Cool THAT kitchen !!!

The thought of using the stove or oven in this crazy summer heat wave makes me ill...but we can't go without eating, so when i do have to cook, I found a simple trick that seems  to really help...

After using a hot pan on the stove top, put some cool tap water in it, set it back on the hot burner and put the lid on.  The cool water starts absorbing the heat...that way it doesn't continue to warm your kitchen!  I can literally "feel" the difference immediately!

Silly, Simply, but works :)

Cheap T.V.

Stream TV for free online, or pay small fees for tons of entertainment at

http://www.huluplus.com/   or  http://www.netflix.com/  or  http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/ontv/ontv

at Netflix, I even watch movies through my wii!!

Happy with STAIGHT TALK and saving $$$

Earlier this month I posted about how I wanted to save on my cell phone bill.  After four weeks of trying out the cheaper, "seems to good to be true cell phone company", I am happily a new customer of Straight Talk.   I wanted to really check them out before switching from my old cell phone provider.  I also wanted to be certain before recommending them to my friend and fellow bloggers. 

I have traveled more than 6 hours away through rural areas, where At&t service was completely out and my Straight Talk was available...even the web and data!!  I finally imported my number and I had to deal with the customer service.  As per online reviews, their customer service had low scores, but I personally got an actual human with 2 minutes of calling on every occasion!!  That's big to me AND the human on the other end was polite, informative, and very helpful.  I did have to wait 3 days to get a new sim card in the mail.  That was totally my fault for activating the phone with a new number and then deciding to keep my old number.  They told me that it could take 5-7 business days to arrive, but they expedited with Fed Ex at no add't charge AND credited me for the 3 days that my phone was out. 

I recommend checking them out if you are out of contract with your current cell phone provider...Again, I have unlimited talk and long distance, unlimited text, and unlimited data and web for $45 a month...no added taxes or fees either!    And if you don't need lots of web/data....for $30/mo you get 1000 min, 1000text, and 30 MB of data...not bad!

StraightTalk

Saving on my cell

I have been with Cingular/At&t mobile for years...I am out of contract and have prided myself on NOT re-entering a contract just to get a new phone.  I buy my phones "unlocked" on eBay or from a seller in China directly and have always loved what I got.  NOW, I want a BETTER phone service at a BETTER price!! 

I want to be able to text and get online without it costing me a fortune.  I started researching services and the rates for data packages is outrageous!!!  BUT...I found a prepaid, no contract, no credit, no strings attached cell phone package called Straight Talk.  They charge $45 per month and you get UNLIMITED talk, UNLIMITED text, and UNLIMITED web!!! I was worried about their service area...I wouldn't want to compromise, or have dropped calls, but I found out that they use the EXACT same At&t towers!   I am currently trying it out as we speak.  I am writing this post while waiting for my son to get out of school...I love it.  They also offer a $30 a month plan that has 1000 minutes, 1000 text, and 30MB of data. 

I did purchase a Nokia e71 with the package.   I can import my old number when I'm sure that I want to disconnect with At&T.  And ya wanna know the kicker???  I figured out how to get this prepaid sim card to work in my Unlocked phone...which means that you can keep your phone!!  (I may buy an unlocked iphone and switch over) I am really excited to research this phone service, I have 30 days to return the phone.  I think that phone companies charge way too much and hope this will help us all save some cash!!

Energy star rebate through Ameren

We have allergies so bad and after repeated nudging from our doctor...we finally invested in an air purifier.  At Costco we bought a Therapure purifier with permanent filter. It uses UV light to eliminate bacteria, germs, and even viruses.  It has a Hepa permanent filter, and is Energy Star rated.  It was $99, but they offered a $50    Energy Star rebate through Ameren   Be sure to check out what other home appliances are included.

  Not sure if this is a coincidence, but there are no kids coughing in my home this morning!!!  Every night and especially every morning, we have been waking up to coughing and hacking...who knows, but I'm happy :)

ATTN: DISH NETWORK subscribers!!!

Just in case you hadn't noticed...if you use Dish Network, you now have STARZ & ENCORE movie channels FREE for a whole year!! 

These are channels #340-377

Thanks Dish!!

Saving dishes

I don't know about your kids, but MY kids can go through too many cups/glasses in a day! Today, we started something new to help solve the "get a new cup, everytime I need a drink" problem.

Around Christmas I purchased some Window Crayons and they were awesome for the kids to decorate the windows. They had a blast, I posted about it on My Family Blog   So, today, I decided that the kids could decorate their glass, and call it their own...for the whole day!  They have been so proud to "reuse" their own special cup today...I will do this each morning to save dishes and dishwasher space!!!

A BIG thanks and Kid Channels too !!!

FREEBIES 4 MOMS is an awesome blogger that I just met.  She had an awesome tip about FREE online programming that can be watched on your  computer or hooked up to your T.V.  This touches home for me, because I just had to get rid of channels to save money!!  I am totally going to take her up on this tip!   

She even dedicated a post about  FREE ONLINE TV FOR KIDS  to my Money Saving Momma blog, because she saw that my kids miss the Nick and Disney channels....she rocks!  And my kids are gonna be so happy!!  Take her tips and save BIG $$$

Heat....stay outta my closet!!

In the winter, I turn down my thermostat to save money on the HUGE gas bill.  My family makes fun of me, but I go around before bed and before leaving the house and close all closet/pantry doors and even make sure the shower curtains are closed....I mean, why heat the walk-in closet?  Isn't that a few extra square feet that our heater doesn't have to warm?  I also close down all blinds and curtains.  In my defense, some of my heat outlets are located on the floor close by the showers, closets and windows... it seems like they would blow right toward them if I didn't patrol it!!  LOL !!  Every little bit, right?!?!

Good-bye Channels (Save on Dish Network)

Well, with the recent job scare, I just down-sized my Dish Network. It is one monthly cost at the bottom of the "necessity" list, since we don't have an antenna, I wanted to try to keep "some" television, not just rid of it. I can't believe how hard it is to get rid of channels that you have grown "used" to having. But come on, I shouldn't be feeling sorry for myself, I'm just getting rid of channels, NOT some huge sacrifice! It will decrease my monthly bill by 55% though!!!! I am now paying $20.99 for the Welcome Pack. I don't believe they advertise this program, openly, but if you have a life-changing event, they will give it to you!

Here is what we now have: (the biggest change will be NO Disney or Nick for the kids, they don't need to be watching so much TV anyways, right?)


Welcome Pack
LOCALS PLUS:
100 Home-local weather
102 TV Guide
103 PPV Movie Previews
107 Comedy Central
110 Food Network
112 Home & Garden
120 History
127 Oxygen
128 Women’s Entertainment
130 AMC
137 QVC
139 TBS
161 MTV2
166 Country Music
175 Boomerang
179 Discovery Kids
183 Learning Channel
185 Hallmark
203 Bloomberg Info TV
209 MSNBC
214 Weather
222 Home Shopping Network
228 Shop NBC

Not bad, huh????

You can call to find out about your Dish Network Programming at:
1-888-359-8966

Saving water

Especially in the winter, the water needs to run a bit to get warm.  What do you do with all that running water?  You catch it with a pitcher and water your plants, your dog, or use it to cook with.  I have been doing it for a while and always have a pitcher of water waiting for me to use.  It's better than letting it go down the drain, right?  

Heat up the water and lower the bill

One of the very best energy-saving tips I use in my home is to wrap your hot water heater with an insulation kit.  It was so easy to wrap and tape with duct tape.  It saves me approx. $8-12 per month.  That's huge over the year.  Another added bonus...we were able to turn down the temp too!!  You can purchase one for as little as $19  http://www.walmart.com/ip/Duck-brand-Water-Heater-Blanket-R-6.7/15077961

Let em' Air Dry

If your dishwasher gives you the choice...keep the heated dry OFF.  Just prop open the door at the end of the cycle and let them air-dry.   Why pay to heat the air, when they can dry for free?!?!?

Get Set & Save

Each day before we leave for school....I say, "on you mark, get set, SAVE!!!!!!"  The kids run all over the place, turning out lights, lamps, tv's, and radios.  They love to be the first one to save the most.  They also like the idea that the more money saved on electric is the more money freed up to do something better with!