I thought I was prepared for winter.

I took some steps to winterize my house, we’ve added insulated curtains, and have been wearing our smart wool socks we got for Christmas.  But now I hear that according to Punxsutawney Phil, we’ll have 6 more weeks of winter.

Thank goodness!

I can’t wait for Spring to get here.  I’ve already mentioned how my back is tired from all the shoveling, now my wallet is ailing from the high electric bills.

I don’t know what the first thing you would do if you got a $485 electric bill, but the first thing I did was turn down the furnace.  It was set at 68 degrees, so I lowered it to 67 (Kept it at 63 overnights). The next thing I did was turn off all the lights.

My precious daughter is on kick about turning on lights.  I think she likes this so much because she is finally tall enough to flip the switch herself. But her new found hobby leaves us with a bunch of lights on.  It’s cute, but not that cute.

So for the past month I’ve been pretty adamant about “when not in use turn off the juice.”  Lights have been off, heat slightly lower.  I was actually looking forward to getting our next bill to see how much all our hard work has paid off.

$468…Ugh.

While January was just as cold as December, I still hoped there would be a bigger drop off in our bill.  I guess I could lower the thermoset some more, but it’s already pretty chilly and it didn’t really do all that much last month(but I probably will go down to 66).

In addition to being able to see our breath in our house and reading by candle light, I think it may be time to make an action plan for reducing electric costs.  Luckily I didn’t have to go very far to find some great resources.

In fact I didn’t have to leave The Happy Rock:

• Spartan Saving – I found this site listed under “Top Commentators.”  This site has lots of great tips for saving money around the house.
• Vampire Power – Frugal Dad (listed under “Personal Finance”) wrote about how our household electric devises are sucking energy even when they are turned off.
• Switch our light bulbs – The Simple Dollar (also listed under ”Personal Finance”) broke down the cost benefits of using different types of bulbs  (A side note, a local lighting store talked me out of buying 5 CFLs last year telling me that I’d be crazy to spend $45 on CFLs when I could get old fashion lights for $2).

I think these are all great ideas/tips that I will adding to the mix to help lower my monthly electric bills.  I’ll probably also sign up for the “budget plan” so I can spread the pain of the winter bills to the other months.

That way there won’t be any huge surprises next winter.

Now it’s time for me to turn to you.  Did I miss anything?  What are some of your favorite energy saving tricks?  As always, thanks for sharing.

Until next time,

-DD

Original content from The Happy Rock: Runaway Electric Bill – Looking For Electricity Savings Tips

On the heels of Debt Defier’s commitment to attempt a cash only month I have a food related experiment that I am doing for September.   Hopefully, the Debt Defier has better luck with cash only spending than I did.

I will be attempting to buy only ingredients for the whole month of September.   I know that might sound a little vague, but here is the idea…buy only items that are naturally occurring and can be used to make meals.   The goal is to cut out things like crackers, chips, expensive veggie burgers, and ice cream to increase my intake of fresh vegetables and fruits while being able to control the exact quality and quantity of ingredients on all the food that I eat.

The main goals are :

• To Save Money. Ingredients are cheaper.  A box of chips ahoy is $3.50 while you can make a batch of much more healthful cookies for much less, especially if the oven is already hot.  A Lean Cuisine is $4.00 but you can make a healthy pasta meal with vegetables that will feed a family and have leftovers for the same price. A Snickers from the vending machine each day costs you about $200 a year plus it will add about 20 pounds if you don’t burn the extra calories.   Eating healthier will also save money on medical bills.
• Gain Energy. With the reduction of simple processed carbohydrates and sugars and increasing more healthful foods I will should feel better rested and have more energy.  The food we ate is closely connected to our physical nature.  I have noticed a large increase in energy and motivation as my eating habits have migrating to a much healthier diet over the years.  I can now see the effects of a loose eating weekend and how it affects my overall energy and even my sleep. Hopefully there isn’t a major detox period from all the snacks and sugar.  So far the psychological need to snack is the biggest hurdle.
• Promote Healthy Habits. Treat my body better in order to improve overall healthfulness.  Also changes like this tend to inspire other healthy changes like more physical activity.   I hope to pick up with the 100 push up challenge were I got side tracked.  Energy, rest, and health also contribute to overall happiness.
• Encourage More Experimentation. Experiments keep you on your toes.  They make life and change exciting without a long term commitment in case you don’t like the experiments outcome.  Experimentation also breeds more willingness to change.

With that said the experiment will have to be a little vague, because I can’t anticipate the full range of ramifications.  I will try and adhere to the guidelines and the spirit of the experiment as much as possible and make executive decisions as I go.   I know ingredients for some are prepackaged food for others.  Things like bread and pasta can be made at home, but for most they would count them as ingredients.  For me, for now, they are ingredients as they don’t constitute a ready to ate food/meal.  Maybe I will try my hand at baking my own bread, but for now I found to focus on the low hanging fruit like vending machines at work, expensive frozen foods, protein bars, etc.  Anyone feel inspired to embark on a similar journey?

For those that want a crazy challenge The Happy Rockette is attempting a 100% raw vegan diet for the month of September.  I wasn’t quite ready for the type of discipline needed for full raw foodism, but I am interested to see if The Rockette gets the reported major improvements in mental clarity, weight loss, energy boosts, libido burst, other overall health benefits.  She isn’t planning a life long switch, since from her professional opinion(Registered Dietitian) it isn’t a sustainable lifestyle, but I love her willingness to try an extreme experiment!

Original content from The Happy Rock: The Ingredient Experiment – Save Money And Eat Better

I have admitted it before, The Rockette have never lived on a formal budget. The closest we come to real budgeting is what I label retroactive budgeting. This is when you come up with reasonable spending amount for the different categories like groceries, clothing, entertainment, etc. Then at the end the month you compare the actual totals to your suggested limits.

When we were in the midst of shedding our 70k in debt, we did this almost every month. As the debt shrunk, so did frequency of our retroactive budgeting. I have been trying to decide whether this is a negative thing.

Three things happened as our debt decreased and was eliminated.

1. Our behavior and spending patterns changed. With less debt and new spending habits our monthly totals feel within a reliable range.
2. As the immediacy of the situation abated, so did our intensity. Our intensity got us through the tough times and turned the tide, but then our attention slowly began to leak elsewhere.
3. I felt like we earned the right to not check. Not checking as closely became the reward!

The thing is, changing the direction of the net worth train and your financial habits is heavy tiring work. Work that pays off down the road and work that removes stress. For those of you that are in the midst of an intense debt struggle, this can be a light at the end of the tunnel. For those of us who weathered the storm and are in cruise control, you know that freedom that is created from not having to worry and stress over your finances.

Sometimes, I think I am sacrificing financial efficiency, because of laziness. Other times I remember that the reason I got out of debt was to have the freedom to focus on other areas of my life without having my finances dictate decisions. Obviously, I think the latter is more often the reality or else I would be much more diligent about checking.

What are the readers opinion on the matter? Are you earning the right to ‘slack’, or are you going to better off if you stay focused and efficient?

Original content from The Happy Rock: Do We Earn The Right Not To Budget?

Consider two similar working mothers: one who wants to get out of debt because a few of her friends starting getting our of debt. The other woman decides to get out of debt, so that she can provide a more secure environment for her children by quitting her job to pursue a life goal of staying at home full time. If you had to bet on which one will succeed at becoming debt free, which one would it be?

Maybe the example is too simplistic, but I hope the point is clear. Having goals is very helpful, but having purpose will change your life. The woman who feels called to be at home with her children will be motivated far beyond that of the first woman. If we can begin to define answers to the questions ‘who are we?’ and ‘what are we meant to do in life?’, our lives will begin to reorient themselves around these answers. Purpose fuels our passion, which in turn should lead to making measurable goals. The goal becomes important, not because it is a ‘good’ goal, but because it is a step towards achieving your deep fulfilling purpose in life. When the goal is the end in and of itself, there is nothing to motivate us. We are limited to the extent that our self discipline will keep us on track. I know for most that this isn’t a promising picture.

“Ever more people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for” -Victor Frankl(concetration camp survivor)

If you connect with these words, then there is no better time to start trying to find the deeper meaning in your lives. It may take us years, even a lifetime, but our lives will never again be the same.

Original content from The Happy Rock: Having Goals Is Great, But Having Purpose Is Better

A funny thing happened as I was about to get in the shower this morning, I noticed that there was a little definition to my upper abs. I am not talking about a Muscle and Fitness 6-pack here, but maybe a 1-2 pack developing! You’re thinking “big deal”………the trick is that I haven’t worked out in months.

How did I do it? With the ingenious invention of rubber and air shown on the left. That’s right, I started sitting on a plain exercise ball at work(not the odd contraption to the right).

The transition started when I got tired of sitting on a chair at my computer for 8 hours a day. I tried standing at work for a month or two, and that was good most of the time. The only downside was when you were tired or really didn’t feel like standing. Changing the desk to sitting level wasn’t an easy task.

Then I came across this great article over at Gearfire, and I was sold.

It has been a little over a month since I ordered a Valeo (75cm) exercise ball from Amazon for a little over 11 dollars(free shipping with Amazon Prime). The ball came with an adequate pump, measuring device, and exercise poster. I brought it into work and pumped it up, and decided to jump right in. I will warn you that the pump makes an annoying whistling sound for the 10 minutes it take to pump up. The pumping created a lot of inquisitive visitors to my cubicle. Being in moderate physical shape I ditched my chair and sat on the workout ball 40 hours a week. It has been about 5 weeks, and all I can say is give it a try!

Here is my analysis :

Pros

• Happiness Factor – This is one I didn’t see coming. I was smiling as I bounced around on the ball. It is a great feeling receiving happiness from such a little change in your life. As time rolls on this effect may fade some, but it has been the best part of the change for me.

• It Works – I don’t have scientific data, but I do have observable subjective data that points to a strengthening of the core and burning of calories. There has been a noticeable change in the composition of my abs and obliques. Less fat and a little more muscle.
• More Energy – I only felt tired twice in 5 weeks versus close to once a day in a normal chair. With a little bouncing, energy returns and so does a smile.

• No Effort – It is not often that you can hack your life to get positive benefits out of everyday activities. Sitting on the ball hasn’t been strenuous or bothersome at any time. Some people may need to work up to a full day, which would require a little more effort and some fatigue(after that it’s smooth sailing). I am proud to report no falls, although the occasional stumble will inevitably happen.
• Stretch Factor - Because of the added mobility, I found myself compelled to do little stretches throughout the day. My hamstrings are especially grateful.

• The Talk Factor – It will definitely bring you some positive attention, and some sideward glances. Personally, I have enjoyed the “ball talk” and the influx of people wanting to try it out. Breaking the mold of a traditional business chair will garner you a little attention.

Cons

• Odd Factor – The exercise ball solution may not work in all types of business atmospheres or for all people. I enjoy being odd and breaking the ‘rules’ and am decent shape, so it worked for me. I have read some people with back problems who thought it was great.

• Insurance Factor – I am not sure companies like the idea that employees could get hurt while sitting.

• Doesn’t Force Good Posture – I have read a couple places that sitting on an exercise ball forces good posture, but I don’t think that is true. The ball will definitely remind you much more often to have good posture. It is difficult and maybe a little dangerous to sit on a ball with bad posture, so it forces you to think about good posture often. I guess it is really a positive that it encourages better posture, but my negativity comes from the expectation that it would force good spinal health. I will add that when I sit with bad posture my upper back will get a little tired and stiff.

Given my experience, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. At least a half dozen people said they might try, but none have stepped up to the plate. Will you?

Email or comment if you have any questions, comments, or need some gentle encouragement.

If you aren’t convinced yet to buy a fitness ball as a chair, find some more motivation by watching a hilarious clip from The Office.

Original content from The Happy Rock: Strengthen Your Abs and Burn Calories with No Effort