Eating Healthy on a Budget

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

As ironic as this seems, it is not cheap to make healthy food choices. The cheapest foods are usually highly processed, high in fat, and high in sugar. Some people link obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease in America to the abundance of cheap fattening foods which lack nutrition. Although we can’t blame our poor dietary choices on the economy, rising fuels costs, inflation, or major food producers, having to choose between healthier food and having enough gas in your car shouldn’t be necessary.

If you’ve started out the new year trying to eat healthier, you’ve probably noticed the impact on your pocket book and might be tempted to give up healthier eating because it’s just too expensive. Although it’s true that fresh, organic, whole grain, less processed foods can be more expensive than their less healthy counterparts, there are ways you can save money and not compromise your health and fitness.

Shop at the Farmer’s Market. Unless you want to start your own garden, then farmer’s markets offer a good alternative. Fresh produce from a local farmer’s market is much more fresh than what you can get at the grocery store, and quite often organic. Not only that, but grocery stores feature high markups on produce in general, so you will save money by purchasing directly from a farmer. Farmer’s markets don’t just have produce, either. You’ll find other healthy and delicious items such as home-made preserves or organic local honey. If you’re unsure if your town has a farmer’s market, check the newspaper or with your chamber of commerce.

Find deals at ethnic grocery stores. Grocery stores which cater to certain ethnic groups are also great places to find healthier foods at lower prices. They frequently carry bulk quantities of basics such as healthy grains and beans. Regular grocery stores charge more for their small selections of ethnic food because they don’t sell as much of it, whereas ethnic grocery stores experience high demand on their products due to the specific dietary habits of their clientele, who are concentrated in the area.

Buy in bulk. Money is not the only thing you save by buying certain items in bulk; it saves you trips (think fuel) to the store too. Just be careful which items you buy in bulk. They should be items you use regularly enough to avoid spoilage and waste, or have specific plans for. Buying in bulk is a great plan if you are too busy to cook or plan meals during the week and find yourself running out of supplies by Wednesday. By shopping at your leisure and buying certain items in bulk, you can even cook and freeze healthy meals in advance to get you through a hectic schedule without being tempted to dine out.

View your food choices as an investment… in yourself. Although these are some ways you can save money while choosing to eat healthier, whether or not you are willing to sacrifice time or a few extra dollars comes down to a matter of priorities. If you prioritize your health and wellness, you will not mind spending a few extra dollars if it means a few less pounds or a few more years on your life. Consider your diet an investment in yourself, and as with any financial investment, you have to spend money to make it.

5 Ideas to Make Work Night Cooking Less of a Hassle

by Tracy · 0 comments

After a long day at work, the last thing most of us want to do is have to spend another hour or two getting a meal on the table, especially if we’re also trying to juggle activities for multiple family members (and pets!) It’s no wonder we spend so much money at restaurants and on take-out meals. Not only is this habit expensive, it can also take a toll on our health, as most prepared food is higher in calories, fat and salt than home-cooked choices.

If you’re struggling to find the time and energy to put home-cooked meals on the table, here are five tips that might help.

1. Take time once a week to plan a menu and write out a shopping list. It might be worth the expense to try out a menu-planning service to help you get the hang of it (many have free or reduced cost introductory rates). Do your shopping during off-peak times; it’s more pleasant and reduces the chances that you’ll forget something because of all the hustle and bustle.

Think about your daily schedule as you plan your menu. For example, on days when you get home late, a crock-pot meal or an easy-to-throw-together salad might be a good choice. Save recipes that require more hands-on preparation for nights that are less demanding.

2. Once you get home with your groceries, do some prep work as you put things away. Go ahead and freeze meats that you won’t use until later in the week to cut down on potential waste from spoilage. Wash and chop hardy vegetables for recipes. You can even put away ingredients for recipes away together in the pantry so it’s easy to pull out what you need when it comes time to cook.

3. It’s not a bad idea to go ahead and double (or even triple) recipes so that you can freeze half for another meal. Stews, chilis and most casseroles freeze and reheat well. You can also cook some meats in advance and package them up in recipe-sized quantities. For example, you can brown 5 pounds of ground beef or slow-cook an entire pulled pork shoulder and freeze it in 1 cup portion sizes to use in recipes.

4. Don’t feel bad about using some convenience products. Scratch cooking is terrific, but if a jar of curry paste or a bag of frozen stew vegetables helps you cook more at home, go for it. Do be aware that some prepared sauces and mixes have very high sodium levels. You can mitigate this by keeping serving sizes reasonable and serving with plenty of unprocessed sides (like simple steamed vegetables).

5. Stay motivated to cook most nights by reminding yourself of all the very good reasons you have for wanting to eat at home more such as saving money or eating a more healthful diet. Look for ways to track your progress so that you can see proof of how your hard work is paying off. Perhaps you can chart how much you are saving on food costs each month or how many servings of vegetables you are getting each day. It’s much easier to resist the temptation to each out if you know exactly why you want to avoid it.

Remember, eating is critical to our survival. It’s worth it to take a little more time and effort to do the best job feeding ourselves and our family that we can.

Kitchen Multi-taskers: Cook More, Buy Less

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Of all the jobs we do around the house, cooking is probably the one for which we have the most tools. Every kitchen is filled with its share of implements to help a cook perform every function necessary.

Any well-equipped kitchen has a large supply of tools, machines and utensils to perform the basic functions – and even some advanced ones. Although there are a plethora of specific-use kitchen gadgets on the market, a lot of them are unnecessary. Why spend money on a new one-use kitchen tool (uni-tasker) when you probably already have what you need to perform whatever it does?

Some people are gadget-lovers. When they see a specialized tool for a job, they embrace its novelty and must have it. We don’t all have the ability, however, to purchase every new thing-a-ma-gig sold in kitchen shops or on infomercials that promises to make our kitchen experience easier and more pleasant. We can, of course, buy them on credit, but that’s exactly how we let debt hold us back.

Unless you’re going to use a gadget often or need a very specific functionality, it’s usually not worth purchasing a uni-tasker.

Here are some examples of common gadgets you can probably do without by using kitchen equipment you already have:

  • Panini press - This applies pressure to a sandwich as it cooks, pressing the ingredients together. Anything heavy and flat-bottomed (like a cast iron skillet) placed on top of the sandwich while it cooks will do the trick.
  • Garlic press - A meat mallet will work very well for smashing garlic wrapped in wax paper, as will that cast iron skillet. As far as chopping/mincing garlic, nothing works better than a Chef’s knife or cleaver.
  • Egg, fruit or vegetable slicer - Knives work more than effectively for slicing anything – that’s what they’re made for. Most slicers hold the item so it remains stable while it’s being cut. When using a knife, make certain your first slice creates a flat surface so the item is stable on your cutting board.
  • Potato ricer - This presses food (like cooked potatoes) through small holes. A colander or strainer can easily be substituted. Simply place the food to be extruded in the strainer and press it through with a spatula or wide spoon.
  • Lemon zester - The purpose of this implement is to remove the zest (yellow portion) of a lemon’s peel. That function can easily be performed with a microplane, a tiny grater that can be used for any number of small grating jobs.
  • Rice cooker - Rice can easily be cooked in a saucepan on your stovetop.
  • Steamer - Make your own steamer: Place a colander or strainer which is large enough to fit inside a pan without touching the bottom. Add a small amount of water to the pan and bring it to a boil. Place in the food to be steamed in the colander, making sure the water isn’t touching the food and cover. Voila!

Additionally, gadgets with modular parts that use a common power source are considerably more space-saving and cost- efficient. Two examples are:

  1. A griddle with a separate waffle iron and grill attachment. It’s like having all three appliances but paying for (and storing) only one.
  2. A blender that has a food processor and a mixer attachment, all powered by the same motor.

You can do a lot in your kitchen with just the basics – you don’t need every gadget that comes down the pike. As you can see, you can easily replicate many of their functions with implements you already have – without incurring additional expense. You’ll save money and space in your kitchen and accomplish more in that busy room.

What multi-taskers do you use in your kitchen?

You may also want to check out: Learning How to Cook Without Spending a Fortune.

Simple Ways to Cut Your Health Care Costs this Year

by MMarquit · 0 comments

There are a number of ways to cut your health insurance costs each year, including changing your coverage and raising your deductible. However, your efforts to make health care more affordable for you don’t have to be limited to just what is happening with your health insurance.

Yes, you should evaluate your coverage each year, and do some comparison shopping. But here are some other ways to reduce your health care expenses:

  • Shop at the big box stores: From over the counter medications to prescriptions, you can often find better prices at the big box stores. I don’t shop much at club stores, but when I do buy something, it is usually over the counter medication that costs much less when bought in bulk at a warehouse store.
  • Buy generics: Compare the active ingredients in name brand and generics. In many cases, there is the same amount of the active ingredients both — but the store brand or generic brand costs less. We haven’t bought name brand gel caps for cold and cough for years because we can get the same effect for less with a store brand.
  • Ask about a cash discount: You can sometimes get a discount with service providers if you pay at the time of service, instead of going through insurance. Consider the costs associated, and find out if you can save a little by paying up front for non-covered health care services.
  • Double check your bill: You might be surprised at how many hospital bills and other bills have mistakes on them. Before you pay the bill, double check it, and get clarification on any items you have questions about. You don’t want to overpay. Simply taking a few minutes to double check might save you more than expected.

Live Healthy, Reduce Health Care Costs Long Term

If you want to reduce health care costs long term, consider living a healthier lifestyle. Getting the proper nutrition, proper exercise, and proper sleep can go a long way toward saving you money on health care. A variety of ailments and chronic diseases and conditions can be traced to poor health habits. Improving your health can be a great way to reduce your health care costs. In fact, healthy living can also reduce your chances of getting common colds and flus. Your body will be better at fighting off infection when you are healthier.

Consider ways that you can save money by cooking healthier meals at home (and save money on eating out), walking or biking more (and save money on fuel costs), and quitting expensive bad habits like smoking or eating junk food (and save money on buying those products). You’ll soon feel better in general, and save money in the long run.

Bottom Line

You really can save money on your health care costs with a little planning. Think about ways to cut costs and improve your financial efficiency. You’ll live a better life, and more of your money will go toward items other than trying to pay health care costs.

Wise Ways to Use Your Tax Refund

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

Every year, most people can expect to receive a tax refund when they file their taxes. Though some don’t like giving the IRS an interest free loan, getting a good sized check is often celebrated by many. Before you go spend it all on impulse though, here are some ideas of how to use it to improve your finances long-term.

Debt Elimination
One of the best ways to make use of a substantial amount of money you haven’t budgeted for is to get ahead on your mortgage, car loans, credit card balances, and student loans. By making even a few extra payments, you can eliminate hundreds of dollars in interest you would be paying if you consistently made only the minimum payments. Sure, it’s not the most fun way to use a large chunk of money, but it’s definitely a good step to reaching more financial freedom in the long run. Debt drags you down, so do your best to eliminate debt.

Investment Options
If your debt is under control and you’ve always wanted to start a personal retirement account, invest in the stock market, or set up a fund for your children’s higher education costs, an income tax refund is a great way to get a jump start. Many banks and financial institutions offer these types of accounts, so check with your bank to see what is available before you consider other options. Some institutions require large minimum initial investments, while others allow you to open an account with as little as a few hundred dollars.

Another investment option is an emergency fund. While it won’t be earning huge returns, it could be a life saver in times of crisis.

IRAs
Setting up an IRA is a wise financial step in an uncertain economy and the questionable future of Social Security. You are never too young to start an IRA, and the sooner you start saving, the greater your potential payout when you reach the maturity of your investment. The usual minimum amount to open an IRA is between $1,000 to $3,000. There are, of course, guidelines which must be followed, depending on which type of IRA you choose – Roth or traditional. Funds which go into an IRA are non-taxed or tax-deferred, but there are heavy tax penalties if you remove them before you reach retirement age.

ESAs
Another great idea if you have children is starting an ESA, or an Educational Savings Account. College becomes increasingly expensive every year, while remaining important to your child’s career opportunities. ESAs allow tax-free contributions which must be used for tuition and related educational expenses. Coverdell ESAs allow a maximum of $2,000 per child per year, while 529 plans, another type of ESA, have no maximum yearly contribution limit. There are other variations between these two types, so do your research to decide which one is right for your child.

As you prepare your taxes, consider carefully what to do with your expected refund. Instead of spending your tax refund on clothes, furniture, electronics and other immediate wants this tax season, make a plan for stable finances in the future by eliminating bad debt or investing in your and your children’s future.

4 Simple Tips to Keep Your Money Saving New Year’s Resolution

by Tracy · 0 comments

It’s easy to understand why saving more money is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. What’s not so easy is actually finding a way to do it! If you’re struggling with fulfilling your goal to spend less and save more, take comfort in knowing that it’s not just a matter of willpower. Instead, just like any other skill, saving money takes knowledge, practice and planning. Here are a few tips to help you learn how to cut back on your spending and actually save the extra cash.

Track Your Spending

It doesn’t matter if you use a simple notebook or an online program like Mint, the important thing is to have a very clear picture of where your money goes – and why. Are you spending too much on restaurant meals because your family is famished after a long day of school and work and it’s easier and faster to order a pizza or go out for Chinese? Do you spend a fortune on gas because you are constantly running errands all over town? Are you hit with multiple late fees every month because you forget to pay your bills on time?

Once you learn your money drains and figure out why these are problem areas for you, it becomes easier to come up with a solution that will fit into your lifestyle. For example, if eating out is your weak spot, look into meal planning, crock pot cooking and asking other family members to pitch it. (For more tips, check out 6 Ways to Avoid the Temptation to Eat Out). If you are spending too much money on gas, look into carpooling, taking public transportation, consolidating your errands and biking. Avoid late fees by automating your spending and taking advantage of your bank or credit union’s bill pay service.

Use Cash Only

It’s all too easy to spend more than we wanted to when paying with a debit or credit card. Carrying only the amount of cash that we intend to spend makes us more mindful and deliberate about what we choose to buy. It’s far less likely that we’ll blow the grocery budget on chips and soda if that means we won’t have enough left over to buy toilet paper and milk.

Some people modify the cash only system by purchasing gift cards for the grocery store, gas station and restaurants. These cards can usually be reloaded (to avoid the problem of what to do with $1.17 left on the card) and registered to help protect against theft and loss.  There are advantages and disadvantages to using gift cards over cash, so be sure to read each merchant’s terms and conditions for using the cards before making the decision.

Bank Your Savings First

Many people make the mistake of thinking that whatever they don’t manage to spend each pay period should be their savings. As you can imagine, for many of us, our spending can easily expand to take care of any amount of cash we come into! For best results, automate your savings so that it’s immediately transferred to your savings account as soon as you get paid. You can either do this through a standing transfer with your bank or credit union or change the allotments on your direct deposit through your employer.

Out of sight, out of mind works very well for most people, but some need to go an additional step and make their savings hard to get to. This could mean keeping your savings in an account without ATM access so that you’ll have to slow down and really consider how badly you need this cash before withdrawing it.

Aim for One Thing a Week

Instead of trying to completely overhaul your finances all at once, try scheduling one hour or two a week to improving your finances. For example, week one you spend that hour on the phone with your cable provider asking for a lower rate (or alternatively, look for an online broadband promotion). The second week you spend that hour making a spreadsheet of easy to prepare dinners to help you in your future menu planning. Personal finance blogs like MoneyNing.com are a great source of ideas for your weekly projects.

Aim for sustainable improvement rather than a rapid, complete change and you’ll increase your chance of success. Trying to do too much all at once is overwhelming and hard to maintain in the long run. Remember, the goal is to save money all year long, not just in the first two or three weeks of January!

Seven Frugal Ways to Fend Off the Winter “Blahs”

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Now that the holidays are over, we often fall into a Winter “funk.” The anticipation and excitement of the holidays has ended, the weather is often unpleasant, days are short and for a few months, there’s not much to look forward to. It’s only natural to suffer from some degree of the Winter “blahs,” as a result.

Short of a taking a Caribbean cruise, how can you brighten up the next few months and avoid the Winter blues? Here are seven frugal ideas to energize yourself throughout the next few months of Winter:

  1. Think ahead! Spend some time planning a vacation for warmer, sunnier days. Explore places you’d like to visit on the Internet. Daydream about those places and the activities in which you’ll participate. Make a list of things to pack as if you were leaving next week. The process of putting your mind in a different place will actually serve as a mini-vacation of its own, taking you out of the present and launching you into a pleasant future.
  2. Surround yourself with nature. Take a day trip to an arboretum, botanical garden or even a flower shop. It does your mind and spirits good to be among beautiful living plants. Their sight and scents will rejuvenate you and remind you that Winter doesn’t last forever. Take photos so you can relive the experience. Treat yourself to a few bright blooms to brighten your environment.
  3. Cook yourself happy. Use your kitchen to brighten your spirits. Either cook hearty foods that warm and comfort you throughout the Winter doldrums – or, defy the weather and create a Summer picnic spread that will remind you of carefree, warmer days. A bonus to cooking is that you can enjoy the fruits of your labors, and nourish your body as well as your spirits. (Here’s how you learn without paying a bundle.)
  4. Look sharp! Even though the holidays are over, continue wearing festive colors. Just because the weather is dreary doesn’t mean your wardrobe needs to be. Bright colors can have a profound impact on your mood.
  5. Connect with others. Holiday parties and celebrations may be over but make sure you don’t suffer from a sense of social isolation. Cold weather isn’t as conducive to socializing as warm weather so it’s important to make the effort to get together with others regularly. Have a party for no particular reason; gather with friends or family for drinks or appetizers. Winter blahs put you in an isolated mindset. Maintaining social connections with others will help your mood stay high by helping you focus outward.
  6. Exercise your creativity. If you have a hobby, work at it. If you don’t, Winter is a good time to take one up. Warmer weather tends to inspire us to garden, play sports and generally recreate. The need to be creative doesn’t stop when the temperature falls so carve out some time to partake of an activity that occupies your mind and nourishes your spirit.
  7. Set new goals. It’s very inspiring to immerse yourself in a new endeavor. Maybe it’s losing weight, getting in shape, organizing your home or schedule, stopping a bad habit or starting a good one – it’s a great way to keep your mind off the Winter blahs. Maybe that’s another reason we make New Year’s resolutions…

It doesn’t cost a lot to pull yourself out of the Winter doldrums. The key is to surround yourself with reminders of those times when you feel more energetic and inspired. Think about what those things are for yourself and include them in your daily routine.

How do you fend off the Winter blahs?

Ways Debt is Holding You Back

by MMarquit · 0 comments

You may not realize it, but debt is holding you back. When you have debt, it not only affects your finances, but also impacts other areas of your life. Getting out of debt, especially consumer debt, is important if you want true financial freedom.

Here are some of the ways that debt could be holding you back:

Resource Drain: You Can’t Use Your Money How You Would Like

Once you are saddled with debt payments, you can no longer use your money how you would like. Instead, you are stuck making regular payments. Rather than using that money to further your goals, or buy what you want, you are stuck making payments. Before you get into debt for something, it’s a good idea to consider whether or not you really want it. Putting that purchase on your credit card might make you temporarily happy, but long after you have grown bored of the item, you will still be paying for it.

At some point, you become over-leveraged. You might want (or even need) to buy something else, but you can’t because you have a debt payment to make. As long as you have debt, your money is obligated elsewhere, and it isn’t yours to do with as you please. And don’t forget that those payments include interest that goes right into someone else’s pocket and provides you with absolutely no benefit beyond the “privilege” of borrowing.

Lost Opportunity

The fact that your money is tied up in making debt payments isn’t the only way that you can’t use your money as you would like. There are a number of opportunities out there that allow you to use your money to make money. Or, you could be saving that money up instead of paying your debt, and that could lead to an earlier retirement.

Paying on a large amount of consumer debt is holding you back, and ensuring that you will not have the money you need to take advantage of opportunities that come along. Lost opportunity is a very real issue. Get your finances in order, and pay down your debt, and you will be ready to take advantage of opportunities as they come along.

Emotional Well Being

Another problem with debt is that it affects you emotionally. The stress of having debt can weigh on your mind, causing you stress. Indeed, financial trouble is a major cause of stress in the lives of many. When you are worried about paying bills and meeting obligations, the stress can be a real problem.

On top of that, your emotional well being can have an impact on your relationships, and even on your physical health. You are more irritable when you are stressed about money, leading to strains on your relationships with family and friends. How many marriages are stressed because of money problems? How many parents snap at their children because they are anxious about how much money they owe?

Don’t forget, too, that anxiety and stress can cause heart problems, and lead to other physical ailments. Make a plan to pay down your debt. Resolve to get a start on debt reduction, and you’ll feel better almost immediately. And once you have your debt paid off, you’ll feel even better.

How to Buy a Safe and Affordable Car Seat

by Tracy · 0 comments

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration “Crashes are the leading cause of death for children from 3 to 14 years old.” If you’re like most families in America, your child will take several trips via car almost every day of their life, so it’s crucial to not take any shortcuts with their safety.

Many parents do not realize that car seats come with expiration dates (typically 5-7 years from date of manufacture). While some will argue that this is to encourage parents to trash perfectly good car seats, the truth is that the plastics and fabric used to manufacture car seats can degrade with time and exposure to the elements and are not guaranteed to hold up in a crash. Car seat technology is also improving every year and some outdated car seats are no longer considered safe. Seats that have been in accidents are generally considered no longer safe for use and should be destroyed.

Is it okay to buy a second hand car seat? Basically, you should never buy a used car seat from somebody who isn’t as invested in your child’s safety as you are. Never buy a used car seat from a stranger, only very close friends and family members who you can rely on to tell the truth about the seat’s history.

Here are a few more things to keep in mind before buying or accepting a car seat:

Do check the car seat’s expiration date to make sure that it’s within dates. This is printed on almost every car seat, although the location varies by manufacturer. Check the manufacturer’s website to find out where it should be on your model. Be aware that some clearanced-out seats might have a shorter time until expiration as they’ve been in the warehouse for some time; this is could be a concern if you are purchasing a seat that can conceivably be used until your child is four or five.

Make sure that it will fit properly in your vehicle (this goes for a new seat, too). While all car seats approved for sale in the USA meet standards, not every seat will install properly in every car. Car-Seat.org has an active forum where many experienced car seat safety technicians can help you narrow down your choices (note: not every poster is a certified child passenger safety technician so be sure to ask about qualifications before taking advice).

Speaking of certified child passenger seat technicians (CPST), it’s worth the time and small fee to find one who can teach you how to properly install and use your new car seat. The NHSTA has a tool that can help you find a certified CPST and/or a local car seat inspection event.

Don’t assume that the most expensive car seat will automatically be the safest choice for your child and vehicle. Do check Consumer Reports safety ratings for the car seat(s) you are considering (note: many public libraries have accounts that you can access for free if you are not a subscriber). All current car seats will meet minimum safety ratings – the most important thing that you, as a parent, can do to ensure your child’s safety is to properly install the car seat and use it correctly each and every time your child is in the vehicle.

If you can afford the initial investment, look for convertible car seats that have higher weight limits for rear-facing (some go up to 40 lbs rear facing) and forward facing (some will allow children to sit harnessed forward-facing up to 70 lbs). The AAP now recommends that infants ride rear-facing until 2 years of age, which is well beyond the point most children will have passed the 20lb rear-facing limit that some seats have. A seat with higher weight limits will be a larger up-front investment but can save you the hassle and expense of buying a replacement when your child meets the weight limits. It might seem strange to those of us who were children when car seats were not common, but any children now ride in harnessed seats until kindergarten (or even beyond if they are small for their age).

If you are unable to afford a car seat, know that there are options to get a free car seat for your child. In most areas, you can call 211 to be connected to social service agencies in your area who can help. Your health insurance provider or Medicaid program might also have a program that can assist you in getting a car seat.

Do know that most auto insurance policies will provide you with a new car seat if yours are damaged in an accident or are stolen. Contact your insurance agent to verify coverage before you need it and what documentation you’ll need if you ever need to make a claim.

Buying a car seat can be expensive, but it’s one cost that new parents can’t afford not to make. There are many other ways to save on your children stuff. Even a lower-priced car seat can save your child’s life if installed properly and used correctly each and every time.

Appliance Purchases: Know the Energy Guide and Save Money

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Buying new appliances can be confusing. Most come with so many features that it’s difficult to choose among different brands and models. Besides such factors as the product’s features, appearance, size and performance rating, there’s the matter of its energy consumption to consider. Over the life of an appliance, this factor can be one that matters more than any other because it equates to the amount it will cost to operate.

A strong indicator of the amount of energy an appliance will use is prominently displayed on those bright yellow (yet somehow easily disregarded) Energy Guide stickers attached to new appliances. According to the Federal Trade Commission, these appliances are required to display Energy Guide labels:

  • clothes washers
  • dishwashers
  • refrigerators
  • freezers
  • water heaters
  • window air conditioners
  • central air conditioners
  • furnaces
  • boilers
  • heat pumps
  • pool heaters

What is an Energy Guide?

The information displayed on an energy guide label identifies the specific product, its main features and an estimate of its yearly electricity use. The number displayed prominently near the center is an approximation of the appliance’s operating costs over the course of a year. Since it bases that dollar amount on a standard rate of use, the appliance’s energy consumption and the national average cost of energy, your actual cost could vary depending upon your use and local energy cost. The Energy Guide puts that amount in perspective by showing it where it appears within the high-to-low range of operating costs of similar models. Because that yearly cost figure is calculated by the same criteria on all similar appliances, it provides another useful bit of information to use when comparing models to purchase.

Energy costs are updated on Energy Guides every five years. Bear in mind, rather than a guarantee of your actual energy cost, the Energy Guide provides a standard by which to compare one appliance to another, enabling you to factor-in energy cost into your purchasing decision.

EnergyStar – An Extra Measure of Energy Efficiency

One more thing you may see displayed on an Energy Guide label is a blue Energy Star logo. Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy dedicated to promoting savings on on energy costs and protecting the environment by encouraging energy efficient products and practices. Products which have met specific energy-saving standards are eligible to bear an Energy Star label. Among those products are major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics and even home improvement/replacement products.

The Energy Star website, explains how products become Energy Star rated:

  • Products can earn the ENERGY STAR label by meeting the energy efficiency requirements set forth in ENERGY STAR product specifications. EPA establishes these specifications based on the following set of key guiding principles:
  • Product categories must contribute significant energy savings nationwide.
  • Qualified products must deliver the features and performance demanded by consumers, in addition to increased energy efficiency.
  • If the qualified product costs more than a conventional, less-efficient counterpart, purchasers will recover their investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings, within a reasonable period of time.
  • Energy efficiency can be achieved through broadly available, non-proprietary technologies offered by more than one manufacturer.
  • Product energy consumption and performance can be measured and verified with testing.
  • Labeling would effectively differentiate products and be visible for purchasers.

There’s more to a wise appliance purchase than the initial outlay. Using energy efficiency as a determining factor in appliance purchases makes good sense. Energy efficiency is good for more than the environment – it’s good for our budgets.

Do you take note of the Energy Guide information when purchasing appliances?

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