You're Spending Too Much On Your #Car: How To Change Your "Fortune"

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Buying or renting a car doesn’t always have to be expensive, but, no matter how savvy you are in terms of your pre-purchase research, owning a car is often incredibly expensive in itself. The costs of refueling, maintaining, insuring and servicing your car are extensive and burdensome no matter the model or manufacturer of your vehicle. There’s a chance that you’re wasting far more money than you should be on your car every time you take it out on the road or cover one of the many necessary costs involved with ownership. If you’re wondering how you could change your fortune and save a fortune on your car, here are some financial tips.

Research numerous insurance options

You may feel pretty pleased with yourself if you bought a model at a low upfront cost compared to the offers other dealerships may have given at the time, but the initial cost of buying a car is only the first of many. When it comes to auto insurance, there’s not always a clear answer as to finding the perfect balance between cost-effectiveness and safety in the event of damage or some other incident with your vehicle. You want to save money, but you want to be covered in the event of an issue. You should be getting as many different quotes from as many different insurance providers as possible in order to ensure that you’re getting the best deal. Most importantly, you need to avoid potential scams by scouring the market.

Accidents

Car accidents are obviously traumatic events, but, even if everybody involved in the incident is left uninjured (and hopefully they are), the aftermath involving any damage to either vehicle can be incredibly costly for one or both drivers involved. It’s vital that you not only choose an all-inclusive and fair insurance company to cover any damage to your own vehicle but a sufficient lawyer if you face claims from anyone else involved in the accident.

It’s important that you protect your case by avoiding any admittance of responsibility for the accident, as this may affect your claim or your defense against a claim. Of course, if there are criminal charges related to the incident, such as alcohol-related offenses, you may want to look into DWI defense lawyers to help you avoid further fines or even worse sentences in court. Nobody ever wants to be involved in a car accident, but minor bumps and scratches are more common that you may think, even if you’re a sensible driver, and it’s important that you think about any financial traps in which you might find yourself.

You don’t always need to use your car

At the end of the day, you might simply be spending too much on your car because you’re using it far too often. When it comes to errands or events taking place in your local area, there’s not always a need to use your car; traveling to places on foot won’t only save you huge amounts of money on petrol or simply by wearing out your car but it’ll also lead to a healthier daily routine.

Where There's Smoke, There's Fire!

Gerry was using his angle grinder to cut some metal and sparks were a flying he said!

All of a sudden he started feeling some heat on his leg, and then smelled something burning. When he looked down he saw it was his jacket on fire! Note to self he said: "Wear flame retardant clothing when grinding metal or welding!"

April 22nd is Earth Day

April 22 we'll be celebrating Earth Day globally where more than 1 billion people from over 193 countries around the world will be actively participating in programs to make our planet a cleaner and safer place to live while helping to preserve the beauty of our planet by participating in cleanup programs in parks and roadways; learning how to better reduce, reuse and recycle our very valuable resources.

Earth Day activities and events are planned throughout cities around the globe for people to participate in and support of environmental initiatives to protect our planet.

Large companies and corporations are also doing their part as well to make this world a better place. Products like:



Honest Tea -

Honest Tea creates a range of great-tasting, organic beverages in a variety of flavors using USDA Organic-certified with sustainable ingredients and fair-trade certified cane sugar and tea. With a range of flavors and product lines, that includes Honest Tea, Honest Sport, and Honest Kids, there is something for everyone—including several unsweetened options and others that are just a tad sweet!

Today's Winner!

http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2017/04/hop-into-spring-with-kelloggs-rice.html-

Our winner today:

Comment 25- pippirose 

**Winner has been contacted and has 7 days to reply before a new winner is selected. Thank you to all who took time to enter.

#SYLVANIA Shares Info For National #Car Care Month

As a parent, you know how much time is spent in the car, and between shuttling to practices, lessons, games and activities, our cars have become second homes. April is National Car Care Month and a post on the importance of headlight maintenance would be perfect for your theme. It may not be sexy, but it is safe, which is the most important thing when it comes to your family.

SYLVANIA Automotive found that 9 out of 10 cars on the road today have yellowed headlights that need to be replaced, yet many consumers don’t realize how easy it is to replace headlights at home – DIY project! This very simple, yet very impactful safety check can immediately increase safety, visibility and reaction time making for safer drivers all around. 

Here are some important headlight maintenance practices to keep in mind:  

·       Understand the choices in headlight performance levels: When it comes to headlights performance, there are a variety of choices available on the market to help suit consumer’s individual needs. For instance, there are options available that offer brighter down road visibility to help drivers see farther down the road, and to better distinguish objects on the side of the road better compared to basic headlights.

·       Replace before burnout: All too often, vehicles with a burned out headlight can be found traveling on dark roads, posing a risk to both the driver and others on the road. With one headlight out, drivers are essentially seeing half as well as they potentially could. If a vehicle owner cannot remember the last time headlights were changed, it may be time for replacements.

·       Always replace in pairs: It’s very important to replace headlights in sets of two. Since headlights dim over their lifetime, a new bulb paired with an old bulb will create an uneven field of vision, which can be a major distraction on the road for both drivers and oncoming traffic.

·       Do it yourself: Changing a vehicle’s headlight bulb can be a simple process that doesn’t require a mechanic or service professional. In fact,various online guides and resources exist to help consumers swap out headlight bulbs in a matter of minutes. Consult the vehicle’s owner’s manual for bulb/headlight replacement procedures, needed tools and safety precautions. Always wear safety glasses and work gloves, as well.

Easy #EarthDay Tips by #SYLVANIA Lighting by LEDVANCE

In honor of Earth Day this Saturday, lighting leader LEDVANCE is sharing some easy tips for those who want to be more environmentally conscious and support the health of our planet. In North America, LEDVANCE offers SYLVANIA advanced LED bulbs, traditional light sources, standardized luminaries and smart lighting solutions for professional users and retail customers.

1.    Switching to energy-efficient LED bulbs can save you up to 85 percent on your lighting electricity use and reduce air pollution emissions from the power plants that burn fossil fuels to generate that electricity. You’ll see an immediate reduction in your energy bill by changing incandescent bulbs to LED lighting, like the first-to-market SYLVANIA 10-Year (Contractor Series) LED Portfolio. 

Lowering your energy consumption is as easy as screwing in new light bulbs! Simply change out your incandescent lights and replace with LEDs. According to the 2016 SYLVANIA Socket Survey, 38% of consumers have switched to LEDs since the phase-out of incandescents and while that’s great progress, cost can be a big barrier of entry for many.

 Some highlights of the SYLVANIA 10-Year LED Portfolio, with more info included in a video here:

·         Full line of lighting options for both for indoor and outdoor use

·         Cost savings of 50% compared to others on the market with prices starting at just $2.50 per bulb

·         Up to 85% energy savings

2.    Reduce "standby power" (the energy used even while an appliance is switched off or not performing its primary function) at home and at work. The easiest way is to unplug gadgets not in use. 

3.    Off with the monitor! Turn off your monitor at the end of the day. Monitors consume 80 percent of a desktop’s energy. Even in “sleep mode,” monitors are still drawing a small, unnecessary amount of power.

4.    Cargo impact – Avoid carrying unneeded items in your vehicle’s trunk. An extra 100 pounds in your car’s trunk cuts fuel economy by up to 2 percent.

5.    Act Smart -- Smart lighting, like SYLVANIA Smart+, allows users to have convenient control of their lighting and electronics, optimize their home and work environments, improve efficiency, and help save time and energy. By turning lights on and off with schedules you create via an app, you can control when and where you use your lighting, and you’ll save energy. 

6.    Tire inflation – Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. You can improve your gas mileage by up to 5 cents per gallon by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. 

For more Earth Day tips, or to buy energy efficient LED bulbs, visit https://www.ledvance.com/.

The Perfect 10: Practical Ways To Help Your #Elderly Parents Manage Their Finances

After a lifetime of receiving support from your parents, their retirement is the perfect chance to give something back. While there are many different ways to help them during their winter years, assisting them with finances is arguably the best.

Giving them money outright is far from being the only solution. Here are 10 simple yet efficient ways to help them maintain greater financial health for a happier retirement.

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1. Calculate tax impacts on pensions and other financial revenue. After all, it will be nearly impossible for your parents to make smarter choices if they don’t fully understand their current situation. Help them work out exactly what money they have to play with, and life will suddenly feel a lot easier for them.
2. Help them gain the financial support that they’re entitled too. Once retired, your parents can gain discounts and support with various elements. These can range from public transport to medical costs, as well as everything in between. Thousands of senior citizens are missing out on those potential rewards through a sheer lack of knowledge. If you can’t find the necessary details online, try hitting your local citizen’s advice center.
3. Encourage them to make savings on food shopping by utilizing couponing. This one trick could cut their food bills in half. Given that this is one of their greatest ongoing expenses, the benefits of achieving this goal cannot be emphasized enough. As long as it doesn’t impact the quality of their diet, it can be one of the best tricks in the book.

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4. Provide assistance in the house selling market. Many senior citizens would be far better off downsizing from the old family home to a smaller property. Not only will the ongoing costs be reduced, but it will free up valuable money for them in the process too. There’s a good chance that they’ve avoided this issue simply through fear of taking on such an upheaval. Help them through the process, and they could be in a far better place in no time.
5. Sell some of their unwanted goods either online or at a garage sale. The revenue raised may not be quite as substantial as changing property. Nonetheless, amassing a couple of thousand dollars for items that are currently collecting dust can only help them. Even if those items are sentimental, it’s far better for them to take a cruise or holiday to create memories. Alternatively, those funds could simply pay the bills.
6. Actively show them how to save money through online shopping. Whether it’s teaching them the benefits of loyalty schemes or using comparison sites isn’t overly important. Every dollar they save is another step towards more manageable spending. Given that their income is limited during this period of their lives, the impact that this brings should not be overlooked for a second.
7. Help them establish a safety net. Life insurance for seniors over 80 could make a world of difference to their emotional frame of mind. Knowing that their partner, children, and loved ones will be financially sound following death is very comforting. In truth, that may be a greater reward than any saving. Nonetheless, it’s imperative that you help them find a deal that won’t leave them short in the immediate future.

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8. Warn them about the various financial scams on the market. Whether it’s door-to-door fraudsters or phone scams doesn't matter. Avoiding the financial fallout of falling victim to those problems won’t increase their wealth. But it will stop them from falling into a very nasty hole. As well as helping their financial health, it should aid their emotional well being also.
9. Stop them from overspending. Senior citizens often want to show their love and affection through financial gestures. However, teaching them how to complete birthdays on a budget, for example, will work wonders. It doesn’t need to stop them giving great presents, and it will allow them to focus their financial attentions on greater priorities.
10. Encourage them to tear up all store cards and high-interest items that could bring huge problems. Those excessive APRs are potentially dangerous for everyone. With a lower income, though, clearing those debts will become extremely difficult. Enable your parents to avoid them altogether, and the chances of loosening their financial grip will fade.

Those 10 tips alone won’t guarantee financial prosperity. Still, they will give your parents the best chance of keeping their situations in a positive place during their retirement years. Frankly, there’s never been a better time or way to repay their love.   

Financial Black Holes: Where Are You Wasting #Money

Spring cleaning is the ideal time to clear the cobwebs and dust from your house. You should also take this time to clear the cobwebs from your finances and clear out your financial black holes. If you feel a little bit of pain every month when the bills come due, it’s a clear sign that you’re spending too much money somewhere. As painful and tedious as it may be, you need to sort through all your bills and identify where you could save money each month. The more money you save per week, the more you have set aside for luxuries or unexpected costs.

Make A Budget

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Sit down with a hot drink and identify which expenses are costing you the most every week. Can you afford to cut back on these in any way? Also, see if there are any small expenses that could save you money each month. Netflix might not be too expensive, but do you have a friend who might like to share your account? That’s a few extra dollars in the bank each month. If you watch shows almost exclusively on your laptop, trim the cost of your cable bill by cutting back on the premium channels.

Your gym membership might have been a great deal at the time, but it’s only worth it if you’re going regularly. Cancel the membership, and see if you can motivate yourself to workout at home. There are a number of fitness videos available online for free, and you can buy some weights and smaller fitness aids for a fraction of the cost of a gym membership.

Take a look at that pile of magazine subscriptions you haven’t read yet. If you’re on the fence, cancel all the subscriptions and see which ones you really miss. You may find that it suits you better to buy one issue every once in a while, instead paying for a full year’s subscription.

The little things may not seem like much by themselves, but they all add up to more dollars in your account each month.

Clear Your Credit Card Debt

One of the golden rules of financial planning is to clear your most expensive debts first. More often than not, this will be credit cards. While credit cards do offer a convenient way to pay for goods and services, if you find you’re struggling clear the balance every month, consider a low-cost loan as an alternative. Shop around for offers from Pretty Penny or other loan providers. Make sure you negotiate a deal that you can afford, or you could end up in deeper debt.

Go Green

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Of course, household things like water, electricity, and a broadband connection are necessities, but you can trim the fat by making your home green. Unplugging all your unused electrical devices, air sealing your home, or switching to LED or CFL light bulbs can reduce your energy consumption, saving you money on your bills and helping the environment. Also, now that traditional incandescent bulbs are being phased out in favour of energy saving bulbs, LED and CFL bulbs are becoming more and more affordable.

Going paperless and receiving your bills online can also save you a few dollars per month. Your providers won’t charge you for the printing and postage, and getting monthly reminders will mean that you never forget to pay a bill again.

Negotiate Better Deals

Energy providers often have great introductory deals for new customers, which could save you hundreds of dollars a year on your bills. However, if you’re nervous about switching, then just call up your current providers and try to negotiate a better deal on items like your electronic devices. Believe it or not, your providers love making money from you, and they don’t want to lose your business. Just get in touch with your provider, either in store or over the phone, tell them that your current deal isn’t working for you anymore, and they will help you find a better deal on your service. Don’t be afraid to haggle if you’re buying in store, but always be respectful and polite if you’re asking for a lower price.

If you’re looking to upgrade your electronic devices, but you don’t want to pay a small fortune for the newest models, you can buy the previous model for a fraction of the price it was when it first came out. They still perform most of the same functions as the new release, so you’re not missing out on much if you don’t buy the latest gadget.

Sell Your Old Devices

Much like you shopped around for older models to get a better deal, other people would also be willing to pay money for your current device if it is still in good condition. If you’re upgrading your device, ask if the store will pay you for a trade-in; you could get a discount on your upgrade, or get some cashback for trading in your old one. There are a variety of ways to sell your old phones and gadgets, so look around and see who will offer you the best deal.

Shop smarter

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Buying food on a budget is a struggle for a lot of people for various reasons. Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce your food bill each week, including shopping for cheaper store brands, buying non-perishables items in bulk, or sticking to a shopping list. You can also save money on food by avoiding takeaways, packing a lunch to take to work, or freezing your leftovers to eat them later. The best thing you can do to keep your grocery bills low is to find ways to reduce the amount of waste food you throw away this week.

Wherever you can, take advantage of discounts, special offers, or coupons. You can find a lot of coupons in the Sunday paper, and if you use them regularly it will far exceed the cost of the paper. If your local supermarket has a weekly circular, take one and make a note of their weekly discounts.

Hop into Spring with Kellogg’s Rice Krispies! Plus a #Giveaway (Canada)

Spring is in the air and Easter is just around the corner! 

Have you seen the Spring Edition Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal and Rice Krispies Square Bars? The mini squares are perfect for filling those plastic Easter eggs, or for school lunch snacks. We love them! #RiceKrispiesSpring

And with their Limited Edition Spring Edition #Kellogger cereal, I got a bit in into Easter/Spring and made some Rice Krispie Squares with some Cadbury mini eggs for flowers.

This Easter, though see Yummy Recipes - Special Occasions section on www.ricekrispies.ca, and the Rice Krispies Canada Pinterest Page at pinterest.com/RiceKrispiesCA/ for treat-making inspiration. And, for scrumptious recipe ideas all year long, follow Rice Krispies on Twitter at RiceKrispiesCA , Facebook at Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Canada and Instagram at ricekrispies_ca! Here you'll find other great ideas for you and/ or the kids to make their own Easter creations.

Kellogg Canada would also love to give away to one Canadian reader, their own Rice Krispie Spring pack pictured below.( $30 value)

A random draw will be made by Random.org on April 21, 2017 from all Canadian entries received.


To Enter:
Leave your contact info and let us know how often you buy Rice Krispie treats or make them in YOUR home.


Good luck to all!

Tips from ServiceMaster Restore to Transition Your #Home from Winter to #Spring

Ready your home for warm weather and prevent water damage from snow melt and spring showers by heeding the following advice from Peter Duncanson of ServiceMaster Restore.

·         Before the weather heats up, shovel any lingering snow at least 3-5 feet away from the base of your home. Then, examine your foundation and keep an eye out for cracks or pools of water from snow melt. Caulk any and all cracks as soon as you find them to prevent water from seeping into your home, and redirect standing water away from the home.

·         Turn on the water to your outdoor spigots or sprinkler system, and reconnect the hoses you brought in for winter. Remove covers from plants and outdoor equipment. If you have a lawn or garden, now is the time to fertilize the soil to ensure healthy growth in the spring. Check your grill and other appliances to ensure the parts still function properly. Inspect your patio or deck flooring for rotting boards, and replace any you find. Then, pull the patio furniture from storage so you and your loved ones can fully enjoy the warm weather.

·         Check your windows for cracks and your screens for tears. Look for flawed seals and peeling along the trim, and replace any faulty parts. If you have a basement window well, check or replace the water guard to protect against basement flooding. Rain water and dripping snowmelt can easily seep through tiny openings and damage surrounding walls and interior areas. Undetected and untreated water damage can lead to mold, so it’s best to correct poor sealing in the first place with a simple window check.

·         If you find evidence of water damage in or around your home after winter, take photos and call your insurance agent immediately to start the claims process. Water damage requires quick remediation to prevent extensive, expensive repairs and harmful mold growth. After speaking with your insurance agent, call the experts at ServiceMaster Restore for a full water damage remediation plan that will keep your home safe and sound for many seasons to come.