Stretching Your Dollars Archives • Page 19 of 33 • Using Time Wisely

What Do You Think?: Disposing of Your Own Trash

July 28, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

Around the blogosphere, many bloggers share their perspective on life. As I contemplate these many ideas (and some are really out there), sometimes I’m not sure what I think.

During this week of What Do You Think?, I share a topic and give you my 2¢. Please share your opinion.

The topics chosen will follow the posting schedule. Thanks in advance for your contributions on this journey to Using Time Wisely!

What Do You Think about Disposing of your own Trash?

Tracy’s 2¢: If you are on a shoestring budget and every penny counts, then you might consider using time wisely to dispose of your own trash rather than paying the city garbage bill. Knowing how fortunate our family is to live in a city where our taxes cover our garbage pickup, we do not write that $60 check each quarter for this service.

When I first read this Take Out the Trash: Reconsider the Cost of Garbage Service article, I thought how gross. But then I saw the price tag of $60 and understood the reasoning behind Audrey’s choice. For me, taking our family’s trash to the dump or recycling center is not worth the money, energy, and time.

Using our curbside service does not cost me more than dumping my own trash. I will still pay city taxes whether I use the service or not. So, in using time wisely, I choose to put our garbage at the curb each week. However, if you are seeking creative ways to stretching your dollars, then disposing of your own trash may alleviate a payment.

Is disposing of your own trash going too far or a viable option? What do you think?

JCP: Free Haircuts in August for K-6th Grade Students

July 21, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: J. C. Penney

J. C. Penney is partnering with parents to ease the cost of back-to-school preparations. With physical exams, eye appointments, books, supplies, and uniforms, getting ready for school takes money, energy, and time.

To assist parents in stretching their dollars while getting those last-minute items checked off their to do list, J. C. Penney will offer free haircuts to students from Kindergarten to 6^th grade.

Photograph Credit: J. C. Penney

In using time wisely, call your local J. C. Penney salon to schedule your child’s free haircut. You will need to make an appointment. These slots will fill up quickly, so book your appointment now.

If your J. C. Penney salon is booked, then consider these 6 ways to cut the price of a haircut. Happy savings while stretching your dollars!

Question: How are you stretching your dollars this back-to-school season?

Interrupted Phone, Cable, & Internet Service Compensation

July 14, 2012 by Tracy

Interrupted phone, cable, and internet compensation

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Paul and I awoke yesterday morning without phone, cable, or Internet service. Yikes!

With a busy day planned, I needed to maximize the short amount of time I had at home. With the services going in and out, I worked as I could and finally got our Chick-fil-A pictures posted later than scheduled.

Since an outage affects our productivity, Paul called our provider to ask about the duration. After wasting time wading through the menu options, he finally found a customer service representative.

Upon confirming our outage and listening to our concerns, the representative gave the standard ~~excuse~~ outage statement and then placed a credit on our account.

By making a phone call to the provider and explaining our setback during the outage, my persistent husband received a monetary solution to offset our time inconvenience. The result of using time wisely with a phone call saved us money by stretching our dollars.

If you experience an outage in your area, then call your provider. You may get compensation for the interruption to your phone, cable, or Internet service. It never hurts to ask. 😉 Happy savings!

Question: How often is your service interrupted?

2012: Sales Tax-Free Days

July 7, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Recon Cycles)

If your state or commonwealth participates in tax-free days, then waiting to make a qualified purchased during those times will stretch your dollars. The Federation of Tax Administrators issued the 2012 State Sales Tax Holidays list, including limits and information links.

Though designed to help offset the back-to-school costs, these tax-free days can save you money on items you need.

For example, in South Carolina our tax-free days have no limits on clothing, school supplies, and computers. If we plan to purchase an iPad or choose to purchase clothing from the summer clearance racks for next year, then those items will not incur sales tax on those tax-free days.

By planning ahead, waiting patiently, and scoring those deals during tax-free days, you can continue stretching your dollars while using time wisely. Happy savings!

Question: Are you planning a big purchase during your tax-free days?

2012 Second Quick Tip Week: Change Your Air Filters

June 30, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Alex Wiebe)

In finishing this Quick Tip Week, our temperatures have risen to 100 degrees. The heat is bearing down and in this segment on stretching your dollars, I focus on a quick way to lower your energy bill during the summer heat.

Quick Tip #7: Change Your Air Filters

The air filters in ventilation systems get quite dirty from sucking in dust. As the dust builds up, the air has to fight through the dirt on the filter to circulate. The harder your system has to pull in the air, the longer your fan has to run which costs you money.

With a clean air filter, the air slips through the filter and circulates without needing to keep the fan running.

Most technicians recommend changing the standard air filter once a month. In stretching our dollars, I wait for ACE Hardware to run a sale on their air filters. I then stock up to keep our home cool without using extra energy.

As you seek options for stretching your dollars, remember to change your air filters. In using time wisely to complete this maintenance on your home, you can see the savings on your energy bill. Happy savings!

Question: How often do you change your air filters?

« Previous Page