How we cut our power bill...sm
Posted By: Georgia Gal on 2007-06-14
In Reply to:
The bill arrived yesterday and it was $40 less than it usually is when compared to any summer month last year. Here's how we did this:
- I enforced people turning off lights when they leave rooms.
- We switched the light bulbs in the living room and bedroom to the energy saving energystar rated bulbs.
- When the washing machine died we replaced it with an energy saving one.
I was suprised that the power bill went down this month... especially with it begin summer and having the A/C running.
To help the kids remember to turn off the lights when they leave a room and to not leave water running that is not being used I gave them the incentive that if the utility bills came in what our usual budget is then they can have the excess money for extra activities this summer. That has sure gotten their attention!
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power nap
nm
power
We never lost power - had a scary period of time for about an hour - but no damage here. . two bordering counties did have a lot of damage - we were lucky. .
about DD. . I too spent money I really did not have while she was in high school. . She does seem to appreciate things but my future son-in-law's parents just have so much money and they are very controlling - and I have to admit, I am a little jealous. . DD is going this weekend to bridal fair with her future MIL. . I have to work and it is 2 hours from where I live. . but it is always that way... she is always doing things with them... my fiance says they have my DD where they want her . . they will keep her close and I will gradually be cut off. . I really don't think that will happen because DD & I went through a lot together, but you never know.
how do you keep your will power??
You are so lucky you like raw veggies. I dont at all! :(
I am a carb freak! Luckily my metabolism is still high but im nearing my 30s and no children yet so im sure after all that it will go downhill dramatically...
Honestly I would rather have bread or pasta for a dessert than sugary stuff. im not trying to say i dont like dessert because i DO but im in love with bread products, crackers... etc.
goodness...
good for you though!!! i know i need a diet change but i dont have that self control yet!
You are a power of example by helping sm
When I was younger, I would not only cry, sometimes I would not attend or attend and not sleep for days. I think being in the MT business made me realize how short life is. I am amazed that now I look at death in a different way. I cannot believe how I have changed. Most of my friends were brought up to wear black, look sad, cry a lot. I was brought up to avoid it, stay away from wakes and funerals; so could not handle it. Thanks to transcribing so many autopsies, horrible situations, illnesses, educational seminars on death and dying, etc., I am finally able to celebrate life. I do have others now not understanding why I do not cry. It's a miracle to me that I don't have to act that way anymore. I think with age and experience, I have matured. I have a friend who barely worked outside the home. Her Mom died in July and she did not put up a tree, send cards, etc., this Christmas as she is still in mourning officially. I lost my younger sister, put an angel out front, white lights, etc. I did the same for my parents, lots of white lights. I do believe now in celebrating life. I spent the days before my father's funeral preparing a "program" for his funeral which was beautiful. I included my whole family in the funeral, chose the music, etc. This would not have been possible in my younger years. My SIL was confrontational when she saw me at work during the time we were awaiting the funeral (it was over a holiday). I told her I was t preparing for the funeral. There will be some whose family tradition is to cry, wear black, shut out the whole world for 30 days, that's their way. I am so happy that I now have a (what I consider) healthier attitude toward death. I cannot believe the change in my attitude. Perhaps we all celebrate life differently. I, for one, am happy I look at things differently. When people cry, mourn, carry on, it's probably their tradition and it will continue as this is what they are used to. They are not wrong to do so. My DIL's family all wear solid black and God forbid anyone even wear a white blouse to a funeral, it is considered disrespectful! All I know is, I love the new me, I am much happier today now that I have a different attitude. I hope people celebrate my life, not stop living. I am writing my own obit, short and sweet and will probably plan my own funeral instead of leaving that task to my kids. I celebrate the life and spirt left behind, but do not disrespect those who continue to wear black and cry, as that's the only way they know how to mourn and it's not wrong. We're all different, it takes time and sometimes traditions will never change in some cultures, they are entitled to their actions and opinions, it took me a long time to change but I am much healthier and happier now. All of this is IMHO, of course. You are doing your best in your own way, good job, we need the "doers" in times of grief as well as the mourners. I would rather be a doer and feel better "doing."
power trippin
I told her we could make it a $5 dollar challenge for everyone like a game, but no it has to be a regular present, just at her budget.
The real truth is that last year I went to the fanciest store in the mall and bought her daughter a set of coffee cups she wanted. She was so jealous and mortified that I was making her look bad to her kid. She did not know they were on sale for $2 a set. She thought I was showing off. I thought was buying a present that was requested!
Good for you, now send some of your Will-power my way please. nm
!
Good for the school! More power to them!
Someone has got to teach the what-comes-up-must-come-down and action/opposite reaction and other such lessons.
power outage yesterday
Will someone explain how it is that a power plant shutting down in Miami yesterday caused 3 million people across the state of Florida including myself to lose power 100s of miles away? I'm literally like 270 miles away and had no power for 2 hours. Since I'm an IC, no power equals no work equals no money! Urggh so frustrating how often we lose power in Florida!
Maybe it was the main power station for
the state, everything may have run through it.
Such as how much nuclear fire-power you have....
.
USA needs more women in power to balance things
I don't think women's hormones are a reason not to vote for them. Men (cough Bush cough) tend to have little-man syndrome, or little something else syndrome and like to start big wars to prove something imo. "Me strong man. Me powerful." Their egos are just as dangerous as any hormone fluctuations women may have.
I think we need a more equal balance of men and women in power. Together we can see every angle of a situation. Just like with raising children. Ideally it is best to have both a mother and a father for the child so that it will have the best of both worlds, and I think the same goes for our country. (nothing against single parents - I was one for a few years, but it was difficult going it alone, and I have the utmost respect for single parents. They have the hardest job on Earth!)
If you do something like that make sure you have a generator as a source of power.
will eventually run out and you will have no way to recharge it. In the event of an emergency you would be out of luck unless you have a generator to provide power to the outlets in your home. We have one landline phone with absolutely no features on it. It is simply a basic phone line connected to a regular telephone that plugs directly to the phone line. It is not a phone that requires electricity. A basic phone line with absolutely no extra features is inexpensive.
Power Outage @ Traffic Intersection
We met during a power failure. He was running a generator to keep the traffic lights at a railroad crossing working (worked for road commission), and I was at my second job doing transcription and trying to find out when the power would be on so I could do my reports and go home. Walked up to the intersection and asked him. He said he would called electric company in about a half hour and check back then. 90 degree heat and humid after hellacious thunderstorms knocked the power out all over the city. I came back and took him a bottle of water, a cookie, and a bag of chips. He said thanks and said it would be about one more hour. He watched me walked back to the building and when the power was on came and told my boss how nice I was and checked the fuse box. Came back two nights later with flowers and asked me out. The rest is history . . . Married five years and still going strong.
Works great for me, too! Power napping and then I work much better, too!
:)
The woman and their babies often died - knowledge is power-
xx
These things called batteries...they power your radio. nm
n
It's actually something like a second job to get the bill that low.
I spend a lot of time studying sales and clipping coupons (doubled and sometimes tripled in our area). And I use bonus cards and shop at places like Aldi's for staple items. I never go into a grocery store without a plan, and I never buy on impulse. A lot of money can get away from you when you just browse up and down the aisles. Also, the $321 does not include cleaning products, pet food, or any paper products. That's strictly our people food. We only eat meat 3 or 4 times a week. I also cook nearly everything from scratch. That's just part of my Italian family's food tradition. I will pay $12 for a chunk of really good cheese, though! LOL It's a balancing act. I can make a really nice platter of gnocchi with just some flour, water, egg and a baking potato. For a "sauce" I just use olive oil, salt and pepper, GOOD cheese, maybe a little bit of chopped ham or dried sausage as a flavoring. Add some sauteed spinach or escarole, a little salad from whatever veggies looked good at the market. Add some beans to the salad to boost the protein, and we're eating very fine! I also haven't bought canned soup in .... probably ever. I save up chicken carcasses or buy the backs to make stock. I also make veggie stock and buy beef soup bones and make my own beef broth. The home-made stocks make all the difference when cooking from scratch.
I keep the grocery bills low by planning my shopping expeditions and cooking from scratch. It depends on how far you want to go with it. I love to cook. It's a creative outlet for me, so I find it relaxing. Someone else may not, in which case, buying convenience foods would lower their stress level and would be worth the extra expense.
I bet she won't get a bill from the
Bet the hospital writes this off.
Gas Bill
I also live in a small apartment (not a complex, up and down situation) of 2 bedrooms, living room-dinning room, kitchen, bath. My gas bill usually runs about $175-200 a month in the winter. My last gas bill for February was over $600. I found out that my contract with the gas company I was using ran out, and they did not tell me. I called another gas company who gave me a deal at half the price. That is still way too high. I am moving back to Oklahoma this next weekend. I now live in Ohio. House payment alone will save me $300 a month, and my gas payment will probably be about $100-150 a month. I can get a huge house for $300 a month, where as I pay $550 now for a tiny apartment. With all the cuts in pay at MQ, I just cannot afford living here any longer.
I use the bill pay also but
when at the bank today where you have to enter your account number do not think enough space to enter what you need for another banking acct. Oh, well will only be transferring money say every 3 or 4 months and the 3.00 extra charge will not be that bad, especially since if you wire transfer in bank I think they charge around 20 or so.
Me again, tell you what I did about paying a bill for a dog
like I said above, huge animal lover. I have 3 furkids but a friend of mine whose son is a druggie, was not seeing about his dog. The dog needed an operation for a growth on his foot. I paid over $1000.00 for that and now I buy my newly adopted doggie its medicine each month. I never give my friend money because want the money to go for the doggie, not drugs for her kid but you can believe I am seeing the doggie is comfy!
Maybe someone else paid the bill for you.
no msg
Hospital bill
As long as you pay something every month, there is nothing they can do to you.
I would not take my money out of the CD's or move it. Just keep paying something every month.
Quicken Bill Pay
I use that site. It's worth the $9.95 a month to me for all the bills I write.
I have 2 gifts that fit this bill.
Back in the 80s my mother made 2 quilts, one side silky and the other side imitation fur. You talk about warm! Have used those since. The best gift ever was not Christmas but my husband (actually called first to make sure ok) and then bought me home my 2 tuxedo cats- they were really small when he first got them but they have grown into big lovable guys. One a Christmas and the other just a gift. I am blessed.
I have 2 gifts that fit this bill.
Back in the 80s my mother made 2 quilts, one side silky and the other side imitation fur. You talk about warm! Have used those since. The best gift ever was not Christmas but my husband (actually called first to make sure ok) and then bought me home my 2 tuxedo cats- they were really small when he first got them but they have grown into big lovable guys. One a Christmas and the other just a gift. I am blessed.
Electric Bill
Bill was $64.00!
$33.00 for actual electrical usage
$31.00 for Cust charge, Standard Metering charge, Distribution Facilities Charge, Transmissions Services Charge, Purchased Electricity Adjustments, Environmental Cost Recovery Adj, Energy Efficiency Programs, Franchise Cost, State Tax and Municipal Tax.
lol, I meant - nice that it is all on one bill : )
x
Not the poster you replied to but I do like Bill O.
p
I heard that in some states you can bill the MD
I heard this quite a few years ago, never tried it....but our time is as valuable as anybody else's time (outside of emergencies/extenuating circumstances) and I worked for an MD who kept the patients waiting for 5 hours in his waiting room....the elderly were the victims in this case....it was 20+ years ago. And don't you just hate waiting in the waiting room for over an hour and then waiting in that examining room for any length of time beyond 10-15 minutes?!?! Usually a 30-45 minute wait and I don't like that either....
Most of us have places to go, people to see, things to do.....all as important as anybody else.....they are not gods....far from it, actually.
Yeah, they pay our bills/mortgage/rent but doesn't mean we have to like 'em....*l*
thanks for the place to vent...
just know that you all can bill an MD for wait time
really - it's being done now - whereby you, the patient, can bill the doctor's office for exhorbitant time waiting.............gives them back a taste of their own medicine (with them billing you for not canceling an appointment in a timely fashion) - TWO can play that game....*lol*
I know all about that bill they tried to pass and failed so far,
I am against it being mandatory, and yes, I am part of the breed/show world, and did mixed breed rescue, volunteered in a few shows for a long time and it is heart breaking. But, in all the years I volunteered in them, the pedigree cat was rare, I only saw a persian once and a siamese once. I am not out West though. Mandatory spay and neuter will only create a black market. In CA there is already a problem with smuggling puppies in from Mexico, imagine how much worse that will get. And yes, breeders can get a license, but not everyone will get one and unfortunately, it will knock out the good ones, the bad ones always find a way around things. The better answer would be low cost spay and neuter programs so that it is more affordable. I don't know costs in CA, but here in PA they are getting very high. My vet loves me, I spend a fortune there and if somebody gets sick on the weekend, I don't think twice about going to the emergency vet and paying extra costs. I do recall, however, in the pounds I volunteered in that there more pedigree dogs, particularly large ones. In these cases, it seemed people did not do their homework and did not realize the puppy would get so big.
As for pet stores, I would never buy a pet in one of those, nor would I ever let one of my kittens go to them. In fact, my breeding is very small scale, I am most definitely not making money on it, and I am very picky about who let have one of my furry kids, and I do have high quality within my chosen breed, good health and show.
Good luck in CA, but I don't think that bill will ever get passed. It is really not cost effective to the state and like you said, how could they enforce it? People find a way, sad, but true.
they called Bill a pig but Condi and GWB have been
those in glass houses should never throw stones, eh? *lol* -
ty...problem not the phone bill though...psm
We are fortunate that we have unlimited texts, so the problem isn't the phone bill. The problem is I feel he is running his life into a ditch. I know he has to make his own mistakes but we raised him better than to be rude, disrespectful, and lie. At least I thought we did :(
I know they say you have to let your kids make their own mistakes but it is so hard to do that when you know disaster is on its way.
The only real problem with taking is phone away is he will be 2 hours away and I won't have any way to contact him or him us at any time. They don't even put phones in the dorms these days.
I was at a football game last night and his girlfriend was there texting away to him. I heard her tell her friend "I am talking to him on AIM since we can't talk on the phone anymore." Which meant she can't text him (we set him a limit of 200 a day) so he is sitting in his room talking to her on the computer instead. I can't stop it. There is no way I can take away his computer. I just have to let him do what he's gonna do at this point I guess........thanks for the help! Any more advice would be greatly appreciated.
I really do appreciate any help!
I saw that Bill Maher episode too
I recently started watching him and he really puts things into persective. Especially the comment about about Colonel Sanders and chicken going up. Has some fascinating guests on.
One thing I did say to DH after I heard Bush say that people could use the stimulus to help pay for gas I looked at him and said "Of course he wants us to spend it on gas. He's an oil guy."
Can't wait for Bill Maher to come back on.
SAVE ON HEATING BILL!
A friend told me about these and my husband brought an article home today. They are Heat Surge Fireless Flame miracle heaters produced by the Amish. I will try to attach the link to the web site so you can check them out....don't panic at the price! You can order the mantle right now for $298 and get a FREE heater (normally around $600 together) The mantle (which goes around the heater) is solid wood. Right now you can order 2 per household. Click on the link that says "do not have claim code" to see where in the country you are and get the phone#. You only have 48 hours to order, and mine started yesterday.
I sure hope he wanted me to order one, cuz I did!! We already have a wood stove but this will help me not have to get up to put wood in it all night long to keep it going since I have not turned on my house heater in 3 years and refuse to!!!!
Post again when you get your electric bill and
DON'T FORGET to send your warranty in. Hopefully, it will last longer than my Eden Pure. Do a follow up, please. I'm still thinking about it.
No, you can not be held responsible for their bill -
nm
I can use bill pay to pay to a specific account #
at any bank. Its free, too.
Too bad...I have used bill pay to transfer money...
this way, but after reading your post, I looked into it and can only do it from one bank and not the other. They all have their own rules, I have just never had the need to do it the other way around.
Ha! Just wait till the bill comes in.
xx
Bill Maher addressed this end of show...sm
Bill Maher at the very end of his show Friday night (Real Time With Bill Maher) addressed this very thing in the final new rules of his show...the seriousness about the bees dying off...and what will happen if pollination no longer occurs. VERY SCARY indeed.
Not looking for a Bill Maher like or dislike flame....just stating he brought this to MY attention Friday night....I didn't know about the bees/pollination issue nor exactly what that all meant.
Thanks for mentioning the bees/pollination issue here.
Who is on the $10 bill? According to two seven year olds, it's President...(sm)
George Clooney!! Ha!! My daughter said it the other day, and tonight I heard her friend say the same thing. They sat in the back seat of the car arguing with my 10-year-old that they were absolutely sure. My son, also slightly misinformed said, "George Clooney is a comedian" to which my daughter's friend replied, "No, a comedian is someone who works with animals." These really are pretty smart kids most of the time - but I got a huge kick out of their "facts" tonight! HA!
My only bill is the house payment, which is quite taken care of
with one of our checks each month. So, think what you will; our life is good. We save and know how to manage our money. Merry Christmas!
Huge increase in utility bill
What would you do? I just opened my gas bill yesterday and found that my gas bill is 6 x last month's. I live in an apartment and the only gas appliance I have is the water heater. There have not been other people visiting me (I live alone) and I use cold water for clothes washing 99% of the time. I do use my dishwasher about 3 times a week...trying to eat at home! I would have to take 10 long showers a day for this kind of increase. In other words, I do not believe my consumption has increased so much or the rate has recently increased this much!
Many years ago I had a similar thing happen, instead of gas it was an electric bill increase, and it turned out to be a faulty air conditioner. I paid 3 outrageous power bills before that problem was solved and I didn't try to recoup what I paid from the apartment complex. This time I'm not going to do that, as I'm now older and meaner : ) If it turns out to be some sort of leak, can I take the apartments to small claims court? Any similar experiences? TIA...
Do you live in Texas? Our electric bill
for our tiny 2 bedroom house, trying to keep from running the air conditioner too much, using spiral bulbs, turning everything off as much as possible & being careful, is still about $250-$300 in the summer months. I don't know why some states have cheap electricity and some are so high! It's crazy.
Nastier than normal bill collector sm
When I was first on my own, I got in over my head with my phone service and had it go to collections. The debt got bought by another agency a while later, and when the first person called and said how much was owed, I said I could make the 4 payments of whatever it was they offered. Well, the "supervisor" wench who came on the line next said that was unacceptable. I explained that I could pay the amount they wanted for 1 payment but not the whole thing or I would not have groceries for my kids. I was calm and asked if she wanted me to pay her instead of having food for my kids, and I kid you not, she said yes!!! I explained that she was being ridiculous and how was I supposed to do something like that? Basically it all boiled down to she didn't care about anything other than getting the money and that I should have paid my bills back then, even when I admitted to her that I had made a bad choice at that time and was wanting to take care of it. I ended up getting hung up on and was so ticked I couldn't see straight.
You like Bill O'reilly?(Former host on Inside Edition)
Update - doctor bill for missed appt
Here is the latest scoop - and thanks everyone for all the support.
I called today and spoke with the office manager, who seemed very nice and truly seemed embarrassed by the whole thing. She told me that the doctor himself had wanted those letters sent out, and that they are not for patients who missed scheduled appointments at all, which is what I thought it might be (even though I cancelled the appointment at least a week prior to when it was scheduled). He is charging us for making the appointment and cancelling it!!! Yes, I am serious. She apologized, said her hands were tied and that she had butted heads with him over this, but he would not budge. He told her to tell the patients that they could either pay the $100 or he would turn them over to his attorney. Again, I am serious. Talk about a jaw dropper. She also said that I was not the only patient to be complaining. Apparently other folks are as upset at this as I am.
I told her that I understood she was in a tough position, and I do. It is not her fault this doctor is an a double s. I told her to go ahead and tell him to contact his attorney if he felt he had to, but that I would be filing complaints with the BBB and the Kentucky Med. Licensing folks.
I contacted the BBB, filed a complaint promptly with them, and also talked to the Kentucky Attorney General's office, who are sending me a complaint form. Tomorrow I will call the Med. Licensing Board, as well as my insurance company, just to put them on alert.
I hate the thought of this quack getting even one person to pay this ridiculous price. A patient should not be punished for cancelling an appointment. I just can't even begin to express how sick this makes me, and hopping mad. Not that I think I am smarter than everyone else, but you all know that doing the work we do kinda takes the "godness" out of the way we look at doctors. I know that people are going to pay him when they are threatened with his attorney, and that is just wrong.
Anyhow, thanks for letting me vent and I will keep you updated.
HC
Refusing to open a bill doesn't make it not yours. nm
k
I'll call the other kid's parent, make them pay the bill
One would assume your daughter thought the girl was just making a quick call. It is irresponsible of the other person to text on your daughters phone. I'm all for your daughter being responsible but it seems that she was totally taken advantage of and that just isn't fair.
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