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4 Tips for Lowering Your Energy Bill

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There’s nothing like receiving an energy bill that makes you spit your coffee out. Prices are on the rise, and as such, many households are struggling to pay their bills comfortably. However, the good news is that you can lower your energy bill by taking the right measures. It’s as simple as making the decision to change your habits, and you can significantly lower your energy expenses. 

What’s even better news is that lowering your energy bill doesn’t just help save you more money— you’re doing your part to benefit the environment as well. Here are some of the best tips for lowering your energy bill right away.

Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance is a must when it comes to keeping your HVAC system up to date and in working order. 

It’s equally important to repair appliances like your freezer if you suspect it’s draining more energy than it should.

Schedule routine maintenance appointments that cover everything from replacing filters to general tune-ups. They’ll also inspect and clean your appliances, ensuring that everything’s in working order. Sometimes, if they can detect a problem early on, you can save a substantial amount of money compared to letting the problem persist.

Lower Your Thermostat

The first step is ensuring your thermostat is at the right temperature. Adjust the temperature when you’re not at home to avoid wasting unnecessary energy, and consider installing an HVAC system that can be controlled remotely. This will save you significant amounts of money throughout the year, as you never have to worry about forgetting to turn off the heat or air conditioner again.

Insulate Your Home

A major culprit for excessive energy bills is not having an insulated home. Unfortunately, hot or cold air leaking out doesn’t just mean you’re uncomfortable because your home doesn’t stay at the desired temperature; it also results in astronomical energy bills. 

Your HVAC system has to work on overdrive to try and reach its set temperature. However, with so much outside air coming in, it’s impossible to keep up.

Adopt the Right Habits

Sometimes lowering your energy bill is as simple as adopting the right habits. Get into the habit of turning off the lights when you leave the room, and consider turning appliances off or unplugging them when you leave the house. 

What many people don’t realize is that even a plugged-in device can still suck up energy regardless of whether it’s on or not. Totally switching off the electricity using power strips can save you a significant amount of money throughout the year. 

In addition to turning off lights and unplugging or turning off your devices, consider using natural light whenever possible. Relying on the sun until it sets can save you a lot of money and is also incredibly beneficial for the environment.

3 Health Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen for a Young Family

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From ready-to-assemble outdoor kitchens to built-in grills, creating a dedicated space for cooking outdoors is a popular trend for a reason. But for young families, the benefits go beyond just aesthetics and convenience.  An outdoor kitchen can be a surprising asset to your family’s health and well-being. 

Here are 3 key ways an outdoor kitchen can promote a healthier lifestyle for you and your young ones. 

Increased Vitamin D Intake

If you want to keep your family’s bones strong, boost their immune system, and uplift their mood, getting enough vitamin D is really important. Unfortunately, many people, even kids, don’t get as much sun as they need.

Cooking and dining in an outdoor kitchen is a great way to soak up some natural vitamin D. When you’re outside, the sun’s rays trigger your body to produce this essential vitamin, keeping your family healthy and happy.

Imagine your family whipping up a delicious barbecue in your backyard kitchen on a sunny weekend. As you marinate those chicken skewers and chop up vibrant veggies, your kids are playing around, soaking up the sun. And when it’s time to dig in, you all enjoy your grilled feast under the bright sky, topping up your vitamin D levels while having a blast.

Reduced Indoor Air Pollution

Cooking indoors can release all sorts of pollutants – like carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which aren’t great for your family’s lungs, especially the little ones.

By cooking outdoors, you can avoid all that indoor air pollution. With the fresh air around your outdoor kitchen, those pollutants disperse harmlessly, leaving the air inside your home cleaner and healthier.

Picture your family cooking up a storm in your outdoor kitchen, sizzling salmon and veggies for dinner. The delicious smells float through the air, but you’re not worried about any indoor air nasties. Everyone digs into their meal without a care, knowing they’re breathing easy and keeping their lungs happy.

Encourages Physical Activity

We all know staying active is key to staying healthy, but sometimes it’s hard to get moving, especially for the kids who’d rather be glued to screens.

With an outdoor kitchen, you’re not just cooking, you’re moving. From gathering ingredients to flipping burgers on the grill, there’s plenty of activity to go around. It’s a fun way to get the whole family up and about, burning some calories while you’re at it.

Imagine your family gearing up for a barbecue in your backyard kitchen. While you prep the grill, the kids are excitedly running around, helping out and setting the table. Throughout the cooking process, everyone’s on their feet, getting those muscles moving. And when it’s time to feast, you all sit down feeling satisfied, not just from the food, but from the active time spent together.

So, consider an outdoor kitchen for your family!

Top House Makeover Ideas

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Tired of seeing the same old rooms at home? Thinking that what you need is a change? Then why not go for it? Making over a room or two in your home does not mean that you have to undertake a huge project. A little addition here, a little remodeling there – these can go a long way. Here are some of the best and simplest house makeover ideas that you will certainly love.

Add a touch of the traditional to a modern room. Modern does it for a lot of people. Sleek minimalist looks appeal to the modern professional, but sometimes, it just gets too stiff. If you are experiencing this feeling, then I suggest getting a traditional item or two. Get yourself an antique ceramic bowl or vase. A brass candle holder will do the trick as well. Turn that first tip around – add a modern touch to a traditional room. A steel table or book shelf can add a splash of life into an otherwise too traditional room.

If you have lampshades in your bedroom, try changing the cover. If it’s paper, it will be easier: paint the shade with a color that appeals to you. Even better, choose a color that you normally can’t find in the department store!

Get a bench or a trunk and place it at the foot of your bed. It will serve as storage space and add a whole new look to the bedroom! If you’re into antiques, a nice treasure chest would do very well. If not, try something with a more modern look.

Germ “Centers” You May Not Be Aware Of

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I do not have OCD but sometimes I think that I just might have a tendency for it. I have to wash my hands every so often – I just don’t like the idea that I have germ-laden hands because I pressed a button on the elevator or touched a door knob. Anyway, I do have fixed ideas about which things/places are full of germs. You probably think the same way. But you might be surprised to find out about certain things at home that might be infested with germs – and you might not have even thought about them!

How often do you change your bath towels? Do you share them with your spouse? You might want to change your bath towels more than once a week and NOT share them with your partner (or anyone else). According doctors, bath towels have tons of bacteria that can be transferred from one person to another. Acne and staph are some examples. Oh, and make sure you change your hand towels even more frequently.

Who uses your computer? If someone other than yourself does, do you make sure that his/her hands are clean? Even if you do, one other thing that you should make a habit of is to wipe the keyboard clean at least once a week. From cold germs to flu viruses – these can infest your keyboard.

That fridge is freaking cold, germs will die in there, right? Nope. Experts tell us that the fridge is a breeding ground for germs. The tiniest speck of orange juice or milk that has spilled can contain countless germs; not to mention that piece of leftover bologna sandwich that looks like a science experiment. What to do? Wipe the insides clean at least once a week AND throw away old food.

Don’t take germs for granted. Make sure you keep your house clean!

4 Tips for an Organized Home Office

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Even though working from home offers a considerable amount of flexibility, it can also present a bit of a problem when it comes to your overall  home organization. As if it weren’t complicated enough keeping your home and self organized, throw a home office in, and it can easily become disorganized and even challenging to be productive. 

The good news is that your workspace doesn’t have to become a chaotic add-on to your household. To help you stay organized, here are some of the best tips for a tidy and productive home office that is comfortable to work in. 

Designate an Area

Rather than working in various areas throughout your home, it helps to have a dedicated workspace where you do only work. Creating boundaries between your living space and your workspace won’t just be more aesthetically pleasing, but it also improves your productivity. 

If you see your work papers spread out in the same place where you watch TV or enjoy a nice meal, it may get you disoriented and distracted. Separate these two different worlds so you can enjoy your leisure time when it’s time to relax and also stay productive when it’s time to work.

Declutter

A cluttered workspace means a cluttered state of mind. Only keep necessary objects on your desk, like a cup of pens, a paperweight, and your laptop. You can keep your most urgent documents on hand, and the rest file away if you don’t need them on a regular basis. The more you adopt a minimalist approach to your workspace, the fewer distractions you’ll have, and the more focused you’ll be on your tasks.

Organize Your Cables

All it takes are a few different devices to find yourself with a web of cables taking over your desk. Instead of allowing this chaotic mess of cables to take over, buy a few different cable management tools that will help you keep everything neatly arranged. 

In addition to investing in cable organizers, you should also consider labeling your cables. That way, when you need to disconnect or connect something quickly, you know exactly what you’re unplugging. Organizing your cables won’t just look cleaner, but it makes it much easier to navigate your workspace.

Clean Daily

Electronic devices tend to attract a lot of dust and grime. Not to mention, you’re probably usually drinking coffee in your workspace, or even eating during your breaks. As such, your workspace can start to build up with food, drink, and dust debris. Do yourself a favor and clean daily. This routine will make your space much easier to keep clean since you do it in small spurts rather than putting it off into larger chunks.