Monday, January 7, 2008

Tackling Utility Bills

Working at home is what makes me happiest because it is what my family needs. That means working at home has to work. I'm giving myself twelve months to bring it all together; to create an incoming producing career doing things I love to do. Hopefully in the process help others who want to stay at home figure out how to make it work for them.

With twenty four years experience in home management, I feel qualified to offer my expertise in the area.

Money in the bank is a good thing, and a primary concern. Since I've closed my commercial studio downtown, there isn't as much as we have been accustomed to. We've adjusted, however, reducing our monthly expenses even more would help. January is tackle the utility bill month.

I'm starting with caulking. We live in a leaky house. In part because it is old, and in part because the previous owner took out all the baseboards. That left huge gaps between the walls and floorboards. Because the house sits on a raised foundation, there is a constant airflow. The heating and cooling loss is significant.

I'm estimating a cost of $150 to caulk the entire house: floorboards, windows and doors. That's a minimal investment that will save us thousands of dollars through the years. A week of sore knees and sticky fingers is worth it.

Energy costs are typically one of the biggest expenses for a family. Reduce the amount of energy you use, make sure your home is efficient, and you will see significant savings each month. That's money you can use to pay off debt or help with rising mortgage payments. For more ideas on how to reduce your monthly utility bills, check out my website at:
www.woodstreetsjournal.com.