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397 Ways to Save Money: Spend Smarter & Live Well on Less - PDFDrive.com Page 21

by Kerry K. Taylor


  Haveafridge/freezerday(seeMarch).

  July

  CleanACfilters.

  Ifyouhaveaseptictank,getitserviced.

  Checkwateranddrainpipesforleaks.

  August

  CleanACfilters.

  Inspectsumppump—besttofindoutnowifitneedstoberepaired.

  Have heating, ventilation, AC and fireplace professionally inspected.

  The pros have great tips for savings and are also up-to-date on availablegovernmentenergyrebates.

  September

  Replacefurnacefilters.

  Inspectwindowsandexternaldoorsonawindydayfordrafts.Caulk

  andreplaceweatherstrippingifneeded.

  Haveafridge/freezerday(seeMarch).

  Checkroofformissingordamagedshinglesandreplace.Youcando

  thisyourself,orhiresomeoneifyou’renotcomfywithit.

  Harvestwhatseedsyoucannowtosaveonbigoutlaysinthespring

  forannuals.

  October

  Cleanfurnacefilters.

  Checkbasementformoisture—fallrainsareagoodtestruntobesure

  nothing’swrongdownthere.

  Sealelectricaloutletsonexternalwallstopreventheatloss.

  Pack away your summer clothes (put aside any items that need

  mending)andpulloutthewinterstuff.Dependingonwhereyoulive,

  youmightneedtotacklethisjobsooner

  Get those windows clean again so they’ll let in as much heat as possibleallwinter.

  Drainandputawayrainbarrels.Ifrainbarrelsarefullandleftoutall winter,they’llfreezeandcrack.

  November

  Cleanfurnacefilters.

  Sealandwinterizewindowswithplasticfilm.Reusablekitsaremore

  expensivebutcanbeusedyearafteryear.

  Check for cracks and crevices in unfinished basements and around exteriorofhouseandusepolyurethanefoamtosealthem.

  Oncetheleavesaredown,cleaneavestroughsanddownspoutssoyou

  don’thavefrozenclumpscausingdrainageproblemsinthewinter

  Change the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors whentheclockschange.

  December

  Cleanfurnacefilters.

  Haveafridge/freezerday(seeMarch).

  HardwareStoreShoppingList

  Here’s a handy shopping list for all your do-it-yourself projects. Get everythinginonetriptosaveongas!

  Caulkingandweatherstrippingtosealwindowsandexternaldoors

  Polyurethanefoamtofillincracksandcrevices

  Insulationfortheattichatch—bothbattingandrigidfoam

  Foamgasketsandchildproofplugstosealelectricaloutlets

  Plasticfilmtosealyourwindowsinwinter

  Gasketstofixleakywaterpipes

  Low-flowshowerhead

  Dimmerswitchesforlights

  Motionsensorforoutdoorlightsoit’snotonallthetime

  Compactfluorescentlightbulbstoreplaceincandescents

  Powerstriporsurgeprotectortolimitstandbypowerwaste

  Programmablethermostat

  Replacementfiltersforyourfurnaceandairconditioner

  Reusablemicrofibreclothstoreplacecostlypapertowels

  Newbatteriesforyoursmokealarmsandcarbonmonoxidedetectors

  GetStartedNow!

  Getgoingonyournew,frugallifestyleimmediatelywiththesetipsyou

  canputintoactiontoday.Successbreedssuccess,sostartbuildinggood habitsrightaway.Someofthesetipsdon’tcostanythingatall!

  Save big by eating dinner at home. Plan leftovers for tomorrow’s brown-baglunch.

  Eatlessmeatandmorebeans.

  Eliminatesomebooze—have“dry”nightsatafractionofthecost.

  Buyametalmugandmakeyourown“takeout”coffee.Beyourown

  barista!

  Clipfoodcoupons,andbuybulkandno-nameproducts.

  Use loyalty program points when shopping and ask for a discount.

  (Youneverknow!Butdon’tbeobnoxious—storeshurtinhardtimes

  too.)

  Dilutelotions,soapsandshampooswithwater.

  Skip the dry cleaner—wash and iron your own clothes. And don’t overpourtheliquidlaundrydetergent.

  Turn down the temperature on your water heater—even one degree

  savesyoubig.

  Skipthedishwasher’sdryingcycle—openthedoorandletthedishes

  airdry.

  Maximize washing machine and dishwasher loads to get the most

  cleanforyourbuck.

  Washclothesincoldwater(theylastlongerthatwaytoo)andhang

  themtodry.

  CleandebrisawayfromyourAC’scoolantcoilsandmovetheunittoa

  north-facingwalltoincreaseefficiency.

  TurntheheatdowninwinterandtheACupinsummer—acoupleof

  degreeseitherwaytranslatesintobigsavings.

  Useyourdrapestocontroltheindoortemperature—letthesunwarm

  rooms,thentraptheheatorkeepitoutasthecasemaybe.

  Theonlylightsthatneedtobeonarethoseintheroomyou’rein—

  turntherestoff.

  Turnoffandunplugunusedelectricaldevices—especiallythatsecond

  fridge,whichisusuallyoldandinefficientanyway.

  Driveatthespeedlimit,inflateyourtirestotheirproperpressureand avoid heavy acceleration—you’ll be amazed by how much gas you

  save.

  Resources

  TherearemanysourcesandwebsitesIfoundhelpfulinputtingtogether

  thisbook.Manyofthemhaveevenmoreinformationandfantasticideas

  onhowtosavemoney,sotakealook.

  Part1:BigDecisions

  RENTING

  Craigslist

  www.craigslist.ca

  Kijiji

  www.kijiji.ca

  HOMEOWNERSHIP

  CanadaMortgageandHousingCorporation

  www.cmhc.caDinkytownFinancialCalculators

  www.dinkytown.comEquifaxCanada

  www.equifax.ca

  GovernmentofCanadaOfficeofEnergyEfficiency

  oee.nrcan.gc.ca

  IndustryCanada(OfficeofConsumerAffairs)

  RentorBuyCalculator

  www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca01821.html Mike Holmes, The HolmesInspection(Toronto:CollinsCanada,2008)Realtorfees(andother fees)

  www.assignmentscanada.ca/buyingincanada.htmlTransUnion

  www.transunion.ca

  FINANCIALCHOICES

  AchievaFinancial

  www.achieva.mb.ca

  CanadaRevenueAgency

  www.cra-arc.gc.caFinancialConsumerAgencyofCanada

  www.fcac-acfc.gc.caFinancialWebring

  www.financialwebring.orgINGDirect

  www.ingdirect.ca

  MoneySense

  www.moneysense.ca

  OutlookFinancial

  www.outlookfinancial.comPresident’sChoiceFinancial

  www.pcfinancial.caRBCInsurance

  www.rbcinsurance.com

  SocialInsurancenumberapplication

  www.servicecanada.gc.caTaxFreeSavingsAccount

  www.tfsa.gc.caTDCanadaTrustInsurance

  www.tdcanadatrust.com/tdinsurance

  SHOPPING

  Aeroplan

  www.aeroplan.ca

  Airmiles

  www.airmiles.ca

  Costco

  www.costco.ca

  Craigslist

  www.craigslist.ca

  eBay

  www.ebay.ca

  Freecycle


  www.freecycle.orgFutureshop

  www.futureshop.ca

  Kijiji

  www.kijiji.ca

  Overstock

  www.overstock.com

  RealCanadianSuperstore

  www.superstore.caRedFlagDeals.com

  www.redflagdeals.comRetailMeNot.com

  www.retailmenot.com

  SearsCanada

  www.sears.ca

  U-Exchange

  www.u-exchange.com

  Winners

  www.winners.ca

  Part2:HomeManagement

  HOMEMAINTENANCE

  GovernmentofCanadaOfficeofEnergyEfficiency

  oee.nrcan.gc.ca

  ENERGY

  ecoACTION

  www.ecoaction.gc.ca

  ecoENERGYRetrofitGrantProgram

  oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/retrofit-homes/retrofit-qualify-

  grant.cfmENERGYSTARinCanada

  oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energystar Government of Canada Office of Energy

  Efficiency

  oee.nrcan.gc.ca

  PowerWISE

  www.powerwise.ca

  CLEANING

  DisastrousDisposables

  www.ams.ubc.ca/student_life/resource_groups/sec/rcw-

  files/disposables.pdf

  Part3:RoombyRoom

  KITCHEN

  BAGGU

  www.baggubag.com

  FederalTradeCommission

  “PriceCheck:AReportontheAccuracyofCheckoutScanners”

  www.ftc.gov/reports/scanner1/scanners.shtm

  Howtosoakandcookdriedbeans

  www.squawkfox.com/2008/02/19/how-to-soak-and-cook-dried-beans/

  RetailCouncilofCanada

  “CodeofPractice:ScannerPriceAccuracyVoluntaryCode”

  www.retailcouncil.org/advocacy/cp/issues/scanner_acc/print/scanner_accuracy02_eng.asp

  LIVINGROOMANDDININGROOM

  ApartmentTherapy

  www.apartmenttherapy.comApartmentTherapy

  “HowtoGo‘Shopping’inYourOwnHome”

  www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/how-to/how-to-go-shopping-in-

  your-own-home-074431

  Canada’sOfficeofConsumerAffairs(OCA)

  Canada’sswitchtodigitalTV

  www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-bc.nsf/eng/h_ca02319.html

  Canadian

  BroadcastingCorporation

  www.cbc.ca/videoCanadianCentreforOccupationalHealthandSafety

  “HowtoAdjustOfficeChairs”

  www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/office/chair_adjusting.htmlCTV

  shows.ctv.ca/video

  GoogleDocs

  docs.google.comIkeaSlipcovers

  www.bemz.com

  iTunes

  www.apple.com/itunes

  Live365.com

  www.live365.com

  OpenOffice

  www.openoffice.org

  SHOUTCastRadio

  www.shoutcast.com

  BEDROOM

  Leggett&Platt

  www.leggett.com

  KIDS’ROOMSANDBEYOND

  CamillaCornell, HowtoPayLessforJustAboutAnything

  (Pleasantville,NY:Reader’sDigest,2005)CoolestBirthdayCakes

  www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com

  DeborahTaylor-Hough, FrugalLivingforDummies

  (Indianapolis,IN:Wiley,2003)EasyBirthdayCakes

  www.easy-birthday-cakes.comLaLecheLeague

  www.lllc.ca

  StudentPriceCard

  www.spclive.com

  BATHROOM

  CanadaMortgageandHousingCorporation

  “ResearchHighlights:Dual-flushToiletTesting”

  www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/tech/02–124-e.html

  ecoENERGYRetrofitgrantprogram

  oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/retrofit-homes/retrofit-qualify-

  grant.cfm

  PowerWISE

  www.powerwise.ca

  LAUNDRYROOM

  ENERGYSTARinCanada

  oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energystarPowerWISE

  www.powerwise.ca

  GARAGE

  Autonet.ca

  www.autonet.ca

  CanadianAutomobileAssociation

  www.caa.caCanadianCentreforOccupationalHealthandSafety

  “Telework/Telecommuting”

  www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/telework.htmlCarpool.ca

  www.carpool.ca

  DailyFuelEconomyTip

  www.dailyfueleconomytip.comDriving.ca

  www.driving.ca

  GovernmentofCanada

  “Taxcreditforpublictransitpasses”

  www.transitpass.caGovernmentofCanadaOfficeofEnergyEfficiency

  oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal

  OUTSIDEYOURHOME

  BackyardChickens

  www.backyardchickens.comCompostingCouncilofCanada

  www.compost.orgPart4:MoreWaystoSave

  FAMILYVACATION

  AirlineConsolidator

  www.airlineconsolidator.comBargainTravel

  www.bargaintravel.com

  Cheapflights

  www.cheapflights.ca

  DiscountAirportParking

  http://discountairportparking.netExpedia

  www.expedia.ca

  FlightCentre

  www.flightcentre.ca

  HomeforExchange

  www.homeforexchange.caHomeXchangeVacation

  www.homexchangevacation.comHotels

  www.hotels.ca

  Hotwire

  www.hotwire.com

  SelloffVacations

  http://selloffvacations.comTravelocity

  http://travelocity.ca

  TripCentral

  http://tripcentral.ca

  VacationRentalsbyOwner

  www.vrbo.comWotIf

  www.wotif.com

  PETS

  PetAdoption

  http://petfinder.com

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thisbookgrewfromthepagesofmyblog,Squawkfox.com,becauseof

  the amazing team at HarperCollins Canada, including Noelle Zitzer, ShaunOakey,JeremyRawlings,LesleyFraser,DebbieVietsandothers

  whoworkedsoquicklythatIdidnotgettomeetthem.Averyspecial

  thankyoutomyeditor,KateCassaday,forherenthusiasm,knowledge

  and ability to know what I wanted to say even before I knew myself.

  Thank you for finding my blog and for giving me the opportunity to writebeyondtheblogosphere.

  Thankyoutomyparents,JanandKenTaylor,forgettingmestarted

  young with my own savings account and for teaching me about the powerofcompoundinterest.

  A huge thank you to Beth Huel and my sister, Allison Taylor, for convincingmethatstoriesaboutbean-soakingandbean-countingcould

  befun.

  ThanksalsototheRussmannfamily,includingRalph,Max,Kateand

  littleAlex,fortheirmoralsupportwhenIdisappearedfromthefarmto writethisbook.

  ThankyoutoDougLemiskiformakingthelegalesemakesense.

  ThankyoutobloggingbuddiesHaydenTompkinsandMikefortheir

  onlinefriendshipandsupport.

  Iameternallygratefultomypartner,CarlRussmann,whoconvinced

  metostartablogandsharemyideaswithothers.

  Finally,Iwanttothankthepeoplewhoreadmyblog.Somehavebeen

  readingitsincethebeginning;othershavejustfoundme.Everyonewho

  hasemailedorcommentedonthesitehastaughtmesomething.Iwrite

  about frugal living because I love the conversation and creativity of a communityofpeoplediscoveringhowtolivesmarterwithless.Ihope

  thisbookcontinuestheconversation.

  AboutthePublisher

 
; Australia

  HarperCollinsPublishers(Australia)Pty.Ltd.

  25RydeRoad(POBox321)

  Pymble,NSW2073,Australia

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com.au

  Canada

  HarperCollinsCanada

  2BloorStreetEast-20thFloor

  Toronto,ON,M4W1A8,Canada

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.ca

  NewZealand

  HarperCollinsPublishers(NewZealand)Limited

  P.O.Box1Auckland,

  NewZealand

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.nz

  UnitedKingdom

  HarperCollinsPublishersLtd.

  77-85FulhamPalaceRoad

  London,W68JB,UK

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.uk

  UnitedStates

  HarperCollinsPublishersInc.

  10East53rdStreet

  NewYork,NY10022

  http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com

  Copyright

  397WaystoSaveMoney

  Copyright©2009byKerryK.TaylorAllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-American CopyrightConventions.Bypaymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthenon-exclusive,nontransferablerighttoaccessandreadthetextofthise-bookon-screen.Nopartof thistextmaybereproduced,transmitted,down-loaded,decompiled,reverseengineered,or storedinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,inanyformorbyany means,whetherelectronicormechanical,nowknownorhereinafterinvented,withoutthe expresswrittenpermissionofHarperCollinse-books.

  EpubEdition©NOVEMBER2011ISBN:978-1-554-68701-5

  PublishedbyCollins,animprintofHarperCollinsPublishersLtd.

  FirstpublishedbyCollinsinanoriginaltradepaperbackedition:2009

  Thispaperbackedition:2011

  Nopartofthisbookmaybeusedorreproducedinanymannerwhatsoeverwithouttheprior writtenpermissionofthepublisher,exceptinthecaseofbriefquotationsembodiedinreviews.

  HarperCollinsPublishersLtd

  2BloorStreetEast,20thFloor

  Toronto,Ontario,Canada

  M4W1A8

  www.harpercol ins.ca

  LibraryandArchivesCanadaCataloguinginPublicationinformationisavailableISBN978-1-44341-218-6

  RRD987654321

  Document Outline

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Contents

  INTRODUCTION: Money Matters

  PART ONE: Big Decisions CHAPTER 1: Renting

  CHAPTER 2: Homeownership

  CHAPTER 3: Financial Choices

  CHAPTER 4: Shopping

 

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