Coupon Apps and E-Coupons: an Eco-Friendly Way to Save

06. April 2013 · Comments Off · Categories: Household, Money Saving Tips

Try this eco-friendly slant to shopping.

I’m happy to share today’s guest post on coupon apps and e-coupons; this eco-friendly shopping method can save time, money, and trees. 

Coupons are an effective way to save money on the products and services your family uses on a regular basis. Nowadays, as eco-friendly products gain more mainstream popularity, you can even find coupons for such eco-friendly products as Method cleaning supplies and Seventh Generation paper products in weekly store circulars and in the coupon section of your local newspaper. Mainstream manufacturers, such as Scott Brands, are also making eco-friendly versions of their standard product lines.

However, clipping coupons to save money on the eco-friendly products you love presents a conundrum: to get the savings, you end up contributing to the non-eco-friendly practice of killing trees to print the coupons. And that’s not even taking into the account the trees killed to print the newspapers that come with the coupons.

So, how do you save your family money without compromising your ideals? Sure, you can reuse and recycle the paper, but why not focus more on the “reduce” part of the eco-friendly equation?

Enter e-Coupons and Coupon Apps

e-Coupons are electronic coupons that you can load onto a store shoppers card, or redeem online by entering a code obtained from a coupon website.

Store shopper cards have several advantages beyond saving trees: they save you time because instead of clipping or tearing out each coupon you need, you simply log into the store website and click on the coupons you want. Shopper cards also offer additional store discounts on top of the
coupon deals.

For example, a store could have a coupon for Seventh Generation diapers and, at the same time, have an in-store special on all Seventh Generation products resulting in double savings. Another advantage is that you no longer have to try to organize your coupons, and carry them with you, while you are trying to shop – especially if you also have to keep track of your kids at the same time. You also don’t have to keep track of expiration dates because the coupons automatically drop off your card when they expire.

The only down side is that you have to keep track of what coupons you have stored, but that is often a simple matter of visiting the store’s website before you visit the store. Also, some stores have mobile apps that let you add coupons to your card on the fly, and review your stored coupons on your smartphone or tablet. Some stores also offer rewards for shopping, such as discounts on gas or rebates. You redeem e-coupons by scanning your shopper’s card at checkout.

Coupon codes are primarily used for online shopping at vendor sites, such as PetSmart or Kmart. By using coupon codes, you not only save money, you also reduce fossil fuel emissions and energy consumption because you can shop at multiple stores without having to drive to each location. You can find coupon codes at coupon code websites, or by doing a product-specific search. For example, a web search for Brownells coupons, or coupon codes for Brownells, brings up several results for sites with codes for purchase discounts and discount shipping. You redeem coupon codes by copying the code from the coupon code site, then shopping at the company’s website and pasting the code into the “coupons and promotions” field at checkout.

Coupon Apps

Coupon apps, for your mobile phone or tablet device, offer the speed and advantages of shopper’s cards, but they also reward shoppers with money or credits for the items they buy. Shoppers can then redeem those points for cash, or withdraw cash rewards, to be deposited into a bank account. Unlike the shopper’s card, coupon apps find deals from multiple vendors and manufacturers to find you the best deals. Some apps also allow you to make shopping lists and find coupons for the items on your list. How you redeem the coupons is based on the functionality of the app. In some cases you purchase the products at the store price then scan your receipt to redeem the savings in the form of cash rewards or points. In other cases, the app provides you with a coupon code.

Regardless of which method you use, the greatest advantage to all of them is that you help the environment by reducing your energy use, drive time and paper consumption.

 

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

21. September 2012 · 2 comments · Categories: Household · Tags: , ,

Not all energy efficient light bulbs are created equal. Today’s guest post discusses a toxic-free option that I think you’ll appreciate.

Energy efficient light bulbs have garnered a lot of press over the last decade. Incandescent light bulbs were found to be inefficient, which led to the development of energy saving lighting options that were good for the environment. Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are the most energy efficient lights on the market. They have longer life spans and are free of toxic substances.

With an average lifetime of 25,000 to 50,000 hours, LED bulbs last the longest of any lights. LED bulbs use 6 to 8 watts of power for an annual consumption of 328 kilowatts. By comparison, standard incandescent light bulbs have a life span of 1,200 hours and use 60 watts for an annual consumption of 3,285 kilowatts. The lower energy consumption rate of LED light bulbs will greatly reduce your electric bill. It also reduces greenhouse emissions of carbon dioxide, nuclear waste and sulfur at power plants.

Like incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs turn on instantly. Despite their lower wattage output, LED bulbs provide a generous amount of light. The bulbs are very durable and rarely break when jarred or bumped.

Unlike incandescent and compact fluorescent lights, LED bulbs do not contain mercury. Mercury is a poisonous substance that is dangerous when it is inhaled or comes into contact with skin. When they break or are improperly disposed of, light bulbs that contain mercury can harm people and the environment.  Since LED bulbs are mercury-free, there is no risk to you, your family or the environment during disposal or the rare instance of breakage.

Despite their higher initial cost, LED lighting will save you money in several ways.  Incandescent lights make rooms warm when they are in use. The heat they emit inflates cooling costs during the summer months. Conversely, LED bulbs do not heat up, so the room temperature does not increase when they are illuminated. Therefore, you will not have to burn the air conditioner to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

LED bulbs have an annual operating cost of $32.85, whereas the operating cost for incandescent lights exceeds $300 over the same period. This steep savings will make your bank account very happy.

Benefits of LED Bulbs

  • ·         Durability and longer life spans will save you money on replacement costs
  • ·        Free of toxins that are threatening to people and the environment
  • ·        Lack of bulb heating helps reduce the electric bill in the summer
  • ·        Lower wattage consumption reduces carbon emissions and your electric bill

 

Light Bulb Planet offers a large selection of energy efficient lighting options, including LED bulbs. Visit our showroom or online website to buy light bulbs.

What Triggers Asthma? Some Unexpected Sources

14. September 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Cleaning, Health, Household · Tags: , ,

I’ve been writing about my asthma lately through posts on www.DianeKidman.com, through my Facebook page, and in my upcoming book, and it’s lead me to think a lot about what triggers asthma. If you or someone you love has asthma, there are some things you may not have thought about, things right under your nose waiting to trigger the next attack. What are they?

Any doctor will tell you that major asthma triggers are contained in household chemicals. Cleaners, scrubbers, sprays, etc. Look under your kitchen cabinet. Unless you already knew about it and were watching out for it, most of the stuff under there can cause an attack for an asthmatic. In my own experience, powdered cleansers are a major problem. I now use natural cleansers and special nontoxic sponges to scrub my bathtub and sinks. Glass cleaner? I use vinegar and water with a few drops of essential oil to add a nice fragrance. To clean the stove, I use wet cloth dipped in some baking soda. (It works amazingly well!) And I don’t spray any gobble-dy-gook around the house and on the furniture to make it smell “breezy.” Instead, I use the actual breeze, such as opening the windows or pulling cushions and pillows off the furniture and putting them outdoors to air out.

Anything with fragrance is often harmful to the asthmatic. Fabric softeners, laundry soaps, plug-in room deodorizers, and room sprays are all bigtime offenders. Instead, try essential oils and/or vinegar added to your rinse cycle. Alternative laundry soaps like Soap Nuts or the Wonderball are excellent. And instead of plug-ins, just blend several drops of your favorite essential oil with some distilled water in a spray bottle. You’ll save a ton of money and your lungs!

This definitely isn’t an exhaustive list of what trigers asthma, but it gives you a good idea of what to look for and what to replace – do yourself and your loved ones a favor!

Remodeling Your Bathroom the Green Way

07. August 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Household · Tags: ,

Enjoy today’s guestpost and gather some remodeling tips for your bathroom – the green way, of course!

When thinking about redesigning your home, your bathroom is a great place to start. Whether you want to install premiere bath vanities throughout your home, or you simply wish to brighten up the room, a bathroom project is a great way to begin any home redesign. Bathrooms are small, simplistic, and easy, making them a great starting point. Remodeling and redesigning your bathroom doesn’t have to be expensive and taxing. A few simple tips can help you plan an eco-friendly and efficient remodel, which can end up benefitting your entire home.

Start Down Below

When remodeling your bathroom, start thinking about the water. Does it have good pressure? Does it stay hot long enough? You may want to consider having the pipes inspected. A single leaky pipe somewhere in your system gone unnoticed can end up wasting a lot of water, raising your costs. Your hot water heater may need replacement as well. Newer piping, as well as a new energy efficient water heater can not only lower your water and electricity usage, but will also make your bathroom experience more enjoyable.

Efficient Replacements

When replacing your faucet, shower head, or toilet, consider eco friendly options. For example, you could save water by purchasing a low flow shower head or toilet. These products are specially designed to do more, while conserving water. Also, older faucets tend to have lead in them, whereas newer faucets are required to be made with less than 0.25% of lead. Lead can be damaging to your health, as well as the environment. Be certain to properly dispose of any older faucets, to avoid lead contamination.

Recycled Materials

You would be surprised at how much stuff you can find nowadays that is made from recycled materials. Everything from flooring, countertops, and glass can be made from recycled materials. Try to find as many eco-friendly materials for your bathroom remodel as you can. There are many companies that offer gorgeous countertops made from recycled materials. Recycled glass can be used to create a beautiful backsplash. And if you are buying new, non-recycled materials, check up on the company and see if they are environmentally friendly before purchasing.

Décor

Decorating you bathroom can be difficult. But, there are many simple and easy ways to decorate without harming the environment. One good choice is adding a piece of recycled artwork. You can find recycled artwork online, as well as in many stores. To brighten up the room, you can add a plant, or fresh flowers. You could also collect stones, and display them neatly in a bowl. These simple, costless ideas can make any bathroom seem elegant.

A bathroom redesign may seem like a big deal, and it may seem impossible to do such a big job without having a big impact, but with the right mindset and a few eco-friendly choices, you can do it. Your bathroom will come out looking, feeling, and working better than ever. Your energy and water costs will be lowered, and your impact on the environment lessened. Make a difference, and choose to go green in your remodel.

Turning Summer Yardwork into Family Fun

28. June 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Household · Tags: ,

Enjoy this guest post on turning your summer yardwork into eco-friendly family fun. And run through the sprinkler while you’re at it, eh?

When the weather is warm, summertime chores take family members outdoors to keep the lawn looking nice, the garden weeded and other areas of the house looking spiffy. Finding fun ways accomplish these chores can help your family make long-lasting memories:

Lawn Care

Keeping the grass cut is often a hot, time-consuming job that pollutes the environment with gasoline fumes. Push reel mowers are an excellent example of a lawnmower for summer landscaping needs. If you’re a mom who is concerned about the environment, you can encourage your pre-teens and teens to take turns using the mower by reminding them that it will help condition them for sports in which they participate. If your child has an artistic streak, he might enjoy creating patterns on the lawn using the push reel mower.

Gardening

Elementary-aged children who aren’t yet ready to use machinery can help in the vegetable or flower garden. Children love to plant gardens that attract butterflies or hummingbirds that they can watch. You’ll need to research the types of plants that will work best in the area where you live. Once the plants are growing, the frequent winged visitors will provide hours of enchantment for your family.

Weeding

Weeds pop up continually, no matter how diligently you work to eliminate them. Kids can learn how to identify weeds by helping you pull them. Perhaps siblings can have a good-natured contest to see who can pull the most weeds during a certain period of time, with a small reward for the winner. Kids can also learn how to get rid of weeds as they begin to sprout using household vinegar.

Car Washing

Everyone remembers how much fun it is to get out the hose and a pail of soapy water on a hot day to wash the family car. You should use a biodegradable soap and park the car on gravel or your lawn, rather than your driveway, so the water will soak into soil rather than running into a storm drain. Use as little water as you can, although you can spare a little extra to give everyone a good soaking. After all, that’s part of the fun of washing a car.  Using just a bit of imagination, you’ll find that there are a number of fun ways your family can work together to get all the extra outdoor chores done during the summer. Once you’ve completed them, you can sit back and enjoy a glass of cold lemonade or visit your favorite ice cream shop.

« Older articles