Home

In a lot of ways, your home is like a living-breathing machine. It takes energy and maintenance to keep it functioning at peak efficiency. But that can quickly spiral out of control and cost you a bundle if you're not careful. Running the air conditioning too much, using up too much electricity, and using too much gas are all common offenses that will add up quickly. Let's avoid all of that!  Here are 17 tips for lowering your home energy costs and keeping your bills at a … [Read more...] about How to Lower Your Home Energy Costs in 17 Simple Steps

Cell phones are a funny thing. 20 years ago, they barely existed.  Now we can't seem to go anywhere or do anything without them! In fact, in a recent Gallup poll, 46 percent of people agreed with the statement "I can’t imagine my life without my smartphone".  Wow .... While cell phones arguably do a great deal to entertain us and make our lives easier, the price that comes along with owning one certainly does not. Paying $100-$200 per month for a proper cell phone plan with the right … [Read more...] about 19 Easy Ways to Slash Your Cell Phone Bill and Save More Money

Watching the latest TV shows and movies is a great way to veg out at night.  But isn't there a better way to pay less for cable and movies? Cable companies are well aware of our cultural obsession with the television, and have responded by really sticking it to us in a very bad way.  In a recent article in Time, they reported that cable prices have increased by 4 times the rate of inflation over the past two decades. 4 times?  How ridiculous?  That's really going to eat into the ole … [Read more...] about How to Pay Less for Cable and Movies – 8 Very Effective Hacks

Do you or your kids love video games? My son certainly does. And can I blame him?  They're super fun!  And with each new game console, they just get better and better. But the cost! Every time a new, exciting title comes out, it costs upwards of $60. I guess that’s why it’s no wonder that the gaming industry was estimated to be worth $91.5 US billion (as of 2015).  BTW - This is more than double the revenue of the international film industry in 2013. But even still ... $60 per … [Read more...] about How to Save Money on Video Games – 14 Tricks That Work!

If there's anything that can make a house look like a million bucks, its a well-groomed lawn. Incredible-looking landscaping has been the envy of home-owners since the days of castles.  Kings and queens would appoint entire teams of servants to tend to the gardens simply so they could be surrounded by its natural beauty. That's why today high class establishments like golf courses and resorts will spend thousands on making sure every blade of grass is perfect.  It makes their patrons feel … [Read more...] about 22 Easy Ways to Save Money on Landscaping Your Yard

It was once said to me that a swimming pool is a giant hole in the ground where you throw away all your money.  Having owned two pools now in my lifetime, I can tell you: I couldn't agree with that statement more! At times it can be very frustrating when it comes to how much money it costs to own and maintain a pool.  But then again it can also be a great source of recreation for the whole family to enjoy.  Really - I have a strong love / hate relationship with pools. I absolutely love … [Read more...] about 22 Ways to Save Money on the Cost of a Swimming Pool and Maintenance

Hiring an independent contractor for service around the house is something that every homeowner must do in their lifetime. For some of us, the bigger the house (or the less “handy” we are), we have to do this more often than we’d like to. Working with an independent contractor can be a little nerve-wracking because you’re effectively giving an element of control to someone else.  You become dependent on them, their schedule, and whatever price they charge.  Plus, then there is the stress … [Read more...] about How to Hire an Independent Contractor at the Best Price – 12 Tricks

Knowing how to save money on utilities has been one of the staples of money saving opportunities for years. Really!  Who hasn't heard maxims from their grandparents about  how to save money such as "Shut that water off.  You're just flushing water down the drain." or "The toilet's running again!" This is because just like back then, today the same thing is true: Everything we use costs money.  So reducing our waste means saving more money! This is why I'm going to share with you my … [Read more...] about How to Save Money on Utilities – 21 Ways to Crush Your Bills