We all have them – from dishwashers to computers, lights and television, clothes dryers and coffee makers. What we don’t realize is how much power these appliances use in making our lives easier, and usually waste a good amount of electricity unknowingly, increasing our power bill for no good reason and making us wish for cheap electricity. So, what are most power expensive appliances in your house?

Small appliances like the toaster or vacuum cleaner both use a lot of energy relatively to their size, and so coffee machines and hair dryers. But most of these appliances are used only on occasion. While perhaps using a relatively large amount of power as much in total as the appliances we leave running for hours, days, weeks, months, even years on end. Which brings us to our first large power consumer – the refrigerator/cooler.

The most common energy measurement unit is 1kWh, which is equal to using a thousand watts for an hour. Refrigerators, especially the older models, use from 40kW/h and up to 150kW/h, meaning that they in turn use hundreds or even thousands of kWh yearly. There are few precautions you can take to reduce this consumption. Defrost, as the ice buildup hurts efficiency, check if the seals still hold tight and set the temperature to one you need instead of the most cooling power. The refrigerator’s brother, the separate cooler, is also on the expense-makers list, and can be dealt with in the same manner as the fridge. If either your cooler or refrigerator is older than 10 years, your best solution (if you can afford it) would be to buy new ones, as the energy consumption has been greatly reduced in newer models.

If you live in a more humid part of the world, chances are you own a dehumidifier. These devices have consumption between 60kW/h and 1000kW/h, depending on the capacity. Most people keep them running day and night, at the end making them one of the largest power consumers in their household. This can be helped in two ways – set the humidistat to a reasonable level (for example 50% for basements), or else it will probably stay on all the time. In addition, make sure the room it’s running in is closed off, as a one-room dehumidifier cannot dehumidify your whole house but it will try to – costing you further money.

Use Your Heaters Efficiently

Next on this list is your water heater. This appliance is running day and night no end, making sure you have hot water when you need it. Long showers will cause it work overtime, consuming a lot of electricity. Having set it to a too high temperature will also do that, as well as make it waste more energy through its hull. This can be helped by wrapping it in an insulating blanket, further increasing its efficiency, lowering the energy losses and the costs. In addition to that, you may want to use hot water in bulk instead of in smaller amounts, as the water in the pipes gets cold gradually, which means most of the water gets heated for no good reason each time you need just a little on your tap. All three methods mentioned above will save you some money, but as you probably still need most of these running as they are, perhaps consider and alternative like cheap electricity which should further reduce your power bills. And now for the most costly of all your power users – house temperature regulation.

Yes, the most power goes to your heating/cooling systems (nearly half of the total power consumption). You might be surprised, but most of that power is lost without reason. Regulating the temperature in the whole house while you may only be using a few rooms is a waste of power. Running your systems at full speed all of the time is also a waste. To prevent wasting precious power, we suggest investing in separate thermometers linked to a digital thermostat. You can regulate each room in the house to your wishes, preventing the use of power when nobody needs it.

Insulating your outer walls will also help keep your cool/warmth, as it will greatly reduce outer influences on your household. While these expenses may seem a bit radical and costly, they will pay for themselves in a couple of years, giving you and the ones closest to you a more pleasant living environment for the future. To add to the savings, have a professional to check your temperature regulating systems yearly.

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Green Bear’s top 6 ways to save money and still do cool stuff

1.Cook at home
You don’t have to go out to enjoy a great meal. Make it a social occasion by cooking up a treat for friends and family. You can learn a new skill and impress your friends and family with your culinary expertise.

2.Have a film or sports night
Invite friends round to watch the match – it’s miles cheaper than the pub. Or watch an old favourite DVD with friends rather than going out. You could even get your hands on some new movies if you take advantage of some of the many free trial offers for DVD rental that now abound. Just remember to cancel your account before the end of the trial and you won’t pay a penny.

3.Enjoy the great outdoors
Days out don’t have to be expensive. Even those of us who live in big cities are usually within striking distance of a place of natural beauty. You could go for a picnic in the local park, check out some local walks, or make a weekend of it and go camping.

4.Check local events
Making use of local museums and galleries is an enjoyable and educational way to spend a day. If they charge an admission fee, save money by looking for discount vouchers and special offer days which you can usually find in leaflets at your local library. You might like to pay a visit to a stately home or country park. Consult your local What’s On guide where you can find information on loads of happenings in your area, which often include free arts, culture and live music events and lots more.

5.Start a book club
If you enjoy reading, get together with some like-minded friends and start your own book club. It’s a great way to socialise and exchange ideas without spending a penny.

6.Get great deals on cinema tickets
Many cinemas offer early bird deals or cheap nights. You can even get free tickets with some mobile networks too, so check out what’s on offer from your provider.

There are loads of great ways to save money and you don’t have to forsake having fun. We hope our fun tips have given you some useful hints to start you off in your quest for frugal living – and inspired you to get creative and come up with some ideas of your own!

Green Bear Loans offers great value secured, personal and payday loans http://greenbearloans.co.uk.

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Majorca on a budget needn’t be an expensive malarkey of excursions and trips; there are plenty of affordable activities around the island to help you enjoy a bargain family holiday. The beaches are the island’s biggest attraction, and there are some beautiful blue flag beaches in Mallorca, including the golden sands of Santa Ponsa beach, Puerto Alcudia at the well-renowned family friendly resort of Alcudia, and the award winning beach of S’Amarador. At Alcudia you can easily spend the afternoon wandering the ancient walls, churches and gardens for free, whilst the Arab Baths at Palma are also a popular historic attraction. When you fancy a break from the sun, the island also has several museums and galleries that don’t charge entrance fees, including the Museo D’Art Espanyol Contemporani. Saving money needn’t mean missing out on all the amazing things to see and do that Majorca has to offer.

When enjoying the benefits of an all-inclusive holiday, it gives you money to enjoy a little luxury or two in a holiday to Majorca. There are some great activities and trips on the island that are ideal for special occasions and family fun. Make a splash at one of the various waterparks on the island, such as HidroPark or Aqualand, or admire the sea life at Palma’s impressive Aquarium. On an evening the famous Pirates Adventure dinner show is a great way to mix up the holiday and enjoy some hearty entertainment. For adults seeking some alone time, most all inclusive hotels include kids’ clubs, providing so much entertainment for the children that they’ll probably be the ones trying to get rid of you! Treat yourself to some pamper time at one of Majorca’s spas, or hit the green for a few rounds of golf; you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to spoiling yourself…

All inclusive holidays to Majorca really are the way to go if you want to make the most of your summer holiday, allowing you to save money whilst leaving more pennies to go out and enjoy yourselves. And you’ll find no shortage of great all inclusive hotels that you won’t be able to refuse, such as the HMS Atlantic Park in Magaluf, which is right by the waterparks and golf courses, as well as some glorious beaches. See for yourself how much you can save by going all inclusive this year.

About the Author: Kelly is a travel fanatic who writes for easyJet Holidays. She likes to visit Majorca at least once a year.

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If you like to eat out, keep a look out for special offers and vouchers.
If you’re trying to keep fit, joining a gym is the expensive way of doing it. Try joining an active club instead, they’re often cheaper, you’ll make some new friends and have fun, which should make it a little easier to show up every week. Look for community websites to see what’s available in your local area.

Smart shopping
One of the first things you need to do is work out where your money goes and change the way you shop.
It’s extremely easy to blow your food budget every week, and it’s an area where cuts can always be made. For starters, put together a collection of recipes you enjoy. Cooking for yourself is a great way of saving money, as ready meals are often expensive and you can’t really tell what’s in them. Look out for recipe cards in supermarkets or online. Consider eating more vegetarian food, as meat is expensive and substituting a veggie meal two or three times a week can save you some cash.

Shop towards the end of the day and look out for last-minute bargains on fresh meat and vegetables in supermarkets and local markets, but be careful to check fruit and vegetables before you buy them. For herbs, spices, pulses and dried foods it’s often worth checking out ethnic supermarkets, as they often have great deals on things like garlic and spice blends.

Volunteer
Volunteering can be a lot of fun, and it can lead to some great experiences, teach you some useful skills and even get you the odd holiday! Whether it’s walking dogs at an animal shelter, helping out with your local Brownies group or spending a few weekends coppicing and pulling up invasive weeds, chances are you’ll meet some wonderful people, increase your own fitness and spend time saving money. You can also find a variety of cheap or free volunteering holidays in the UK and abroad, many of them in beautiful wild areas.

Fashion
Save money by looking out for Groupon and other vouchers for hair and beauty treatments in your local area. You can also get some new clothes for free by arranging a clothes swap party with some friends.
Living well needn’t be expensive as long as you plan well, research your options and think about where your money goes. Making a few changes can change your life for the better as well as saving you money!
Laurent Kelly is a freelance writer for UK Essays, a service dedicated to assisting students with multiple forms of essay support.

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The most important thing to remember for those looking to install a stairlift is to not perform any work on the home prior to going through the application process. Local councils never award grant funding after the fact.

*Who can apply – A disabled homeowner or tenant may apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant to improve access in the residence. A landlord may also apply on behalf of a renter. Applicants will be required to live in the home for at least five years.

*Where to begin – Contact the Housing or Environmental Health departments of the local council and request an application form. Be prepared to demonstrate average weekly income, savings and expenses.

*Get quotes – The local council is likely to require at least two estimates of how much it will cost to install a stairlift in the residence, and will need to agree that the work is necessary and appropriate to meet the disabled person’s needs. It will also take into account the age and condition of the residence. Arrange for two companies to visit and provide an estimate on the scope of work to be performed and how much it will cost. The local council may be able to provide a list of companies that it works with on such matters. An occupational therapist can also help determine which changes will be needed.

*Length of time – It can take quite a long time to receive approval for a Disabled Facilities Grant, especially if there is a long waiting list of applicants. Keep in mind these funds can be used to make other improvements to homes and are not exclusive to stairlifts. The local council will also need to schedule visits to assess the home situation and ensure the changes are warranted. On the other hand, the authorities should be able to estimate how long the wait will be and provide an update within six months of application.

*Conditions – It is important to note that one of the circumstances of the grant is that the disabled person must live there for five years. If they move out before that, they will be required to pay back the amount of the grant. The grant is means-tested, so the amount awarded, if any, with depend on the applicant’s financial situation.

The Disabled Facilities Grant helps disabled people make changes to their residence to provide better access, increase their freedom of movement and generally improve their lives. Installing a stairlift is one such example. For those that cannot afford to make this improvement on their own, a Disabled Facilities Grant through the local council can vastly improve someone’s quality of life.

Author’s Bio:

Claire Bradshaw writes on behalf of a website that has more information on stairlifts grants and how to apply for them.

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1. Book early

Some things are just plain common sense and booking any holiday early falls into this category. It’s a good idea to check out a ski resort’s website for some “earlybird offers” that may offer considerable savings. Many resorts will even throw in some free equipment rental or free ski lessons for those that book early.

2. Ski off peak

As with booking early, this tip applies to any holiday, whether it’s on a sunkissed beach or a snowbound mountain. The peak season is usually during the Christmas and New Year holidays and the month of February but booking in early December when the resorts have just opened for the season is a great way to find some excellent deals.

3. Shop around for equipment

Unless you are a regular skier then you will certainly have to rent your equipment for the slopes. While resorts will usually offer what seems to be a good deal on equipment rental, the best deals are more often than not found in the ski shops in the resort town. It’s also a good idea to consider hiring your ski gear at home and taking it with you on the trip as your local outdoor store won’t be charging resort prices, but remember tip 4.

4. Does your airline have a ski baggage charge?

If you have your own equipment or have chosen to rent in your hometown, then you should ask your flight carrier what the extra charge for carrying ski equipment will be. With each individual airline setting their own charges this may also be something to take into account when booking your flights.

5. Choose accommodation wisely

An on piste log cabin with a heated boot-room might be just what you had in mind but if you’re planning on making any savings then a privately owned apartment or chalet can be considerably cheaper than a resort owned property. Resort towns will usually have a few low cost hotels and guest houses while there are also many rooms for let in private residences.

Check the local tourism board’s website for a list of registered landlords or book with ski holiday specialist websites such as ChaletWorld or Interactive Resorts which has coverage of both hotels and chalets in most popular resorts.

6. Purchase lift tickets online

Many first time skiers fall into the package trap. Booking a package deal may seem like a good idea at the time of booking but even greater savings can be made with just a little time and effort.

There are websites such as liftopia.com which offer huge discounts on ski lift passes in resorts all over the world and with ski lift tickets being one of the costliest expenses on a ski trip, this could really make a difference to your holiday budget.

7. Use public transport

Airport transfers arranged by hotels or resorts are rarely cheap as the journey from airport to resort is usually at least an hour or more. Taking public transport instead can save you some money and need not be as bad as you may expect. Many buses and trains serving resort areas will leave directly from the airport and will usually have storage space for ski equipment.

8. Join a group class for lessons

If you need to take lessons then joining a group class is considerably cheaper than individual lessons. It also pays to shop around and check a few different schools in the local area to find the class or deal that best suits you.

9. Eat in

If you’re on a budget then the chances are you won’t have chosen an all inclusive package so you will need to take care of your own meals. Shopping at a local supermarket and preparing your own simple meals in your apartment or room will cut down on your eating expenses a great deal. It’s also a good idea to bring a packed lunch with you when you hit the slopes as mountain top restaurants can be very pricey.

10. Go out during happy hour

It’s nice to get out after a day on the piste but Après-ski is an expensive cost that can easily get out of hand. If you’re on a budget it’s probably best to enjoy the skiing by day and get an early night but if you need to unwind then go out during happy hour and with competition for customers quite high you may find some very good 2-for-1 offers.

Try out these 10 tips if you’re thinking of planning a ski holiday and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how much cash you can save by being smart and organizing things in advance!

Author Bio: Contributed by Niall Tomas – a (very amateur) snowboarding geek – working as a writer for the independent snowboarding holiday guide.

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When you visit a solicitor, you pay for the years of experience and professional training that come with the title. This means that you are highly likely – although not guaranteed – to get an excellent service and quality advice or representation. Furthermore, solicitors must carry professional indemnity insurance to protect you should anything go wrong.

But there are some services that you associate with solicitors that needn’t actually be performed by solicitors. For example, writing a last will and testament.

If you have complex personal circumstances or wishes, or if you have a large estate that will be liable for a hefty amount of inheritance tax, investing in a good solicitor is strongly recommended. However, if like the large majority of people you only need a basic last will and testament, there are a wide range of budget-friendly options available to you. If you are lucky, you may even be able to get a solicitor to draft a cheap or free will for you.

Making a will online

For as little as £29 for a single will or £39 for a pair of wills, you can make a legally valid last will and testament online. When choosing an online service, be sure to choose one that offers you protection through a document checking service and sufficient professional indemnity insurance. If your last will and testament is incorrectly drafted or witnessed, it may be invalid.

Making a will online is not for everyone but it is suitable for anyone with uncomplicated wishes. That includes the large majority of people in England and Wales.

If you want to make a will online, you should be aware that the law in Scotland is different from that in England and Wales. Find out more.

Free Wills Month

This annual event brings a selection of well-known and respected charities together with participating local solicitors to offer a free, simple last will and testament for members of the public over the age of 55.

If you already have a last will and testament, you can get the document updated free of charge. There is a free wills month scheduled for March 2013.

With free wills month, you are under no obligation to name one of the participating charities as a beneficiary but the organisers kindly suggest that you do! Find out more.

Will Aid

A similar idea to Free Wills Month, Will Aid encourages the public to make a will for a suggested donation, which is then passed to the major charities that the program supports.

Your will is written by a participating local solicitor who waives their usual fees. You are then invited to make a donation to Will Aid which, in turn, supports good causes such as the NSPCC, British Red Cross and Save the Children. Find out more.

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1. Make a review of your health insurance plan

It is important that you check your health insurance plans annually to determine whether you will be able to cope with changes that might have been made or not. Many people make the mistake of renewing their health insurance yearly without making an effort to check any changes. Any changes on a health insurance plan even though they may be slight can cost you a fortune. The cost may come in form of increase in the amount that you pay as premiums. You should do this keeping in mind that health situations change over time and you may need to pay sometimes a little and other times much. Therefore there is no need for you to pay for a health insurance cover that will not be useful.

2. Consider other health insurance plans

You must review the health insurance plans offered by your employer and others offered at different places within your reach. You must first do a tally of health care needs that your family requires in a year. After coming up with the needs alongside with their costs consider making a comparison between different health insurance plans that cover all your needs. Choose the one that is cost friendly. In addition, if you are in a domestic partnership or you are married you need to make a review of the insurance that is offered at your workplace as well as the one offered at your partner’s place of work. If their health insurance plan is better than yours consider switching to help you cut down on the cost you incur on health insurance.

3. Choose a highly deductible plan

There is need for you to opt for a highly deductible plan if you and your family make rare visits to the hospital. A highly deductible plan will help you reduce the cost that you incur monthly when paying for premiums and also makes you qualify to own a health savings account. The health savings account can help you to make some savings from the health insurance yearly.

4. Try to keep yourself healthy

It is a fact that people who strive to be healthy tend to save more by paying less for health care. For instance a person who is always healthy will tend to spend a little on health insurance as compared to someone who is suffering from a condition such as diabetes type 2. This is because if you strive to stay healthy you will require less medical attention as compared to the person who is suffering from a condition. Staying healthy means less cost on health insurance.

By Melissa Davis on behalf of iSelect, Australian company that help you to compare health insurance

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1 – Copy your competition

If you copy your competition then you do not have the advantage of using the idea first, but you do have the advantage of watching them take the risks first. They are the ones who have to invest time, effort, research and money into the project. If it works then you copy it, and if it does not then they are the ones who have to recover–not you.

2 – Find a problem

This is the oldest trick in the book, since cave dwellers decided they did not like dark caves and so invented fire. Many times it is the appearance of a problem that encourages new ideas and innovative solutions. Try looking for subtle problems that are an inconvenience, such as having to wait for programs to update during the day. You could set them to auto update at night so that they do not disrupt the business during the day.

3 – Make a process faster, sleeker, smoother, more cost effective, more efficient or more productive

Ideas around how to improve your business will flow like cheap wine at a bachelorette party if you simply ask the right questions; how to make a process faster, how to make a process more cost effective, etc.

4 – Examine the idea of outsourcing a process

Sometimes an idea involves nothing more than outsourcing a process. Do a lot of research into how feasible outsourcing a process is, and if it will save money then suggest it to the senior officials as your new idea.

5 – Take a process that occurs outside the business and bring it into your company

In contrast to point four, you can examine the idea of adding a new process to your company. The difference is that you add a process that makes pragmatic sense but is not immediately apparent. For example, let’s say that buying envelopes for customer contact is one of your processes. Is it possible to set up a small internal team to manufacture envelopes? Could the company waste paper be recycled and used to make envelopes cheaper then what you currently purchase them for.

6 – Make one of your processes Green

There are books and websites crammed with thousand of Green ideas that you can try. Just make sure that as soon as any process goes green, you make it publicly known so that you can reap the goodwill from it. You can disseminate the idea that it is “Yet another successful initiative in your march towards becoming the most green company in your field.”

7 – Save money to re-invest within the same area

Any pencil pushing budget manager can save the company money, but more often than not, it means making a compromise such as lowering quality or making the staffs life harder. Your new idea could be to take a process, save money on it and then re-invest the money into the same process to help improve it.

For example, you have to purchase new rubber cutting knives every year because your current ones wear out. You find more expensive knives but they last five years, and over the five years, you will save a considerable amount of money as a result. Instead of keeping the savings, you could invest the saved budget money into purchasing knife sharpening and maintenance equipment. The staff gets knives that last longer, are sharper, and all through reinvesting money that you saved.

8 – Take a day off and do something different

The different thing has to be outside of your house and has to be something that removes you from your normal setting. It is even better if you are removed from your comfort zone. You will see potential ideas all around you and you will be caught off guard by the things you come up with and see. All you need to be is open and receptive to the new things around you.

A name carved in wood will inspire you to change the wax molding methods at work. You will see a person bury leaves and come up with a new mulch idea for the gardens at work. You may see a dog chew the ends of a bone to get at the bone marrow and come up with a new pet toy that does the same thing.

The potential for new ideas is massive if you remove yourself from the norm. All you need to be is receptive to new ideas, because even bad ideas can easily change into good ones. Such as when Jack Worchester made a nasty tasting sauce for pasta that turned out to be delicious on cheese on toast and potato dishes.

9 – Set up a staff suggestion box

This is such an out dated method that is simply used by people who want to steal the ideas of their staff. You should start a naming policy that openly displays the names of people and their ideas, along with a timestamp for each idea. You must also start a policy to bring in at least two staff to discuss their ideas. You can even offer an incentive program. Even accepting smaller ideas and rewarding people for it can increase staff motivation and your staffs’ feelings of belonging.

10 – Set up a staff training program

All of your staff could stand to learn more skills and it would allow you to set up a job-switching program, which would aid in covering unexpected staff illness. You can use ideas for staff training to add further responsibilities to your current team of staff.

Ideas around staff training are good for increasing the functions of each department. For example, why can’t the accounts department administer the recreational I.T. systems as well as their accounting duties? Ideas around staff training are a good way to develop staff, a good way to authorize paying them more, and a good way to make them more productive whilst also giving them more work to do.

Author’s bio:
My name is Sonia Jackson. I represent the UK web-site http://www.royal-essays.com  We’ll help you to solve all problems with writing different essays and research papers according to the rules in the UK.

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1. Patch cracks and leaks in your walls: Cool air gets in through these cracks in winter and warm air gets through in the summer. Spend an afternoon caulking drafts near windows and patching drywall cracks to improve insulation.

2. Clean the refrigerator condenser coils: The more dusty and dirty these coils become, the harder your fridge works to stay cool. Use a refrigerator coil brush to keep the unit in good working order.

3. Have your trees trimmed every couple of years: A tree service will remove dead limbs and shape trees to control growth. Directing trees away from the home means fewer pests and reduced risk of downed limbs.

4. Inspect your water heater: Regular maintenance keeps your water heater performing optimally. Drain the tank as part of spring cleanup to prevent sediment buildup, which can shorten the unit’s lifespan.

5. Repair leaky gate valves: These control the flow of water to your home. If gate valves leak or drip, they need replacing. The constant drip of a leaky gate valve wastes water and ups your utilities bill, and may lead to mold and mildew problems.

6. Treat mildew with a bleach solution: Don’t ignore small mildew areas when they pop up in the bathroom or other rooms. If you see large dark patches of mold, contact a mold remediation expert. This can cost you money up front, but treating the mold now will save you the cost of paying to replace drywall if you ignore this.

7. Change AC and heating filters: As filters get clogged, these systems work harder to heat and cool. Replacing old, dusty filters with fresh ones reduce heating and cooling expenses.

8. Tackle laundry lint: It’s not enough to empty the lint trap every time. Once a month, vacuum lint from the dryer hose. A clogged dryer vent is the top cause of house fires, so it’s in your best interest to do this.

9. Check for rotting wood in fences, porches and other exterior elements: Replace rotting wood before it becomes a hazard. It’s easier to replace a couple fence spindles that an entire rotted fence.

10. Check toilets for leaks: Look for leaks from the tank to boil or bowl to supply lines. Call a plumber if you find leaks, since they’re another waste of water.

11. Adjust ceiling fans: When fan blades point down in winter, warm air is pushed from the ceiling back down so the room becomes warm evenly and quickly. Using your fan in the winter shortens the time a room takes to heat, reducing home heating expenses.

12. Steam carpets seasonally: Deep cleaning keeps your carpets from wearing out, so you can delay costly rug replacement.

13. Switch faucets and showerheads to low-flow water fixtures: Spend $10 to $20 on a new faucet or showerhead to cut your water bill by 50 percent.

Spending the small amount of money on proper home maintenance of trees, windows and dozens of other things means less money down the road in one form or another. Try adding one task a month to accomplish your 2013 maintenance goals.

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