Jun 15 | Money Saving Tips
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
One way to save a lot of money is to make your own snacks. Buying snacks from the grocery store can really add up. Plus, not only are they more delicious than pre-packaged snacks, they are usually much healthier for you too!
10 Quick & Easy Homemade Snack Ideas
- No-Bake Energy Bites
- Veggies with homemade Ranch Dip
- Fruit
- Nuts/Seeds
- Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream
- Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets
- Popcorn
- Homemade Applesauce Sauce
- Tropical Pineapple Peach Slushie
Something I’ve been wanting to implement in our home is a snack bin. The idea is to set aside some time over the weekend to put together a bunch of snacks in a bin that you can grab easily throughout the week. My daughter is a snacker (she gets that from me…) so I love the thought of telling her to grab something out of the snack bin! Then I know she’s eating something nutritious!
What sort of homemade snacks do you like to have on hand?
See the other articles in this series, here.
Jun 8 | Money Saving Tips
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
One way I like to save is by shopping my own closet. When ever I feel the urge to go out and buy a new piece of clothing, I’ll first take a look at what I already own. Often I’ll pull out something that I haven’t worn in a while to see if I can create a new outfit. Many times, I’ve found some new favourite combinations without even hitting the mall!
Or, I’ll find a few pieces (shirts usually) that I’ve forgotten about. Gotta love that!
Since I’m no fashionista, I complied a list of links to help you create new outfits by shopping your closet:
A great way to create new outfits with what you already own is by heading to Pinterest for some inspiration. Do a search for outfits, then find some favourites. Next, head to your closet to find similar pieces so you can try recreating the ideas you found. On a few occasions, I’ve found a similar piece, but never even thought of wearing it the way the inspiration picture shows.
When you do shop for new clothes, make sure to buy clothes that are versatile enough to be worn with several other items.
Do you shop your closet before you head out shopping? How many fun new outfits have you discovered because of this?
See the other articles in this series, here.
Jun 1 | Money Saving Tips
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
How a Home Energy Audit Can Help You Save on Your Energy Bills
The following post is a guest post by Hilary of CallMePower.ca. Enjoy!
How energy efficient is your home? What are the most cost-efficient changes you can make to save energy and on your monthly utility bills? Getting an energy audit done on your home can help you find out the answers to these questions and more. If you are thinking of renovating your home, here’s why you might want to consider having a home energy audit done first.
What is a Home Energy Audit?
A home energy audit is performed by an independent home energy advisor who inspects your home in order to evaluate its efficiency. They are specially trained to evaluate heating and insulation characteristics of a home, and are licensed by Natural Resources Canada. During a home energy audit the inspector will examine the performance of your home’s heating, insulation and air leakage, hot water, and ventilation systems, and will suggest cost-effective energy efficiency improvements and upgrades.
How Does a Home Energy Audit Work?
A home energy audit has several steps:
1. Walk-Through Assessment
The home energy advisor will start the assessment by walking through certain parts of your home to note aspects of how it uses energy. First, the home energy advisor will take some measurements and pictures of your home from the outside. Next, he or she will look at your furnace and basement in order to examine the age and performance of your furnace and water heater, as well as the level and quality of insulation in your basement. The home energy advisor will also look at other appliances throughout the house, such as the toilets, kitchen appliances, lighting, etc. He or she will also examine how well insulated your attic is.
2. Blower Test
Once the home energy advisor has examined the house from basement to roof, he or she will detect any drafts (which, in technical speak, is also known as “air infiltration”). This is often done by a “blower door test”, in which the technician put the house under reverse pressure by hooking up a powerful fan to the main door. How does this fan work? When turned on, the fan draws air through your home at a constant speed so that it reaches a certain (constant) pressure. This allows the advisor to measure how much leakage takes place within your home, and identify where the drafts are. Identifying the location of the drafts in your home will enable the technician to recommend where in your home needs sealing.
3. Home Energy Assessment Report
Once the inspection is finished, the energy advisor will create a report that breaks down how much energy your home uses for space and water heating, lighting and other appliances, and identifies where in your home energy is lost (windows, doors, basement, attic, etc). Your home energy advisor will explain the results of the report to you, and will answer any questions you might have. The report will identify which energy upgrades would be the most cost effective. Your home will also be compared with similar homes in the NRCan database so that you can see its relative efficiency. It will receive a current rating and a predicted rating for the suggested energy improvements.
Why Get a Home Energy Audit?
To run your home cheaper and more efficiently. Having a home energy audit done on your home will show you how much energy it uses to run, and will give you some ideas on how to cut down on operating costs.
To make sure your renovations are smart ones. The energy efficiency improvement suggestions that you will receive following the evaluation will give you an idea of which renovations are the most energy- and cost-efficient options for your home.
To improve the value of your home. Your home will be given an EnerGuide rating as part of the report given to you following the home energy audit. Having your home reassessed once you’ve made some of the suggested improvements can improve your home’s resale value, as the improved EnerGuide label proves that you’ve made the important renovations for your home.
Where Can I Find a Licensed Home Energy Auditor?
NRCan has a list of licensed NRCan home evaluation service organizations in Canada. Only licensed organizations are able to give your home an EnerGuide label.
How Much Does a Home Energy Audit Cost?
Energy audits generally cost a few hundred dollars, but may be eligible for government rebates. Check with your local municipality or provincial government to see if you are eligible for a rebate if you have a home energy assessment performed on your house.
Hilary is the author of CallMePower.ca, a website that provides information about energy prices in Canada to help Canadians find the best prices for their electricity and gas supply. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, DIY projects, and scoring deals at thrift stores.
See the other articles in this series, here.
May 25 | Money Saving Tips
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
My sincere apologies for not having last week’s 52 Ways to Save post up! You’ll see my excuse in this post. I’ll be sure to have 2 in one week to get caught up 😉
One great way to save money on your grocery bill is to eat less meat. I’m not saying to get rid of it completely if you don’t want to, but by simply putting less on your plate, you will be saving a lot in the long run. Here are some ideas to help you get started eating less meat:
Don’t make it the focal point
Limit making meat the focal point of your meal. Instead, use it as a topping for pizza or salads, or put some into stir fries or soups. You’ll be amazed at how far meat will stretch when it’s added to something!
Have a meatless night
I’m sure you’ve heard of Meatless Monday, one day a week that many people have decided to eat a meatless meal. It’s actually a whole global movement that you can read all about here. The website also features a ton of great recipes that may interest you! While Meatless Monday is a “thing” you can do your meatless night on any night of the week 😉
If you family is having a hard time with the idea of having meatless meals, why not make it enticing by setting some fun goals? For example, you could put the money you’re saving by not buying meat for that meal into a vacation fund or even the local fair fund. Or perhaps you could use that money to go out for ice cream! Talk it over with everyone so you can come up with an exciting way to use your savings.
Stretch it with beans and lentils
If your family is really opposed to going meatless, it’s always possible to make meat stretch by adding beans or lentils. Mexican dishes, chili, and soups are meals that you can easily add in extra beans to replace some of the meat.
Lentils hide especially well in taco meat. Just add in cooked lentils to your ground beef along with your usual seasonings and there’s a good chance your family won’t even notice!
How do you save money on meat? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
May 11 | Money Saving Tips
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
Ever since my husband and I were married almost 8 years ago, I’ve been planning our weekly menu. Even if I didn’t take the time to write things down, I still had a few meals in mind that would get us through the week. It’s in my nature to be a planner so planning a menu was obvious for my own sanity. But, even if you’re more of an impromptu cook, today I’d like to touch on the importance of menu planning. Especially if you’re looking to save money and some sanity. We’re all busy people so the power of a plan can help each of us tremendously!
Menu Planning Keeps the budget in check
Groceries cost a lot. Save yourself some financial stress by planning your meals and your shopping list based on what’s on sale and what you already have in your pantry. With a menu plan in place, you only have to purchase the ingredients you need create the meals you’ve picked. That’s how I spend less than $50 some weeks on groceries.
Your Time and Sanity are Important Too
Whether you work outside the home or you’re a stay-at-home parent, we’re all juggling a ton of activities on a daily basis. While planning a menu in the first place takes a bit of time, it will definitely save you time and restore sanity in the end. You will always have the ingredients you need to create a meal from your planned menu. No running to the store for a last minute item or opening the fridge and cupboards 500 times to figure out what to make for dinner. Or realizing it’s 5pm and you just spent an hour trying to find a great recipe when dinner could have already been on the table. With a plan in place, all you have to do is pick a meal from the list and make it!
Menu Planning Reduces Waste
Have you ever bought food from the grocery store thinking you’ll use it for something, but end up throwing it out instead? If you stick to the grocery list that you created based on your planned meals, you won’t be purchasing anything that you won’t use. In turn, creating less waste, both in the food sense and financial sense!
Related: 11 Ways to Reduce Food Waste
I believe that having a menu plan to save money and your sanity cannot be stressed enough. Menu planning has made my life so much easier and I’ve heard the same from many others. Sometimes, the menu plan is the only thing in the day that goes as planned!
See the other articles in this series, here.
