What did you do to save $ today?

[freemotion]

Wow, $5 for cow manure! Now I want to get me a pick-up truck.....

 

[k0xxx]

While not exactly something done just today... we have been making a conscious effort to save electricity. We have been extra vigilant in turning off lights, using natural lighting during the day, running big energy using appliances at off peak hours, turning off computers at night, using a power strip to completely cut off power from the TV and other items that draw power when turned off (by the way, computers are one of those items), etc.

We have received our first electric bill that really reflects our efforts. Last April we used 1134 KWH of electricity, this April we only used 728. It's hard to believe how much energy we were wasting. Not earth shattering, but every little bit helps.

 

[Beekissed]

VT!!! Good save!!!!

 

[miss_thenorth]

While not exactly something done just today... we have been making a conscious effort to save electricity. We have been extra vigilant in turning off lights, using natural lighting during the day, running big energy using appliances at off peak hours, turning off computers at night, using a power strip to completely cut off power from the TV and other items that draw power when turned off (by the way, computers are one of those items), etc.

We have received our first electric bill that really reflects our efforts. Last April we used 1134 KWH of electricity, this April we only used 728. It's hard to believe how much energy we were wasting. Not earth shattering, but every little bit helps.

While not with the hydro, we did this with gas consumption this year. We have a budget plan. Our yearly budget was $136 per year. Due to our conservation--this months bill was $46, and will be for the rest of the summer until they reevaluate the budget again. Next year with all factors being the same, my budget should be $106/mo.

We had our night time temps at 57 F, and daytime temps set at 66 F. Occasionally it got turned up higher,-usually when company came over.

Hydro will be harder to control, as there are so many variables--how much the electric fence, and poultry netting needs to be on, heat lamps, water de-icers, and since I just bought an incubator, how much that will run. And of course, the air conditioner. Hopefully it won't be a real hot summer.

 

[Okiemommy]

free, how did you manage to trade eggs for pizza?



The kids rooms have ceiling fans in them and first thing in the morning I turn the light off at the ceiling fan, that way when the kids try to turn their lights on, they don't come on during the day MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

lol


They don't need them during the day anyway. They can just open up their blinds if they need light


I also have the kids run through the house and look for lights turned on that need to be turned off.

 

[freemotion]

free, how did you manage to trade eggs for pizza?

My dh goes in there on occasion, it is family owned and operated and the owner, Syrian, likes to gab. DH likes to brag about my projects (although he tends to sigh a lot in my presence about them ) and the guy said he'd like to buy eggs and milk. At the time I didn't have enough, and my list of people I'd promised eggs to was so long. So when dh went to get the pizza, I sent him with two dozen, and we sell them for $3 per dozen. So that was taken off the price of the pizza.

People with an accent tend to value real food more than Americans in general. On Saturday, I started a new semester with a new group of students at the massage school, and mentioned learning to milk in my opening lecture to let them know that I fully understand the frustration they will feel and maybe even wanting to quit, etc, but push through the feelings because good things are on the other side. One student, with a thick accent, just about jumped out of her seat and blurted out, "Can I buy raw milk from you? I've looked and looked, and I can't find it anywhere!"

Find a restaurant you like and offer outright. What do you have to lose? The worst thing that can happen is they say no thanks! This guy is going to come and meet my goats and take care of milking when I go away! For the milk!

 

[VT-Chicklit]

We got our electric bill today. The cost of electricity for this last billing cycle was $73.01. Our KW usage is down from last year at this time. This billing cycle we used a total of 381 KWh and our current year to date we have used a total of 1723 KWh, while our previous years useage was 1915 KWh. We pay .07461 for each KWh for the first 100 KWh and then after that we pay .1506 for each KWh. We also pay a Customer Charge (?), an Energy Charge (I pay for the KW and then pay an Energy Charge too?) and an Energy Efficiency Charge(?) plus they are chargeing me seperately for a rate increase that they have not gotten approved yet (they say they will give it back if it is not approved) At those rates it racks up quick and so I am the energy police. I get after ANYONE who leaves a light on or wastes electricity!

I am also going to get another load of that beautiful composted cow manure tomorrow. I have to bring my mom to the Dr and on our way home I will make a little side trip to get another load. With all that good fertilizer I should grow 5 pound tomatoes and 15 pound squash!

 

[me&thegals]

Incredible energy usage, everyone! Ours has gotten better than ever, but still nowhere near VT-Chicklit!

I installed 2 beehives today. I guess that could eventually save us money by providing honey, wax and pollination. I have a feeling, though, that it could be a money bleeder for a while...

My husband found a huge pile of composted manure in a barnyard corner. It is beautiful stuff. It saved me time (which is $ sometimes). Otherwise, I would have been going back and forth to town to get compost from the town dump.

 

[Mackay]

me&thegals,
my neighbor has bees. she said they cost $35,and just for pollenating. They come in cylinders and live in those. In the winter you store them in the frige. They have no stingers and are not good honey makers, but I was surprised at how cheap and easy they were....sounds like a hot date hugh?

 

[freemotion]

The last of the catfood is canned, 40 pints, and 10 quarts of broth. I also made a triple batch of mesophyllic culture for my cheddar cheese making project, and have been freezing it in ice cube trays and transferring it to bags.

I called two hens over while spading in the garden and they ate lots of worms and grubs, does that count? Saved on grain today!