With our upcoming move to a bigger home, I’ve got energy consumption on my mind. Specifically, how can we keep our bill from doubling just as our square footage is doubling? As a budget conscious British Columbian it’s important to me to be mindful of our energy consumption especially since our goal is to save money and ultimately conserve energy to the benefit of our planet.
That’s why when I was setting up our change of address over at BC Hydro, I was excited to come across the tools and resources available at powersmart.ca. These tools make it easy to make smart energy choices by equipping consumers with the tips and tools necessary to help make choices that improve your wallet and life.
First things first, understanding how you use electricity can help you save. By tracking your energy consumption using BC Hydro’s online energy tracking tools and checking back regularly (once a month or so), you’ll gain a better understanding of how things such as seasonal changes, your everyday habits, vacations, and even family gatherings in your home affect your electricity use and your bill.
Compare your electricity use to similar homes nearby, to last year’s electricity use, and to the average outside temperature.
Set up alerts and reminders.
Download your home’s electricity use data for offline analysis.
See your projected bill amount based on current patterns of use.
There’s even a $50 reward incentive if you, as a BC Hydro customer, join BC Hydro’s Team Power Smart and start a Reduction Challenge and successfully reduce your energy consumption by 10% over 12 months! I’m game!
To start tracking, you’ll first need to create an online account. If you have one already, login and select view detailed consumption from your account to access the electricity tracking tools. Once you have logged in, you can view your detailed consumption. Be sure to check back monthly to see how you are doing.
If you’re a BC Hydro customer, I’d love to hear your thoughts on your energy consumption. After logging in, were you surprised to see how you were using electricity? I was actually surprise to see that even though the temperature outside is warming up, we’re still using a fair amount of electricity! What are some changes you could start making to reduce your bill?
Don’t forget to join Team Power Smart and start a reduction challenge for your $50 reward!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BC Hydro. Many thanks for reading and sharing!
We all need to save money these days. It feels like the value of a dollar gets smaller by the day! These everyday items you can stop buying and easily replace with less expensive options and even help out the planet in the long run.
Paper towels
While there may be a time and a place to put paper towel to use, most of the time, old towels or old shirts can work just as well. I actually like using old rags better than paper towel for cleaning glass. They don’t leave little bits of paper on the mirrors! They’re also easy to toss in with your dish rags and towels to wash on laundry day.
Disposable Disinfectant Wipes
When it comes to common products that make life easier but are wasteful, disposable disinfectant wipes come to mind. Sadly these also have quite a high cost. You can easily make your own by filling a small container with a disinfectant solution (1 cup water, 2 tsp bleach, 2 tsp dish soap) and tossing in rags. This is a great way to reuse old t-shirts! Because you are using old t-shirts, you can toss it guilt free if the mess is too hard to get out of the cloth.
Glass Cleaner
Another thing that can be a waste of money is glass cleaner. At $3 or so for a bottle of cleaner you are basically throwing your money away. You can save a large amount of money by filling a bottle with half water and half vinegar or rubbing alcohol. It works just as well for just a fraction of the price.
Dryer Sheets
You can save big bucks by making your own Dryer sheets. You can find my recipe to make your own homemade dryer sheets right here. To make things even easier, you could simply add some white vinegar to the liquid fabric softener dispenser of your washing machine.
Diaper wipes
If you are a mom, you know how handy diaper wipes can be, even for older kids! The good news is, you can make your own easily and save money. If disposable is a must, try cutting a paper towel roll in half for this. If not, baby wash cloths from the dollar store are perfect for a washable version. Mix a few drops of baby wash or castile soap into about a cup of water, then pour over top of the cloths or paper towel that are in an airtight container.
Lotion
Lotion can be made for a fraction of the cost without all of the chemicals that are bad for you. All you need is 1 part shea butter and 1 part coconut oil. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to make it smell amazing!
Shaving cream
You can use nearly any oil, body butter, or even conditioner in place of shaving cream. This is a great one to stop buying for healthier skin too.
Foaming hand soap
Foaming hand soap can be made for next to nothing. Refilling your bottles saves you so much money! Simply fill your used foaming hand soap bottle with 1/2 water and 1/2 soap. Shake well.
Every craft lover knows the wonders of Modge Podge. The good news is this expensive crafting staple can be made by mixing half school glue and half water together. Use the same as ready made for all of your crafting fun.
I’d love to know some items that you have stopped buying because you’ve found an alternative. Let me know in the comments!
Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Do you feel like you never have money? Are you terrified that unexpected expenses will come up? Here are some ideas for getting your finances under control and feeling more in charge of your money. You can do it!
#1. Evaluate Your Budget
If you don’t have a budget, make one! The best way to know where your money goes is to write it down and keep track. Always keep in mind that paying for your essentials (shelter, food, water, electric, etc.) should be first priority.
Once you know where your money is going, look at each line item and ask yourself if it’s necessary. If it IS a necessity, is it possible to make the payment smaller? Do your research and call your providers, assess everything from your cable/satellite and cell phone, home, health and auto insurance. You can even look into refinancing your mortgage and call to ask for discounts or change your plan. Meal planning is a great way to start spending less on groceries. Changing cell phone providers can give you amazing savings. If you have student loans, check into student loan forgiveness programs or income based repayment programs.
#3. Have an Emergency Fund
If you don’t have a savings account for emergencies, open one! It’s best to have at least $1,000 saved. If you are starting from scratch, start with a goal of $500 in savings. This will keep you from using credit cards and racking up more debt when emergencies pop up.
#4. Become Debt Free
Examine your debt (student loans, credit cards, car payment, mortgage, etc.). Commit to paying off your loans starting with the highest interest rate. When creating your budget, think about throwing any extra money you have at your loans. If you can buckle down for a few years, you’ll be surprised how much money can be freed up by paying off debt. Plus you’ll feel amazing! Your mortgage should be the last debt you pay off.
#5. Stick To It
This is the hardest part! Try using cash for a while, if you need a visual of your money leaving your hands. Talk to a trusted (financially capable) friend and have them hold you accountable to your budget. You might also want to read this post for ideas on how to stick to your budget.
If you’ve tried all these steps and still feel like you’re not in control, you may need to look into ways to earn more money (ask for a raise, look into part-time work or freelancing, etc.) or talk to a professional financial planner. Make sure you look into investing in your future, too (don’t forget about retirement!). Talk to people who are financially responsible and ask for advice. Taking control of your finances can be tough, but extremely rewarding.
If you’ve paid off debt, how did you do it? What was the one thing that really helped you to get it paid off? Let me know in the comments!
It’s official. We’re moving in a month’s time. I just can’t believe it. While a month still seems so far away (I’m just so gosh darn excited!), I’m sure it will zip by!
Anyways, as we’ve discovered, moving can be an expensive adventure especially if you are moving to a new province, town, or even another country. However, there are ways you can save while moving. Check out these 25 ways to save money while moving!
25 Ways to Save Money While Moving
Sell anything and everything. If you haven’t used or worn something in the last 6 months, sell it.
Utilize Facebook. Facebook is a great way to post your items you are trying to sell quickly without hosting a garage sale. Do a search on Facebook for local Buy & Sell groups.
Avoid hiring movers. It is much more cost effective to slowly get your items packed and loaded than it is to hire movers.
Don’t buy boxes. Retailers that get products shipped in, throw out and get rid of their boxes all the time. Head out to local stores asking when their shipments come in and if you can have their broken-down boxes. We’ve gotten all our boxes from some friends who own an auto body shop.
Borrow a truck. If you can, borrow a truck or trailer from someone. When you rent a truck, you not only pay for renting, but you pay mileage and gas.
Move slowly. If you aren’t moving far from your old house, move your belongings slowly, if possible.
Shop around for new services. When you move, you can either transfer your old internet services, or you can shop around for a better deal.
Use old newspapers. Instead of buying moving supplies to keep your glassware safe, use old newspapers to cushion your fragile items.
Shop around for insurance. Whether you are moving into an apartment or a new house, it is always wise to shop around for insurance on your things.
Use coupons. When you need something like a carpet cleaning service, for example, look online or in your newspapers for coupons that will save you money.
Ask for discounts. It never hurts to ask! While we weren’t moving, just replacing our broken dishwasher, we asked for a discount on the floor model dishwasher that we liked, and they gave us one! Look every which way to find a discount.
Don’t use credit. You may end up paying much more in the long run, putting things on credit than you would if you pay in cash. Avoid those late fees!
Start saving ahead of time. If you know you are moving, start a savings account just for moving expenses. Not only will you earn interest, but you won’t have to put any expenses on credit.
Pump gas when it’s cheap. If you get gas to move, look to fill up on the days its cheapest.
Fix up before you move. Before you move into your new home, do all the repairs that need to be done before moving in.
Use a notary instead of a lawyer. For the legal aspect of moving, looking into using a notary instead of a lawyer. You may save yourself a bundle!
Get furniture second hand. If you need new furniture, buy furniture at second-hand shops or online.
Go to the dollar store. For last minute items, cleaning supplies, and snacks, head to the dollar store to save some money.
Talk to your neighbors. Your new neighbors will be the best resource in helping you find whatever you need inexpensively.
Shop for deals. The internet is full of ways for you to save money. Look for online deals before purchasing anything.
Have a garage sale. If you are really short on cash, a garage sale can help you get that extra money you need.
Talk to the real estate agent. Some real estate agents will have moving trucks you can borrow.
Don’t forget to check Craigslist. Craigslist has some really great deals on moving supplies.
Borrow a dolly from a friend. Instead of renting or buying a dolly, you can borrow one to help move big items.
Keep everything organized. Keeping everything organized and marked helps prevent things from getting broken or lost, costing you more money to replace it.
What other ways have you found to save money when you move? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!
February is pretty dreary, cold, snowy and miserable, so not ideal for bargain shopping. However, there are some bargains to be had during the shortest month of the year!
Here are the Best Things to Buy in February:
Electronics
Electronics such as digital cameras, TV’s and Home Theaters are great items to pick up in February. TV’s and home theaters because the pre-Superbowl sales are worth checking out. (Especially if you missed out on the Black Friday or Boxing Day deals) Cameras, because stores are trying to clear out the old models before the new models come in.
Winter Clothing
The farther you get into winter, the cheaper winter clothing gets. Including outerwear, boots and sweaters. If you can wait until the end of the season you can find some nice discounts.
Furniture
New furniture designs come out in the spring, so stores are clearing out old styles to make room. February is a great time to search showrooms for “as is” floor models in good condition offered at deep discounts.
Valentine’s Day items
While Valentine’s day items will be on sale at the beginning of February, the best time to find a great deal is after Valentine’s day. You’ll find prices on Valentine themed candy, chocolates, decorations, toys and more drastically slashed.
Tax Software
The dreaded tax season is commencing. If you do your own taxes, look for sales on tax software such as Quicken and TurboTax.
Because retailers follow a yearly sale cycle, you can count on finding the same general products on sale at the same time each year.
Family fun doesn’t always have to cost money. There are plenty of activities you can try together that are just as fun, or even more fun, then activities that require cash.
Here are some free family activity ideas that are sure to please! Pick a couple to try this weekend!
Have a picnic, inside or outside depending on the weather
Have another family over for dinner – this is way cheaper then eating out!
Movie night – grab a movie off the shelf that you haven’t watched in a while and make some homemade microwave popcorn!
Have a theme night/day – Mexican, Italian, pirate…the list goes on. Plan dinners and activities around your theme!
Head to your local library – stock up on reading material or even sit in on story time!
Have a game night – pull out those board games and cards!
Unplug – Turn off the cell phone, TV, computer and just reconnect with your wonderful family!
Go bird watching – see how many different types of birds you can spot. Maybe bring along a bird book from the library.
Build an indoor fort – camp out in it or have a picnic in it!
Check out the free community events offered in your area
Make a list of activities you want to do during the Summer
Go for a walk
Have a yard sale and set up a lemonade stand that the kids can man.
Clip and organize coupons. Make it a game for the kids.
Help an elderly neighbour or friend
Visit a playground and actually play together
Many of these ideas can be adapted to every season, but the important thing is that you get out there and have fun together as a family! Enjoy each other!
What other free or cheap activities can you suggest?
