saving money, yes a third time!

[pianistimo]

ok.  i bought this magazine at the store called 'Save Energy, Save Money.'  here's some tips.  feel free to add more.  must save.

seal leaks in ductwork.
clear space in front of radiators and heaters.
reduce water useage by using low flow showerheads.
insulate the water heater tank and water pipes.
wash clothes in cold or warm water - but always rinse cold (am starting to do this a lot more! as i learned that 90 % of the total amount of energy that goes into heatin gthe water and only 10% to operating the appliance)
dry laundry loads consecutively to maximize dryer efficiency.
replace incandescent bulbs with efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
use timers to turn off lights.
install air-sealing gaskets behind switch/outlet cover plates.
lock windows to create a better seal.
add weatherstripping and caulking around doors and windows.
seal around pipes and ducts that penetrate outer walls.

also, i want to keep the windows we have - but - next year (or maybe next week) i want to buy some kind of insulating tape and tape around all the windows at the beginning of the cold season.  our heating bill was fairly enormous last month.  is there an insulating tape that comes off easily after several months of being stuck around the windows? (or removeable caulking?)  don't say duct tape.  that stuff sticks.

[thalbergmad]

You could always try switching your computer off.

That must cost you about $100 per month.

Thal

[pianistimo]

oh thanks!

let me use my infrared scanner on your head.

oh.  look.  lots of air loss around the perimeter of the attic access panel.  and, around electrical outlets (usually in the kitchen).  one of the reasons the kitchen can feel cold.  (what does one do about the fan vent?)  stuff it when not in use?  so the next time someone cooks - they start a fire?  or let the stuffing fall partially out - so it's really noticeable?

one good thing - we did insulate the diningroom.  it's always toasty.

this is just an idea - but why don't people use the hot water from the washer and vented heat from dryer - toward under their floors?  too bad the heat is wasted.

[pianistimo]

here's a couple of more things i found about light switches.  you can buy programmable light switches that go on and off automatically from www.sportys.com/shoptool

and switch switched lights to motion activated.  they are in any well-stocked electrical department or home center or hardware store.  motion activated porcelain lights are suggested here for closets.  also found at sportys.com

[thalbergmad]

You could try and find a cheaper psychiatrist, or perhaps stop your medication for a while.

Hope this helps.

Thal

[pianistimo]

a  psychiatrist is what one needs when they look at their gas/electric bill.

[thalbergmad]

We have a price war in England at the moment so our gas/electric bills could go down.

It has been a very mild winter, so they will be minimal anyway.

I do not see the point of switching on the fire when i can put a nice thick jumper on

I do tend to save as much as possible, but only so i can go on a massive spend binge every now and again.

Thal

[pianistimo]

but, don't you ever think about wasted hot water?  like - you take a shower/bath and all this hot water could go under the floor in heated water chambers so when you get OUT of the shower - the floor is warm.  i hate cold floors.  i hate everything cold.  i'm cold right now.  my fingers are barely moving.  and, i can't turn on the heat because we already spent our allotance for the month and have to keep it under 66 degrees. that is death to fingers.  the only thing that seems to work is a mug of hot water.  i can't even turn on the gas fireplace - because i used it too much last year and i'm on restriction. 

ps i could help but think of you when i watched 'man against the wild' tonight.  this guy gets stuck in the alps.  he descends lower and lower - and the weather gets warmer - but the snow slushier...so he has to make homemade snowshows out of saplings.  he bends these two saplings together and just happens to have enough string  (and knows how to tie this all together - i  think he's done it before) to make himself a pair of snowshoes.  he hightails it out following some x-country skiiers before dark after spending two freezing cold nights int he alps. 

[ihatepop]

'Handy daily appliences and uses...and how to save your buck.' That can be a book by pianistimo!

Seriously, these tips are quite helpful. I'll mention this to my mum.

ihatepop

[penguinlover]

We have had quite a severe winter here in the US lately.  Here's a tip my daughter and new husband found out, and it saved them around $50 on their electric bill each month.  They plugged several appliances into a power strip.  Some things, like televisions, VCR's, computers, etc.  use electricity even when they are off to run their little lights and things.  By plugging them into a power strip, you can actually turn off their power supply.  Of course, if you actually like all the little lights, it wouldn't do you any good.  But, it brought down their bill quite a bit.

[pianistimo]

what a good idea! 

[ted]

I assume, Susan, that you have approached your household budget as a top-down exercise ? Unless you can see the whole picture the relative importance of different incomes and expenditures can become confused. We have just been through a similar exercise ourselves and several pitfalls have emerged. By way of example, it is of little use taking enormous trouble to buy slightly cheaper food, thereby saving $50 a month  while going out for coffee and buns twice a week might be using $200 a month. Buying a bottle of brandy which lasts six months and one or two CDs and books over the same period simply does not matter compared with regularly forking out $1000 in that time on phone bills for unnecessary toll calls or petrol for superfluous driving.

The first step is to get a clear and precise income and expenditure summary over a reasonably long period, preferably a full year as many expenses are seasonal or one-off. If you bank in the one place this is easy; just download a year's worth of statements and you have the lot at your fingertips. Avoid cash withdrawals and transactions unless you keep a book with details of where it all went.  Reallocate seasonal expenses over the whole year using proportion.

Once you have all the knowledge, then closely analyse each expense type with regard to amount, regularity, necessity and desirability. Usually it is best to start by having a subtotal for each type and sorting these in descending order. As my example above suggests, anything which is regular is much more significant than an expense which is occasional.

Having said that, if the larger expenses have already been trimmed, I am sure there is much merit in all these little ways of saving small amounts of money. Also, differences do exist from country to country in the way money fits into life, so I realise advice from abroad has limitations.

[penguinlover]

Ted,   You sound like a banker or a financial advisor!  My husband uses the Quicken program which tracks all your money, and makes graphs and great little visuals for you.  I try to stay away from it all. 

[ahinton]

Try being a composer - then you'll find that you can't plan or budget anything at any time with reliable accuracy, since you'll never know how much or little money will come in or when. I'm not suggesting that it's all doom and gloom - just that there's absolutely no regularity or dependability involved. Without such a thing, the kinds of budgeting and planning written of here simply fly out of the nearest open window...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

i feel for you alistair - but at least you have been amazing with your talents and how you promote and sustain your sorabji archive by composing and having recitals and fund raisers.  i really think part of it is being optomistic and having people have faith in what you are doing.  you do a really good job of that!

ted, good advice about really taking in the overall expenditures for the year.  we'll probably do this at taxtime (soon) and print out all those pies.  gagging and reassurring each other that we will not spend so much next year on credit card.  i don't think that our purchases were out of the ordinary - really - but probably not according to the taxes assessed nowdays.  we tend to spend over the allotted taxed portion and try to make it up in the last few months before taxes.  we used to get away with this - but it is much more reasonable to just hold it there and spend extra after taxes are paid.   govt/state/local - whew! 

also, staying ahead of tax rules (that change every year) is good.  i found out you can deduct a percentage of certain home improvements if they conserve energy in some way (and are to a certain standard). 

ted, i liked what you said about not taking piddly amounts of cash out all the time from the atm's too.  my children like to take out 20$ here and there for junk food.  but, it should really come from their allowance.  i would be better to just pull out a bigger chunk once a month - hand them their allowance - and say - when it's up don't ask for more. 

[Bob]

There's always investing your money.  Interest rates aren't much, but if you earn $20 in a year for free, that's probably equal to sealing up some windows.

[pianistimo]

funny you mention this!  there's this harleysville bank that offers a 5% interest rate on a savings account.  bob, the problem is - there isn't any extra money any more.  i have to get a job - seriously.

and, i did save money yesterday.  i washed the car!  usually the excuse for not washing it myself is that it might take too long and not be time effective.  now - i don't think so anymore.  money is money. when it's gone - you're broke.

[thalbergmad]

i have to get a job - seriously.

JOB APPLICATION

Name: Pianistimo

Age: 45

Married: Yes

Children: 26

Previous Occupations: Pole Dancer, Hooker and Topless Carwash Attendant.

Interests: Bible, God, Jesus, God, Jesus, God, Bible, Jesus, God, Bible, Brillo pads.

Hobbies: I like reading about God and posting crap on piano forums.

References: Mr J Christ                           Dr P Defile
                   14 Bethlehem Ave               The Pa Institute of the Mentally Insane
                   Nazareth                             The Hospital of St Mary & St John
                   Palestine                             Pa
                                                               Philly


Are you available for immediate interview: Yes, but not on the sabbath.

Describe why you are suitable for this position: I am guided by the Holy Spirit.

Describe yourself in one word: Sorry I am incapable of short answers.

Do you have any impediments: Please see attached 16 pages.

Signed

Pianistimo


           

[dnephi]

Cookies.

[pianistimo]

16 pages of impediments and 26 children.  i'd not even have that many if i was a hooker and started at 13.  or would i?  i don't know.  how many children is it possible to have? 

now, thal - really - i haven't visited any mental institutions or been admitted for any sort of odd behavior.  true, i post about the bible.  why is that considered insane.  there are many religions that actually 'act out'  - for instance pentecostal (which i am not).  i have neither pushed you on the forehead backwards or risen anyone from the dead.  therefore - i am not as crazy as you make me seem.

about the topless car washing.  don't give my husband any ideas.  he'd probably like it if the garage door was shut.  next time he's home for lunch.

[thalbergmad]

I am trying to think of a suitable job for you, but i am struggling.

You could do door to door preaching. I did have a couple of tambo banging 7th day adventists knock on my door last Saturday, but they did not stay very long.

I know, what about a deck hand on a submarine?

Write to the US Navy.

Thal

[Bob]

If you need more money pianistimo, gets some more piano students.  That always works.

Or a part-time job.  I here of a lot of musicians who do data entry things part-time.

[ahinton]

If you need more money pianistimo, gets some more piano students.  That always works.

I need some more money; getting piano students would mean that I'd need even more than I do now (though this may well be different for pianistimo).

Or a part-time job.  I here of a lot of musicians who do data entry things part-time.

Susan enters data here at least full-time, although she doesn't get paid for it. How could she get more money? I don't know, but maybe if the pole is long enough..

No, no - I really don't mean that, no, I don't...

Best,

Alistair

[Bob]

(Bob is bewildered.) 

[pianistimo]

you're not the only one.  i mean,  i'm not completely helpless you know!  of course, my job history is somewhat unique.  i've settled on serving tea at a local tavern that serves tea to women at lunch.  it's a very old old building and very quaint and the owner likes me.  but, unfortunately - he's dutch and i can't understand a word he says.

[ahinton]

(Bob is bewildered.) 

Bewitched, Bob-bered and Bewildered; what a state in which to be!...

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

on the other hand, the last time we were there - the owner couldn't hear me- either - and came and sat really low beside the table leaning his ear over in my direction.

say, about de pachmann (page 316 - of schonberg's 'the great pianists') they would quote his eternal utterances - 'godowsky, he is the greatest composer since chopin or liszt? ah, yes, he play very well, very well.  but me, i play like a god.'

[Bob]

(Bob's brain is flat-lining.)

I smell smoke... hmm....

(Bob attempts to follow Pianistimo's logic, but the gears in his mind grind down....)


Note to self:   Technical reading and Pianistimo are not a good combination.



Another good place for energy saving ideas is the electric company.  I just got some email with energy saving tips.  

Or places that make the efficient flourescent light bulbs.