Tag Archives: surge protectors

Games for Young Minds

With so many games on the market, it is often difficult to determine which ones are appropriate for the younger minds. After all, you want to provide your children with fun and entertainment, along with something that can educate. The good news is that you will find hundreds of wonderful games that stimulate a young child’s mind, some that we have provided information on here. The first game I wanted to mention is called Thomas & Friends: Trouble on the Tracks. This particular game is designed specifically for children age three and up. This preschool play is an excellent choice, … Continue reading →

Top Four Children’s Electronics

With so many new and exciting electronics on the market designed specifically for children, determining the best options can be hard. I thought I would do some of the initial homework for you, providing the top four electronics for children. Of course, you would choose what fits your child’s interest, age, and ability but these are certainly great choices to consider. -Tiger Electronics – This miniature media player is small yet powerful. The screen is colorful and the player itself is available in three unique colors. This media player also comes with earbuds, allowing your child time to enjoy music … Continue reading →

Rebates and Tax Credit for Windows and Energy Star Appliances

Sometimes spending money will actually help you save money in the long run. Highly efficient double pane glass windows are obviously more efficient than single glass windows and will save you money on your heating and cooling bill. – But did you know that you may also be eligible for a local rebate from your electric company and possibly a federal tax credit as well? Our local utility company offers rebates on windows, Energy Star compliant washing machines and dryers, furnaces and dual flush toilets! They also have rebates for insulation, lighting and programmable thermostats. The easiest way to find … Continue reading →

Practical Tips

Today, there are such extravagant items available for our homes, that it is easy to go into debt. From big screen TVs to imported fabrics and accents, things can add up in a hurry. While everyone wants an attractive and comfortable home, living beyond our means to acquire ostentatious furnishings or impressive electronics, is not necessary. If you can afford the finer things then by all means, you should choose whatever you like. If however, you are addicted to buying on credit, you will soon find that even the nicest furniture or equipment isn’t worth struggling with debt. Try to … Continue reading →

Maintenance

Maintaining your home and its contents can be a lot of work, but it pays off in the long run. When you maintain the interior, exterior, appliances, and other items, you end up with fewer repairs and expenses down the road. Instead of huge repairs, renovations, or replacing things, along with the huge bills that come with these options, you can get away with spending a lot less time and money keeping things in good repair. When you notice a crack, a hole, or other damage, repair it immediately. If pests are beginning to be a problem, don’t wait to … Continue reading →

Home Theater-In-A-Box vs. Building From Scratch

It’s Sunday, which means the newspaper is filled with the latest ads for “Fall Savings” and “Anniversary Blow-Outs.” Our local department store is having a “Mega-Clearance Sale” on electronics. The cover of the sales flyer features a home theater-in-a-box product for $300. At first glance it seems like an incredible bargain. After all, the construction of an elaborate home theater room can run in the tens of thousands of dollars. But, the more I looked at the ad the more I wondered if it was worth the money. Let’s think about this. Yes, I would love a home theater—who wouldn’t? … Continue reading →

Five Easy Safety Checks for Your Appliances

As the weather turns cooler, and the leaves begin to change, people begin to turn on their heat. This is a great time of a year to check your home for possible fire hazards, while at the same time making sure that your home runs at a high energy efficiency. Here are five simple things to check around your home. 1) Change the filter on your furnace. Have you checked it lately? I go through times when I change it regularly every three months or I completely forget for a year. If you forget to change your filter it can … Continue reading →

Repair or Replace Part 2–Other Electronics

In my previous blog: “Repair or Replace Part 1—Televisions,” I detailed points to consider when deciding whether or not to throw out large electronics like televisions. This blog will provide tips to consider if you experience the similar situations with other household electronics. COMPUTERS Electronic technicians will tell you (as with televisions) the same general rule of thumb applies: Toss any computer when the repair costs more than half the price of a new one. It only takes turning on the TV (to see the countless number of commercials) or opening a paper (and seeing the countless number of sale … Continue reading →

Video Games

With everything else going electronic, why not family fun night? There are several different varieties of video games that the entire family can play, and you never have to worry about losing tiny pieces or keeping track of play money. Video games do all the figuring for you. Monopoly is a good example. We have it for Play Station 2. Four players can play at one time, or one person can even play against the computer if no one else is up for a game. It’s played just like the board game, except the “board” is your TV screen. Any … Continue reading →

Save Money When Drying Your Clothes

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Did you know that there are ways to make your clothes dryer run more efficiently? If you can make a few changes in how you do your laundry you will save money each time you dry a load of clothing. Here are a few tips you might like to try: Locate your dryer in a heated space. Depending on the climate that you live in, this could mean keeping the either inside or outside of the main part of your home. In a warm climate, a garage is a great place for your clothes dryer. The same space would get … Continue reading →