We can all use some great money saving tips and ideas these daysso browse through our tips and enjoy the savings.  If you have any tipsyou'd like to share, pleasee-mail us  and we'll post them here for our readers.

 Tip #49 - Have a Green Christmas – 12/2/11

The holidays are here.  As you prepare for your annualfestivities there a few things you can do to help the environment and yourwallet without spoiling the fun. Hang LED Christmas lights instead ofincandescents. You'll save a lot of money on your electric bill and energy forthe planet.   

Buy recycled gift wrap or find creative ways to wrap presents -like using reusable gift bags or making the gift wrap part of the present. Usethe comics for kids or for friends that like the tabloids use theEnquirer.  Be creative!

Send e-cards this holiday season. It's easy, saves money onpostage, and helps the environment by saving paper and the fuel to deliver thecards.  If you want to send cards in the mail, I have a GREATsolution that will take you very little time and the cards are premium recycledpaper with biodegradable ink.   Go to: https://www.sendoutcards.com/joann_manka -You can see how easy it is by sending 2 cards on us.  We evenpay the postage for the 2 cards. 

And when the holidays are over, take the fronts of the cards youreceived and donate them to various charities that recycle them and sell themto raise money the following year. 

Tip #48 – Shop witha list and buy what’s on Sale- 10/27/11

Don't shop without a list!  Accordingto the US Department of Agriculture, people waste about 30% of their foodbudgets purchasing groceries that eventually expire and have to be thrownout.  Know what you want to buy before you go shopping - you'll buyless.  Buy more of what you're going to use, and reduce the impactyour shopping has on the planet.   

Scan thesales flyers and be sure that it’s really a sale.  I’ve found thatgrocery stores put items in the flyer that aren't on sale just to temp you intobuying these items.  Shop Rite is giving away a FREE turkey if youspend $300 by Nov. 24^th.  I haven’t paid for a turkey in 8years.

Make alist of what’s in your refrigerator so you don't forget what'sinside.  I keep a list of what’s in my freezer as well and the shelfit’s on.  This way I can easily see what I have and where it is so Idon’t waste electricity leaving the freezer open looking for things or over buyfood I already have. 

Tip #47 – Tips toSave Electricity - 10/5/11

Utilities can consume a large part of our moneyeach month. From electricity, gas, water and phone. Here are severalways to cut your Electric bill:

We allknow to turn off the lights but there are other ways to save aswell.  Unplug appliances not in use.  They still draw powereven when not turned on.  To save hundreds of dollars a year, be sureto purchase energy efficient appliances. Check the energy guide labels tocompare your savings.

Keepappliances clean, tuned up and working properly which reduces the amount ofenergy they use.  Be sure to vacuum refrigerator coils at least twicea year and it will cycle on and off less often.

Switchyour electric supplier to save through out the year.  Same bill, justa lower rate.  We changed and have saved.  It easy, 5 minutes of yourtime saves you continuously.  This is a great company that will notonly save you money but is also 25% GREEN for their standardelectric.  Sign up today and start saving.   www.napower.com/powerplayer

You canalso ask to have an energy audit done which can identify ways to save hundredsof dollars a year.  Ask your utility company if this can be done freeof charge or at a reasonable fee.  If not, they may be able to referyou to a qualified professional.

Turn offyour computer if you are going to be gone longer than two hours. Don't leavethe monitor on if you're going to be gone longer than 20 minutes. If you plugyour electronics into an energy-saving power strip, you can reduce the energythey use by as much as 40% 

Tip#46 – Save on Designer Clothes -  9/9/11

If you live in or near Stroudsburg you should check EchoClothing Store on AnnSt. All proceedshelp Women’s Resources.  They have new and gently used women’s clothing ata great price.  I found a beautiful pant suit with the tag still on ($180)for only a few dollars during their $5 a bag sale.  On my first visitthere, I found 2 pairs of Chico jeans($80/pair) for only $5 a pair and I had been looking EVERYWHERE for the perfectpair of jeans.  Who knew I would’ve found them there.  A friend saidshe’s been going to a store in her town where she has found great deals ongently used/new clothing as well, so check around and scoop up the savings.  

Tip#45 - $avings for School Supplies - Part 2 – 8/11/11

5. Use coupons. Some back to schoolitems like tissues or hand sanitizer often have coupons that can be used inconjunction with a sale to get the best deal. Learn more about how to usecoupons and where to find them with Becentsable’s getting started guide.

6. Calculate the final price in order todetermine if the item is really a good deal. For example, crayons might be on sale atone store for $0.25 but on sale at a second store for buy one at $1.99, get twofree. At first glance the second store may appear to have the better deal, butyou would end up paying $1.99 for three boxes of crayons there instead of $0.75at the first store.

7. Finally, become familiar with theincentive programs available at many retailers. Some stores offer rebates. Atstores like Staples, you’ll pay for your purchases at the register, but you’llget money back by mail when you submit your rebate for certain items. Staplesand other stores like Walgreen’s also offer store coupons. To find thesecoupons, check your favorite money saving blogs or search for them yourself inthe weekly circular or online. A third incentive program retailers like CVS andTarget offer is in the form of store credit. You’ll pay for your purchase infull at the register, but these stores often offer money off your next visit inthe form of Extra Care Bucks at CVS and gift cards at Target. To maximize yoursavings, combine as many incentives as possible on one purchase. For example,you might be able to use a store coupon in conjunction with a manufacturer’scoupon, a rebate and/or store credit to cut your final cost significantly. Learn more about how to shop at your local drug store here .

Even using all these savings strategies, there are some familieswho cannot afford to send their children to school with the necessary supplies.If there is enough room in your budget, please consider picking up a few extrasto donate to a school district or school supply distribution program in yourarea.  Giving away a few schoolsupplies is an easy and inexpensive way to put a smile on achild’s face and relieve some of the financial strain on that child’s family.

Thanks to http://www.becentsable.net – Sign upfor great money saving coupons and deals

Tip #44 - $avings on School Supplies - 7/17/11

These days, most school districts are requesting students bring intheir own school supplies.  The cost of these supplies can add up quickly.Even those who choose to home school will need to purchase supplies. Here areseveral tips for big savings.

1. Plan ahead.  Retailers arestarting sales on back to school supplies. By the time school starts, manyof the best deals will be long gone and the selection will be limited.

2. Back to school savings are not justfor school supplies.  Businesses and adults needing office supplies shouldstock up now, as well. July and August are usually the best time of year tofind inexpensive paper, pens, Kleenex and hand sanitizer.

3. Stock up on enough supplies for theentire school year while prices are rock bottom. If your budget allows, buy enoughschool and craft supplies to last the entire school year and summer. You’ll also be ahead of the game because prices are ALWAYS going up.

4. Focus on the most expensive items onyour back to school list.  For younger kids, the most expensive item neededmight be a backpack while for older kids this item might be a scientificcalculator.  Focus on getting the best deals on the most expensive item soyou’ll maximize your savings. 

If you have a little extra from what you've saved, buy a few extraitems to donate to the schools.  It will make you feel good to helpsomeone else.

Tip #43– Let us help YOU $AVE on Your Electric – 6/24/11

We are now part of a GREAT electric supplier that helpsnon-profits EVERY time you pay your bill. You’ll not only SAVE money, but help a non-profit and the environment.   Theirelectric is 25% GREEN or you can choose to go 100% GREEN for a littlemore.

How would you like your electric bill paid each month?  Letme show you how with NO INVESTMENT or RISK.  NO CONTRACTS or CANCELLATIONFEES. This is the most amazing opportunity we’ve EVER SEEN.  Please contact usfor more information.

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Tip #42 - Grow your Own Vegetables or Shop local – 6/2/11

Now's the perfect time to start your own garden or to get to knowyour local farmers. By growing your own, you SAVE money and know that nochemicals were used, so it's healthier.  It's great to go in your gardenand pick your vegetables for dinner and you're saving gas by not having to runto the store.  If you have more than you can eat then freeze or can themand share some with friends.  I love growing green beans because I get somany and they freeze well so we enjoy them into the winter.

If you prefer to buy your fruits and vegetables, go to localgrowers.  If you're not sure where they're located, search the internet -most communities have farmers' markets or at least cooperatives that allow youthe opportunity to shop locally. There are many advantages to this aswell.  You help support your community. You get really fresh food. You canget food with fewer chemicals and preservatives and can ask if they usechemicals or not.   You can save money since you aren't paying forthe food to be shipped from some far away land, which wastes petroleumresources and causes air, sea, and land pollution as with the bottled water.

If you have to shop at the supermarket, check to see where it'sproduced and try buying products produced locally. Also, don't be afraid to letyour supermarket managers know that you'd like them to stock locally grownproduce. If they know you're interested, they'll also be interested. Evenbetter, shop at independently owned grocery stores where the person making thebuying decisions is on site.

Tip#41 - Green bathroom habits help to SAVE Money – 5/11/11  

Did you know your morning hygiene routines can be the mostwasteful part of the day?  Some of you may think, “I have a well so Idon’t pay for water” but every time your well has to pump that water, you arenot only wasting water but electricity as well.   These tipswill not only help your wallet but the environment as well. 

Let’s begin with brushing your teeth – Please Turn Off theWater.  Running the water while you brush your teeth for two minutesuses about three gallons of water.  Take a shower, and you're using2.5 gallons of water per minute.   Is your toilet a bit on theolder side, add another 5 gallons per flush.   So a 2-minute toothbrushing, 10-minute shower, and toilet flush send a grand total of 33 gallonsdown the pipes and remember that electric bill.

You can knock down the total by Turning off the water whilebrushing and cutting your shower time in half.  You can install a low-flowshowerhead or faucet aerator, which can cut your water use in half and save youup to $250 a year.  

Also, if you still have one those water bottles that you stoppedusing in April lying around, you can fill it with water and put it in yourtoilet tank.  By displacing the tank water, you'll have less wastefulflushes. Replacing your toilet with a newer low-flow model can reduce yourflush from 5 gallons to as low as 1.5 gallons. 

Tip#40 – STOP Using Bottle Water 4/18/11

The bottled-water industry is largely unregulated, so you cannever be 100% sure what you're going to get. Tap water, on the other hand,is heavily regulated by the EPA, in addition to state and local agencies, soyou can be pretty sure what you're going to get. And there are plenty ofaffordable filters available to make the tap water taste as good as yourfavorite bottled brand.  

You'll save lots of money by switching to tap, paying penniesinstead of dollars for a liter or two of water, but more importantly, you'll behelping the environment in two ways. First, much like the plastic bags, thepetroleum-based plastic bottles are largely eco-unfriendly. They can be recycled, but the ones that aren't end upon the millennium-decomposition plan with their plastic bag brethren. Secondly,there's the enormous transportation costs—especially if you're getting yourfancy water shipped in from Fiji or Norway.

Does American water really taste that much worse that it's worthpolluting the oceans, the air, and the land to transport a bottle of H20halfway across the globe? 

 Tip #39 - Programs that offer financial incentives to increase the energyefficiency of a home – 3/20/11

Energy EfficientMortgage (EEM).The EEM program offers rates up to a few points lower to home buyers whopurchase energy-efficient homes. Energy bills tend to be the second-highestmonthly cost of home ownership, after mortgage payments.  Mortgage lendersparticipating in this program recognize that owners of energy-efficient homeswill have smaller monthly energy bills, so they can afford somewhat largermonthly mortgage payments. Participating lenders also let home owners tack onthe cost of energy-saving home improvements to the mortgage when they refinancetheir current homes.

EEMs are offered through government agencies, including Fannie Maeand Freddie Mac, the Veterans Administration and the Federal HousingAdministration, as well as such private banks as Countrywide Home Loans.

For moreinformation:  Consult the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization ResidentialEnergy Services Network, 760-806-3448, www.natresnet.org

Tip #38 - Kitchen Tips – 2/28/11

Clean refrigerator coils witha soft brush annually, more if you have pets.

Flush garbage disposal withcold water rather than hot.  Grease solidifies in cold water and will washaway.

When purchasing new refrigerators,freezers, washers, dryers & dishwashers considerhigh-efficiency appliances.  The energy savings usually pays back theextra costs with a few years.  The same goes for furnaces & waterheaters.

Springs almost here so, tradeplants in your yard with your friends.  Plants such as irisesand ivy that need to be divided or shrubs that needs to be propagated. Doing this will make them healthier and save you money.

Scorched Pots?
Sprinkle about 1-2 tablespoons powdered dishwasher detergent over the scorchedfood.  Add about one - two cups of water.  Put on stove and simmerfor 10-20 minutes.  When finished the food should come off easily. Try an SOS pad for very stubborn stains and to shine the pot. 

Tip #37 - ENERGY-EFFICIENT PRODUCTS – 2/10/11

Investing money in these energy-saving products saves you money inthe long run with lower energy bills.

Low-flow showerheads- Rememberwhen that disappointing trickle of water gave low-flow showerhead technology abad reputation?  Today, many low-flow showerheads use advancedaeration technology, which mixes air into the water flow, to replicate thepleasant feeling of a conventional showerhead while trimming your water use andwater heater operation costs.

Look for the word "aerating" on the box when selecting alow-flow shower-head.  Buy a well-known name, such as Delta. Ornote the make and model of the showerhead the next time you have a great showerin a hotel bathroom -- most hotels use low-flow showerheads. The cost of alow-flow showerhead is comparable to a conventional one.

Savings: Approximately $15per year per showerhead. (Your savings is dependent on the length and amount ofshowers taken in your house, the efficiency of your water heater andelectricity and water rates in your region.)

Tip # 36 - Washer & Dryer Tips - 1/21/11

Fill washing machines, dish and clothes tocapacity before running rather than cleaning partial loads.  Be sure towash clothes in cool water and clean the lint screens of dryer after EVERY use.

Skip the dishwashers drying cycle and cut energyuse by about half.

Give your clothes a good shake before puttingthem in the dryer, even the socks.  This saves time and money becausetheir untangled and more fluffed so they dry quicker. 

Tip#35 – Green Cleaning Recipes – 1/4/11

Toilet Cleaner

½ cup Baking Soda
½ cup Vinegar

Pour Baking Soda and Vinegar into the toilet. Let the mixture sit for at leastthirty minutes and scrub.


Laundry Detergent

1/3 bar of Soap (grated)

½ cup Borax

½ cup Washing Soda

*Use ½ cup per  load

In a large pot, add 6 cups of water and grated soap and heat on medium untilthe soap is melted. Stir in Borax and Washing Soda until everything isdissolved. In a large bucket, add 4 cups of hot water and then add your soapmix. Stir well and then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water. Stir again and letsit overnight. The detergent will be a watery gel that might look cloudy.

Courtesy of http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

  
Bath & Shower Cleaner

1 cup Baking Soda or Washing Soda
1 cup Water

Mix the powder with water to form a paste and scrub. Be sure to rinse well,soda leaves a residue if it is not rinsed completely.

Use caution when using washing soda on fiberglass tub inserts as it can scratchthem. 

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