Winter is here and that may translate to higher electric bills for some homes. Appliances can be the main culprits of high electric bills. If you are trying to cut cost, try using less of these electricity eaters. For instance, after washing your clothes, consider hanging them up to dry instead of putting them in the dryer. Your clothes may thank you as some fabrics are ruined by the dryer. For quicker results, designate an area of the house that either gets the most heat or has less traffic. Also, make sure you have your refrigerator set to run most efficiently. The temperature should range between 36 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer should between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn off the anti-sweat feature. It keeps the moisture from forming on the outside, but turning off that feature can save 10% in energy costs. If your fridge is near the oven and you can move it, do so. The heat from the oven will make it work harder. Place only cold or room temperature foods in the fridge. Placing something hot inside, will make the fridge work harder to cool it down. Plus, hot items may spoil foods around it.



If you are planning on making home improvements or simply would like to redecorate a room, stop by the Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. The ReStore is a venture initiated by Habitat for Humanity to generate funds to support their building programs. The store stocks and sells donated building and home improvement materials that otherwise would end up in area landfills. So while helping the environment the ReStore is able to provide construction materials and furniture at a much cheaper price than your local vendors. Plus, as a shopper, you support a worth while cause! To find a ReStore near you, visit Habitat for Humanity's website at www.habitat.org.

Paying with cash helps keeps expenses at a minimum. Debit cards issued by your bank that are linked to your checking or your savings account can be helpful but they can also ruin your checking or savings account balances. If you are diligent about keeping a record of your expenses (in your check registrar or otherwise)you may get away with using your debit card often. However, most people use the debit card and mentally deduct the amounts as they go along. This can have expensive effects on your bank account. Overdraft fees average $30 per transaction for each posting period! Two things can happen when you use your debit card and not keep track of your expenses:

1. you will be more likely to overspend through out the week

2. You may spend more money than you actually had and be at the mercy of your bank's fees.

Give yourself a certain amount of money to spend throughout the week, this will help keep your finances in check.