Comments on: Five Ways to Save in Fifteen Minutes This Week http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:42:13 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: crazyliblady http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-586527 crazyliblady Sat, 09 May 2009 19:13:56 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-586527 Good material here. I save a substantial amount of money each month (around $80-$90) by taking my lunch to work nearly every day. I walk to work each day and the route I take does not permit me to go near any convenience stores. It also saves me gas and not having to buy a parking permit at my work. Because I walk to work everyday day and am at least 15 minute from any restaurant (McDonald's being one of them), my original real choice is the school cafeteria at the college where I work. I do eat there occasionally, but it's expensive, so I limit it to payday only and the occasionally soda or iced tea after lunch using a discount because I bring my own cup. So, taking lunch to work and not driving much probably gives me about an extra $175 per month. That money I save in an emergency savings and pay off my debt with every month. Good material here. I save a substantial amount of money each month (around $80-$90) by taking my lunch to work nearly every day. I walk to work each day and the route I take does not permit me to go near any convenience stores. It also saves me gas and not having to buy a parking permit at my work. Because I walk to work everyday day and am at least 15 minute from any restaurant (McDonald’s being one of them), my original real choice is the school cafeteria at the college where I work. I do eat there occasionally, but it’s expensive, so I limit it to payday only and the occasionally soda or iced tea after lunch using a discount because I bring my own cup. So, taking lunch to work and not driving much probably gives me about an extra $175 per month. That money I save in an emergency savings and pay off my debt with every month.

]]> By: persephone http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-586480 persephone Sat, 09 May 2009 12:53:51 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-586480 I managed to reduce my ISP bill and I got free HBO from my cable company. Thanks for these tips! I managed to reduce my ISP bill and I got free HBO from my cable company. Thanks for these tips!

]]> By: A Frugal Lifestyle » Financial Websites Experiment: Week 3 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-585705 A Frugal Lifestyle » Financial Websites Experiment: Week 3 Thu, 07 May 2009 12:15:36 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-585705 [...] SavingAdvice.com you can findFive Ways to Save in Fifteen Minutes. As with much of the advice I’ve spotlighted this week, this article is practical and most [...] [...] SavingAdvice.com you can findFive Ways to Save in Fifteen Minutes. As with much of the advice I’ve spotlighted this week, this article is practical and most [...]

]]> By: spicoli http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-585518 spicoli Wed, 06 May 2009 15:12:11 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-585518 Ryan -- You may also want to check out this article that David wrote on utility company discounts back in December. http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/12/08/103492_utility-company-discounts.html Ryan — You may also want to check out this article that David wrote on utility company discounts back in December.

http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/12/08/103492_utility-company-discounts.html

]]> By: Ryan @ SpendOnLife http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-585142 Ryan @ SpendOnLife Tue, 05 May 2009 21:05:10 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-585142 Thanks! That is a great site. I am sure that will save me some money this summer! Thanks!

That is a great site. I am sure that will save me some money this summer!

]]> By: David G. Mitchell http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-585131 David G. Mitchell Tue, 05 May 2009 20:34:29 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-585131 Ryan -- I checked with my friend and received this rather lengthy response. I think you will really find this helpful, especially the link that she provides. ************************ I was with Green Mountain Energy. They got me as a customer back in 2008 after advertising outside my grocery store (signing people up right there). They're big thing is that all of their energy sources are green. So I signed up. Back in Jan '09, I saw my bill increase quite a bit. I checked my rate and it had increased to over 14 cents/kwh. When I called, they informed me that it was the rising energy costs and blah blah blah. They offered to lower my rate to something over 12 cents/kwh. But I didn't take it. I went to www.powertochoose.org and compared all the local companies that serve my area. I found Dynowatt. It had multiple plans. One was a cheap plan that is sourced only from green energy sources. Their 1 yr fixed rate was listed around 11 cents/kwh. When I called them, they informed me their rate was actually closer to 10 cents/kwh. I called Green Mountain Energy back to see if they could match that rate for a 1 yr fixed period. They couldn't. When I told them I would switch, they offered me a lower rate but it was variable and I believe a 2 yr contract. A 1 yr fixed rate is ideal for me because it allows me to review every year. Anyway, my negotiations weren't successful in keeping me with Green Mountain. But they were successful in finding me the cheapest 1 yr fixed rate. Switching wasn't a problem for me. Some people don't like to switch. So for everything I needed and was willing to do, I have saved a ton of money. The difference between 14 and 10 cents per kwh? Very cool. So that's my story. Oh, and I checked out Dynowatt's online payment options and website to make sure it was something I'd be able to work with. Their website and online capabilities were actually better than Green Mountain. So I think I got a win-win. Ryan — I checked with my friend and received this rather lengthy response. I think you will really find this helpful, especially the link that she provides.
************************

I was with Green Mountain Energy. They got me as a customer back in 2008 after advertising outside my grocery store (signing people up right there). They’re big thing is that all of their energy sources are green. So I signed up.

Back in Jan ‘09, I saw my bill increase quite a bit. I checked my rate and it had increased to over 14 cents/kwh. When I called, they informed me that it was the rising energy costs and blah blah blah. They offered to lower my rate to something over 12 cents/kwh. But I didn’t take it.

I went to http://www.powertochoose.org and compared all the local companies that serve my area. I found Dynowatt. It had multiple plans. One was a cheap plan that is sourced only from green energy sources. Their 1 yr fixed rate was listed around 11 cents/kwh. When I called them, they informed me their rate was actually closer to 10 cents/kwh.

I called Green Mountain Energy back to see if they could match that rate for a 1 yr fixed period. They couldn’t. When I told them I would switch, they offered me a lower rate but it was variable and I believe a 2 yr contract. A 1 yr fixed rate is ideal for me because it allows me to review every year.

Anyway, my negotiations weren’t successful in keeping me with Green Mountain. But they were successful in finding me the cheapest 1 yr fixed rate. Switching wasn’t a problem for me. Some people don’t like to switch. So for everything I needed and was willing to do, I have saved a ton of money. The difference between 14 and 10 cents per kwh? Very cool.

So that’s my story. Oh, and I checked out Dynowatt’s online payment options and website to make sure it was something I’d be able to work with. Their website and online capabilities were actually better than Green Mountain. So I think I got a win-win.

]]> By: Ryan @ SpendOnLife http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-585082 Ryan @ SpendOnLife Tue, 05 May 2009 19:02:38 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-585082 I am curious if she was with TXU or one of the smaller providers? We switched to a smaller provider and signed a contract, that contract will be up soon and I am sure the rate will increase. I am curious if she was with TXU or one of the smaller providers? We switched to a smaller provider and signed a contract, that contract will be up soon and I am sure the rate will increase.

]]> By: David G. Mitchell http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-585036 David G. Mitchell Tue, 05 May 2009 17:35:56 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-585036 Ryan -- A friend of mine recently negotiated substantial savings in Texas. If you will tell me your specific questions, I can try to find out how she did it. Ryan — A friend of mine recently negotiated substantial savings in Texas. If you will tell me your specific questions, I can try to find out how she did it.

]]> By: Ryan @ SpendOnLife http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-584967 Ryan @ SpendOnLife Tue, 05 May 2009 15:43:41 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-584967 Has anybody had experience with lowering their electric bill in Texas after we de regulated? Has anybody had experience with lowering their electric bill in Texas after we de regulated?

]]> By: Ann http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2009/05/03/104465_save-money-the-week.html/comment-page-1#comment-584949 Ann Tue, 05 May 2009 15:14:23 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/?p=4465#comment-584949 Sorry, David but nothing new for me here. :-) I already do this on a regular basis and paid off my mortgage LONG ago, so that one isn't even an issue. The other stuff I check out on a regular basis. Sorry, David but nothing new for me here. :-) I already do this on a regular basis and paid off my mortgage LONG ago, so that one isn’t even an issue. The other stuff I check out on a regular basis.

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