Here in PA, we're ever so fortunate (sarcasm) to be headed into a new era deregulated electricity. Our utility provider (PPL Electric) has announced that they expect most residential electric bills such as ours to rise about 30%-32%! Somehow, this is supposed to be a help to our electricity cost. We've not figured that out … Continue reading Tips for reducing your electric bill by up to 30%
economy
Why water-saving shower heads are a good investment
Many people might not think to look at their showers as being a source of potential energy and cost savings. That's unfortunate, because there's money to be saved in the shower along with natural resources too. Consider the following scenario: Here's the simple math for a family of four each taking a 7 minute with … Continue reading Why water-saving shower heads are a good investment
Converting Verizon Contract Phone to Pre-Paid
For months we've been trying to discover a way to reduce our mobile/cell phone service without compromising on the quality of service, etc. The issue is that one of us uses 200+ minutes per month minimum, the other maybe 50 at most. We've been using a Verizon Family Plan for a while that had a … Continue reading Converting Verizon Contract Phone to Pre-Paid
Give yourself a raise – cut the cable
Possible Savings: $700-$1,000/Yr. Okay, this isn't new for us. We've been off of cable for years. However, I often wonder why people hang on to cable bills in desparate times. According to Comcast.com, the main cable provider around here, their cable packages are between $58.70 and $114.90 per month. That's $704.40 and $1378.80 per year … Continue reading Give yourself a raise – cut the cable
Ideas for Lowering the Cell Phone Bill
We've been a long-time verizon wireless customer. While we like their service, we as Americans pay way more for our wireless service than much of the world. This really bugs our family! We've always been a 2 -year contract family for VZW and on average, our mobile bill is about $100/mo (that's $1200/yr for all … Continue reading Ideas for Lowering the Cell Phone Bill
Sharing is Key
Corporations have collectively convinced us all that we need so many things to have an enjoyable, prosperous life. To top it all off, they've spent nearly a century convincing us that we each need our OWN [insert widget, product, gadget, etc here] in order to live. After all, if you're a corporation selling widgets, you … Continue reading Sharing is Key
Welcome to the journey to simple
Like many, we're concerned about where our country is headed. At the same time, we're excited about the resulting transformations in our own minds that have resulted in a desire for a simpler, sustainable life. We hope that this blog will be a place where we can share our considerations, decisions, successes and failures as … Continue reading Welcome to the journey to simple
The Intrepid Homestead 