Best Date Night Movies

best date night movies

Relationships take work. But work doesn’t mean it can’t be fun! Having a date night can be such an important part of a relationship and date night is fun! Date night doesn’t have to be expensive and you don’t even have to go out! Have date night at home! If you are looking for some fun ideas for date night movies look no further!

Best Date Night Movies:

casino royale

Casino RoyaleCASINO ROYALE introduces JAMES BOND before he holds his licence to kill. No less dangerous, and with two professional assassinations in quick succession, Bond is elevated to “00” status. “M” (Judi Dench), head of the British Secret Service, sends the newly promoted 007 on his first mission to Madagascar, the Bahamas and eventually to Montenegro to face Le Chiffre, a ruthless financier attempting to recapture funds in a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Royale. When Bond is placed under the watchful eye of the treasury official Vesper Lynd, his initial skepticism of her turns into a deepening interest as Le Chiffre’s cunning and cruelty come to bear on them both in a way Bond could never imagine, and he learns his most important lesson: Trust no one

crazy stupid love

Crazy Stupid LoveSteve Carell and Ryan Gosling lead an all-star cast in Crazy, Stupid, Love. Fortysomething straight-laced Cal Weaver (Carell) is living the dream—good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart, Emily (Julianne Moore). So when Cal learns that his wife has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his “perfect” life quickly unravels. Cal, who hasn’t dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth so handsome player Jacob Palmer (Gosling) takes him on as wingman and protégé, opening Cal’s eyes to the many options before him: flirty women, manly drinks and a sense of style. Despite Cal’s makeover and his many new conquests, the one thing that can’t be made over is his heart, which seems to keep leading Cal back to where he began. Brimming with inspired performances, critics are calling this gem of a romantic comedy “a movie that understands love”

the proposal

The ProposalWhen high-powered book editor Margaret faces deportation to her native Canada, the quick-thinking exec declares that she’s actually engaged to her unsuspecting put-upon assistant Andrew, who she’s tormented for years. He agrees to participate in the charade, but with a few conditions of his own. The unlikely couple heads to Alaska to meet his quirky family and the always-in-control city girl finds herself in one comedic fish-out-of-water situation after another.

hitch

Hitch In this romantic comedy, Will Smith stars as Alex “Hitch” Hitchens, a true urban myth – a legendary New York City “date doctor” who, for a fee has helped hundreds of men woo the women of their dreams.

mr and mrs smith

Mr. and Mrs. Smith Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie smolder in one of the most anticipated, sizzling action films ever made. After five (or six) years of vanilla-wedded bliss, ordinary suburbanites John and Jane Smith (Pitt and Jolie) are stuck in a rut the size of the Grand Canyon?until the truth comes out! Unbeknownst to each other, they are both coolly lethal, highly paid assassins working for rival organizations. And when they discover they’re each other’s next target, their secret lives collide in a spicy, explosive mix of wicked comedy, pent-up passion, nonstop action and high-tech weaponry that gives an all-new meaning to “Till death do us part!”

notebook

The NotebookBehind every great love is a great story. As teenagers Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah (Ryan Gosling) begin a whirlwind courtship that soon blossoms into tender intimacy. The young couple is quickly separated by Allies upper-class parents who insist that Noah isn’t right for her. Several years pass and when they meet again their passion is rekindled forcing Allie to choose between her soulmate and class order. This beautiful tale has a particularly special meaning to an older gentleman (James Garner) who regularly reads the timeless love story to his aging companion (Gena Rowlands).beautiful tale has a particularly special

back to the future

Back to the Future Join Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and a time traveling DeLorean for the adventure of a lifetime as they travel to the past, present and future, setting off a time-shattering chain reaction that disrupts the space time continuum!

the jerk

The JerkThat wild and crazy guy, Steve Martin, makes his film-starring debut as Navin Johnson, adopted son of a poor black sharecropper family, whose crazy inventions lead him from rags to riches and right back to rags. Along the way, he’s smitten with a lady motorcycle racer, survives a series of screwball attacks by a deranged killer and becomes a millionaire by inventing the “Opti-grab” handle for glasses.

50 first dates

50 First DatesA bachelor’s life is tough enough try winning over the girl of your dreams every single day because of the short-term memory loss she suffered in an accident.

when harry met sally

When Harry Met SallyWhen Harry Met Sally is an “explosively funny” commentary on friendship, courtships – and other hardships – of the modern age (Newsweek)! Will sex ruin a perfect relationship between a man and a woman? that’s what Harry (Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) debate during their travels from Chicago to New York. And eleven years and later, they’re still no closer to finding the answer. Will these two best friends ever accept that they’re meant for each other…or will they continue to deny the attraction that’s existed since the first moment When Harry Met Sally?

midnight in paris

Midnight in ParisThis is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better.

fireproof

FireproofOn the brink of divorce, a fireman accepts a challenge from his dad, The Love Dare,” to try to keep his marriage from going up in smoke. This Christian-themed romantic tale offers an interesting perspective on the ins and outs of marriage and how faith can bring it back from the near-dead.

pretty woman

Pretty WomanVivian (Roberts) is a spirited, streetwise diamond in the rough when she meets shrewd, no-nonsense billionaire Edward Lewis (Gere). It s a chance encounter that turns a weeklong business arrangement into a timeless rags-to-riches romance. Fall in love all over again as this contemporary Cinderella story unfolds before your eyes in the sparkling clarity of high definition- up to six times the resolution of DVD! Savor every word, every laugh, and every unforgettable song as the magnificently enhanced audio quality embraces you. Experience all the comedy, charm and passion of this beloved classic as never before on Blu-ray Hi Def!

taking chance

Taking ChanceBased on the true experiences of Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl, who wrote eloquently of them in a widely circulated 2004 article, Taking Chance is a profoundly emotional look at the military rituals taken to honor its war dead, as represented by a fallen Marine killed in Iraq, Lance Corporal Chance Phelps. Working as a strategic analyst at Marine Corps Base Quantico in VA, Lt. Col. Strobl (Kevin Bacon) learns that Phelps had once lived in his hometown, and volunteers to escort the body to its final resting place in Wyoming. As Strobl journeys across America, he discovers the great diligence and dignity in how the military, and all those involved with preparing and transporting the body, handle their duties. Equally important, he encounters hundreds of people affected by Chances death, a vast majority of whom never knew him. This collective grieving eventually causes Lt. Col. Strobl, a veteran of Desert Storm now assigned to office duty, to probe his own guilt about not re-deploying to Iraq for the current conflict. Arriving in Wyoming, Lt. Col. Strobl completes his catharsis when he encounters Chances gracious family and friends, and discovers an extraordinary outpouring of community support.

north and south

North & SouthNorth & South is a splendid, four-hour adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s 19th century novel about an unlikely, and somewhat star-crossed, love between a middle-class young woman from England’s cultivated south and an intemperate if misunderstood industrialist in a hardscrabble, northern city. Daniela Denby-Ashe plays Margaret Hale, forthright and strong-willed daughter of a former vicar (Tim Pigott-Smith) who relocates his family from a pastoral village outside London to unforgiving, largely illiterate Milton, a factory town where John Thornton (Richard Armitage) and his mother (Sinead Cusack), survivors of poverty, rule their cotton mill with an iron hand. Thornton befriends Margaret’s father but incurs her wrath for his severity with his workers. What she doesn’t notice is Thornton’s core sense of responsibility for his employees’ welfare. On the other hand, he misinterprets some of Margaret’s own actions and intentions. Equally stubborn, the two drag out their obvious attraction over many painful months and events.

red

RedFrank (Willis) is a former black-ops CIA agent living a quiet life alone… until the day a hit squad shows up to kill him. With his identity compromised, Frank reassembles his old team Joe (Freeman), Marvin (Malkovich) and Victoria (Mirren) and sets out to prove that they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Stand back and watch the bullets fly in this explosive action-comedy that critics call a rip-roaring good time.

walter mitty

The Secret Life of Walter MittyDanny Kaye stars as the mild-mannered mouse who imagines himself to be a number of daredevil heroes in this whimsical adaptation of James Thurber’s short story. It’s a fantasy tale the entire family will love.

honor flight

Honor FlightHonor Flight is a heartwarming documentary about four living World War II veterans and a Midwest community coming together to give them the trip of a lifetime. Volunteers race against the clock to fly thousands of WWII veterans to Washington, DC to see the memorial constructed for them in 2004, nearly 60 years after their epic struggle.

magic ordinary days

The Magic of Ordinary DaysA touching love story that unfolds during World War II. One mistake changed the course of her life. One man changed the direction of her heart.

notting hill

Notting HillStarring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, Notting Hill is an unforgettable romantic comedy from the writer of Love Actually and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Anna Scott (Roberts) is the world’s most famous movie star. Her picture has been plastered on the cover of every magazine and every time she makes a move, the entire world knows about it. William Thacker (Grant) owns a travel bookstore in the quaint neighborhood of Notting Hill with a roommate from hell and a nonexistent love life. When their paths cross, the couple comes to face with the ultimate question: can two people fall in love with the whole world watching?

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Coffee before workout?

coffee before workout

With the New Year brings new resolutions. Of my personal resolutions is to get healthy. (Isn’t that everyone’s resolution this time of year?!) I’ve been reading a lot about coffee before workout. Should you do it? Should you not? Does it really even make a difference?

Surprise…..

YES! It does make a difference. Many experts say yes! Drink a glass and then head to your workout!

coffee_feature

So WHY should you drink a cup of joe before your workout?

– Drink a glass to give you a little boost of energy! That boost could help make the difference between tiring out after 10 reps or pushing it to 12.

– Caffeine helps burn fat. And isn’t burning fat one of the main reasons for working out?!

– A research team at University of Illinois found that people who drank coffee prior to working out had less muscle pain during their workout.

Now – obviously some coffees are better than others. For example, a cup of regular coffee is probably better for you than my favorite, white chocolate mocha. (Although it’s so good!!) 🙂

coffee mug

So this morning I will be grabbing my favorite coffee mug and enjoying my coffee before heading to my workout! (Is it ironic that my favorite coffee cup is a giant donut as I’m working on getting healthy and losing weight? Perhaps…)

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Best Morning Workout

getting fit in 2014

Mornings can be hectic. I know I’m busy up getting ready for my day as well as helping everyone else get up and get ready for their day! But I also know that if I don’t sneak in some sort of activity into my morning I’m more than likely going to get busy and forget about working out later on. Plus, working out in the morning helps me feel good! Morning workouts are meant to help set the pace for the day. It’s been proven that people who wake up and move a little are more apt to move more throughout the day. We are talking 15 minutes here! Try it out and see how just a few minutes of your day can make a HUGE difference!

Today is the day to get started!

Today is the day to get started!

Here is my favorite, best morning workout.

1. Basic Crunch: 10-20 reps (just lift your shoulder blades off the floor!)

2. Plank Pose: 30-60 seconds

3. Reverse Crunch: 10-20 reps (Lay on your back with your knees pulled up to your chest. Then, straighten your legs out and lower to the ground. Don’t touch the floor! Your heels should be about 5 inches from the floor. Then return to starting position.)

4. Double Crunch: 10-20 reps (While laying in crunch position, lift both hips and shoulders up simultaneously.)

5. Plank Pose: 30-60 seconds

6. Bicycle Crunches: 10-20 reps per side (In crunch position, bring your right elbow to meet your left knee. Then switch to bring your left elbow to your right knee)

7. Quick cardio circuit. Do 10 jumping jacks, 10 push ups, 10 squats and 10 lunges without resting in between. Do your circuit as many times as you can according to your fitness level. The more you do your morning workout, you can build on the number of times you complete the circuit.

8. Stretch! I like to finish by just doing some basic stretches holding each post for 10-12 seconds.

If your New Year’s Resolution was to create healthy habits then a quick morning workout is a great way to ease yourself into getting more activity!

       

12 Fashionable Scarves Starting At Just $1.95 Shipped!

12 amazing fashionable scarves

Scarves are a fun and easy fashion accessory! Here is a list of 12 scarves that make a big impact but leave your wallet full. Starting at just $1.95 SHIPPED!!

To get free shipping, a few of these scarves require Amazon Prime. You can sign up for a free trial to Prime here.

scarf chevron cotton

Cotton Cantina Soft Chevron Sheer Infinity Scarf – 19 colors to choose from – As low as $8.39 shipped

scarf kuldip pasmina

 

Kuldip Unisex Pashmina Scarf Shawl Wrap – 100 colors! Starting at $6.37 Shipped!

scarf cashmere feel plaid

 

Premium Cashmere Feel Plaid Tassel Ends Scarf – 19 colors – $8.19 Shipped

scarf pasmina zebra scarf

 

Animal Print Fringed Shoulder Wrap Scarf – 18 Colors and Patterns to choose from – Starting at $6.99 Shipped

YKS Porcelain Pattern Scarf

YKS Porcelain Pattern Scarf – $3.28 Shipped

scarf cat

Chiffon Meow Cat Print Scarf – $3.03 Shipped

scarf crinkle infinity

Large Light Weight Crinkle Plaid Infinity Scarf – 8 colors – Starting at $8.99 Shipped

scarf oversized leopard

Oversized Leopard Print Scarf – $2.30 Shipped

dot scarf

Dot Scarf – $1.95 Shipped!

leopard print scarf

Leopard Print Scarf – $2.95 Shipped (I have this one and wear it all the time!)

colorful floral scarves

Colorful Floral Long Scarf – 14 colors to choose from – $6.98 Shipped

floral scarfFloral Scarf – 6 colors to choose from – $11.98 Shipped

scarf hanger

Don’t forget a scarf hanger! Organize your scares! $9.99 SHIPPED!

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2013 Gift Guide Giveaway: Polar Loop Review

polar loop

The Polar Loop is a MUST have for anyone who lives an active lifestyle or who WANTS to have an active lifestyle. I know that there are lots of fitness trackers out there, but this one is different. And it’s amazing.

polar loop2

1. It’s easy to use. To charge simply plug into your computer. The charger is easy to attach – it is attracted by a magnet!

polar water

2. It’s waterproof!! This is the first fitness tracker that you can swim with!

polar

3. You can add one of Polar’s heart rate monitors and get even more data and more precise numbers. No heart rate? Don’t worry – I found that Polar was pretty spot on with my times and steps. (Yes, I was the weirdo outside counting my steps and then seeing how many my Loop told me I had.)

polar loop 3

4. The (free) software allows you to track your progress!

polar bar

5. It’s fun! I can look at my Loop and see how much activity I’ve done for the day and how much I need to still do. It also tells me how many minutes I would have to do in a high energy level workout (like jogging) or a low energy level workout (like walking). I’ve found that it’s pretty motivational – I can see that in order to reach my daily goal I only need to go jog for 6 minutes. 6 minutes? I can do that! So off I go!

I feel very techie when I wear this, but I don’t have to be techie to work it. Which is great, because I’m NOT techie. I absolutely love it and I feel empowered with it. It is such a great tool to use. I am going to get my son one for Christmas. I think that him earning 100% on his activity tracker would be a great way to earn video game time! 🙂

You can get a Polar Loop for yourself and for everyone on your holiday list this year! One lucky winner will receive a Polar Loop of their own on December 10th!

Keep in touch with Polar Loop!

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Project Resell: Making Extra Money at Home – What Sold & What didn’t

Project Resell

 

Last week I told you how my mom and I like to go to auctions, yard sales and estate sales together and then list our treasures on Ebay. Well, last week was kind of a slow week! But here are some of what sold and what didn’t.

cat8

This cute kitty winds up and it chases the butterfly. Plus, the key and original box came with it! I know when you find something fun and cute at an auction it’s exciting! Make sure you check to see if all of the parts are included!

Bought for: $9.00

Sold for: $42.50

Sold in 1 week

Handy Andy3

Handy Andy Tool Set (we were missing the hammer) but otherwise this was in excellent condition! I honesty don’t think it was ever used!

Bought for: $6.25

Sold for: $30.99

Sold in 1 week!

made in england3

This super cute vintage toy didn’t sell. But we have it relisted this week! Sometimes you have to wait a little while for that perfect buyer!

no smoking

How cool is this no smoking sign? He is such a fun piece! Unfortunately, he didn’t sell last week so he is relisted as well.

badminton6

Vintage Badminton set

Bought for: $5.00

Sold for: $19.50

Sold in 1 week

balloon

Hot Air Balloon Decoration

Bought for $20.00

Sold for: $48.77

Sold in 2 weeks

My mom and I sold $296 worth of cool vintage finds last week.

Those items cost us $115! Not bad for making extra money at home!

       

How to Save on Gift Cards

How to save on gift cards

The holidays are coming which means extra shopping! During the holidays we buy extra gas for traveling to see our friends and family, extra grocery shopping for feeding guests and for our large holiday meals and don’t forget all of those holiday gifts! To help combat these extra costs, I use a lot of gift cards! In fact each new year, I start collecting gift cards and put them in a drawer. By the time the holiday season rolls around it’s like, well, Christmas!

Free Gift Cards? YES!!

One great way to save on gift cards is to get them for free! Here are a few of my favorite places to earn gift cards throughout the year.

Swagbucks is probably my favorite pace to earn gift cards! When you sign up for Swagbucks (it’s free!) there are all kinds of things you can do to start earning your swagbucks. You can search (like you would on Google), answer a daily poll question, answer surveys, print coupons, play games, watch TV and so much more. I made Swagbucks my home page so whenever I turn on my computer I’m reminded to do a quick search. I honestly don’t put a lot of effort into collecting my Swagbucks. I typically search each day, earn Swagbucks and call it a day. A $5 Amazon gift card is only 450 Swagbucks! I am able to get at least (1) $5 gift card each month. I know, $5 doesn’t sound like much but I just add the gift card to my Amazon account and by the time Christmas rolls around I’ve got $60!

Recyclebank is an online program that teaches you and rewards you for being green. You can trade in the points you earn for coupons, magazines or you guessed it, gift cards! I trade mine in for Amazon or iTunes gift cards or for movie tickets. Points are easy to come by and easy to get. They honestly only take a few minutes to get your points!

– Viggle is a free app for your smart phone. If you watch TV and have a smart phone you should be using this app! I use it each day during our TV time and have been earning at least $20 a month in gift cards! Choose from a multitude of places to redeem your gift cards for from CVS to Old Navy to just about everything in between! Plus, if you have more than one smart phone in your home you can really rack up the points!

Gift Cards at a Discount

One of my favorite ways to get gift cards for a discount is at CVS! Often they will have deals on gift cards in a promotion where if you spend say, $100 you earn a $10 Extra Care Bucks. Usually you can also get them in packs of (4) $25 cards. It makes great gifts and I saved $10!

Kroger also will occasionally have digital coupons for gift cards. Combine that with their fuel promotions and you can get a pretty good deal! For example, a few months ago I downloaded a coupon for $10 off a $100 iTunes gift card. Kroger was doing 4x the fuel points on gift cards as well. So I paid $90 for the $100 card plus got 40 cents off per gallon of gas (up to 25 gallons).

Gift Cards as a Bonus

Sometimes you can earn gift cards with your credit card purchases. I’m not a big credit card person, but they can help your credit if you can pay them off at the end of each month. So I have an Amazon Visa card where I earn points on every transaction I make. I use it to pay for all of our gas (2 times the points!) and groceries. (Credit tip: It’s good to only use about half of our credit limit. It shows you have credit available and will help raise your credit score). I generally earn $10 worth of Amazon credit each month (plus, you earn $30 when you sign up). So helping my credit and earning a gift card for paying things I have to pay anyways. Sounds good to me!

I like to shop for gifts all year. Many times I’ll see things that would make a great gift and it comes with a promotion! For example, Amazon had one of the new Marvel Lego video games for $49.99 (normal price) but you got a free $10 gift card with your purchase. Newly released video games aren’t likely to be discounted so getting the gift card back was a great deal!

Also, check for gift card promotions from banks (for opening a new account) or when you purchase a cell phone. There are lots of offers out there that reward you for things you would normally purchase anyways! Take advantage and save those gift cards for the holiday season! You would be amazed at how quickly it will add up!

Find out how to save on everything here! There you will find money saving articles on everything from ‘how to save on Amazon‘ to ‘how to save on clothes‘ and everything in between!

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Project Resell: One Mom’s Adventure In Making Extra Money At Home

Project Resell

 

I know lots of people are looking for ways they can make money at home or in their spare time. One thing that we (my Mom and I!) do to make extra money at home is Ebay! So I thought I would show you a few things we have purchased with the intent on reselling on Ebay and show you how much we either made or lost. Hopefully, we don’t lose anything! 🙂

Here are some of the items we have purchased and sold in the past week:

snow white

Vintage Musical and Dancing Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Bought for: $9.00

Sold for: $42.02

Made: $33.02

Sold in 1 week

bowl

Vintage Decorative Small Bowl from China

Bought for: $3.50

Sold for: $7.99

Made $4.00

Sold in 2 weeks

book4The Howdy Doody Book

Bought for: $5.00

Sold for: $5.00

Sold in 2 weeks

Made: $0 (Boo! But it happens!)

that donkey boo

That Donkey Book

Bought for $8.00

Sold for: $23.50

Made: $15.50

Sold in 2 weeks

marx box

These 4 items were in a box. The planer is made by Marx and the 2 gun figurines are made by Marx as well. My mom was going to throw the tickets away but she decided to go ahead and try listing them. It’s a good thing she tried!

Planer sold for $7.88

2 Marx gun figurines: $9.99

Tickets sold for $15.00 each ($30.00 total)

Items were bought as a lot for: $11.00

Total Made: $36.87

sharecropper

Cast Iron Sharecropper Penny Bank

Bought for $30.00

Sold for $86.00

Made: $66.00

Sold in 2 weeks

Total made: $155.39

(This is before Paypal fees and Ebay fees are taken out)

Not bad! What about you? Have you ever sold anything on Ebay? Or better yet, bought something with the intention to resell it?

       

How to Save on Your Electric Bill

how to save on your electric bill

Our electric bill is our highest utility bill. In the winter it rises with heating costs and in the summer the air conditioning has it hitting the ceiling too. Here are a few tips on how to save on your electric bill!

Check out all of our frugal posts and learn How to Save on Everything!

light bulb

(Photo Credit)

Change your light bulbs! This is a quick and easy way to cut your electric bill! CFL light bulbs are not only more energy efficient, but they last about 15 times longer than regular bulbs. You not only save on energy, but you don’t have to buy light bulbs as often! Our household saves over $100 per year just from this switch alone.

We purchase our light bulbs on Amazon (they are usually on sale!).

Solar lights

Install smarter lights. Install solar powered lights outside. You can purchase solar walkway lights, solar lights to put on your porch steps and motion sensored solar lights for porch lights. And lights are just the beginning! There are solar powered address signs, water fountains, and not to mention, just solar panels for your home! The sun is there – and it’s free! Take advantage! 🙂

refrigerator running

(Photo Credit – I thought this was funny!) 🙂

Your Refrigerator is Running. Your refrigerator is a big part of your electric bill! Twice a year you should clean your refrigerator coils. This will improve the efficiency by 30-50%! You can pick up a coil cleaning brush for cheap! They really help you get into the small spaces! Keeping your coils clean mean your refrigerator runs longer and it eliminates about 70% off repair calls. Cleaning your refrigerator coils is really easy. Pull out the refrigerator and unplug it. Pull off the toe grill and using your coil brush and vacuum get all of the dust and dirt out. When you are done just put the grill back, plug in and push your refrigerator back. Keeping your coils free of dirt means that it has to work less. That means a lower electricity bill (and a longer lasting refrigerator!) Spending 10-15 minutes twice a year can make a big difference! If you have pets that shed a lot you may want to clean your coils every 4 months.

You should keep your freezer full and set 0-5 degrees. Your refrigerator should be set between 35-37 degrees.

Test the seals around your refrigerator once a year. The seals can easily wear out. To test if your seals need to be replaced, close a dollar bill in the door. If you can easily pull it out then it is time to replace the seals.

energy-star-logo

(Photo Credit)

When you replace your refrigerator make sure it is an Energy Star models. If you are using a refrigerator that was made before 2001 it is using up to 40% more energy than an Energy Star model would! An insufficient refrigerator could cost $250-300 per year so if you are thinking about placing your old refrigerator into the garage or basement you may want to re-think it. You can find out how much a new refrigerator (or getting rid of an old one!) will save you here.

Energy Star appliances can save you up to 30% compared to non-Energy Star appliances. Now, being frugal I don’t replace my appliances just to make the switch, but when the time comes look for the Energy Star seal to help make your decision.

instagram electric bill

Check your air conditioner. Air conditioners that sit in direct sunlight use 10 percent more electricity. To help keep your air conditioner from having to work harder, plant tall shrubs or shade trees nearby. Make sure that you don’t enclose the area or impede the airflow, but rather just shade your unit. Each year , spend a little time and spring clean your air conditioning unit. Make sure that you clean your unit, change the filter and other regular maintenance checks.

vampire

 

(Photo Credit)

Get rid of the ‘Energy Vampires’. Electronics use energy if they are plugged in and many still use electricity when they are turned off or not. When an electronic sucks electricity while being turned off it’s referred to as an Energy Vampire. DVR’s are estimated to cost American’s 2 million dollars each year, a figure that could easily be reduced by plugging into a power strip and turn them off! Plugging your electronics into a power strip and then turning off the power strip eliminates the power of these Energy Vampires.

There are different kinds of power strips to choose from to help meet your needs. Some can turn off by a remote control, some will automatically turn off and some turn everything off except whatever is plugged into the main plug.

Plugging into power strips could save you around $100 a year.

change your filter

(Photo credit)

Replace your filters. Replacing your filters helps protect the life of your furnace and it helps it runs efficiently. You should replace your filter once a month during the heating season (or full year if your filter is used for the A/C as well).

smart meter

(Photo Source)

Check to see if your local company offers Smart Metering Programs. Smart Metering Programs vary from company to company but the overall idea is the same. The utility company installs a ‘smart’ meter and if the grid nears its capacity the power company can shut off major appliances in your home for short period of times (for example, turning off a refrigerator for 15 minutes per hour). What do you get? You get compensated! Smart Metering makes sense, especially if you are away from your home during the day. Call your local utility company to see if they offer a smart metering program and what their benefits are. You could save up to 7% off your bill!

And don’t forget a few basic (but important) tips!

– Turn off the lights

– Close the doors behind you (this includes the freezer/refrigerator!)

– Turn off the AC and open the windows

how to save on your electric bill

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Nutrisystem Food Review: Nutrisystem and PCOS

nutrisystem front

Guess what came in my mailbox? Well, I’m sure you can guess by the photo! 🙂 Yes! Nutrisystem D 5 day jumpstart kit. These kits are sold exclusively through Walmart and are a great buy if you are interested in possibly starting the Nutrisystem journey. I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago. It causes weight gain and for me, I have horrible sugar crashes. I feel tired ALL the time. So I was excited to start their diabetic meal plan.

nutrisystem

There was a LOT of food in this box! It comes with 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners and 5 desserts! WOW!

One of my concerns with Nutrisystem was that you normally order a whole month’s worth of food at once. I didn’t know if it would fit in my freezer! So I was surprised to find that NONE of the food in my jumpstart kit required freezing.

And I’m not going to lie. That had me a little concerned. There is no way I could stick to a plan that doesn’t taste good! So here is my Nutrisystem Food Review!

My first morning I had the granola cereal and milk. (Verdict: Granola cereal was yum!)

Lunch was Red Beans and Rice and salad. Now, let’s be honest. I don’t like beans. I don’t eat them. BUT I tried it. And, there weren’t very many beans in it. 🙂 And it was actually pretty good.

nutrisystem dinner

Dinner was lasagna with meat sauce, garlic toast and some green beans. Not bad, not bad. 🙂 This is a dinner I would order from them again.

And don’t forget dessert! Chocolatey Nougat Bar with Peanuts and Caramel (AKA Nutrisystem’s version of a Snickers).

Add in 2 snacks and WOW. This is one diet you won’t go hungry on!!

So far I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The food is pretty good! I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything and even if I was craving something on the not approved diet plan – I wouldn’t even have any room for it! Seriously, for me it was almost a struggle to eat everything! (What a horrible problem to have huh?)

I’m really excited to see how tomorrow goes and how following a meal plan like this will effect the way I feel (NO sugar crashes? PLEASE!)

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog

For this review, I received Nutrisystem to try out. All opinions are 100% mine.