2012 Third Quick Tip Week: Free Family Portrait

October 16, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: JCP

Quick Tip Week continues! Hope this week of shorter posts highlighting one tip in each category helps you in using time wisely.

For series already in progress, I will continue with the next segment following our Quick Tip Week.

Embrace this week, add your tips in the comments, and continue using time wisely!

Quick Tip #3: Free Family Portrait

During the month of November, participating J.C. Penney Portrait Studios are offering JCP Reward members a free family photo.

Did you just say, “Wow?” I know!!! This offer is for JCP Reward members, so sign up for free (if you’re not already a member) and schedule your appointment.

Happy savings during a fun, free family portrait!

Question: When was the last time you had a family portrait taken?

2012 Third Quick Tip Week: Removing Ink Stains

October 15, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Darren Sacks)

Quick Tip Week continues! Hope this week of shorter posts highlighting one tip in each category helps you in using time wisely. For series already in progress, I will continue with the next segment following our Quick Tip Week. Embrace this week, add your tips in the comments, and continue using time wisely!

Quick Tip #2: Removing Ink Stains

As my 2-year-old waved around an uncapped ink pen, my shirt met the blue ink resulting in a stain. Thinking I would just soak the shirt, Paul suggested drawing out the ink using hairspray.

With the hairspray bottle in hand, I sprayed the soiled section, waited a few moments to activate, and then I pressed down paper towels on the spot. With each treatment, the stain became less visible until it disappeared after the fourth round.

Though I’m sure the OxiClean would have worked, I liked the immediate result of using hairspray when removing ink stains. Upon laundering, I found my shirt without ink or any residue from the hairspray. 🙂

In using time wisely, I spent less than 5 minutes removing ink stains from my shirt. If you find a stray ink mark on your clothing from a 2-year-old, test out the hairspray trick to save you money, energy, and time. Happy stain lifting!

Question: How do you remove ink stains?

Heads Up: Third Quick Tip Week – October 14 – 20, 2012

October 10, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Stock.xchng

It’s time for another quick tip week making it the third of 2012.

Next week, beginning on Sunday, October 14, 2012, I will post quick tips in each category. For series already in progress, I will pick those back up the week of October 21-27, 2012.

Since I am struggling to keep up with posts while caring for my family, entertaining, and planning our Fall Festival, I chose a quick tip week to catch up and launch ahead.

My favorite part about Quick Tip Week is reading your comments. Thanks for being a part of the Using Time Wisely community. I appreciate you. Happy fall!

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?

2012 Second Quick Tip Week: Wash the Car

June 29, 2012 by Tracy

In winding down our Second Quick Tip Week of 2012 and the heat of summer in full force, I love to combine a family activity with productivity.

My favorite summer outside activities combine water and work resulting in a nice refreshment while completing the task at hand.

Quick Tip #6: Wash the Car

My children love to play in the water. In fact, you cannot keep them out of it. Yeah, that one puddle in the entire parking lot beckons my children to visit. (I see you’ve been there, too.)

With our white van and our busy schedule, our vehicle remains dirty. So, we combine our water fun with a bucket and micro-fiber cloths.

I pull the car into the driveway and turn on the hose. Besides the fun had with spraying the car (and each other), we emerge from our fun with a clean vehicle. If Daddy arrives home before the fun ends, we finish with two clean vehicles. 😉

In using time wisely with your family and staying cool this summer, enjoy a refreshing activity of washing the car. Happy playing or working (or both)!

Question: How are you staying cool this summer?