Energy Vampires—Unplug to save energy & money!

Recently, I’ve raised my awareness of energy vampires that suck my energy and raise my electric bills—like a phone charger, coffee maker, toaster or hair dryer. Any item that you use once or multiple times daily but does NOT need to be charged 24-7,,,unplug it.

The easiest way to determine which household appliances, chargers, or electronic equipment should always stay plugged are the ones that have a digital clock on them. For instance, a microwave, your cable box or even a stereo. Depending on how often you use these items will help you assess which ones should be powered off completely until you absolutely have to use them.

For example, I unplug our coffeemaker, phone chargers, toaster, dvd player and television speakers when they aren’t in use. But things like our two laptop computers which are used most consistently are put in sleep mode when idle to conserve energy. When we’re finished for the night, we unplug them completely.

The top 5 Energy Vampires are:

1. Computers (modems & routers)
2. TV’s (plasma, LCD & rear-projection)
3. Surround sound systems
4. Cable/satellite tv boxes
5. Household appliances with a digital clock (microwave, VHS/DVD player, coffeemaker)

How to recognize Energy Vampires:

1. There’s an external power supply
2. They have a remote control
3. There may be a continuous display (i.e.digital clock)
4. Has a battery charger

Other items you may own that drain your energy and add to your electric bill are: digital picture frames, video game consoles and audio/dj equipment. To learn to conserve electricity and save money, please consider the following things:

• Use power strips that will turn off all appliances easily at once (tv/cable&satellite boxes/DVD players/surround sound systems)
• Unplug unnecessary items that don’t need to be charged constantly or aren’t in use daily (cell phone chargers, video game systems and kitchen appliances like blenders, mixers, toasters, coffee makers/grinders)

Target areas to conserve energy:

• Kitchen—Unplug blenders, toasters, coffee makers/grinders, mixers. You can save $10-$20 yearly
• Home office—Keep computers in sleep mode and turn off/unplug printers & fax machines and save $20 yearly
• Family room/den—unplug stereo equipment, cable/satellite boxes, VCR/DVD players, tvs & video game consoles to save $40 or more a year

THE YEARLY COST OF ENERGY VAMPIRES:

Cable/Satellite box                                       $12.85

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Stereo                                                            $12.85

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Clock/Radio                                                   $1.81

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VCR/DVD player                                            $5.92

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Computer                                                      $1.61

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Printer                                                            $7.03

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Routers/Modems                                          $10.24

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Microwave                                                      $2.61

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Garage door opener                                     $2.41

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52′-65′ Rear projection tv                             $18.67

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50′ plasma tv                                                 $14.56

A typical American home has about forty products continuously drawing power. This combined with phantom energy use can account for about 10% of your monthly electric bill. Hope this helps you open your eyes to conserving electricity, saving yourself money and avoiding energy vampires in your home. And remember, being thrifty is pretty nifty 🙂

Reap the Benefits of Online Suveys!

 I have been dabbling with online surveys for years now. But this past year, I completed so many that I accumulated over $350 in gift cards for doing just that! Just a few of these awesome rewards were from: Game Stop, Restaurant.com, Starbucks, Best Buy, Macy’s & Amazon. That knocked out so many Christmas gifts for me that it financially freed me up to buy two airline tickets home for the holidays.

Some of the survey companies I work with are:

• http://www.e-rewards.com
• http://www.e-miles.com
• http://www.schlesingerassociates.com

The first two websites are great because you can choose how frequently you receive survey opportunities. You can accrue points by shopping through your favorite stores online like at e-rewards.com or you can make donations (like I did especially during the holidays) at e-miles.com and get rewarded for doing a good deed! Not to mention just getting points/miles that turn into money by answering simple everyday questions or easy surveys.

Some surveys require more time and offer a week-long task. That may entail you logging some of your shopping items then reporting back in a week for $10-$15 by doing what you normally do just by logging it online. Other times they may send you a free $10 amazon gift card for shopping at CVS and looking extensively at their store and taking some photos & uploading them online. Nothing difficult, just a few extra minutes and typing here and there can get you freebies, miles and lots of gift cards!

Schlesingerassociates.com is a nationwide company that reaches out for demographic purposes and asks you a few questions about anything from hair products to home appliances to healthcare. If you meet the certain quota of people they need to fill a required focus group, they will call you into their onsite offices in your area. Sometimes it’s an over-the-phone or Skype interview/focus group and you get paid anywhere from $100-$200 for that project. It’s really a great way to make extra money just by putting your two cents in.

I am personally suggesting these survey companies because I have been working for and with them for years now, successfully. And if you make a little extra time in your day or week, you might as well get paid for it. I figure, as much time as people are spending on social media, why not substitute five or ten minutes of that…for answering a few easy questions and getting compensated?

And as you may have already figured by now, my goal in life is to always grab a bargain, take advantage of freebies, utilize my time to the fullest, score gift cards and share these great tips with readers like you! And remember, being thrifty is pretty nifty 🙂

Clip Those Coupons!

 Most people think that couponing is a waste of time or there’s some level of cheapness attached to it. But I would have to seriously disagree. It takes very little time to just cut a coupon out of a circular (you know, those little annoying flyers you get rolled up and stuck in your mailbox or front porch?) or simply rip one off from the bottom of your sales receipt.

I always hear people saying they lose their coupons, don’t know how to organize them or don’t know where to put them once they’ve clipped them. I carry a cutely designed pouch inside my purse solely designated to hold my coupons. You can also buy an organizer at the dollar store which has folders to alphabetize your coupons.

I then create a shopping list, make a note of which stores I need to hit on my neighborhood strolls, then put aside the coupons I’ll need ahead of time. That way, I know just what I’m shopping for (with the help of a hand-written shopping list) and won’t struggle trying to carry three recycling totes full of groceries while digging for coupons in my purse.

I recently started paying more attention to the flyers full of neighborhood coupons they throw on my front porch. They usually include your local grocery stores, pharmacies like CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens, plus manufacturer coupons which are accepted at every store. Those are the bonus coupons as they are universally received.

Then there are specialty coupons like Macy’s. If you sign up for Star Rewards (their loyalty program) or a Macy’s American Express card, they give you great coupons for shopping during certain dates. When using  your Macy’s card, you accrue rewards dollars towards future purchases. I can’t tell you how much I’ve benefited by using this card and shopping at the right times. Saving money and receiving gift cards as rewards is pretty much a double bonus.

Also, pay attention to the bottom of your sales receipts. They sometimes show rewards spending or have coupons directly printed on the bottom. There may even be a survey to fill out for chances to win huge gift cards at the associated store. And you never know what you could win just for saving that receipt!

I even started getting my husband to swipe his rewards cards at stores like CVS to rack up coupons. Eventually your everyday shopping can add up to $5.00 off your next purchase! There is no work involved just whipping out the ole red CVS card and seeing what freebies and deals your entitled to.

So when you’ve got that time sitting on the subway train, or waiting on line, I encourage you to go on, clip that coupon, swipe that rewards card & enjoy keeping more money in your pocket! And remember, being thrifty is pretty nifty 🙂

Perks of American Expre$$

 I can’t express enough how important it is to choose your credit cards wisely. When I say that, I am not referring to the number of cards you amass, but more along the lines of what cards will truly benefit you and your personal needs.

American Express is not the card for those who are unable to pay off their monthly statements on time. I on the other hand, choose to pay everything off in full monthly. My financial strategy is to purchase things I know I can honestly afford to pay off each month within my budget, avoiding any interest or late fees which later accumulate debt.

I opted for the Gold Delta Skymiles American Express card because as a frequent flier of Delta Airlines, I knew it would be beneficial to me to obtain miles for money spent, always fly with one free piece of checked luggage, have the luxury to board much earlier than most and 20% off inflight savings (like meals or snacks/drinks.)

The first year there is no annual fee, then every year thereafter costs $95. Some people prefer cards with no annual fees, which I normally do. But this card accrues miles for money spent on all Delta flights, specialty items/stores AND offers you weekly deals on select purchases or donations that offers credits on your billing statements for just enrolling your card to shop.

TRAVEL BENEFITS

• Discounted Sky Club Access
• Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance
• Global Assistance Hotline
• (in addition to 1 free piece of checked luggage, early boarding, & 20% off inflight savings)

SHOPPING

• Purchase Protection
• Return Protection
• Extended Warranty

I’m featuring this particular credit card because every week I receive an amazing offer to shop as I normally do and receive a partial credit just for using this card. For example:

• Spend $25 on Amazon.com & receive a $20 credit just for using your Gold Delta Skymiles American Express Card.

or

• Spend a total of $5 or more on iTunes using your enrolled American Express Card by 4/30/14 and get a one-time $5 statement credit.

In theory, the above offers were no-brainers. The first allowed me to purchase a $25 gift card for $5 with the credit and I received a few free songs on iTunes with $5 free. It pays to read those special offers!

So why not make the most of all of your credit cards? Be smart and know what days to shop to get those extra savings. Don’t automatically delete those credit card email offers because who knows what freebies could be coming your way. Maximize those rewards and remember that points & miles are MONEY. Use them to your advantage and optimize your spending towards personal rewards and benefits. And remember, being thrifty is pretty nifty 🙂

Convert your VHS to DVD

                                                      

Faced with the fear of having to possibly move again in NYC, I started to retreat back to my minimalistic mode. I began to look around in all my organizing bins, storage spaces and closets hoping to downsize, sell on consignment, donate or give to a friend/family member in need. I realized that soon the hellish tasks of boxing, wrapping, stuffing, taping and compartmentalizing will become inevitable.

In doing this, I’d been thinking for a few years now, whatever will I do with my dozen plus VHS tapes? Some with darling baby videos of my nephew from over 15 years ago, a family trip to Italy, rare ballet footage of myself dancing, etc. I didn’t even have a working VHS/DVD player anymore as I’d inherited an ancient one from an old roommate and decided to donate it on my last move to Astoria.

So I decided to contact my friend Marcus Galante who besides being a whiz at converting VHS tapes to DVD, is an avid archiver of lost, rare and fabulous ballets as well as a vast collector of classical music. He’s genius at photo shopping and website design, too. So why not enlist the help of a friend and pay them to do a great job? I always believe in helping your friends and family first. So I reached out to Marcus and he converted everything that was important to me.

We were able to recycle all the VHS tapes in a designated bin in his Manhattan apartment building and I was able to leave with a dozen or so compact, easily stored DVDs that I will enjoy for years to come. No more bulky, obsolete plastic video tapes that take up way too much space and can’t be viewed for pleasure. Something this simple is worth doing for everyone. I know that anyone reading this blog was alive during the VHS age and could use an upgrade, a downsize and more room in their living quarters! If you are interested in doing this in the NYC area please contact my friend Marcus for a great deal! And remember, being thrifty is pretty nifty 🙂

  

nephties1@gmail.com

Dollar Store Do’s & Don’ts

 I am lucky enough to live in Astoria where 99 cent stores are aplenty. But I have learned over  the years what works and what doesn’t. Just because it’s $1 doesn’t mean it’s always good.  And just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s bad.

DOLLAR STORE DO’S:

• Office Supplies (paper clips, mailing envelopes, crazy glue)
• Hardware supplies (nails, tacks, screws, rope, craft wire)
• Gardening supplies (watering cans, plastic flower pots/bins, trowels & mini shovels)
• Paper products (notepads, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, napkins)
• Toiletries (cotton swabs, cotton pads, toothpaste, disposable razors)
• First Aid (hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, antibiotic ointment)
• Party needs (paper decorations, greeting cards, balloons, plates, napkins, cups, plastic silverware)
• House maintenance (brooms, dust pans, trash bags, dish rags, sponges)
• Aluminum (foil, cooking pans, grilling utensils)

DOLLAR STORE DON’TS

• Toiletries (Hand/body soap, shampoo, conditioner=watered down)
• Cleaning products (glass, wood, toilet cleaners=watered down)
• Batteries (short lived)
• Tape (duct/wrapping=not sticky enough or have breakable dispensers)
• Welcome mats (frey at edges)
• Sewing kits (scissors or spools break)
• Foods (sometimes expired shelf life)
• Pots & pans (handles rust or fall off)
• Baking needs (several cupcake liners are missing from package count)
• Medicine (Some have passed their expiration date)

So take it from me, not every $1 or 99 cent store is the same. Deal$ happens to be a favorite of mine that carries a vast seasonal collection of goods from holiday decorations, back-to-school needs, summer gardening utensils, flower/garden seeds to snow shovels/salt, tasty snacks, popsicles, comfy slippers, organizing bins and pet toys. You never know what you might find and it won’t break the bank. Being thrifty is pretty nifty 🙂

Bill Bargaining

I recently received my Time Warner cable/internet bill and noticed it had gone up significantly. Not just a few dollars but $15 more a month. That’s a pretty bold move on their part, given that about two times nightly, our cable cuts out and says ‘PLEASE WAIT’ in the middle of my favorite tv shows. EVERY night.

So I diplomatically decided to call and just ask why there was such a huge raise in the bills every year and what can they do for a loyal customer for over 4 apartments now, when the service goes down but the prices just keep going up. After relaying my reasons:

• 1) We’re loyal customers for over 10 years
• 2) It’s summer, work is slow & the rent’s already been raised
• 3) We’re thinking of starting a family & cable is not a priority
• 4) I can easily drop the cable box off & get FIOS

…the woman literally bent over backwards trying to accommodate me. She understood that it wasn’t fair for existing/loyal customers to get the shaft each year with nothing to show for the payment increase. She also knew what it was like to not have much work and try to live in NYC and want to start a family. I made my story human, relatable and I never raised my voice. I made sure to reiterate that I knew it wasn’t her fault, but if she could do anything to rectify the situation I would be very grateful and not leave Time Warner.

After about 15 minutes on the phone, she worked miracles. Our monthly bill was $106 being raised to $121. She had it lowered to $95 including taxes for 6 months, a free cable box & quicker internet, then the following 6 months would cost only $103. Even less than I paid my first year in my new apartment.

There was no struggle, no yelling, no hair pulling. I simply picked up the phone, spoke to a human, delivered my truth and hoped for the best. Sophia was her name and to her I am truly grateful. So don’t be afraid to make that call, calmly speak your story and see if you can’t get that sales rep to help you out. You have nothing to lose. And remember, being thrifty is pretty nifty 🙂

The Buffalo Exchange

Today I decided to cash in on some of my clothes that have been taking up space in my New York size closet. The Buffalo Exchange is a thrift/consignment store that sells, buys & trades clothing. If you’re lucky enough to find one in your neighborhood like I am, give it a whirl! I figure, it’s summer, work is slow but the bills keep coming. So why not make a little money?

The store will access the value of your items and give you a cash exchange of 30% of that value or trade you to shop in the store for 40% of what you’ve sold them. So by selling an old dress & vintage bolero I made a quick $10. It’s a great way to make a few bucks on something you would have just bagged up and given away or even thrown in the garbage.So check out your local consignment stores and give them a try. Being thrifty is pretty nifty 🙂