Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Saving Money: Continue Looking For Ways After Home Purchase

CLARK COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICES

Remember when you bought your home? Chances are you spent weeks searching for the lowest rate mortgage with the fewest points. You knew this strategy would save you thousands of dollars in interest charges over the life of the loan. Now that you're living in the home, do you still search for ways to save money?

Unfortunately, many families disregard the numerous things they could do each day to cut expenses. Housekeeping and home expenses may seem minor when compared to the total cost of the mortgage, but over the years, expenses associated with your home add up. Saving a nickel here and a dollar there really can make a difference.

Lynn Russell, family resource management specialist, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas, looks at ways to save all over the house.

Fifty-five percent of your energy bill goes for heating or cooling, so this is a good place to start. To save money cooling or heating your home, close vents and doors in rooms that you never or seldom use. Use fans to keep the air circulating. Set the thermostat at 78 degrees during the summer and 68 degrees in the winter. Each degree that you set the thermostat lower than 78 in the summer will increase your energy bill by about three percent.

Keep your air conditioner and heating unit filters clean. Check them monthly. Wash aluminum filters or replace fiberglass filters. Clean filters allow your unit to operate more efficiently and extend its life.

Here are some things you can do in the kitchen.

Never turn your dishwasher on unless it is full. Allow dishes to dry naturally rather than using the drying cycle.

Refrain from opening the oven door when baking. Twenty percent of the heat escapes each time you open the door. Buy a timer or use the oven's timer and avoid frequent peeking.

Use a microwave when at all possible. These handy appliances use less energy and cook food much faster than a conventional oven.

In the kitchen, bath or all around the house, use a mixture of ammonia and water to clean mirrors, windows and appliances. Mix half a cup of ammonia with a gallon of water for an inexpensive, effective cleaner.

Here's something you may have in every room in your house  a phone. What optional extras do you have with your phone service? Call waiting, call forwarding, speed dialing, caller ID, etc., may have sounded like a good deal when you signed up, but do you really use these features?

Individually, extra services cost only a few dollars each month. But when you add their total costs, you may be surprised to see that you're spending an extra $25 to $30 a month. Cancel these services and save $300 to $360 a year.

Starting to see the big picture? Expenses that seem minimal on a daily basis add up to substantial amounts over a period of a week, month or year. Think about your daily expenses in the home. Over time, little things can add up.

For more information on money management contact the Clark County Extension office, 246-2281.