Snowballing the savings: electricity

Since September 2013, we have shaved a total of $254.76 from our electricity bills, averaging about $30 per month less in electricity use/spending for the exact same time periods from the prior year.

Of that $254.76, $123.00 has been taken up with a reduced budget for the last 8 months, leaving us with a net savings of $131.76.

We could have just spent that $131.76 on who knows what. But instead, we've chosen to help this savings snowball into greater savings.

Half of this money has been set aside for a new garage fridge/freezer. And the other half is being used to purchase energy-saving LED light bulbs.

By spending our surplus in the electricity budget on these energy-saving items, our energy consumption will continue to drop over the coming months, freeing up even more money for energy-saving improvements in our home.

I call this "investment" spending. Many standard methods of investing (stocks, bonds, real estate, collectibles) are off-limits to those living with financial constraints. However, there are some methods of investing that are possible, even when an income is restricted.

Buying energy-saving light bulbs is an investment in lower energy consumption/spending. What you save on your electricity bill is your "gain". Many of us don't think of that savings as a "gain" in investment terms. And we wind up spending that savings on who knows what, and never fully feel the gain that we've realized. How you choose to spend the gain is up to you. For us, we're choosing to reinvest our gains on electricity savings.


On LED light bulbs

I've been appalled by the lack of LED light bulbs in our local stores. I was in Target the other day and found just a couple to choose from. The local Fred Meyer (a discount chain in the NW) didn't have many more than Target. I haven't checked Wal-Mart or Lowes yet, but will when I'm in those areas.

However, Home Depot has a very good selection of LED bulbs. (And Home Depot is very close to our home.) They're carrying several brands now. You know what that means. More manufacturers, greater selection. Greater selection, more competition. More competition, better quality and lower prices!! Win!

Home Depot has recently reduced the price on their Cree 40 watt equivalent soft white bulbs, running around $7 a bulb now (previously about $10/bulb). I've already purchased a few of these bulbs, and will continue picking up one or two when I'm there. Just my experience, but I think these 40 watt equivalent LED bulbs are brighter than a similar 40 watt equivalent CFL. So for us, I can put a 40 watt equiv LED bulb where I might have put a 60 watt equiv CFL.

And I'll add this about LED light bulbs. Some people don't care for the quality of light in indoor LED Christmas strings of lights. And I agree, they bother my eyes, as well. The light bulbs seem to be different. We're using them in 3 rooms, plus a walk-in storage area, and we've been very pleased with the quality of light. I began small, with just 2 bulbs. I wanted to try them out, and make sure they would work for us. This has been a very good way to introduce LED bulbs into our home.

So I found a use for paper towels

The other week, I mentioned that I use leftover fast food paper napkins to help drain fried foods. Well, the other day, I remembered one other good use (for either paper napkins or towels). To place at the bottom of a grocery store plastic clamshell, full of berries.

If strawberries are left in the plastic clamshell for more than a few days, the moisture from the bottom layer of berries has no place to escape to, and I find I'm inclined to discover moldy berries after just a handful of days.

However, if I place a paper napkin under the berries, inside the clamshell, my berries keep fresh and in good condition for up to a week (if they don't get eaten). And I get a few uses out of these paper napkins. Because they don't become truly soggy with this use, I just fold them loosely and put in the cupboard above the counter. I use them a few times over the course of the season, and they end their useful life, either to drain fried foods, or to wipe out a greasy pan.


The trick is to get the paper towel/napkin under the berries, without unloading the entire clamshell. Here's how I do it.

right-side up

After I pull out a few berries for that first meal or snack, I reseal the clamshell shut.

upside down

I carefully turn the clamshell over and rest on the counter.

Then I carefully open the upturned container and lay a couple of unfolded paper napkins over the berries, inside.

I reseal the container, and once again turn the clamshell over, very carefully. That's it. The paper napkins are now on the bottom of the container, under the berries.

For other fresh produce, I prefer to use my salad spinner for storage, or wrap items in a non-linty tea towel. I'm reluctant to use a tea towel for storing berries, due to potential staining. But I've been thinking to try some unbleached muslin fabric squares at the bottom of berry containers. I'll let you know how that works when I try it.

In my mind, using paper towels/napkins isn't an all or nothing proposition. I am satisfied to use them very, very sparingly, while still finding alternatives wherever I can. I just think that's a sensible approach.