Here are a couple subjects that came to mind today
about wasting money.
THE H1N1 VACCINEThere is/was a mad rush to be able to get the H1N1 vaccine.
But does anyone actually know if it works???
Is it yet another scam to get more of your
hard earned money and at the same time polluting
your body with unknown things???
I found where National News
and Consumer Wellness Center is offering a reward
of $10,000 for any scientific proof that the
H1N1 vaccine actually works!!
Makes you wonder doesn't it as that seems like a lot
of money as a reward!
DRIVER'S LICENSE AND TAG RENEWAL FEESI saw this on the front of The Columbus Dispatch
this morning. I took interest in reading the article
because I felt like I was one of those who got scammed
because of a late fee I had never heard of before.
For many, many years I would wait til the end of
November to renew my car tags. My birthday falls in the
middle of November. I was never once charged a late fee
for renewing after my birthday but before the end of the month!
I was never made aware
that as of October 1st, 2009, there was going to be a $20 late
fee applied if you had not renewed your license or tags
7 days after being due!! This year I renewed my tags
8 days after my birthday and it cost me around $75.
They charged me the $20 late fee and I was like, what the hell?
The highway patrol gets $19.50 of that late fee.
And I am not the only one that didn't know!!
In the last 3 months, because people did not know about
the late fees, they have managed to collect more than
$6.4 MILLION from us!!! After doing some of my own figuring
that is more than 320,000 people!!!!!!
It says the BMV tried to tell people about it. YEAH RIGHT!
by posting on their web site and in their offices.
Give me a break. If they can send out license and tag renewals
in the mail why the hell couldn't they have sent this notice
as well to make everyone aware of it???!!!
IT'S ALL A SCAM!! They sneak ways in of legally taking your money!!
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This past weekend I decided to clean out my cupboards.
I now have a donation box full of plastic bowls/lids
and a few bakeware items. I figured if these items
didn't get used over the holidays it was time to go.
I had a crock pot that no longer worked. I threw out the base
but I kept the dish and removable lid.
After checking out the crock pot web site I found useful
information that others may wonder about using these
dishes to bake in.
From CrockPot.com:
Is my Crock-Pot® slow cooker oven or microwave safe?
All Crock-Pot® slow cooker removable crockery inserts (without lid) may be used safely in the oven set up to 400°F. In addition, all Crock-Pot® slow cooker removable crockery inserts are microwavable (without lid). If you own another brand slow cooker, please refer to your owner’s manual for specific crockery cooking medium tolerances.
Can I put my stoneware in the oven or microwave?
Removable stoneware is ovenproof up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and microwave safe. Do not use removable stoneware on gas or electric burner or under broiler unless the product specifically calls out that it can be used on the stovetop.
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COUPONS
ALL YOU MAGAZINE FEBRUARY
Rianxeira Tuna Snack Bites-
coupon to try free up to $1.88
Cottenelle 12 pack
$1.00 off coupon ($4.88 at Kroger with coupon)
$1.00 Printable Aloe & E Cottenelle coupon($4.88 at Kroger with coupon)
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Spin for you chance to win a free bar of Dove soap.------------------------------------
My Sausage Sauerkraut Potato Soup
Can of cream of chicken soup
can of water
1 package smoked sausage sliced
1 can sauerkraut
about 4 potatoes cubed
2 Tablespoons Splenda
1 small jar carrots baby food- just because I had it sitting around
and wanted something else to sweeten the sauerkraut
without using brown sugar or sugar- Tony diabetic.
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Tomorrow's supper will be Chicken Marinara
I made up 2 batches of egg noodles tonight
and they should be dry by tomorrow.
1 cup flour
1 egg
Tablespoon or two of water
A bag of store bought noodles $2.00 plus
A bag of flour .79 cents manager special, 20 cups in 5 pound bag
eggs @ .15 cents each x's 20 eggs is $3.00
I can make 30 batches of noodles for only $3.79!!
Compare that to one bag of premade noodles!
30 bags of noodles at $2.00 is $60.00.
You can easily save yourself $56.21 by making your own!!
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Not feeling the greatest with aches and pains today.
Waiting for Ibuprofen to kick in at the moment.
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NORTHLAND NEWS"Columbus will be increasing it's city utility rates.
Residential bills will rise by 4.89 percent, said Steve Snedaker, assistant director of public utilities. That's an 8.5 percent increase in water rates, a 2 percent increase in sewer rates and a 9 percent increase in stormwater rates."
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WAYS TO CUT BACK ON WATER USAGE
-fill a plastic half gallon milk jug and
put it in your toilet's tank
-reduce the amount of flushes.
"If it's yellow let it mellow.
If it's brown flush it down."
-Fix any faucet drips.
- Check your toilets for leaks
Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install.
-Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks
Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
-Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators.
-Use Your Dishwasher
Contrary to popular belief, it takes more water to hand-wash dishes than it takes to wash them in the dishwasher.
-Shower Instead of Taking Baths
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it takes 35 gallons of water to fill the average bathtub. Switch to a five-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead, and you'll save 22.5 gallons each time you scrub up!
-Switch to a Low-Flow Toilet
When it's time to replace your toilet, replace it with a low-flow model that uses 1.6 gallons per flush, compared to a traditional toilet, which use 3.6 gallons.
-Wear Clothes More than Once
Pants and outwear usually don't get very dirty. Wear them twice before washing, and you'll cut down on your water use and your housework. Now that's hard to argue with
-Install a Tankless Hot Water Heater
When it's time to replace your hot water heater, consider upgrading to a tankless unit (also known as an on-demand water heater), it heats water faster and only when you need it – a water savings and an energy savings.
-Collect Rain Water for Plants
Attach rain barrels to the end of your gutter drain spouts to collect rainwater. Then, use it to water your plants and to wash your car.
-Use a Wading Pool Instead of a Sprinkler
Fill a wading pool for your kids, instead of letting them play in the sprinkler. They can splash around for hours without the continuous flow of water.
-Stop weekly or monthly fish tank cleanings. Pouring the old water down the sink and refilling the tank with fresh water wastes gallons of water. Instead, you should install a filtration system that will cut down on the number of times that you need to clean the tank. When you do clean the fish tank, use the old water to irrigate your plants.
-Wash your car at a coin operated car washing establishment. You are less likely to waste water if you must complete washing your car within a set time.
-Don't use the commode to dispose of such items as facial tissues, cotton swabs, and cotton balls. Put them in a waste-paper basket. Using the commode for trash disposal probably will lead to unnecessary flushings.
-The permanent press cycle on most automatic clothes washers uses approximately one-third more water than the regular cycle. Therefore, limiting your use of the permanent press cycle will save water.
-Install your water heater as near as possible to the area in which the most hot water is used. The farther the water heater is away from the point of use, the greater the amount of cool water which must be run off before hot water reaches the tap.
-Cover wading and swimming pools when they are not in use to reduce evaporation. Evaporation necessitates the use of more water to keep the pools filled.
-Don't Pre-Rinse Dishes
Scrape food from plates, and let your dishwasher do the rest.
-Keep Drinking Water in the Fridge
Then, you won't waste water while you wait for the tap to get cold.
-Insulate your water pipes.
It's easy and inexpensive to insulate your water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe insulation. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.
-Take shorter showers.
One way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water.
-Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush
There is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.
-Rinse your razor in the sink
Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.
-Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads
-Minimize use of kitchen sink garbage disposal units
-When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing
-Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables
-Plant drought-resistant lawns, shrubs and plants
- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants
Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth. Adding 2 - 4 inches of organic material such as compost or bark mulch will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture. Press the mulch down around the dripline of each plant to form a slight depression which will prevent or minimize water runoff.
-. Water your lawn only when it needs it
A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn't need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. Letting the grass grow taller (to 3") will also promote water retention in the soil.
Most lawns only need about 1" of water each week. During dry spells, you can stop watering altogether and the lawn will go brown and dormant. Once cooler weather arrives, the morning dew and rainfall will bring the lawn back to its usual vigor. This may result in a brown summer lawn, but it saves a lot of water.
-Water during the early parts of the day; avoid watering when it's windy
Early morning is generally better than dusk since it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Early watering, and late watering, also reduce water loss to evaporation. Watering early in the day is also the best defence against slugs and other garden pests. Try not to water when it's windy - wind can blow sprinklers off target and speed evaporation.
-Don't run the hose while washing your car
Clean the car using a pail of soapy water. Use the hose only for rinsing - this simple practice can save as much as 150 gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more efficient use of water. Better yet, use a waterless car washing system; there are several brands, such as EcoTouch, which are now on the market.
-Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
