Found Money
In the days following the September 11th tragedy, we were urged to be good citizens by making purchases, and going ahead with travel plans and thus help the economy and the country. But for some of us who may have lost jobs or are wondering if their jobs will disappear tomorrow, this may be a time to find ways to stretch our dollars and even save for the future. In the days when a penny had some value, the old saying, “A penny saved is a penny earned” had meaning. Today perhaps, “A dollar saved is a dollar earned.” is more likely to get attention, and it is money that is tax free. That is unless you get so good at saving that you have to pay taxes on interest.
Sometimes just changing habits can result in found money. Letting
water run while you wash your face, brush your teeth and shave wastes water.
Simply turn it off while soaping up or brushing. The average shower uses
5 gallons of water per minute. That means you can save 25 gallons of water
and approximately $0.27 if you take a five minute shower instead of a ten
minute one. Hanging clothes outside like our next door neighbor does, saves
money. The average cost for using an electric dryer for a year is $44.
If you do use a dryer, be sure to clean the filter each time and use the
faster spin on the last spin cycle on the washer. Using cool water for
the rinse cycle is another option that saves energy. If you need to replace
your washing machine, consider the newer front-loading washers such as
Maytag Neptune or Sears (Whirlpool). The Sears model uses 15 to 18 gallons
of water a load compared to 36 to 42 gallons for a similar sized top-loading
machine. Counting the cost of water plus sewer, that is approximately
$0.21 a load that would be saved.
The new energy saving standards for electrical appliances also make it possible to save money if you need to replace your old appliance. The annual energy cost for 20 year-old 18 ft. refrigerator at today’s costs of 8.4 cents per kilowatt hour is $134.40. The annual energy cost for a new 18 ft. refrigerator is only $44. Similar savings are achieved with a new freezer or dishwasher.
Another way to save energy is to replace regular incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. These new bulbs fit into regular sockets. They are even small enough to fit into globe fixtures. Some are in the shape of globes for use in the bathroom. Although they cost more initially, they use one-fourth the energy of regular light bulbs. In a year’s time the initial cost is recovered and they don’t have to be replaced as often as other bulbs. They need not have the cold feel of industrial lighting; they now can be bought in warm, natural sunlight tones.
I was almost pleased when our gas hot water heater started leaking after ten years because we replaced it with a tankless water heater that heats water on demand. It is so small that it can be fitted into a closet. It must be vented to the outside. Our particular gas water heater, Aqua Star, boasts that it is built to last a lifetime. All the parts in contact with water are solid copper or solid brass. Some advantages are saving in cost foremost because ordinary tank heaters lose heat continuously while the tankless heater only heats water when the hot water faucet is turned on. Hot water never runs out as the heater continues to heat water as long as it is needed. As a tank heater ages mineral deposits reduce energy efficiency, and they certainly take up a lot of space. The term instant hot water heater is a bit of a misnomer. Like the conventional heaters, the hot water doesn’t come until the cold water in the pipes to the faucet is run out.
Another way to “find” money is recycling. My daughter laughs at me because I save the waxed inner bag from cereal when the box is empty and use it instead of a Ziplock bag to store leftovers or greens. I save coffee grounds as a source of natural fertilizer and mulch for my roses. The lumber yards like Mager’s on Benner Street are a great source of sawdust for mulch. If it is spread over a layer of paper, it can control weeds for a whole season.
Strips of old nylons can be used as wicks to water house plants. Five or six-inch pieces can be put through the hole of the pot and curled around the bottom before the soil is added. After the plant is potted, the rest is dangled into a “well” of water. A flat margarine container with two holes in the top (one for the wick and the other to add water) makes a dandy way to water your plants automatically and will be a real boon when you go on vacation. The pot and its “well” can be set in a larger pot or basket if you don’t like the looks of the combination.
Our efforts at saving and recycling may not hold a candle to my string saving grandma’s, but they are saving money. Perhaps our readers can share ideas for saving with us.
– Mary