Cut your ac costs by 30%

Cool-N-Save Energy Saver from Cool-N-Save on Vimeo.

Links for Losers (Losers of debt, that is)

http://www.thegrocerygame.com/

http://www.thecouponclippers.com/index.html

http://www.clotheslineshop.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=C


Check these out to add to your money saving list of things to do!
LY guys,
Shan

Carport Folly in VA

Again, tell me why we leave our AC off during those 98+ days? I am just glad I wasn't here to experience that one! Yes, when I hear that hot weather is coming I just leave....leave the state that is! I spent the last week in VA with my sister who does believe in AC and doesn't care right now. I felt a little like I was harbouring a secret from her on how much she could be saving! I am a bad little sister! Anyway, the funny thing was that we (Melissa and I) spent most of our time outside! Sitting on the carport or under the umbrella table. My bro in law thought we were crazy and out of our minds and just plain funny. The last day he actually joined us! I found it quite cold in the house and loved that my room was the warmest room in the house when it came to bedtime! But, my sister just called me and asked, "What's the name of that money book?" She was investing in the Ramsey phenomena as we speak! One more convert! I doubt that her AC will go off anytime soon, they will find other ways to cut back. I sincerely missed all of you and hope that your week was wonderful!

Here is a fact to help you feel better about no ac:
One of the most intriguing factors listed in the study is the “reduction in variability of ambient temperature.” The widespread use of central heating and air conditioning means that most homes and offices are now kept at a relatively constant temperature year-round. Allison’s group found evidence that this causes the body to expend less energy, because it does not have to work to warm up or cool down, potentially leading to increased fat stores. In the South, where obesity rates are the highest in the nation, homes with central air increased from 37 to 70 percent between 1978 and 1990.

Also, check this page out for some awesome tips to staying cool without air conditioning. I'm thinking with all this $ we will save on no ac we'll put in a pool!
http://www.wikihow.com/Cool-Yourself-Without-Air-Conditioning

Hace Calor

93 - was the temp at the Johnson house Tuesday around 2:00pm - It went up to 97 but I didn't have a camera handy. Whew - sweatin' it out!

Electricity

Last night during our weekly meeting, (which I can say did not really go that well) we noticed that our electric bill was much higher than hoped. Well after much investigating I found the following.

1. I goofed on the budget, I think I only put down the electric and not the gas bill for the month. So much for higher math.
2. We are using much more electricity than we expected with the A/C off. (If you are going to sweat the summer out, you'd like to have some nice reward for it, eh?)
3. Due to the laws of supply and demand, when people use more electricity, as in summertime!, the rates go up! So if everyone turned off theit A/c the rates would be less. Ahhh, live like no one else......

I even called the electric company, but they said the meter was working. So it was time for a new plan. I closed up all the windows at 8:00am, shut the bilnds but left the celing fans on. I did not run the noisy box fan we have been running for 24/7. Then about every hour I've gone to the meter and recorded the reading to see what we realy use. So far it is just under 1KW/ hour.

The good news is that the house stayed relativly cool Some may argue that 83 is cool, but compared to the 93 it was outside, it is cool. You see, everything is relative. It stayed 10 degrees cooler ll day until the outside temp. started to drop. The temp. on the thermomitor was inside upstairs just before we opened up all the windows and turned on all the fans. God was even helping, as a storm was rolling in and the outside was dropping quickly!

There is a first time for everthing

We really enjoyed having everyone here on Sunday. Thanks for driving out to see us! Good news-when I figured out how much we spent on dinner, it wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be. We spent $41.44 before sales tax. That was only $2.31 per person (we were planning on 18 people). I hope to do better next time.

More good news-we picked up the insurance checks today! Now we can get started rebuilding the apartments. The bank has put an eleven business day hold on the larger one, then they will release some of the money. I feel like we are sitting at the top of a roller coaster ride just waiting for it to start. I really do see God's hand in all this, but it is hard to be patient.

Hope you are praying for us-we are praying for you. It is getting easier to pray as we learn more about each of your situations. Isn't it amazing how each one is so different and yet the same? Thanks for including us.

in a rut

I don't know about you, but I am seriously missing Jenny's air conditioning right now. Thank you Ryburns for the wonderfully perfect meal and nice climate. I had heard folk-lore about the Ryburn estate: bountiful gardens (turns out that was true), Billy's animal collection and knowledge is endless (true), and their library was in fact a serious library (true, too). Thanks again for sharing your home, food and friendship with us - it was the highlight of my day and thats saying a lot.

Thank you Kirk for your lesson. The three questions made me think so here's my thoughts.....
Where am I going?
Debt-free. But right now it's at a crawl. I don't feel passionate as I did in the beginning and something you said today drove that point home. I'LL BE ON THIS PLAN F-O-R-E-V-E-R. This is huge for me since I have only committed myself to two things in my life forever: marriage and kids. Commitment is very scary and un-fun for me. I have to stay focused on the here and now. Thinking about the *F* word (forever, no 4-Letter words here) I lose hope that I'll be able to maintain that level of commitment for the long-haul. Remember when the debt bug first bit? I was ready to sell everything right down to the lint balls under my bed. Now that's faded and I need a jump start in excitement. If I am to be totally honest, this is a common pattern in my life. I leap from one thing to another. Maybe it's the character flaw in me that needs to be removed. Prayer please.
Where am I now?
cutting any corners I can and trying no to become overwhelmed. I like stuff, but I want to lose my love of stuff so the Ramsey plan can be freeing not confining. So Pray for me that *STUFF* will becoming meaningless to me.
I forgot the last ?.........can you jog my memory?
Thanks again, and I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon with minimal spousal fights.