Tag: saving money

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Try direct tv or not

Lately I’ve been hearing a lot from my daughter about direct tv. I’m not really “up” on all the new changes in cable and satellite providers and yet my daughter told me that even reading about the services this provides, is quite informative and tells what kinds of service packages they have. They will tell you the up front cost and that since she and her husband already have a satellite dish that will mess up the television if there is a strong wind or nasty weather, they are seriously considering changing to this service.

Myself, I went to www.dx3.net   to take a look see for myself.  Now, mind you…I am not technology savvy about anything dealing with my television, internet and even the telephone. I haven’t gotten that far in reading yet to see if they deal with telephone services yet, but you can bet I indeed will call the number given, after I am finished reading all the information, so I can ask the questions I will have.

I know that I am not happy with my cable internet and television services. Not at all. Lately they basically have been telling lies about being a high speed internet provider, and believe me, they are not. As for the other televisions in the house, we have to shell out a heap of money to get boxes for my kids to be able to watch television in their rooms. We can’t afford it. But from what I HAVE  read about dx3 direct tv , a tech guy will come out and install the system and its free for up to four rooms, which would be awesome because it’s free. That alone is a good sign. I’d be saving some money! The channels available are really great, everything from sports to the media, movies, and favorite shows. That in it’s self would be totally awesome.

 

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Help with a thesis or dissertation

My niece called me last night and sounded so proud of herself, because she had finally looked into a custom dissertation writing service. This is something I have been telling her to do for months and months, but bless her heart…like most young adults and kids, “big” adults don’t have a clue as to what they are talking about. They think we were born old and never experienced things that they are going through. I went through this with my oldest daughter when she was in collage and I’m sure I am going to go through it three more times before all my children are grown and out of school.

I wanted to check out some of the links my niece had looked at about how to buy thesis online, and found it to be very interesting, indeed. A person can get a lot of help with the writing of all their needs. It cuts out having to spend hour and hour online and at the library. And I know from experience sometimes a person can’t find exactly what they are looking for at the library and I myself have had to have books I needed ordered from other branches, which took a long time.

My nice told me that when she could buy dissertation online, just hearing the relief in her voice, was enough for me not to tease her about the “I told you so,” part of months when she fretted about it all. A plus is, that she is saving money and also time by using this service.

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Siding problems

Today all my kids and my grandson were outside, shooting of fire rockets and such that my brother had given them last summer. My youngest daughter gave the guys all of hers and they had a LOT of various bangs, booms, fizzles and zips going. I was sitting outside watching and also looking over the garage and back of the house, to see if the snow, hail, wind and basically nasty weather over last year had hurt any of the siding, roof and window trims. Indeed it had taken it’s toll in a lot of places in the siding.

I had told my husband that I did not like the guys work, while they were putting up the siding and he ignored me, saying that he hired them because they were grandsons on a acquaintance, bla…bla…bla. In other words, he had never seen their work. I come from a very long line of construction men. Roofers, siding guys, masons, and concrete guys. Remodel men and even plumbers and electricians. I took one look at the job they were doing and I raised holy hell. Unfortunately, my husband hushed me up before I could flat out fire them.  To this day he is regretting that I didn’t…but of course, he won’t admit it.

While assessing the siding on the house, I came across loose panels, holes, gaps and even some of the corner ( I believe they are called, but don’t quote me ) facets missing. I have a feeling that isn’t the correct word, but I’ll ask a friend later. Anyway, long story short sort of, a lot of the siding is going to have to be replaced. To say the least, I am bummed out that I didn’t go on my first instinct and fire those guys. They didn’t charge as much as the men I had talked to, to do the whole job, but at least had I gone with them, they had a warranty and also were reputable. I say I and me, because my husband ought me this house when we got married. So…it is MY house to make the decisions with. Now, I need new siding and am for sure going with who I wanted in the first place. In the long run, it will help with money matters and I won’t have to worry.

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Home security is like insurance

This guest post from Lenny Mcknight

I think it is about time I got security systems for home. I told my husband that we really should start considering getting something done at our house. It is an older house so all of the locks and windows are a bit odd and hard to keep closed and locked. We thought about going through and getting all the windows and locks replaced. My husband did not really want to since he felt that it would take from the character of the house. For me, it was always about saving money. The old windows were so bad, it seemed like we just wasted so much energy and money. I am not sure if we will replace the windows, but I have definitely made a good case about it to my husband. When it comes to home security systems though, I just keep telling him that it is like an insurance policy on your house, except better probably. I do not understand why we have all the insurance policies we do, but we cannot get something simple like a home security system set up. It is more practical in my mind since it’s protecting the things you use and the place you live every day!

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From bed skirt to satin pillowcases

It’s ironic that I no more was talking about satin bedding to use in the RV, I got online and found beloved Satin Pillowcases. I love then if I’m going to be unable to wash and style my hair for a day or so. Satin doesn’t muss one’s hair up, and I read somewhere that it’s actually good to make hair shinier and well behaved. I just like them because my hair is super long and yet it’s layered a lot, and sometimes I wake up looking like Medusa. Satin in my book is great for the hair. My Nana and Aunt, not to mention my mother, taught me how to use satin pillowcases when I wanted my hair to “behave.”

While shopping or at least looking for new bedding in my RV, I also decide to get the family another set, since the link I found, has everything they would want, and the prices are really good on the pocketbook. I even found the right colors of Bed Skirts, that everyone would approve of and like. Then I turned myself in to decorator and started concentrating on the RV, and what I wanted to do with it.

I looked at the Mattress Covers, and found exactly what I would need for the individual sleeping spaces. I don’t sleep on satin sheets in the RV or at home. I use the satin pillow trick,  usually when I go away in the RV to do family stuff. But I’m here to say that all of the items I have found now, in just one place, shopping right here at home, plus being able to write, makes me happy. And the satin lovers in my family, are going to be happy campers also, now.

 

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Add pool liners, pool covers to list.

Since having a serious case of spring fever, I got the brilliant idea when the temperature turned 72 degrees, that it was time to take off the pool cover. I have learned a lot of lessons by just removing the cover all by myself. Usually my daughter helps me, since I am so short that,  I can’t fold the cover back the way I like to do it, when I had shorter pools. I knew I should have waited, but the fore-mentioned fever that struck, made me wanting to do things, yesterday!

While trying to remove the pool cover, I noticed there were a few rips in the pool liner. It made me sad, since  swimming pool liners can be really expensive to replace. I don’t like that patch it, concept. To me, it may help in a quick fix. But I’d never half fix something, only to have it turn out to cost more money, that to get something that will last. I learned that 35 years go. Nothing is a for sure thing with a swimming pool, even if you have a pool person to do the work.

I was talking to my buddy Pattie, who also has had pools all her kids lives, as I have. I have always been in the water it seems, from diving Jr. Olympics, to swim events and just relaxing, or playing with the kids. Pattie told me to check out sites online and I know where I am going to get my pool needs now. Unbeatable prices, the people there know what they are talking about, and are there to help,  so it seems, and did I mention great prices? (smiling…) It’s good to have a place to get my pool supplies. All because the spring fever got the better of me, and I needed a pool cover and swimming pool liner! ( Have to give Pattie some snaps for recommending this supply place,  too! )

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Help with Home Energy

I always thought the words home energy auditors, meant something really terrible, because of hearing about other kinds of auditors. Mainly like in the IRS kind.  As a matter of fact, after talking to my friend Destiny who lives in New Jersey, it is a wonderful and helpful idea to save on home energy bills and receiving help with getting your home to be fuel efficient and cozy, while saving a bunch of money in the process. We sure could use this up here in the North.

My friend is now in the process of getting estimates and then choosing home insulation contractors. Spring I would imagine, (at least for me) would be the perfect time to do this and the work, since it’s beginning to get warm outside and means that contractors wouldn’t be tracking snow into the house, or I wouldn’t be cooped up in the house and be in the way while the contractors did their work.

After doing some “homework,” I’ve decide to start looking into solar thermal system installation. I have always wanted to have this type of system in my home and we sure could save a lot of money on lower heating bills. Plus using solar, to me makes perfect sense. It’s clean, efficient, plentiful and beside that, I just really like the idea. Every time I think of solar, I think of the sun. That in it’s self makes me warm and happy. I’m glad my friend Destiny will be warm in New Jersey come winter and I might even find the same kind of services and help up here in the North. It sure would help.

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Checking out new carpet

My daughter’s room needs new carpet. She pointed out a few places near the door that had slipped out from under the threshold strip. I knew it was a bit loose, but didn’t realize that it had slipped out, since I really don’t go into my kids rooms unless it’s a total necessity.

We have a Carpet Outlet, in town that is really great! I think I’ve mentioned it in some of my posts. They have great carpet at low prices, but they also carry a really vast variety of remnants in nearly every size a person would need. My daughter’s bedroom is small, so this won’t be a problem at all, and it will be nice carpet, at a very low price. I’m excited to see what she picks out.

The final decision for the carpet will of course be mine, as she won’t be living here after she finishes collage, unless she wants to. The carpet I bought and laid in her room that is in there now, is still in wonderful shape, considering it’s quite a few years old. But once it starts to ravel like it is, I found I can’t fix it. Nor do I really want to. New carpet is in order, but I will consider her choices also, since she indeed has good taste in decorating and home make overs.

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Learning about Double Glazing costs

A friend of mine who lives in the UK wrote to me about getting replacement windows and quotes about All Double Glazing. I personally love her letters, because her enthusiasm is catchy and when she writes a letter, it is lengthy. Maureen goes into great detail, and it’s like she and I are sitting across the table having tea together, while she is telling me all about her new home improvement projects. Since things are so different in the UK than in the USA, she likes to inform me of all the little details and in the process, and tells me about how the folks in the UK live also I would love to take a holiday and see for myself, and also spend time with her.

Maureen said that since she wants new windows with double glazing, there are even grants that can be had to do this project if she qualifies. The double glazing cuts down on the heat bills, drafts and the condensation, and since they are double paned, the air in between the panes acts like a sort of insulation also. To me, this is awesome. I have double paned windows that in no way do this. I bought what I thought would be energy efficient windows, and there are drafts all around them, the windows themselves are super cold to the touch and I have seen a rise in our fuel bill since having these installed.

By reading the information my friend wrote about, it would be nice to have such services here, as there is in the UK, for home improvement and saving money while doing it. I can’t wait for her next letter telling me how she likes her replacement windows, what the quotes where and all about the double glazing. One day I indeed plan to visit my dear friend.

 

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Home improvement and survival

Lately I’ve been coming across some really great web sites and FB pages about easy but good home improvement  projects. I’m finding a lot of great ideas, that I will be posting, with my particular twist.

It’s really interesting seeing and reading how other mom’s make their homes better, and ideas for storage, organization and also small repair projects that one can do on a budget. We all need ideas that will work, but will save money also. I’ve been running across some pretty awesome garden ideas also!

I have a feeling that I am going to be pretty busy come Spring. I’ve already started to roll some ideas around in my head that I’d like to do, both inside the house and outside the house. Especially for organization and to give us more space and storage.