FRUGAL LIVING: ATTN everyone having money trouble!!!

[lildreamer316]

Ok. After logging back on and seeing Horse With No Name's post and texaspatriot2000's post and DenaliDemocrat's post I am gonna scream to get everyone's attention!! We have two groups here at DU that could possibly help some, or many of you with everyday household expense cutting. These groups are LOADED with tips and links to sites about cutting your grocery bills and electric bills and hybrid cars and etc. etc. etc. We need your input; and frankly it breaks my heart that everyone (including me off and on!!) is having such a hard time! Isn't it true that even $5-$10 can make a difference daily to most of us? Well, come on over and take a gander at what your fellow DUers have to offer! Please feel free to add or share any thing you feel will be helpful. Put this site to work for you; that is what it is here for!!!
I can't tell you how much I love you guys. Keep your chins up; this too will pass.........

Posts:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

GROUPS:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[myrna minx]

1. Thanks for putting this all together.

This stuff is extremely helpful.

[CountAllVotes]

2. thanks for the info. & link

Every little bit adds up and yes, it does make a difference! I personally lived in poverty for many years and I know!

Thanks again for you help!

[hlthe2b]

3. bookmarked for later perusing... thanks, Lildreamer316

[intheflow]

4. Good one!

Thanks for the links. I've bookmarked this thread and nominated it. It's a wonderful resource list.

[lildreamer316]

5. ooo. Thanks!

Glad I can help....

[Ksec]

6. You are a Saint

Thank you. Ill be going through them tonight. Thanks again

[babylonsister]

7. Thanks for calling attention to these, lildreamer.

I'll be making room in my favorites for them!
BTW, has Skinner been informed about a useful merge?

[skids]

I got good feedback on these:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/10/13/182220/73

(Next link is pic heavy. Real heavy.)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[lildreamer316]

11. Cool! Adding to my personal list.

Thanks so much. Very educational.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. Thanks for the links!

DU

[Vincardog]

9. Thanks

[wryter2000]

10. Good grief!

I wasn't aware of those groups. Thanks.

[SpiralHawk]

12. K & R

bookmarked, too, alas...

As long as the Republicans are steering the ship of state (the S.S. Chimpee) all we proles will be utilized for is mopping the floors of the BushCo Empire, and feeding the Oil Republicans at the gas and oil pumps of our wee abused planet.

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Thank you...

[undergroundpanther]

14. I'm gonna xpost

this to the poverty group!

[undergroundpanther]

15. and disability because well all be poor over there

[lildreamer316]

17. Whoopsie

should have included that one; thanks.....

[thinkingwoman]

16. Thanks for shouting, because, honestly...

I probably would not have noticed your thread otherwise!

Thanks for the links...am perusing now.

[AZBlue]

18. Wow! I didn't even know those groups existed! THANKS!! (n/t)

[Skidmore]

19. I had one of these tip threads going 2-3 months ago. Can't find

it now since the advanced search function is down now.

[lildreamer316]

20. Add to as soon as you can find it n/t

[NJ_Lib]

21. Thanks!

Thanks so much! It is good to know I'm not the only one scratching and clawing just to stay above water... But it could always be worse I guess... Will definitely check out those links, thanks for caring...

[NMDemDist2]

22. kicking it n/t

[Megahurtz]

23. Thanks,

this is very much appreciated!

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. If yuo are in So Cal

Henry's (and of course trader joes)

I just came back from Henry's and I have not done this much for this little in a while... and my nearest trader is not as clsoe

Oh and the birds will even get their peanutes... bulk, and boy I have not paid this little in years, not even Cosco...

So wheover sugested it, thank you

[Maraya1969]

38. I just checked out Trader Joes and I would love if everyone would sign

this petition. It is asking them to stop selling eggs from caged chickens. I realize that free range eggs are more expensive but I pay it for the chickens and also - the more people switch to free range the more chance the price will go down eventually. Hopefully someday there will be no chikens living their lives in a cage that they can't even turn around in.


https://community.hsus.org/campaign/traderjoes

[donheld]

25. kick too

[redacted]

26. BIG THANKS, bookmarked for later

[chalky]

27. Bookmarked & kicking.

Thanks!

[Straight Shooter]

28. Thank you very much!

Just in time for winter, too. I checked out the econo heater site http://eheat.com / because I work at home and it's crazy to heat a house when only one room is basically being used, even though I do close the vents to the spare bedroom and bath.

I'm also going to check out that water heater programmable thermostat. Again, it's crazy to heat water all day long when I take one shower in the morning and rarely use hot water for washing clothes, and I'm so lazy I only wash dishes every other day. In my defense, there aren't that many dishes ... mostly coffee cups

Thanks again.

[nomatrix]

29. Many utility companies do Home Energy Audits

This is an example from Massachusetts
http://www.mass.gov/dte/consumer/fuel_assistance.htm

scroll down....

LOOK FOR NO-COST HOME ENERGY AUDIT AND REBATES

"You can beat the cold weather and higher forecasted energy prices by weatherizing your home for as little as fifty percent of the cost and receiving rebates on refrigerators, furnaces, gas water heaters, lighting and programmable thermostats. In some cases tenants can save even more. If you live on the Cape, you may be able to save $3,000 when converting from electric to gas or oil heat.

Why pay for heat to escape through under-insulated walls and attics or leak though ductwork or drafty windows? Have your heating ducts and windows sealed and your walls and attic insulated. (Poorly insulated attics are a major source of heat loss.) Other ways to save include programmable thermostats that will automatically lower the temperature when you’re sleeping or away at work and replacing an old furnace or gas hot water heater with energy efficient ones.

Do you have an old refrigerator, even in a basement, that’s using a tremendous amount of energy? Trade it away for a $300 rebate on an Energy Star refrigerator and save $130 per year in reduced electric bills. Your new refrigerator could pay for itself in less than three years.

In the past an energy audit would give you a report telling you what to do and how much you would save. You would also receive a light bulb and a few other energy saving measures and you would have to find a contractor and pay for the entire cost. Today’s energy audit is more comprehensive and includes utility approved contractors who perform the work and your utility company will pay part of the cost. Money you spend this year will help you save for years to come. "

Also look on your utility bill, call, or visit to find out rebate programs they have for other purchases.

If you need a new appliance research it first, Consumer Reports, for energy efficiency/price=user friendly.

With steel price sky high, you may want to look for a used appliance, moving sale, 2nd hand appliance dealer and look for the energy star rating. Someone moving out of state may not want to lug that fridge or washer. Research.

Clean the refrigerator. Vacuum the coils. Dust and dog hair reduce their efficiency.
Load it so the cold air circulates.
Remind the kids not to survey the fridge/freezer together, open 1 door at a time. If there is some they always go for milk, drinks, snacks, keep them in the same place in the fridge so they alway look there first and close the door.

Insulation. Everywhere, behind the faceplate's of plugs on exterior walls. Around the doors check rubber gaskets insulator, door bottoms, anywhere you feel a draft.

Electric blankets with timers. Just use the bed warmer setting and turn down your thermostat at night. Better for your sinus.

Any petroleum based product get it now. Need a new roof? Prices have jumped.

Keep mechanicals tuned up. WD40. Great polish too for metal doors, removing water spots.

If you decide to escape to a warmer climate for the winter, winterize your home, and be sure to disconnect your water hoses from your washer. It is a good idea to replace them anyway if they have been there for years. They are usually the reason for a home flooding when people go on vacation.

[nomatrix]

30. Here's the link to the Web for energy star product , audits, rebates

http://energystar.gov/

[tom_paine]

31. kick

Nice service.

[rucky]

32. and here's the best Magazine EVER:

www.motherearthnews.com

[Raksha]

33. Thanks, lildreamer.

Both forums are already on my forum list, and I've lurked on both but haven't posted. I figure I have more to learn than to contribute at this point!

[Skidmore]

34. Here's another thread or two with tips.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[purji]

35. Thank you

I didn't even know we had these groups.

[Blue_Tires]

36. ttt n/t

[Maraya1969]

37. Has anyone EVER gotten one of those "FREE" laptops, meals,

hotel rooms and any other number of things that pop up and say "FREE"? I have followed a few only to give up after I went through pages and pages of saying "NO" to "DO YOU WANT THIS?"

And then finally you end up on a page where you have to buy something in order to get the laptop and that is where I have quit.

They drive me nuts and I am mad every time I get jilted by one.

[Cathyclysmic]

39. Thanks, Lilidreamer...

I do read those forums...you are quite the bargain hunter. Thanks for looking out for the DU-ers trying to save money.