Ways To Save Energy
I use coupons, and buy the sales in each of our stores. I buy in quanity. We have 3 large grocery chains. I go to all three. This is only one of mine, I'll pop in as our list grows. 
Please joun in with me. We could all learn new ways. Thanks, Deana |
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I wish I was that organized  I usually grocery shop whenever I want to eat  I got on all the utility budget plans so I'm not shocked when I get the bills. One good thing, I did get TalkAmerica with unlimited long distance  |
Our home and hot water are heated with oil, so we pre-buy oil in June for the following heating season. Been doing that for at least 15 years and have only had one year where the price we pre-bought at was higher than the regular in-season price. I can remember a year where we paid $0.699/gallon!!!  Those days are long gone. 
As for food, we buy in bulk, too. Paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, cleaning products, dog treats, drinks, etc. Even though now it's just the two of us, it was a habit from when we were raising the kids and it just stayed. We have a BJ's by us (like a Sam's Club), and it's LETHAL! Can't walk out of that place with less than a $100 bill. But I figure that as long as we have the room to store the stuff, we'll continue doing this. For meats, we have a wonderful little market / butcher whose meats can't be beat. We have a large freezer so we buy meats in bulk and freeze them. I also make my own spaghetti sauce and freeze it. I usually make enough to last us 3-4 months. As for gas - is there anyway possible to save on gas? If there is, I'd like to know about it, since my commute to work is about 20 miles each way.
Chris |
| Nice thread!!! For food I "try" and make a menu for a week,and plan it all out for a week,and buy only whats on my list.I also go too a butcher for meat and its ALOT cheaper than the grocery store,and its better meats.Haing a 17yroldgirl and her friends come over I seem too run out of food quickly.Anyone ever watch two 17yr old GIRLS eat???MAN!!it isnt pretty!! Has for heating and cooling,IM reallybad when it comes too heating.Now in the summer I rarely turn on the A/C,I love the heat,the humidity I just love it,however when Sam(my 9yr old w/ heart defects)says shess too hot then I give in and turn it on.NOW for winter!!!I HATE!!! The cold!!!My thermostat is set on 68% the whole winter .So all the money I save in the summer I give back too the Gas company!!LOL!!Gas in my car,altho i dont work outside the home,I do take meassures too save on gas.Like I carpool w/ my best friend when we both need to go into MAdison we ride together and such.I live almost right into town,so I walk places that are near,or I wait til my 17yr old gets home,and make I make her use her gas too go run errands for me!!LMAO!! Im also a bulk buyer when I have the time too go.I think Deana gave me a great idea IM going too start using coupons!! |
| I to go to BJs and Sams club, One of the things I do for cooking is if I'm making something like chicken soup I will a large amount and use my foodsaver to freeze the rest. Things like sauce, chili, beef stew, any of the hearty soups. It does not take anymore gas or time to cook large amounts. Then reheat the other. It does save. One other thing I do is cook on the grill all yr long. |
Tanyathenurse wrote: I HATE!!! The cold!!!My thermostat is set on 68%
the whole winter .So all the money I save in the summer I give back too the Gas company!!LOL!!68 degrees, are you serious? That's freezing in the winter! Our thermostat is never below 74 degrees from October on. I'd keep it even hotter if James would let me! |
Yeah, well, in MY house I'm not allowed to turn the heat on very often...I'm encouraged to put on sweaters, which really doesn't save money in the end because I feel the need to buy more sweaters! 
A ceiling fan uses less energy than the AC... A fireplace uses less energy than the heat... Turn off the water when you aren't directly using it...(i.e. turn it off while brushing your teeth) But stuff from the grocery store when it is on sale with the store cards...if chicken is on sale, buy lots of it...I especially buy a lot of chicken stock and canned stuff on sale. For me, it's harder to save on groceries since I tend to buy mostly organic stuff... |
| barney1, why buy chicken stock, if you buy chicken make your own. its easy and better for you!
I keep a bag in the freezer with chicken parts. Like the tips from wings, backs ect. Then when I have enough I make a pot with onions, cerlery, carrots, cook the strain it and freeze it in bags. very good. just a thought |
| I'm a coupon clipper and bargain hunter. Coupons for food, restaurants, movies... Many are from the Entertainment book which are popular in the US. I also take advantage of the sales at department stores when you use their credit cards or discount days on certain departments. Buy paper goods at the discount store (Sam's Club). I also purchase chicken at a poultry store where is is much less expensive and must tastier than at our chain grocery stores. |
Quote: barney1, why buy chicken stock, if you buy chicken make your own. its easy and better for you!
Deana, because you can't make stock out of boneless skinless chicken breasts! (That's all I buy--every once in a while, and a very few and far between once in a while I'll buy a roaster chicken, but not very often...) Also, when you buy the reduced sodium, 99% fat free, organic chicken broth, it isn't that bad for you! |
| Oh, and the way I save on buying clothes...have my mom buy them for me! Ha ha ha. Just kidding...well, sometimes... |
| I'm a coupon girl and my Boyfriend laughs at me, I just tell him to shut up cuz I'm saving him money when we go for Dinner (Entertainment Book rocks). Once a month Superstore has a 30.00 off coupon if you spend 250.00. We are finally getting a Sam's Club in Edmonton (I love it, always go when I'm in Toronto).
Best way to save $$ on Food, I go grocery shopping at my Mom and Dad's. Especially after they have gone to Costco or M&M Foods. My sister and I do that. It's bad but my Mom still shops like she's shopping for 5. My Sister should stop it though, she's married. My Mom stll buys us all kinds of stuff. 1/2 the time we just put the stuff with hers when we go shopping and she pays for it!! |
| I am waaaay too lazy to try to scrimp and save on things like that. I grocery shop at what "I" consider to be the cheapest, but my cousin pounces on all the sales and shops 3 or 4 times a week at whatever store has the best sales. I stick with the same one, shop once a week, and no matter what I do it costs 200 a week anyway.
I am trying to conserve heat this year for the first time ever. My home is heated with natural gas, and my bill, which is on equal billing, jumped to 200 a month. So, I used to keep the thermostat at 75 at all times, now I keep it at 72 when we're home, and 68 when we're at work and while we sleep. We also have to pay electricity and water seperately, and water I do try to save on somewhat. I have replaced a tap that leaked, and try to time the kids for showers etc (my daughter mostly) For hydro I have not really done anything to conserve. We have tons of stuff running all the time. I never shut off computers, I don;t shut off lights when we leave the room, and often the tv is left on. *shrug* I never use coupons unless it is posted right by the item I am going to buy, or on the item is even better. We don't buy meat often, so when we do, we buy what we want not necessarily what is on sale. If a good cut of roast is on sale I might buy two, but everytime I try to store meat to freeze it it sits in there for a year and then I throw it out. So we just buy fresh that night, or in the case of a nice top sirloin roast beef, the day before so it can slow cook all day. We might buy meat once a week, or once a month even. Mostly we eat rices, pastas, bean dishes, veggies and fruits. Right now I actually have some sausages in the freezer that I might cook someday for hubby. LOL Speaking of which, I NEVER have any idea of what to make for supper until I go in the kitchen and do it. LOL |
| Another thing I have done is learn to cook with a pressure cooker. I use to cook a pot roast, it could cook for 3 or more hrs on the stove. Now with a pressure cooker it takes less than 30 min. BIG savings there. Many meals can be stsrted with the pressure cooker and finished on the stove.
I have also turned the heat down 68 durning the day 60 at night. Come on Ladies keep them coming. I know you have many others!!!!! |
| Food: Bake my own bread, cookies, pies, pastries. Buy baking products and canned fruit (#10 cans) in bulk, wholesale. Make large (4 gal) batches of one pot meals - soups, stew, etc. Freeze in qt. containers; makes for quick meal when I get home. Lunches are ham sandwiches (buy Easter and Christmas hams when on sale, slice and freeze in packages for weekly use during the year. Dogs: 30# case of marrow bones at $1/lb will last the guys a year. I buy very little convenience foods, and refuse to buy packaged water.
Energy: flourescent bulbs where practical; 60° winter, 80° summer / attic fan. Avoid long trips to save gas mileage, unless necessary. I guess I'm just a tight Dutchman. 
By the way: GOD BLESS ALL YOU VETERANS |
| I love the fact that the first person to reply after Deana says, "Come on Ladies," is GEORGE. Now that's funny!
Our house is almost completely windows so that makes it hard to keep the heat or AC regulated. Everything in our house is electric too so that gets rough. The first year we lived in this house we got a $500.00 electric bill because we had the Grizwald Christmas decorations out. That was frightening to open.
We do buy in bulk and freeze that's a big saver. We also shop for nonperishables at an amish grocery store. They buy things from chain stores that are right near their expiration dates. Spices and dry goods, things like that. They also buy meats and things but that freaks me out. Ewww. (P.S. I actually asked these people if they do dogs too and they said they don't have any of the dog businesses like other amish people because it's not right to do that to dogs and it's much easier to work in groceries. Just a side note....) We used to live in a house that was forced air, gas heated. We had timers on the heating system there that regulated day versus night and weekend temps. That was a big help. Also make sure that you cover any places in your house that lose air. We cover our AC units and make sure your chimney flu is closed when not using it. We also store holiday decorations in stairwell crawl spaces. Taking up the free space in there helps to limit air movement/air loss to outside walls. We have 4 sliding glass doors so this year we're going to try and do the plastic, stick on lining and see if that helps. Make sure all your caulking and insulation is up to snuff. You can take a candle around the edges of windows, doors and such and wherever the flame flickers, you have an air leak. (Please don't set your curtains on fire!) Okay but here's the mother of all heating tips. Sheepdogs! The more you have, the more body heat is generated, especially when they're playing. And, when you get cold, you just get one to lay with you and it's an instant blanket. Don't forget that all that brushing builds upper body strength and burns calories so you don't have to spend money on a gym membership! |
| oops ladies should have said members LOL |
| Ok this is a electric saver for me.
I bought 2 drying racks. I only use my dryer to dry my husband dress shirts I use the racks for most of the laundry. During the summer my laundry goes out side,it actually dries faster out there then in the dryer! That took about $60.00 a month off my bill a month!!! |
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