March 2007. Saving Energy, Money and Time.

Your Home – Save Money by Conserving Energy

Did you know that approximately 45% of your utility bills go towards heating and cooling your home? In fact, most people are throwing away each month on high utility bills when they could conserve energy and save money by making a few simple changes to how they use energy. If you want to stop spending so much on your utility bills each month, try the following:

Lighting: Installing compact fluorescent light bulbs will quickly reduce the amount of energy you use each month and they last several times longer than traditional light bulbs. In fact, the average household will experience a 10% reduction in their electric bills by simply switching light bulbs.

Heating and Cooling: Heating and cooling systems can not only be costly, but they can be a major source of pollution if not properly maintained. You can save money on your heating and cooling costs by following these simple steps:

· Clean or replace the filters on your furnace once a month or as needed

· Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable during the winter and as high as is comfortable during the summer

· Make sure that the heating and cooling vents in your home are clean and not blocked by furniture

· During the summer, keep your draperies or blinds close to prevent solar heating

· During the winter, keep your draperies or blinds open to allow for solar heating

Water Heating: Your home’s hot water heater accounts for a major portion of your utility bill. You can reduce the amount you spend each month on heating water and conserve energy by:

· Using less water (you can achieve this by installing low flow faucets and shower heads)

· Insulating your water heater

· Regularly draining a few gallons of water from your hot water heater to remove sediment

· Insulating the hot and cold water pipes running to and from your water heater

Automotive: Most people spend more than necessary on gasoline each month because they fail to keep their car properly maintained. You can reduce your gasoline consumption by getting routine maintenance done on your vehicle, using the proper grade of motor oil, and keeping your tires properly inflated. This will also extend the life of your vehicle.

Finances – Start Saving Now

Did you know that most people end up spending more than they make each year? Last year was actually the first time in decades that Americans ended up with a negative savings rate. This not only means that most people are failing to plan for their retirement or children’s education, it means that they are potentially facing financial ruin if they become injured or a crisis occurs.

Even if you currently have a savings account, it never hurts to start adding a bit more to the pile. Consider these easy tips for saving money:

· Use direct deposit and have a portion of your paycheck deposited directly into a savings account each pay period

· Consider using an online bank for your savings account. They not only tend to pay higher than average interest rates, but it will reduce the temptation to withdraw the money on a whim

· Next time you want to purchase a luxury item, put that money into your savings account instead and see if you can live without it

· Reduce your credit card debt and set aside an emergency fund in case of an emergency

· Eat at home more often, you’ll save money and eat healthier

· Check your phone bill twice a year and see if there are any better deals out there. This also goes for your mobile phone, cable and internet access.

· Talk to your mortgage broker once a year to see if you are over paying on your mortgage

Once you start cutting back your expenses, make sure that you are placing the amount you save each month directly into a savings account. Once you start putting a little away each month, you’ll be surprised at how much you were wasting before.

Inspiration – Setting Goals

We’ve covered saving money and conserving energy, but what other goals do you have? A lot of people dream about changing their lives by losing weight, saving money, or finding a better job, the problem is that they never turn those dreams into realistic goal. Whether you want to learn to play a musical instrument or lose a few extra pounds, the reality is that you will never turn the dream into reality unless you set goals for yourself.

The first step to achieving a goal is to write that goal down. After that, imagine yourself accomplishing that goal. Next, develop a plan to achieve that goal. For example, if your goal is to lose five pounds, set a deadline and follow up with a realistic strategy that will allow you to succeed. If you don’t have a roadmap, you’ll never reach your destination. Most people know what they want to achieve and have a pretty good idea of how to achieve their goal, but never make a serious effort to achieve their goal because they don’t have a concrete plan for doing so.

The truth is once you follow this process of turning your dream into an achievable goal once, you’ll find that it gets easier and easier to turn your dreams into reality.