbers seem to be doubling every two years. The reasons are clear. Prices are lower on the Internet and life insurance is fundamentally a simple insurance product. Despite the underlying simplicity of life insurance, most web sites channel their online clients through a telephone based help and advice service manned by experienced personnel. They represent your safety net so if a little technical knowledge is called for, help is at hand. But it’s always a good idea to have a few Top Tips in your back pocket when you’re shopping online for life insurance. They’ll help you ask the right questions and find the best policy.
1. Always have your Life Insurance policy “Written in Trust”. This means that in the event of a claim, the money goes directly and immediately to the person(s) you nominate when you first take the policy out. It also avoids all possibility of your estate having to pay Inheritance Tax on the proceeds of your policy and that could represent a 40% tax saving ! All you have to do is tell the online brokerage organising your policy that you want your policy “Written in Trust” and the names of the people who the life insurance company pay in the event of a claim. They will then sort it all out for you. The extra good news is that this service is invariably free of charge. So it’s a win win situation and there aren’t many of those around these days !
2. In the early years a Reviewable Life Insurance Policy will be cheaper but a Guaranteed Policy will work out a better buy in the longer term. With a “Guaranteed Policy” the insurance company guarantees never to increase your policy’s premium. With a “Reviewable Policy” you agree that your insurance company can review the cost of your policy at regular intervals. But don’t be kidded – in our experience a “review” is just another word for a price increase. After all, who’s ever heard of an insurance company passing up a chance to charge you more! The review intervals are usually between 2 to 5 years but this does vary between insurance companies. You will find the details of the review intervals on the documents sent to you before you accept the insurance – these are called The Key Features Documents. So, comparing otherwise like for like policies, in the early years the premiums for a “Reviewable Policy” will undoubtedly be lower than the premiums for a “Guaranteed Policy”. Thereafter, the premiums for a Reviewable Policy increase eventually catching up with and overtaking, the premium for a “Guaranteed Policy”. In our experience, you can expect the monthly premiums for a Reviewable Policy to exceed those of a Guaranteed policy in about 7 to 10 years and then within the following 10 years, more than double again. If your budget is currently tight then by all means choose a Reviewable Policy - after all your salary may increase in coming years and ease the strain. On the other hand, if the premiums for a Guaranteed Policy are affordable, we think they represent your best buy. A footnote. Many insurance companies have stopped offering “Guaranteed” rates for standalone critical illness insurance policies. This because they have experienced much higher claim rates than they initially expected. However, you may still find a Guaranteed life insurance policy that also provides critical illness cover. As we have explained, “Guaranteed” rates are especially good value and if you can get a quote for a Guaranteed life policy that includes critical illness cover, you may have a real bargain.
3. Thinking about a Joint Life Insurance Policy? A Joint Life Insurance policy is usually written on a first death basis. This means that the policy will pay out on the death of the first policyholder, subject to the policy being in force at the time. This leaves the second person uninsured and older. Older people can struggle to get life insurance at an affordable premium, so rather than a Joint Policy consider taking out separate policies now. Overall it will work out a little dearer - but you get twice the cover and double the peace of mind.
4. Taking out a Life Insurance Policy? Now would be an ideal time to include Critical Illness cover. Are you likely to need Critical Illness Insurance in the future? Yes? Then consider adding it now to the life insurance policy you’re arranging. Why? There are three reasons. Firstly, a Life Insurance policy combined with Critical Illness cover will work out significantly cheaper than buying two separate policies. Secondly, as we have already explained in the footnote to Tip 2, you may be able to buy a combined Life and Critical Illness policy with a guaranteed premium. That could be a real bargain. Finally, premiums for critical illness cover increase rapidly as you get older – so the sooner you take it out, the cheaper it will be.
5. Don’t confuse Terminal Illness cover with Critical Illness cover. There’s world of difference between Terminal Illness and Critical Illness cover so it’s important to understand the difference. Terminal Illness cover pays out the insured lump sum if a Medical Doctor diagnoses you with an illness from which the Doctor expects you to die within 12 months. Most good life policies automatically include Terminal Illness cover at no extra cost. It’s basically an early, and welcome policy payout. A Critical Illness policy pays out the insured lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of a wide range chronic illness and there is no life expectancy criteria. Indeed, with many of the insured illnesses you could expect to survive for many years. For example: certain cancers, heart disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, loss of speech, sight or hearing, onset of Parkinsons or Alzheimers disease, third degree burns etc. Say you were an engineer aged 40 and you lost your sight. A Critical Illness policy would pay out immediately and that money could well be vital in helping you and your family through many difficult financial years ahead. If you just had Terminal Illness cover there’d be no chance of a payout. So as you can see, Critical Illness cover is far more comprehensive than simple Terminal Illness cover and for that reason critical illness cover always costs you extra.
About the Author
Michael Challiner has 15 years experience in financial services marketing at senior level, the last 5 of which specialised in online marketing. Prior to that he spent 15 years in advertising with two of the world’s top advertising agencies, J Walter Thompson and Saatchi & Saatchi.Michael now works as the editor of Express Life Insurance on behalf of Andromeda Webs LtdAdditional reading on Critical Illness Insurance Additional reading on Terminal Illness InsuranceHow Much Are You Saving by Refilling?
There is a formula for figuring out exactly how much money you can save by using a refill kit. You already know how expensive OEM inkjet cartridges are and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that you can save money by using them. But how many people know EXACTLY how much money they are saving? If you really knew I'd be willing to bet that if you aren't refilling now, you are going to take another look after reading this.
I'm going to use our HP790C3B kit as an example. This kit is used for refilling the very popular HP 51645A black and HP C6578 color cartridges.
Here is the formula:
S = (RC x CCC) + (RB x CCB) - RK
S = Your actual savings over the life of the refill kit
RC = The number of color refills in the kit
CCC = Cost of a new color cartridge
RB = The number of black refills in the kit
CCB = Cost of a new black cartridge
Lets plug in some numbers. Today I checked the prices of the aforementioned OEM cartridges on Staples web site.
HP 51645A - $29.99
HP C6578AN - $54.99
Our HP790C3B kit refills:
Black - 3 times
Color - 5 times
The kit sells for $27.95.
Here is the formula with the numbers plugged in:
S = (5 x 54.99) + (3 x 29.99) - 27.95
S = (274.95) + (89.97) - 27.95
S = 364.92 - 27.95
S = 336.97
Quite an eye opener isn't it? By spending $27.95 you can save $336.97. I would get some ink on my hands to save $337.00!
I believe wholeheartedly that if more people knew how much money they can save there would be a lot less of these cartridges ending up in the landfills.
Just please remember, start small. If you've never refilled before don't start by ordering a gallon of ink.
About the Author
Barry Shultz is the author of Atlascopy News, and President of Atlascopy, Inc. Atlascopy specialized in affordable alternatives to the high cost of printer supplies.http://atlascopy.com
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