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Worried About The Environment? Here Are Some Steps Can You Take To Do Your Share.

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:57:03 +0000

What about the environment? You hear about the greenhouse effect and how we're polluting our world. Making it toxic. Here's how you can make a difference every day.

Turn your lights, TV, radio, off when you're not in the room to use them. Consider the energy requirements when you buy big appliances like your refrigerator, hot water heater, or wash machine.

Buy products in bulk so that there will be less packaging to throw away later. If you love the smaller sizes and find they work in your house better, consider buying one small container and refilling it with a bulk sized product. I do this with dish detergent and hand soap in my house. Not only does it cut down on my trash it saves money!

What about the gasoline in your car? If you consumed less gas everyday, would it make a difference? Look at the gas mileage when you're looking at new cars.

You don't have to stop at your home. Use energy saving tips at work. Cut off your office lights when you're not in your office; turn out the lights when you leave at night. Turn your computer off when you're done for the day. Not only will that save energy, but it will reduce any security risks of somebody trying to hack your computer.

You don't have to stop at your job. Get involved with organizations that target corporate pollution. The magazine, Pollution Engineering, reports in January 2005 that the EPA will be focused on reducing corporate pollution by one billion pounds. They have increased their inspections by 11% and their investigations by 32%. This doesn't come for free; it will cost corporations $4.8 billions dollars to clean up. Think about this. If they know that they can target a billion pounds of pollution, imagine how much more corporations could probably eliminate if we had stricter regulations? If you believe in this, you need to support the EPA. Let your lawmakers know that you believe strongly in this and support it.

Don't give it to counter arguments that it will make everything more expensive for you. It may be true that companies will try to recoup their money spent on making cleaner products by increasing the prices of their products. However, the converse of that argument isn't valid. Just because it's cheaper to make a product with more pollution doesn't mean that it's okay.

A common tactic that American companies will do is taking their facilities off-shore. Why? It's not just for them to save money by paying foreigners a fraction of what they'd have to pay Americans. It's also because they don't have to shell out as much money making their facilities pollution production within American regulated standards. China, Mexico, and India all have lower standards as far as corporate pollution.

Hey, here's something to think about. We all live in a fishbowl. What ever happens over on the other side of the world will eventually make its way to our side. If you don't like this, then put pressure on your lawmakers to make it less appealing for American companies to sneak over to other countries to dump their pollution.

Continue Reading >> Worried About The Environment? Here Are Some Steps Can You Take To Do Your Share..

Fuel Efficient Cars

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:55:15 +0000

If you accept the premise of Global Warming, which anyone who isn't a reactionary conservative now does, you will have to admit that there is the need for fuel efficient cars. Fuel efficient cars will not be the total answer to global warming but fuel efficient cars will certainly help. As more and more countries around the world become more prosperous and their citizens become increasingly able to afford certain luxuries, the global demand for cars is growing. And as more and more cars get on the roads all over the world, there will be more and more pollution produced by those cars which will necessitate more fuel efficient cars. Plus as the cost of the oil needed to produce the fuel to power all of these cars continues to go up and up, the producing of more fuel efficient cars will become an economic necessity, which sad to say, will drive the push for more fuel efficient cars faster than environmental concerns.

so, it may be a good thing for the fight on against global worming that oil is now close to a record high of one hundred dollars a barrel. Because as long as fuel is cheap, consumers won't mind wasting it and car makers wont' make their cars any more fuel efficient than they have to so without the government pushing them and without consumers demanding it, fuel efficient cars are not a high priority. But now that gasoline costs over three dollars a gallon in the U.S., people are becoming a lot more desirous of fuel efficient cars. With any luck, the whole rise in the cost of gas will mean the death of the SUV. why anyone driving around on the well paved highways of the United States needs an oversized, overweight, military looking vehicle is way beyond me. When SUV's came into vogue, fuel efficient cars went right out the window.

It was much more important to drive around in a fifty thousand dollar SUV that was just guzzling gas so you could impress your neighbors than it was to drive a sane, fuel efficient car for the sake of the health of the whole world. The major car manufacturers could always have made more fuel efficient cars, but they always said that the consumer didn't want to pay for them and, of course, the auto makers weren't going to cut into their profits just to produce more fuel efficient cars because it was the right thing to do. And of course, the government, being in the hip pocket of the industry, wasn't going to force them to produce the super fuel efficient cars of which they were capable.

Continue Reading >> Fuel Efficient Cars.

How To Save on Gas Prices

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 19:48:44 +0000

With high gas prices at the pump and summer just around the corner, consumers are looking for a way to win the battle in the gas wars. There are several steps one can take in order to cut his/her reliance on gasoline that will result in money saved. The following are a few suggestions on how to start winning in the gas wars.

1. Always avoid purchasing higher-octane gasoline than your car requires. Unless your car requires it, higher-octane gas is a waste of money.

2. Keep your tires properly inflated. Check your tires frequently.

3. Consider purchasing steel-belted tires. They can significantly increase your gas mileage verses regular belted tires.

4. Remove snow tires after the winter season (that is if your state still allows you to have snow tires).

5. It is important to keep your car tuned up and in good repair. If your car is not intone it will hemorrhage gasoline.

6. Do not carry unnecessary items in your car. Every extra 200 lbs uses an extra mile of gas per gallon.

7. If you are a member at Sam's Club or Costco, purchase gas there whenever possible. You can save 10 cents a gallon or save 1 to 5 percent when you buy gas with a gas card.

8. Do not let your car sit and idle. Running your engine wastes more gas than restarting your engine.

9. Purchase gas when it is cooler during the day. This will reduce gas evaporation.

10. Do not over-fill your gas tank. Over-filling your gas tank causes gas to leak out and/or evaporate.

11. If you have to travel, then rent fuel-efficient cars.

12. Stop thinking bigger is better. We have turned into a society where we super-size everything, from our food to our houses to our cars. SUV's although still the number one selling models are gas-guzzlers. Smaller cars a generally, more fuel-efficient.

These are some unique tips on how to save on gasoline.

Continue Reading >> How To Save on Gas Prices.

Saving Money at the Pump

admin — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 02:02:21 +0000

Gas prices are higher than ever, so you're likely to see more advertising for "gas-saving" products. Yes, we want to improve on fuel efficiency, but are these products really helping? Or are they just taking an extra bite out of our already shrinking car budget?

The truth is, you should be suspicious of any gas-saving claims for certain devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas-saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been miniscule.

You'll see all sorts of claims and testimonies. "This gas-saving product improves fuel economy by 20 percent." Yeah, yeah. Actually, the EPA has tested over 100 of these supposed gas saving doo-hickies, and none of them were found to do the job well.

Some of the products can even damage your car. So much for cost savings!

Please be skeptical of advertising claims for gas saving devices.

Here's another quote you might read. "This gas-saving device is approved by the Federal government." Actually, no government agency endorses gas-saving products for cars. If the seller claims the EPA has evaluated its product, ask for a copy of the report, or check www.epa.gov for information. Ah, I love the power of the internet.

If you want to save money at the pump, try these tips. They'll serve you much better than some snake oil product.

Buy only the octane level gas you need.

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. It's a fact.

Use overdrive gears during highway driving. This also saves wear on your engine.

Use cruise control on highway trips.

Avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration. That means no tailgating! This tip alone can improve your fuel economy by 5 to 10 percent. Sudden starts and sudden stops are wasteful, not to mention the barf factor involved for those of us who get car sick.

Unnecessary idling wastes fuel.

Avoid carrying excess weight in your trunk.

Keep your engine tuned. Engine troubles can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent.

Make sure your tires are properly inflated and aligned. Check them once a month.

Under-inflated tires increases fuel consumption by six percent.

Change your oil.

Check and replace air filters regularly. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption.

There's no need to buy products that cost you more money than they save. These little fuel saving tips can add up to an extra hundred bucks or so in your pocket each year!

Continue Reading >> Saving Money at the Pump.

The Right Vehicle Could Help You Save Money On Gasoline

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:20:50 +0000

Is it time for you to trade in that old car for a newer model? Before you run to the dealership to purchase your new vehicle, you may want to do some researching. Gas prices are constantly on the rise, putting consumers in the red. Maybe you should take this fact into account before you make your next purchase. Here are some suggestions weigh before you purchase your next vehicle.

First, decide how you will use the vehicle. A small highly efficient model may suit your needs. Then shop around for the proper fuel-efficient model. Check the fuel economy label posted on each vehicle's window. Look into Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). HEVs combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with the battery of an electric motor of an electric vehicle. This combination results in twice the fuel economy as conventional vehicles.

Once, you have chosen the make and model, there are a few more details that if decided upon will help reduce your fuel consumption and cost. Think about purchasing a manual transmission. Automatic transmissions use more gas, especially on small cars. Look into purchasing top-quality radial tires, particularly steel-belted radials. Steel-belted radials will give you up to 20 percent savings by reducing rolling resistance. When it comes time to pick out the color of your next vehicle, you may want to choose a light exterior and interior color. Tinted windows will also reduce heat build-up. Finally, make sure your new car has cruise control as an option. Cruise control will maintain a steady speed and will save you money over time.

If at all possible, the best way to reduce your dependence on gasoline and to help cut down on your cost at the pump is to purchase or in some cases order a Hybrid Vehicle. You will find that it is worth the weight and upfront investment.

Continue Reading >> The Right Vehicle Could Help You Save Money On Gasoline.

Save Money On Your Next Vacation

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:31:39 +0000

You've been saving up money for this trip; your family is really looking forward to it. But when you did a final budget check, you found that you're going to be short of cash. You won't have any money for souvenirs. Here are some ideas for you to save money on your hotel:

* Get as small a room as you can handle. Don't pay extra for a larger room just because the hotel didn't have any smaller rooms left. Negotiate your rate down.

* See what discounts you might qualify for – maybe for being a senior citizen, in the military, your corporate discount, or even any partnerships with your credit cards.

* Ask for an extra mattress for your family. Often times, instead of making you get two rooms, hotels will provide with an extra rollout mattress for the little ones.

* Look online! You can browse through travel websites, sites where you bid for hotel rooms, discount hotel companies, as well as hotel's home pages. There has to be a great deal in there somewhere.

* If you travel a lot, join your favorite hotel's frequent guess program. That will get you free hotel nights in no time.

Here are some tips for you to save money on your air fares:

* Fly during the middle of the week. Flights are usually cheaper on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays then they are the rest of the week.

* Look at online travel sites to check fares. Usually you'll get a better deal by reserving your flight in advance. Occasionally those last minute deals are too good to pass up.

* See if you'd get a cheaper flight if you can fly in to a nearby airport. It all depends. You might be able to go cheaper by flying into the bigger, more used airport because the big airlines run discount trips. You might be able to save with the small airport because a lot of discount airlines use them instead.

Here are some tips for you to save money with your Rental Car:

* Never, never, never return the car to the agency with anything less than a full tank. The price that the agency charges you to refill the tank is outrageous.

* Pick the smallest car that your family will be happy with and you'll feel safe in.

* Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean your driving skills are also taking a holiday. Try to drive so that you conserve your gas.

* Ask to see if the rental agency has any upgrade specials going on. While this can be a fun "give-me," don't bank on it. Not all rental customer representatives are as generous minded as others.

* Pack light! The less your car has to carry around, the less gas it will use.

* Go ahead and use the cheapest gas from the cheapest gas station you can find. This isn't advice I'd give you as far as your own car, but remember, you're borrowing this one. There's no reason to treat the car any better than the agency would.

Continue Reading >> Save Money On Your Next Vacation.

How To Keep The Pump From Robbing You Dry

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:32:45 +0000

It is no secret that gas prices today are sky high and unfortunately there is no hope of them falling down soon. We must take action, as consumers, so that we are not robbed dry at the pump. The following are several pieces advice on how to conserve your fuel, so you will make fewer trips to the pump.

First, use the proper octane fuel recommended for your vehicle. Higher number octane's require more resources to manufacture, cost more, and may not improve the performance of your car if it is not designed for it.

Secondly, always maintain your tires. Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure, and make sure they are wearing evenly. Align, balance and rotate your tires as needed. One under inflated tire can cause more gasoline usage. Check your tires at least once a month. It is important to check your tires when they are cold, otherwise you will not get a proper measurement.

Change your oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles. The oil filter removes dirt and particles from the engine so that the parts are able to move more freely. Old oil gets less slippery and doesn't lubricate as well. Well-lubricated engine parts require less fuel to run and create less pollution.

Make sure you change the air filter at the manufacturers recommended intervals. A new air filter allows more clean air to get in the engine, allowing it to burn more efficiently.

Similarly, make sure your spark plugs are firing properly. Spark plugs ignite gasoline in the engine. If they are not firing properly, gasoline flow through the engine unburned is wasted.

Another way to conserve fuel is to remove non-essential weight from your car. Do not carry items that you do not need in your car. The more weight causes your car to use more fuel.

It is important to not leave your vehicle idling for extended periods of time. For example, if traffic is stopped for more than five minutes, turn off your engine. Likewise, if you see that a drive-through line looks longer than a minute or two, park you vehicle and go into the restaurant.

Refrain from revving your engine. Revving the engine only wastes gasoline. Today's vehicles are manufactured so that you do not have to rev nor "warm up" the engine.

It is important to replace tailgates on pick-up trucks. Tailgates produce air resistance and can decrease fuel efficiency. Therefore, replace a built-in tailgate with a mesh net tailgate.

Finally, in order to reduce your vehicles fuel consumption, it is important to maintain your vehicle with regular tune-ups.

Continue Reading >> How To Keep The Pump From Robbing You Dry.

How To Save Money At The Pump

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:36:01 +0000

Do you that you spend half as much time at the pump as you do driving? Well, with high gas prices and the popularity of SUV's, people are spending more and more money at the pump. Today, prices and fuel-efficiency have gotten so bad that people are actually turning down better job offers, because the job would require a longer commute.

However, if you are like many people that have no other alternative but to commute to their job by vehicle, then take note of the following money saving tips.

The more aware you are of the amount of fuel that you use the more you can do to try to reduce your gas costs. Keep a fuel log. Track your weekly fuel log to see how much your gas consumption is going up and your mileage per gallon is going down. This may be an indicator that your vehicle needs servicing.

Always buy gas from a gas station that is constantly busy. A gas station that is constantly busy has its underground tanks filled on a regular basis. Gas stations that are slow will have gas that has been sitting in underground tanks for longer periods of time, which leads to gas contamination. If you purchase gas that is contaminated, then you are purchasing gas that is less potent and will reduce your fuel economy.

When you have finished filling up your tank, turn the nozzle of the hose 180 degrees. This will drain more gas into your tank, which will add up to a lot of extra gas at the end of the year. On the other hand, try to avoid "topping off" at the pump. The best time to replenish your gas tank is when you have half a tank or less left in your vehicle, or when gas is at an all time low that day.

Finally, a way to save money at the pump is by not purchasing high-octane gas. Higher-octane gas is more expensive and doesn't perform better than regular gas. Octane is a measurement on how to ignite the gas in your car and has nothing to do with the quality of the gas.

These money saving tips will help you keep more money in your pocket, instead of be fleeced at the pump.

Continue Reading >> How To Save Money At The Pump.

10 Tips On How To Be Frugal At The Pump

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:56:11 +0000

Will gas prices ever go down again? I wish I could say yes; however, there is no sign of a change in the near future. That is why we, the consumer, have to learn how to be frugal at the pump. I have arrived at 10 tips on how we can save money at the pump an also help preserve the environment.

Tip #1 Make sure your car is serviced, regularly. Cars that do not run properly use more gas.

Tip #2 Check your tire pressure, consistently. Over-inflated tires can reduce your fuel efficiency just as much as under-inflated tires.

Tip#3 Try to avoid running your vehicle's air conditioner. Running the air conditioner causes lower gas mileage. If you have to have the air conditioner on, then keep it at a low setting. Another alternative is to turn the air conditioner on until the car gets cool and then turn it off and let the fan circulate the cool air.

Tip #4 Likewise, when traveling at high speeds, keep your windows closed. If you have your windows open when you are traveling at high speed, then the open window will cause a drag. The drag will lower your gas mileage.

Tip #5 If you are traveling at fast speeds, then make sure your gears are not in low.

Tip #6 If you are stuck in traffic and will not be moving anytime soon, then it is a good idea to turn your engine off, instead of letting it idle for a period of time.

Tip #7 Stop and go traffic hurts your gas mileage. So, if at all possible, change your work time to avoid the morning and evening rush hours. This may mean leaving earlier or later.

Tip #8 Do not let your car "warm up" on colder days. Again, you will lose gas mileage, if you let your vehicle idle for periods of time.

Tip #9 Take unneeded items out of your car. Excessive weight just bogs down your car and gas mileage.

Tip #10 Plan your trips well to avoid unnecessary driving.

Remember that you do not have to be a victim at the pump. There are steps you can take that will prolong your visits to the gas station.

Continue Reading >> 10 Tips On How To Be Frugal At The Pump.

Trying to Manage Your Debt? Use These Tips!

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:08:40 +0000

You're near rock bottom. Your credit cards are maxed out and you're now at the point where you do not have enough money to pay beyond the minimum payments. You can't buy things that you'd really like or need now because of the mess you've made with your spending. If you're trying to manage your debt, the first thing you have to do is come up with a budget. You have to get a clear idea of what your money coming in is and what you need to spend it on. To pay down your debt, there are a couple of things you can do: reduce what you owe, make more money, and stretch your current salary so you can pay off what you owe sooner. In terms of reducing what you owe you could try the following tips:

* Transfer all of your credit card balances onto new 0% balance transfer cards. Depending on what you owe, you could save money by not having to pay any interest for the next six to 15 months. Make sure you close or "freeze" any of your old credit cards so that you don't charge them back up. Apply the money that you would have spent on interest on extra payments.

* Cut down or stop any extra bills that you automatically pay each month. I'm talking the second cable box and the HBO or sports extras. Stop all automatically charging memberships you may have on the Internet. Downsize your telephone services.

In terms of making more money you could try the following tips:

* Get a new job with a better salary.

* Take a part time job at nights and weekends where you could earn a little bit more money.

* Try to work from home, free-lancing your services over the Internet.

If you don't have the skills necessary to try any of the above tips, work on them. Check out a book at the library to find more information. Consider volunteering somewhere so you can learn on the job.

In terms of stretching your current salary so you have more money to pay your bills, consider the following tips:

* Turn your thermostat up or down (depending on whether it's hot or cold outside). If it's winter, put on a pair of socks and a sweater around the house. Buy a timer for your thermostat so that it only heats/cools when you expect to be home or awake around the house.

* Do it yourself. The yard, your bathroom, your kitchen. Whatever you've been paying other services to take care for you, stop now. When you're in debt, you don't have money for nice services like these. Don't feel bad; you've simply been living beyond your means.

* Buy your groceries with cash. Literally. Not your debit card but with $20s in your wallet or purse. Nothing like a drop dead limit on your spending to help you decide what groceries you'd really want. This will help cut down unnecessary purchases and maybe even save you a couple of inches around your waistline.

* Reduce your transportation costs. Improve your mileage by making sure your car is well tuned. Vanpool or carpool back and forth to work. The time you trade off for coordinating everybody together will be made up with the time you'll save driving on the HOV lane.

* Bargain hunt online. You can buy used books, over stock items, seasonal sale items all online at a fraction of their originally marked prices. Set a limit on your credit card purchases; if you can't do that, consider getting a prepaid credit card that you can use online but has a finite limited amount of cash you can charge.

Continue Reading >> Trying to Manage Your Debt? Use These Tips!.