Spring Ahead: Don’t forget the Time Change

Already? Yep, this Saturday night (or Sunday morning, technically) at 2:00 a.m. Set your clocks one hour ahead, if your area observes Daylight Savings Time. We’re changing the time sooner and waiting longer to change it back. Does it really help save energy? Some studies say yes. I have to wonder. When we “fall back” in the autumn and it’s dark by supper time (the busiest time of day in many homes, especially those filled with families), I see a lot more lights burning as parents prepare dinner and children do homework and TV’s and computers light up. Come spring, … Continue reading →

I knew it!

Well, it isn’t rocket science to figure it out or anything, but I knew it had to be true. I also knew it had to be true of others as well. And, now I have proof. I just read it in a magazine. Not only that, but the magazine cites “industry studies.” Well then, who am I to argue? Did you know that you will spend from 10 to 40% more at the grocery store when you bring the kids along? Yep. I knew I was spending more when they came with me (like I said, not rocket science) but … Continue reading →

Some Odds and Ends

Yep, another installment of odds and ends. I hope you find them useful. Return Address Labels You can find return address labels in tons of cute styles and different colors. They are handy to use when sending off mail, but do keep something in mind. The ones with the cute little faces that show a mom, dad, teen, child, infant, and even a pet, complete with each family member’s name might look adorable. Yet, do you really want everyone to know how many children you have, their approximate ages, and their names, complete with address? Just something to think about. … Continue reading →

Heating with Propane

In many parts of the country, people have natural gas piped directly into their homes for heating fuel. It can be expensive, but the convenience is wonderful. There are several other types of heating fuel as well, also expensive, and sometimes, less than convenient. Many homes use propane from tanks outside that must be refilled and this system is especially common in rural areas. The price of propane seems to stay close to the price of gasoline, so roughly three bucks a gallon can add up quickly in cold weather. Worse yet, if conditions are bad, such as icy roads, … Continue reading →

Frost Covered Windows

I wouldn’t normally be writing about frost covered windows in February, since it usually begins to warm up here this time of year. However, winter has apparently decided to hang around for a while, leaving the much dreaded chore of window scraping on my early morning list of things to do. Well, there are some other options besides scraping windows. First, you can try putting windshield covers in place (normally used in summer to keep cars cooler and prevent the hot sun from fading the interior, many people forget about them during the winter). Some heat from the sunlight will … Continue reading →

Large Family Laundry Solutions (2)

We have been talking about solutions to help deal with the large amount of laundry that large families generate. I already shared some ideas for making sorting laundry easier, especially when it comes to matching socks, and some ideas for establishing a routine. Now, we have some more ideas to keep that laundry flowing with less actual work Divide and conquer Calculate how many loads of laundry you do in a week and divide that number by the number of days you have available for laundry (5, 6 or 7). For example, if you find yourself doing 20 loads a … Continue reading →

Large Family Laundry Solutions (1)

If you have a large family (generally defined as at least six or seven members of the family living together), you know how chaotic and busy the laundry room can be. Washing and drying clothes for a lot of people can keep you busy, especially if you have young children who seem to need several changes of clothing a day. Here are some tips to make your laundry a little less hard to handle. And those of use with smaller families (we are a family of five) can also use these tips. Easy sorting One of the toughest things about … Continue reading →

Home means Community too

How involved are you and your family in your community? Are you aware of the attributes in area and do you utilize the resources or amenities that are available? Many people don’t realize how much even the smallest community has to offer. It may be as simple as a great family owned restaurant that features home cooking and Mom’s secret recipe dessert, or it may be something historic such as landmark buildings or a museum. We should also ask ourselves what we have to offer our communities. Can we volunteer our time or donate items to a good cause? Many … Continue reading →

Affordable Warmth

Those chilly evenings can tempt homeowners to turn up the thermostat just a skosh. Yet, the difference between just a few degrees can mean a much heftier heating bill. If you don’t have natural gas heat, refilling the propane tank sooner may be the result(which translates into a higher bill as well). Heating the entire home via electricity can also be expensive. There are some things you can do instead. Try adding an extra layer of warm clothing (hoodie, robe, slippers, etc). Grab a blanket or even an electric throw. There are also some nice options in blanket wraps. They … Continue reading →

Finding Ways to use up “Bargain” Products

Sometimes, those super bargains are not quite the great value we’re expecting. It happens. It’s just too good of a deal to pass up, or so it seems at the time, but later you find that it wasn’t really the bargain you bargained for. Still, once you have made a purchase, you don’t want to let the product go to waste. Maybe it isn’t as effective or convenient to use as promised, or maybe just not for its intended purpose. Recently, I made such a purchase. I bought laundry detergent -a decent brand name- for a fraction of the price … Continue reading →