This February We are Doing the Spend Zero Challenge

I can hear you now. "Spend zero? How are you going to do that?" Well, we are doing the next best thing, taking the challenge to pare down our spending for nonessential expenses. It's actually pretty cool. We make the rules ahead of time. What is allowed, what isn't, and in what cases we can break the challenge. We have done similar things before, including the cold turkey, freeze your credit cards and lock yourself in the house plan. While surfing the net, I came across www.livingwellspendingless.com and was impressed. Not only is the plan mapped out but you can print out all the resources you will need. It's a great site with coupon strategies and nifty DIY stuff too. So, Here goes... We did a meal plan ahead of time and equipped with my 6 inch thick coupon binder, I headed off to the grocery to try and stock for an entire month while still cutting costs. This is a unique challenge since we will be eating in and brown bagging almost all of our meals. At the same time, We want to rotate our stockpile and use up the odds and ends in the pantry. After an hour in the store, I emerged with two buggies of goodies and a bill of $217.00. Sure hope I estimated and planned well because feeding two people all meals and snacks for a total of $7.75 per day seems awfully low. That's $3.88 per person, per day! I'll be checking in to share how the challenge is going and any insight or pointers we come up with. We have been seriously homesteading in an urban environment for the last 10 years with fantastic results. Dealing with the damage from 3 major storms, serious illness, and career changes have given us new resolve to make even better use of our resources. Along the way, we'd love to share the hows. I'm sure you have your own whys. Tomorrow, I will share some of the rules we set down for the month and our biggest concerns. The Super Hubster will be enjoying the first free entertainment of the month--the SuperBowl--and eating a special meal to kick off (couldn't help the pun) the challenge!

Make Stew With Leftovers

Looking for something quick to make for dinner? What could be faster than throwing some leftover ingredients in the slow cooker before work?

Combine leftover veggies, some broth or water, and some rice (noodles, or potatoes will do too) and put the cover on.

You'll come up with your own delicious recipes. Make a list of what you put in and if it's absolutely fabulous...well, you can recreate it in the future.

It's easy and it's hard to go wrong with veggies.

So, what's for dinner tonight?

By enlisting this practice, I avoid letting food go to waste. This saves money and time. By using my slow cooker I reduce my electrical use. It's also easy to portion out enough for tomorrow's lunch.

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Day 10 Do the Save Electricity Happy Dance

It's so exciting. While I have no way of knowing how much energy I am saving, I still feel validated. Newsletter subscriptions are coming in. By the way, I do a SMALL newsletter every month chronicling ideas for saving money and the earth.

I am about a third of the way through the challenge. I'm finding so many ideas that I think I could continue for months...but not here. I'll try not to bore you to tears.

You may have noticed form my photo that I have an incredible amount of unruly hair. While drying it with the hair dryer is quite a workout for my arms, it makes a dent in my electrical usage. If I dry it all the way through, it takes about an hour. No, that doesn't happen very often. Usually I get it dry enough that it's passable.

My goal is to put down the hair dryer. I have hair that is best left to air dry anyway. Not everyone can do this. I'm lucky. Even with a different hairstyle, I could cut back on how many minutes I use the dryer. A handy kitchen timer could be set for the target time, thus giving me an idea of how long it has been running.

I can remember being a kid and my father making us girls stand outside while the electric meter spun gleefully round and round. I don't remember what he said. Hey, I was kid and went something like, "blah, blah, blahblah, blah...."

This goes for other beauty gadgets like the curling iron and rollers. The goal is to cut back. Even if I gave up using some of these items one day a month/week it would make a downward difference in my bill. That's what I'm after. Little changes with rewards I can measure!

Don’t forget that we are giving away prizes at the end of December. To be eligible simply register for our monthly newsletter on the right. We don’t spam and we NEVER share your email address. One of our lovely prizes is a Kill-A-Watt meter to help identify what gadgets really draw in current. Pass it along. More prizes coming.I will also be sending out tweets that go along with the challenge www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter saving electricity is truly a beautiful thing.

Day 9 Erin's Elecricity Challenge

This one probably goes without saying...except we don't actually DO it.

You guessed it! Turning the lights out when we leave the room. When prompted, I always respond with something like, "I was going right back in there." The truth is I get pretty sidetracked, hence the kitchen times clipped to my collar. Ha ha ha.

Repeat after me: "I do pledge to make an effort to turn out the lights in the room as I leave. I agree to thank the person who reminds me and not to make up an excuse. I also agree to use daylight if overhead lighting is not needed."

It doesn't seem like much, but in my house, it's huge. People can always tell when I'm home because the house id lit up like a Christmas tree. I go to one room for something and then flit off for something else. Before I know it there are lights on in every room! And don't even think about what happens if I need to run to do a quick errand. Oh my. This could save me a tone of money.

Don’t forget that we are giving away prizes at the end of December. To be eligible simply register for our monthly newsletter on the right. We don’t spam and we NEVER share your email address. One of our lovely prizes is a Kill-A-Watt meter to help identify what gadgets really draw in current. Pass it along. More prizes coming.I will also be sending out tweets that go along with the challenge www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter saving electricity is truly a beautiful thing.

Day 8 Counting Electrical Savings

This will take some getting used to. I intend to use the microwave more.

The microwave takes less energy than heating up the oven. I went online and purchased some cooking items made just for the microwave. http://tinyurl.com/6c5pqt

I'll give microwaving pizza a shot and see if my family diggs it. i can't promise I'll be cooking entire meals in it. After all, I love to cook and it brings me great joy.

It just means I'll be saving the oven for when I can cook several things at once. While I'm at it, I'll set one of my timers (everyone knows how much I love little digital kitchen timers) so that I don't leave it preheating too long.

The moral of the story is to use the appropriate tool for the job. Why heat up a TV dinner in the oven when it can be done in the microwave?

Don’t forget that we are giving away prizes at the end of December. To be eligible simply register for our monthly newsletter on the right. We don’t spam and we NEVER share your email address. One of our lovely prizes is a Kill-A-Watt meter to help identify what gadgets really draw in current. Pass it along. More prizes coming.I will also be sending out tweets that go along with the challenge www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter saving electricity is truly a beautiful thing.

Day 7 of My Fabulously New Low Electric Bill

Wow, I'm really getting into this now! You guys have been great spurring me on to find more prizes and new ways to cut my electric bill.

With current events on every one's mind, how we consume and what we consume is increasingly important. People who never clip coupons are suddenly doing so. So, I know a change is happening when folks who normally consume without much thought strike up conversations with me and want more information about the challenge. Hmmmm.

"What's this electricity challenge all about?"

You see, I am a writer by trade and I also run a salon spa. Normally I'm involved in covering beauty, fashion, and business issues. The Electricity challenge was born out of the starting of a personal blog. I never thought that so many people would identify with the challenge.

So, now I talk about energy as well as beauty as a daily routine. it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. hey, maybe I can turn the thermostat down another degree? Hmmm. Ideas, ad more ideas.

Today's electricity saving endeavor is quick and simple. I've purchased thermometers for the refrigerator and freezer. I placed them inside and waited 24 hours. Oh my goodness! I found that my freezer and fridge were WAY too cold. Was wondering about those frozen veggies in the fridge a few weeks back. Hmmmm, may have the answer.

So, I adjusted the temps down and intend to check it in a day or so. The cool thing about the thermometers is that they show a range in color so you don't have to guess what temperature the fridge or freezer should be to keep your stuff safe and fresh!

While I was at it I vacuumed the coils. Don't know if that helps, but it was something that needed to be done anyway.

Don’t forget that we are giving away prizes at the end of December. To be eligible simply register for our monthly newsletter on the right. We don’t spam and we NEVER share your email address. One of our lovely prizes is a Kill-A-Watt meter to help identify what gadgets really draw in current. Pass it along. More prizes coming.I will also be sending out tweets that go along with the challenge www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter saving electricity is truly a beautiful thing.

Day 6 Still Finding Ways to Save Money on the Electric Bill

Okay, I have to admit that I am a huge fan of hanging the clothes on the line to dry, but as winter sets in I can get a bit lazy. During the winter the items don't dry quite as fast. That means I must plan ahead for laundry.

To combat winter laundry I'm getting in the habit of popping it in the washing machine first thing in the morning and then handing it on the line soon after getting ready for my day. i think I like the idea of accomplishing something before I ever get to work!

By dinnertime the clothes are dry or almost dry. Even if I have to put them in the dryer for a few minutes, I've still saved a ton of money.

While we are on the subject: did you know there is a International Clothesline Week? go to http://www.hangtodry.com/ and mark your calendars for the first full week of June.

And did you know that the folks at EnergyStar don't rate clothes dryers because there is little difference between them and they all use huge amounts of power.

I just love that clothes last longer, smell fresher, and are not filled with extra chemicals from dryer sheets and fabric softeners. A big plus is also that I don't have to iron. I pop my hubby's shirts on a hanger and let them dry--they go straight to the closet in perfect shape every time.

Don’t forget that we are giving away prizes at the end of December. To be eligible simply register for our monthly newsletter on the right. We don’t spam and we NEVER share your email address. One of our lovely prizes is a Kill-A-Watt meter to help identify what gadgets really draw in current. Pass it along. More prizes coming.I will also be sending out tweets that go along with the challenge www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter saving electricity is truly a beautiful thing.

Day 5 Drastically Reducing My Electric Bill

Today I'm trying to incorporate a new habit. Opening the blinds in the morning to let in the sun. You see, it's winter and we need the warmth. In the summer, I will have to adjust which blinds are open and when for the AC to work effectively.

The sun streaming in from the east is fairly strong. Within several hours the rooms facing east are warmed. This allows me to cut back the heat even more. Sunlight is quite flattering and is free. I'll get in the habit of reading by the window instead of turning on another light.

Just before the sun goes down, I'll close them to prevent the heat from slipping out. I'm toying with the idea of an insulating insert behind the blinds. Because of allergies, we don't have curtains. I'll also look into more energy efficient, insulating blinds as the need arises to replace the ones we have.

Don’t forget that we are giving away prizes at the end of December. To be eligible simply register for our monthly newsletter on the right. We don’t spam and we NEVER share your email address. One of our lovely prizes is a Kill-A-Watt meter to help identify what gadgets really draw in current. Pass it along. More prizes coming.I will also be sending out tweets that go along with the challenge www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter saving electricity is truly a beautiful thing.

Day 4 Electricity Challenge- Continuing to Save Money

The computer is my friend! And the printer, fax, TV, stereo, ipod...

Over the years I got into the habit of leaving everything plugged in so they would always be charged. Some things I used often while others, maybe once a month.

I've invested in some smart power strips. Devices can be plugged in and then when not in use, i can simply flip the switch and STOP the phantom power drain at the source. The smart power strip can tell when I turn off the computer and it will turn off the printer and other peripherals.

The power strips I picked up also function as surge suppressors to protect my devices. Now that could save some money.

Don’t forget that we are giving away prizes at the end of December. To be eligible simply register for our monthly newsletter on the right. We don’t spam and we NEVER share your email address. One of our lovely prizes is a Kill-A-Watt meter to help identify what gadgets really draw in current. Pass it along. More prizes coming.I will also be sending out tweets that go along with the challenge www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter saving electricity is truly a beautiful thing.

Day 2 Reducing My Electric Bill and Saving Money

CFLs and LED technology

A great debate has begun over the safety of using CFL bulbs in the home, considering that they contain a small amount of mercury. As a person who is chemically sensitive from previous overexposures to hazardous materials, I want things to be safe.

I have a choice if I want to use technology which requires less electricity: CFL bulbs or LED components.

CFLs contain varying amounts of mercury so they could be a hazard if broken in the home and not cleaned up properly. http://tinyurl.com/5rdf56 I am going to need to weigh the dangers carefully. http://tinyurl.com/yq8a6l Energy Star puts out an informational pdf to help. http://tinyurl.com/2elryb Unbroken CFLs should be recycled and broken CFLs should be cleaned up properly. Check out the links if you want to educate yourself on how to do it. The CFLs contain much less mercury than the fillings in my teeth. EEK, is that a good thing? The good news is that the amount of mercury is being reduced dramatically.

While CFLs are readily available, I may choose to use LEDs in areas where they may come in contact with children or pets and use CFLs where they are not likely to get broken. I am not sure; I will have to think on it a bit. I would love your input on the matter. For more info on LEDs go to http://tinyurl.com/6ns7zl

I’ve gone online, and discovered a site http://www.eartheasy.com/ , and ordered a few goodies to try. First, I scooped up an amber LED bug light http://tinyurl.com/68mfh3 for outside. At $14.95 it’s about three times more expensive than the traditional incandescent I normally use. However, it will use less electricity and that reduces mercury emissions into the air at the power plant side. Yippee! It's one good thing for the environment that will also help on the electric bill. Another source for LEDs is http://tinyurl.com/6krxb7, http://tinyurl.com/6c2dsa , and http://tinyurl.com/5rjrkm .

No matter what type of bulb you choose, you’ll probably like to know what type of savings to expect. Right? GE has a whole house calculator for CFLs http://tinyurl.com/64sltf

I’m changing the bulbs in my home (about 2300 sqft) and in my Salon. Some bulbs have already been changed, so I’ll have a head start. Last year I put in natural light fluorescents in the salon to help fight a vitamin D deficiency. A side is that the natural light bulbs lift mood and can prevent seasonal affective disorder, which can strike during the winter.

Benefits all around.

Don’t forget that we are giving away prizes at the end of December. To be eligible simply register for our monthly newsletter on the right. We don’t spam and we NEVER share your email address. One of our lovely prizes is a Kill-A-Watt meter to help identify what gadgets really draw in current. Pass it along. More prizes coming.
I will also be sending out tweets that go along with the challenge www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter saving electricity is truly a beautiful thing.

Little Changes, BIG Rewards!

In a time when most things are on the rise, I am happy to report that my family's power usage is on the decline. When I tell people about the electricity project at my home, they often ask what I did to cut it so much.

First things first. How much did I cut? Well. I've been tracking my usage for a number of years now but not doing anything specific to manifest dramatic change. We went from an average of about 1200 kWh a month to 507 this past month.

Okay, averages don't say a lot. Let's compare month to month. Last year for the same period of time we used 916 kWh of power. Again, this year it was 507! And I'm not going to stop now. My goal is to hit 400 for a single month. We'll see if I can do it.

As I chronicle my electric adventures, I will also be Twittering the tips at www.twitter.com/BeautyWriter

So, far I haven't done anything big or expensive. No new windows or doors, no bundles of insulation , or new heating units! We have done small things consistently.

Stay tuned and we will share along the way.

Power Tip #1 Unplug things that just sit on standby waiting to be used. These are things like your coffee pot that has a clock, TVs with remotes, etc. To make it simple some people use a power strip to easily cut the power to things when not in use.

Power Tip #2 Microwaves use less power then the stove. Cook a big meal and then portion it for later heating in the microwave. You can even freeze complete meals and save a ton of time. Imagine, complete meals in your freezer you can grab for work. Bet you will even save money on eating out.

One last thing before I go. There is a great blog you should be reading if you are into saving money. Go to www.BudgeTips.blogspot.com

Until next time...We'll turn the light off for ya'.

Water, Water, just not Everywhere

As winter shakes her frosty view our way, we are confronted in Virginia with a water shortage. It's not bad yet but we are down. At the same time, the costs of utilities are on the rise and consumers are really starting to fret over the coming winter and rising expenses.

When it comes to water there are a few things we can do to conserve. I'm making my list and actively doing what I can to be a better consumer. Here are some of the things our household is in the process of checking off.

• Suit up and crawl under the house to inspect for hidden water leaks. While you are under there, wrap pipes and insulate where needed to conserve energy.


• Take up some space in the toilet. This is an old trick. Simply put a brick in the toilet or fill a soda bottle with some rocks. You will save the equivalent of the used space every time you flush the toilet. And if you can stand it, flush the toilet less often.


• Install water saving shower heads that can be turned off while you soap up. We have this type of arrangement in the RV and it works quite well. I went on ebay and ordered a simple replacement shower head that only uses 1 gallon of water per minute. That will be quite a savings for me over time.


• Replace the aerators on faucets with low flow ones. You will feel like you are using more water but will really be saving quite a bit. It's easy and can be done in just a few minutes for less than $5.


• Turn off the water when brushing teeth etc. Simple.


• Use a dishpan when washing dishes instead of running the water. Wash in one side and rinse in still water in the other instead of letting the water run. Let dishes soak a few minutes before starting to wash. Let the soap and water do the work for you.


• Stop using the garbage disposal and start composting your kitchen waste. It is better for the environment and uses less water.


• Don't water the lawn.


• Go ahead and drink the tap water! Put a pitcher in the fridge and you will always have a healthy, cold drink.

Those are just a few things we can do today. There are many more and I'll be back to share some of them later.

By the way, I love to garden and grow my own veggies, but never use the city water for the garden. I have installed rain barrels that catch the roof water. it's a great way to have plenty of water and be environmentally friendly.