Being energy efficient is not only an environmentally conscious decision, it’s an economical one as well. With the cost of living continually on the rise and energy costs projected to increase throughout the years to come, watching home energy consumption is quickly becoming a high priority. If you are looking for ways to cut down on your next bill, check out these 5 top tips to save money on home energy costs.

Helpful Habits

The first step to making a significant saving on your energy bill is to change the way you use power in your home. Make it a strict household policy to turn off any lights that aren’t needed, switch off appliances after use and to check all power points are off before leaving the house. With a bit of planning, you can make a difference to your energy costs simply by being more conscientious.

Solar Savings

When it comes to cutting home energy costs, solar power is undoubtedly one of the best long term investments you can make. Thanks to recent Government rebates, many homes are now equipped with the latest in solar technology, and the results are impressive. Harnessing the natural energy of the sun slices your power bill while making a significant positive environmental change.

Energy Efficient Fittings

There are a range of small changes you can make to your home to ensure the best energy efficiency. Try equipping all of your light fittings with specially designed energy saving bulbs for brighter illumination and over half the usage of traditional bulbs. Another great way to cut energy costs is to install timer plugs which only switch on when you need them to. Simply program the set times into the switch, and it will only use energy during these specific times.

Smart Appliances

When it comes time to replace your old appliances, make sure you look for new models which display high energy efficiency ratings. Everything from your washing machine and dryer to fridge and dishwasher can all make a significant difference when they are designed to use energy sparingly and effectively. You’d be surprised just how much of a saving smart appliances can make to your long term energy costs.

Getting Out of Trouble

Sometimes despite all of your best efforts, you might find yourself hit with an exorbitant energy bill that is just too much to pay. Your first step should be to consult your energy provider to try and work through a payment plan that will allow you to make regular repayments until the amount is paid in full. However if this approach is not successful, or if you have already fallen behind in your payments, it’s time to enlist professional help.

Fox Symes debt solutions are one of the leading providers of advice and support to Australians that are struggling with debt. They will not only help you to get back on track, but they can also negotiate with your creditors on your behalf. Don’t let the stress of an unpaid energy bill turn into a seriously damaging debt problem.

With these top tips, you can be well on your way to cutting your energy costs and living a more economical and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Sharon has recently been looking for ways to get her finances under control by saving energy around the home. She also enlisted the help of Fox Symes debt solutions in order to get on top of her finances and recommends that other people looking to save money to do the same. 

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The fast cash online lenders or the payday lenders come in as soul savers if you are low on cash. The name has been derived from the procedure which is followed with regards to the loan processing. That is, the fast cash lenders do not check with your credit rating. That quickens the lending process and it becomes easier for you to obtain a loan, even if you have bad credit, you can obtain a loan unlike the ordinary ones. The ordinary loans require you to have good credit and a good credit score.

What are the fast cash loans?

The fast cash loans are also known as the no credit check loans and in some cases as the payday loans. That is mainly because these Bad Credit Personal Loans Up to $5000 Now Available | PRLog do not require you to have good credit. The lenders do not make any credit check when you apply for the same. In case of especially the payday loans, you are required to pay back the amount borrowed after the next payday.

These loans come in handy if you fall short of cash in the middle of a month. There are no specifications on the purpose for which you can use the loans. You can use it for any purpose and as per your requirement. However, the amounts available under these loans are not too large to cover all of your expenses at the same time. In that case, you may have to take out more than one loan, so as to manage all of the expenses.

How are these helpful?

How are the fast cash loans helpful? That is mainly because these are available without credit check. As a result, you can benefit in two main ways, and two types of people can benefit from the same. One category is that of the people who have bad credit and cannot obtain loan in the general way. The other category is that of the people who are in instant need of money. So, the fast cash loans can be obtained in case you have bad credit or if you are in an emergency.

For example, suppose that you had applied for a loan which would be used as payments against home improvement. However, you application was denied and the cause is bad credit. In such a situation, you can get loans or a bad credit loan. Another example is that of an emergency. Suppose that you require quite a large amount for a medical condition within a couple of days. In such a situation, obtaining a personal loan is going to take time but the processing of a fast cash loan is going to prove to be faster.

However, there are some facts which you should be aware of before obtaining a payday loan. One is, as the lenders are not aware of your credit rating, the interest rate charged is quite high. Second is, the loan amount available is not too large. Third, in case of missed payments or default, the interest rates can outgrow your expectations. Therefore, you should never apply for more than what is required and try to pay down the debt within the stipulated time. Click here for more information.

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It is an interesting question really; do you think that you could do it? Putting a price on love is impossible, the perfect relationship is priceless. However, how much does it cost to be in a relationship?

There are many people that will have never have thought about this before. They will; not have considered that a relationship will cost any money at all, but in fact research has been done to show that it can cost a lot. Rate Supermarket looked at the cost of dates, holidays, engagement and wedding over a two year period and calculated that on average the total would be over $43,000.

This may seem like a lot of money and you may wonder whether it is actually worth it, with trying to keep another person happy and no guarantee that will end happily. However, kidding aside, it just shows how important it is to put away money from a young age. If you have to pay this out just for two years of a relationship, imagine what life will cost once there are children to support and a home to pay for. It is therefore worth thinking about getting some savings together really early.

If you want to be able to afford a mortgage or even just rent a really nice property, then you will need significantly more money than this. Therefore you will need to start saving up.

It can be difficult saving. Especially if you do not know what sort of future is ahead of you. However, there is a secure feeling in knowing that you have some money put away. Whether you will use it on a relationship or other things in the future does not really matter. Just knowing that it is there can really give you a good feeling. It can give peace of mind and then if you do have a bill or emergency where you need money. It will be there to help you. When you do start a relationship, then you can treat your partner to some really nice things or you can continue to save and get some things in the future. Obviously what you do with it, is up to you but unless you have it in the first place, you will not need to be making this decision.

Financial planning can sound like something that pensioners need to do, but actually the earlier we can get in to good spending and saving habits, the better. We will be much better off in the future if we can get used to be financially clever when we are younger and knowing the best way to handle our money. Then we will know how to use it to our best advantage when we are older and will be more likely to have more of it, when it comes to having to pay for the important things in life such as mortgages, weddings and children. It can seem a daunting prospect but learning financial lessons young can save a lot of hassle when you are older.

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How much will you pay in interest this year?  Few borrowers realise the implications of compound interest on their debt when they sign on the dotted line.  While a few percentage points may seem like a trivial technicality, the interest on your loan is compounding every day– and so is your debt.

Simple versus Compound Interest Calculations

Simple interest accrues only on your principal, which is the actual amount that you have borrowed from a lender, be it via a credit card or a home loan.  In simple interest calculations, your interest rate is percentage of the principal on your debt.  An APR, or Annual Interest Rate, of 15% on a principal of $100 would accrue $15 of interest charges over the life of the loan in a simple interest calculation.

Compound interest involves a continual recalculation of the amount that you owe the lender.  For the $100 that you charged on a credit card with an APR of 15%, your daily interest rate will be approximately 0.041%.  This is because the amount of interest will compound, or be recalculated, based on your balance each day.  On Day 1, you will accrue $0.41 in interest charges, bringing your new balance to $100.41.  On Day 2, your interest will be calculated based on a balance of $100.41 and you will accrue an additional 42 cents of debt, bringing your new amount owed to $100.83.  This will continue each day until the balance is paid in full.

While most credit card companies and similar lenders offer a grace period in which the borrower may pay the balance in full to avoid any interest charges, making only the minimum required payment means that the remaining balance will begin to accrue interest immediately.

The Exponential Growth of Your Debt

Almost all lenders use compound interest calculations when you borrow money.  This has profound implications on your debt.  While the initial 41 cents of interest on your $100 charge seems innocuous enough, over the course of a year your debt will grow exponentially.  If you make a minimum payment of $10 each month, it will take you 11 months to pay down your debt, costing a total of $107.50.  Now consider if you miss a payment and have late penalties applied to your account, causing you to take months longer to pay the balance in full.  It isn’t hard to see why several thousand dollars or more of debt would quickly become an insurmountable burden.

In November 2012, the average credit card debt per borrower in the US was almost $5,000.  Student loan debt for undergraduates was a staggering $27,000 after leaving college, with professional students owing over $79,000.  Compound interest rates will cause the debts to soar even higher, with many borrowers ultimately paying tens of thousands of dollars more than their principal.

Stop the Climb!  Solutions to Help You Get Out of Debt

The key to limiting the growth of your debt is controlling the interest compounding on your debt. Debt consolidation loans offer a means to do just that.  By consolidating all of your debt into one loan, you will pay interest on only one loan.  More of your monthly payment will pay off the principal, allowing you to pay down your debt more quickly.

A debt consolidation loan is not a magic bullet.  A realistic budget and the discipline to stick to it are crucial parts of any debt elimination plan.  But they do offer a way to slow the exponential growth caused by compound interest, allowing you to regain control of your finances.  Getting out of debt is a difficult undertaking; debt consolidation can simplify the process.

Katie Latchford is a freelance writer who has a keen interest in financial matters such as how to ease your financial situation by applying for a debt consolidation loan to help you to manage your debt more effectively.

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How to Cut Down Your Utilities Bill

Now that it seems likely we’ll be facing a double-dip recession most of us will be looking at more ways to tighten the belt whilst the fat-cats carry on stuffing their faces with cake and Champaign – ok – that’s enough politics – there are serious matters at hand here, so let’s take a look at how we can help ourselves instead of just crying about it!

Below are some splendid energy saving tips that should help you save quite a bit of coinage in the coming year – remember you might not have the time or energy to put all of these into action but even one or two of them could have a notable impact on your finances.

No Investment Required

Wash smart – taking a shower uses around 50% less water than a bath, which means you’ll be saving up to 10% on your overall heating bill – and if you have a water meter you’ll also be saving on water rates too.

Wash smart #2 – make sure you only run your washing machine with a full load or ensure you set it to a low energy/eco-friendly setting to make sure you’re not wasting hot water and therefore money.

Cook smarter – when you’re boiling water in a pan make sure you always keep the lid on as the water will boil much faster and  will waste less energy. Also don’t put too much water in the kettle, just use as much as you need for your tea. If we all followed this simple rule for a whole year the UK could save enough electricity to power half the county’s street lights for the next year!

Minimal Outlay

Have a Light Bulb Moment – energy saving bulbs have now dropped in price and they’re now so efficient they use up to 80% less electricity than a traditional bulb and can last up to 10 times longer. In their average lifespan an energy saving bulb should save you around £45.

Get suited and booted – well – not a real suit, just a jacket, and for your boiler not for you. This is relatively easy going in terms of effort and cost; buying a 75mm jacket for your boiler should save you around £40-£50 a year so the boiler-jacket will pay itself off in just 3-4 months.

Radiation Measures – if your radiator is on an external wall you could be losing as much as 20% of your heat through the walls. Instead purchase radiator panels and place them behind these radiators to help reflect heat back indoors. This could save around £60 a year for the average family.

Higher Cost Options

Feed from the Sun – sadly for us locals the UK is not the sunniest spot in the world – but it should still be worth considering solar panels. Costs vary widely from supplier to supplier but the average UK household could generate around 40% of their total electricity bill year on year so it should be fairly easy to calculate if it’s a cost effective solution for your home.

Double Glaze to Feel the Blaze – this is one of the more expensive options but in the long run it’s as simple as this – twice as much glass equals half the heat loss. Double glazing also cuts down noise pollution so your home will be more of a relaxing and tranquil environment. Installation costs vary widely but with savings of around £150 a year compared to a non-double-glazed home this is an investment which will slowly but surely pay for itself with dividends.

Insulate don’t Hesitate – many homes in the UK don’t have adequate or any loft and cavity-wall insulation. If you live in an old building you’re probably losing around 30% of your heat through the roof. Insulating an average family home’s loft costs around £200-£300 but should save you around £150 a year so it would have paid for itself in just 3 years. The same can be said for wall insulation which also has roughly the same cost/benefit ratio.

With this list of potential money saving options you should be ready to face 2013 with a lighter heart when it comes to worrying about your energy bills.

I am a copywriter and poet with a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Creative Writing. I have worked in various marketing & creative roles since 2001. My aim is to publish at least one novel before I die – so far I have had 2 poems published internationally in print as well as some online. In my professional capacity I currently work for an advertising agency in London.

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