Tips On How To Save Money When Shopping

Shopping is very addictive. Most of the time, the household budget is sacrificed once you go shopping. Shopping should not give you headaches as long as you know how to budget. Here are the things that you need to remember:

1. Always remember to spend your money wisely whenever you go shopping. Bring only the exact amount of money you need in buying your items. To ensure that you only buy the important things, you have to make a list of the items that you need to buy. You may then budget your money wisely and will prevent you from buying things that are not that important.

2. It is advisable that you compare prices from different stores before buying an item. Do not limit yourself to just one store. There are stores that offer the same quality but can have a lower price. A smart thing you may do is to be attentive to the prices of the items that you buy regularly when shopping. There are instances that a store has an untimely changing of prices on different items.

3. It is recommended that you do your shopping during the end of the season. Prices of many items, especially clothes, are very low and affordable during this time of the year. You may buy clothes in the months of August and September if you are looking for bargain clothes for your summer wear.

4. You may shop in dollar stores where you can find items that are on sale and where prices are low. Although the quality of some items is not the same when you buy in malls and shopping galleries but the merchandises are still new and not yet used. These stores can provide you the best prices that can cope with on your budget.

5. Another way to save money while shopping is to economize the travel you make in finding the stores you want to buy an item. You may take a stop on your daily route to check if the items you buy regularly have not changed their prices or are still in the price of your budget. You may purchase the item even before you do your shopping schedule. This can save you fuel and time.

6. Try to find discount stores that offer quality items that have discounts and can offer a very affordable price on your desired item. The prices on discount stores may vary depending on the season of the year. These stores can be located in large shopping areas like in malls and shopping galleries.

NEW! Click here for more help on how to budget successfully and to learn the eight steps to effectively tackle the process of saving money.

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Cheap Vacation Spots

In this world of heavy costs, if one wants to spend his holidays overseas in some cheap amount of money, he has to select an area of the world to visit rather than visiting top ten vacation spots, which are located so distant from each other. Now let us discuss some of the top and relatively cheap vacation-zones of the world.

The US vacation zone first. It will be cheap for someone, who wants to visit USA if he includes states like Hawaii, Las Vegas, Florida, California, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Colorado, and Los Angeles. In this stretch of the US vacation Spots one may be able to enjoy the beauty of excellent landscapes of mountains, rivers, desert and forest as well. And also he will be able to enjoy the man-made beauties of some excellent monuments and buildings like Tower Stratosphere, Hollywood, Disney Land, and Bear Mountain Bridge etc.

The Second cheap vacation spot comes to the mind is the European Union Territory. This Territory must include Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and Netherlands as the vacation spots. London and Paris are two cities where the vacation can be thoroughly enjoyed. River Tames, Big Ben, Eiffel Tower are the special spices to these two cities. Greece and Italy are two countries with lots and lots of historical monuments. Cities of Venice, Rome, and Athens are really worthy places to visit, located in those two countries! If one wants to spend a beautiful vacation span with snows the Switzerland is the best place for him. Three cities Lucerne, Zurich, and Berne have nice holiday spots and resorts!

The SAAF is another nice place to visit if one wants to spend his vacation is cheap rates. The SAAF area includes countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan. Pakistan will be your choice if you want to spend your holidays in dry condition and Bangladesh if mild climate is wanted. Again Nepal and Bhutan are the places of mountains. Some excellent snow-capped mountains peaks are worth watching in these two countries! Again Maldives and Sri Lanka are must-visited countries if one wants to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of sea beaches. And last but not least, in India you will be able to find every thing mentioned above. India consists of some excellent historical regions to all kind of natural landscapes and excellent man-made monuments too. Cities like Delhi, Kochi, Mumbai, Hyderabad (of India and Pakistan both), Anuradhapura, Dhaka, Katmandu, Thimpu, and Male are really nice places to visit!

The other option of cheap vacation spot is the Australian zone, which includes Australia and New Zealand. Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Auckland are the cities to watch. Landscapes of Sea Beaches and the forests of these two countries are all time famous.

The Southeast Asia is also a good option for the cheap vacation places. This area is famous for sea beach landscapes. The Southeast Asia includes the countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Philippines etc.

There are some other good options in form Japan and Hong Kong too. Now start planning where to visit in this vacation, obviously considering your pocket! Happy vacation!

About the author:
Author Bio
The author is a world wide traveler. He shares his experience about the Best vacation spots, top 10 vacation spots, winter-vacation-spots, cheap-vacation-spots, Family vacation spot, summer vacation spots with us.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

chocolate sauce

My new penny pinching thing to do is homemade chocolate syrup instead of the store bought one for chocolate milk.
On the stove in a small pan, heat up a cup or 2 of water with 5 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 5 tablespoons of sugar and some vanilla extract. I head it all up.
In the mean time put a teaspoon of cornstarch in a cup with a little water, mix it up and add it to the syrup, it will thicken it up a little bit.
Using a funnel, put your new chocolate sauce in the same bottle, the kids might not even notice it's homemade syrup! and it saves you $$$

Hybrid Cars: Do You Really Save With These Fuel Economy Cars?

At the time of this writing, there is a game being played. And in my opinion, the game is called, "confronting the US oil crisis". The major players are the car manufacturers, the government, maybe the EPA and have course the people being the unwitting spectators that are readily lured to the show.

And the game pieces are the fuel economy cars also known as hybrid cars.

I will begin by emphasizing the point that I don't know everything there is to know about this so called "impending oil crisis". And I'm not sure if there is anyone who knows everything there is to know about this impending oil crisis too. However, I am fairly certain that the hybrid cars wouldn't be a prospective solution to the problem; not at least for a few more years.

One would notice a massive influx of hybrid cars on the roads today and yet, did nothing to help put a dent in the oil problems; but instead made a quandary with regards to car-pooling. As early as January 2005, hybrids car owners were allowed to use car pool lanes, even when driving alone. Given the fact that thousands of hybrid cars have been sold since 1999, some of the car pool lanes are becoming more congested than the regular traffic lanes they're supposed to lighten.

According to a compiled report for the past eight years made by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the pervasive presence of the supposedly fuel economy cars have saved only a measly total of 5.5 million oil barrels. It's a rather distressing contrast against the approximate 8.5 million barrels a day to power the present usage of the light, private vehicles. But even then, researchers are very optimistic with regards to fuel economy cars. They have concluded that for fuel economy cars to have an impact, they have to at least cover more than 50% of the car population in the United States. And given the growing sales of these fuel economy cars, it's just a matter of time.

On a more personal note, can fuel economy cars help you cut back on gasoline consumption? Yes they could, depending on your driving habits. However, if you consider the initial cost of the hybrids, you may want to reconsider buying one. One of the biggest challenges of the fuel economy cars is that it takes so long to repay that extra expense of purchasing them. Even in the best-case scenario (as with one of the most popular hybrids, the Toyota Prius), five years time is already considered lucky. One could purchase a standard 4-cylinder Toyota for a much lower price and the fuel economy on these models are just outstanding. Again, this will all depend on you're driving habits. Personally, being a city driver, I get excellent mileage with my four cylinder.

So what is your reasoning to purchase a fuel economy car? Is it for the environmental aspects? Whatever it may be, personally I wouldn't purchase a hybrid car for purely economic reasons.
Kerry Ng
Kerry Ng is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Golf Training Tips Blog. Click here for more helpful information about Golf Training Tips: http://www.mygolftrainingtips.com/fitness-training-for-golf

Electric And Hybrid Cars: A History Far from being a modern conception, electric cars were among the first vehicles on the road...

Gas Saving Devices You Should Avoid And Why

By: Gregg Hall

Most gas saving devices available in the market may actually save gas but on the other hand may adversely affect the quality of gas emission. The EPA describes these devices as below: "Indicated a very small improvement in fuel economy but with an increase in exhaust emissions. According to Federal regulations, installation of this device could be considered illegal tampering"



Let's now look at a set of products that you should ideally stay away from.



Fuel-Max



In June 1981, EPA tested this device manufactured by Fuel Injection Development Corporation. This is an air bleed device. The EPA test results showed a mere increase in mileage in the range of 1.6% to 4.0%. Although the product showed decrease in carbon monoxide emission and also considerable reduction in hydro-carbon generation, it showed substantial increase in the emission of Nitrogen Oxide, which eventually brought the product down.



Waag-Injection System



In Waag Injection system a reservoir of a 50% mixture of water and alcohol is used in the combustion chamber. The EPA conclusions are as follows:



"In summary, throughout all three phases of the test work reported on the W/A Waag-Injection system, significant increases were found in fuel economy; however corresponding increases were found in regulated emissions, both as measured from the vehicles manufacturer's specifications.



It should be noted that although the fuel economy increases observed were statistically significant under controlled laboratory conditions, the magnitudes of these increases were small. The magnitudes of the corresponding and also statistically significant increases in regulated emissions were larger and require further development to eliminate."



ACDS Automotive Cylinder Deactivation System



Finally, the ACDS Automotive Cylinder Deactivation System was meant to deactivate 4 of the 8 cylinders in an eight cylinder engine. It was tested by the EPA in 1981.

The EPA conclusions are as follows:



1. "The operation of a vehicle on four cylinders through the use of the ACDS hardware did cause a substantial increase in vehicle emissions to levels exceeding the applicable 1979 standards. Co-emissions were typically increased several times to levels near or above the standards.



2. NOx emissions were typically twice the standard. These emissions violate the tampering provisions of the Clean Air Act."



3. "The operation of a vehicle on 4 cylinders through the use of ACDS hardware did improve fuel economy 5 to 16% for FTP and 3 to 20% for HFET for those 8 cylinder vehicles tested, but with the associated emission increases described above."



4. "The vehicles had poor drivability when using the ACDS to operate on 4 cylinders.



5. Vehicle acceleration times were substantially increased when the vehicles were operated with 4 cylinders using ACDS. The acceleration times were typically double the comparable times for 8 cylinder operation.



6. The operation of a vehicle on 4 cylinders cause a serious loss of breaking power assistance under some driving conditions.



The EPA website provides comprehensive information on what product to use and what not. It is important that as a consumer you do not get fooled by the long drawn testimonials that all promotional material include.

Author Resource:-> Gregg Hall is an author living on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Now that you know a little more about gas saving devices be sure that you get gas saving products by going to http://www.nsearch.com

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World’s Cheapest Cars

The much-awaited people's car from Tata Motors is supposed to be the world's cheapest car as of today. Nano has a 624 cc engine, four doors and a mileage of 23 kilometers per liter and comes in three different versions including one with air conditioning. Power steering is provided in a Nano. Nano would be available in two deluxe models and a standard model.

Contrary to the criticisms faced pre-launch, Tata Nano satisfies all safety standards and emission laws with an emission lower than that of a two-wheeler. It hits the market at a price of one lakh rupees, which is equivalent to two thousand five hundred US dollars as promised by Ratan Tata, which is the dealer price. The buyer has to bear other expenses like Value Added Tax and transportation expenses. In spite of it, Tata Nano stands as the cheapest car in the world. Chery QQ3 is the second cheapest car with a price of five thousand dollars, which hit the market in 2003.

It is a city car manufactured by Chery Automobile, the Chinese manufacturer that is a household name of the Chinese passenger car industry. Chery QQ3 is equipped with an antilock brake system, dual front airbags, power windows and a Euro III compliant Engine along with air-conditioning.

Chery QQ3 is a sleek looking car with a lot of storage area and comes with a five-door hatch back. Maruthi 800 has reined the world of small cars in India for over two decades since 1983. Maruthi came as an alternative to Ambassador and Fiat for people who craved for a change in their cars. Manufactured by Maruthi Suzuki India Ltd, this car is available for 5200 US dollars and comes in both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned versions.

Maruthi 800, as the name suggests, has an 800 cc engine and is a four seater and has a great fuel efficiency and low maintenance cost. It is easy to drive in the heavy traffic due to its small size and low turning radius. South East Asia and South America and many more countries are all importers of Maruthi 800 cars.

Geely Automobile makes Merrie Star, which is a China based manufacturing company. It is a four-door Sedan car and is priced at 5500 US dollars.
Launched in 2005, Merrie Star is most popular among the middle-income families in China and people who buy for the first time. The manufacturers are Geely's Ningbo, Zhejiang factories and the car has an engine size, which ranges from 1.0 to 1.3 liters and is exported to south East Asia and Africa.

The next in the list of cheapest cars is the HQ or Haoqing S-RV or commonly known as S-RV mini SUV which belongs to the HQ series by Geely Automobile, China.
This car is a great companion due to its unique character of five doors and five-seat capacity.
S-RV Mini SUV car is equipped with adjustable pitches seats, state of the art security system and a luxurious dashboard. The basic price of the car is priced at 5780 US dollars. The upgraded version includes additional features such as air-conditioning, central locking and power steering.Nissan, Volkswagen, Toyota, Fiat and many more are also programmed to make cheep small cars as more people now prefer cheaper and energy efficient cheap cars.


About the Author
Visit http://www.tatananoonline.net to know how the world's cheapest car - Tata Nano - was built and how to buy it online.

Used Cars Used Cars

How to save money when buying clothes

How to Save Money When Buying Clothes

By: Daniel Millions

With the cost of gas, food and mortgages rising every day many are looking for ways to save money. Fortunately, you can still save money when you purchase clothes for your family. There are some easy ways to save money when you buy clothes.

Make a List Before Shopping. When you go clothes shopping without a list, a store tempts you with its attractive displays and the latest styles. All of a sudden, you are drawn to buy things you might not have considered otherwise. However if you have an exact list of what you need for each family member it is much harder for you to be tempted. You'll find that with your list in your hand you can take the store by storm, looking easily for these exact items. When the store does not have the items at the price you want: you can choose to shop somewhere else.

Do Comparison Shopping Online First. Many retail stores have online stores where you can see a majority of their inventory. Visit these online stores to see if they have what you want. This will give you a good sense of their prices and exactly what type of merchandise they do carry. The store may not have all of its merchandise listed on the website; this is still an excellent opportunity for you to see a great deal of what they do have at their in-store locations. Some comparison-shopping can save you a great deal of time.

Locate Coupons to Save Money. Many stores now offer coupons to help draw in the shoppers to come to their stores. Some may wonder why a store would offer a coupon, often these stores think that shoppers will simply spend exactly what they originally budgeted and will at times spend even more for splurge items that are listed at sale prices! A sale can be very tempting to customers if they are not thinking logically. Being organized and practical though, a sale is an ideal opportunity for a family to save a great deal of money. Many families shop regular sales to save money on things that they were hoping to find even at regular price.

Remember to Look for What you Need, not What you Want. Some shoppers are so easily tempted; they will often buy what they want and not just what they need. When you buy what you need, your budget and finances stay under control. Your family then saves money on clothing and other items you may need. When you start to look for items that you want, simply for the sake of wanting them, this is a true danger zone.

An example of this is that you need a good winter coat to stay warm but you want one with real fur around the collar. You truly do not need the real fur around the collar; it has no practical use in keeping you warm and is just a way to look attractive. Looking at other coats will most likely be less expensive. Start by looking for what you need and not what you want.

Shoppers can save money on clothes by being sensible and practical. Thinking ahead of time always is the best rule of thumb. Even if you need to make an immediate purchase, you can still get a great bargain saving money on clothes. Remember that the store is not in control of your wallet: you are!

Author Resource:-> If you are looking for high fashion discount clothing and Toej or Bukser just click one of the links.

Article From Talkinmince Article Directory

Energy-Saving Lightbulbs

Energy-Saving Lightbulbs a Health Danger
Some energy-saving lightbulbs emit enough harmful ultraviolet radiation to cause sunburn if placed too close to the body. These fluorescent lightbulbs, which are coil-shaped and unencapsulated, are promoted as energy-savers since they use about two-thirds less energy and last ten times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. But Britain’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) issued a warning to people who use the bulbs close to their bodies, such as in reading lamps or in their occupations, such as jewelry makers, and those who have medical conditions that make them sensitive to UV light.

If skin is in very close proximity to the bulbs, it gets the same exposure as if it were exposed to bright sun. The HPA advises people not to use the bulbs any closer than twelve inches from the body for any longer than one hour a day. Those who use lightbulbs close to the body for longer periods should switch to an encapsulated form which is shaped more like a traditional bulb.
The agency doesn’t say that the lightbulbs could cause skin cancer, but they do believe they could cause sunburn.
Still, they advise people not remove most bulbs from their homes.
“This is precautionary advice,” said HPA’s Chief Executive Justin McCracken.
“We are advising people to avoid using the open lightbulbs for prolonged close work until the problem is sorted out and to use encapsulated bulbs instead. In other situations where people are not likely to be very close to the bulbs for any length of time, all types of compact fluorescent lightbulbs are safe to use." The safety of the new lightbulbs has been questioned before. They contain a small amount of mercury and some scientists fear it could cause brain and kidney damage if the bulb is accidently broken and mercury vapor is inhaled. Even unbroken bulbs could eventually contaminate soil and ground water if improperly disposed.

Editor's Note:

Hidden Dangers Make Your Home a Health Risk.

Money savings tips for online shoppers

Many people enjoy online shopping because they have the ability to sift through many stores in a short period of time to find the best sales. However, if you know where to find discount voucher codes, you can save even more than just time. The great thing about looking for discount codes for your favorite shops before you start browsing is that you can save more off an already on sale item if you have a few promotional codes to choose from.

For those who have never used voucher codes before, the way they work is that when you checkout at a store that accepts promotional codes, you simply have to enter a 6-9 digit code that will automatically save you anywhere from 5-60% off your purchase. So if you are a shopper who has already found a great deal on an item, with your discount vouchers you can easily save more!

Just think of the opportunities when you start shopping online with promotional codes. Typically, since you end up paying 20% of an items cost in shipping, if you purchase an item with discount vouchers that save you at least that much, you are essentially getting your shipping free or even paid to purchase an item online! If you use voucher codes, you can eliminate the only drawback to shopping online and save even more money.

After all, what ends a shopping trip better than walking out of a store and knowing you just saved a bundle. Well, you don’t even have to walk into a store to save a bundle with voucher codes, all you have to do is enter a few digits into your checkout screen and watch your savings add up. Plus, if you know where to check online, there are thousands of promotional codes waiting for you to use.

About the Author: More tips about Bargain Online Shopping and how to use online Discount Vouchers.

Got Shoes? Keep Your Favorite Pair Longer With These Shoe Care Tips

Wandering the vast landscapes, ancient man had to endure hot sand, freezing snow and rugged terrain in order to search for food and other resources. Protecting bare feet from harsh elements made shoes an ingenious advancement. As time went on, shoes became more specialized and a variety of styles were created to tackle specific tasks that were to be undertaken. This led to the birth of the shoe fashion industry that created the demand for shoes that emphasized individuality, personal identity and social class.

It was not uncommon for an aristocratic woman in ancient Greece to have more than 20 pairs of shoes and a servant to care for them. This is no different than the stereotypical, shoe-obsessed Carrie Bradshaw character with over $40,000 worth of shoes but no place to live. British women spend over 1,000 pounds per year on shoes and 10% of British admit women to having at least 100 pairs of shoes. Even the obsessed realize that shoes are important to our health and survival. They know that poorly maintained or shoes that don't fit well can cause pain, blisters and other serious conditions.
There are many reasons to ignore the pressure to consider shoes a disposable product including:
* Saving money.
* Making a very expensive pair last longer.
* Preserving a favorite pair that is no longer made.
* Reusing a pair for a younger child.
* The opportunity to donate your shoes when you no longer wear them.
* Keeping shoes out of landfills.The basics of maintaining the condition of shoes depends on the materials used to construct them. Follow the guidelines below to keep your favorite pair of shoes in good condition.

1. Leather is a very common, durable, and aesthetically pleasing material used in all kinds of shoes. If not taken care of properly, leather is known to dry out, crack, and fall apart. It is recommended that leather shoes be periodically polished to maintain a healthy level of moisture. Polishing also provides a protective layer that repels water and dirt, keeping your leather shoes impeccably clean and presentable. Shoe polishing products are very easy to find, but if they are not within arms reach, petroleum jelly or castor oil are great buffers with castor oil providing more effective waterproofing.

2. Suede and nubuck are very similar to leather in look and texture but they are incredibly delicate and easily damaged by water. To prevent suede and nubuck from becoming damaged waterproof them. When these shoes get dirty a soft bristled brush can be used to lightly lift away dirt. There are other products made to clean these materials such as a suede bar which is a product made of rubber used to rub out dirt marks like an eraser. But common household items like masking tape can be used in a similar fashion and are remarkably effective. Sometimes these materials get so dirty that the only way to clean them is to scrape away the top layer of the material. Consider using a shoe repair shop for this type of maintenance.

3. Shoes made of textile or canvas are not as hard to keep clean. These include your common sport shoes, tennis shoes, or casual walking shoes. These shoes are normally machine or hand washable which makes life very easy. Keeping your shoes clean in general will leave them in wearable condition making you less likely to throw them out. The only drawback to a textile or canvas shoe is that its durability is nowhere near leather. These shoes are produced with the intent of being a disposable product and they do not repair well. Taking care of them by interchanging them with other pairs of shoes will lower the wear and tear compared to a situation where they are used on a daily basis. There are other generic methods of keeping your shoes in good shape. Using a shoe horn will allow you to avoid breaking down the collar of your shoe, which is the area that wraps around your foot above your heel.
lso, a more expensive pair might make it worth the effort of finding a good repair shop.

Even those not obsessed with shoes can benefit by keeping them well maintained. You can reduce the environmental impact by keeping shoes out of a landfill as long as possible, you will save money and you will be happy to know that your favorite pair of shoes that are no longer made can be worn for years. Your shoes are vitally important in your everyday life, so there is no shame in taking a little extra care of them. (c) 2008, Odd Shoe Finder. Reprints welcomed so long as the article and by-line are not changed and all links are made live.

Kent Basson is the founder of OddShoeFinder.com an online website that helps people find mismatched or single shoes. The site was created after Kent's sister suffered a foot injury that resulted in her having to buy two different sized shoes. After searching the web, he discovered the problem is far more common resulting in millions of unused, mismatched pairs of shoes that can now be given away, sold or purchased at http://www.oddshoefinder.com/

Lamo Sheepskin Lady's Pompom Boot Boots - Sand - Women "You won't find such great quality at such a great price elsewhere! This boot is set in a suede upper with stitched detailing over toe box and a plush boot shaft accented with pom poms. Lined with plush and authentic sheepskin, which is a unique and versatile material. It has a low heat exchange rate, which means outside temperatures will be slow to affect your foot. It also absorbs moisture twice as well as cotton, which circulates through the fur, eventually evaporating completely. Thick rubber outsole for premium traction"

The Humble Potato May be the Solution to the Global Food Crisis

Submitted by sverdlow

The rise in food prices has affected the entire world, especially third world countries like Egypt and Haiti, where the high cost of food has already lead to violence. A variety of factors have been blamed for the global food crisis, including the rise in fuel and energy prices and increased demand in countries with suddenly booming economies, like India and China, as well as climate changes wreaking havoc on crops. A lot of farmers have changed their crops from food to fuel, speculating on the interest in alternative fuels. The solution, then would be a crop that is not being used as an alternative fuel, like the potato. To focus attention on this, the United Nations named 2008 the International Year of the Potato, calling the vegetable a "hidden treasure."

Potatoes are native to Peru, and can be grown at almost any elevation or climate: from the barren, frigid slopes of the Andes Mountains to the tropical regions of Asia. They require very little water, mature in as little as 50 days, and can yield between two and four times more food per hectare than wheat or rice.
The humble tuber is less expensive than wheat or rice and provides excellent nutrition in the hungry world. Despite the bad rap potatoes get in the Western World for being carb-heavy, but they have a lot of nutrition, including being just 110 calories. Potatoes have nearly half of the Daily Value of vitamin C and are one of the best sources of potassium and fiber.

Potatoes also have more protein than corn and nearly twice the calcium when boiled. Interest in alternative fuel sources has led many of the world's farmers to speculate on their crops, using their fields for biofuel crops like corn and wheat, rather than food crops, which has been part of the food crisis.
The potato is now being investigated to help with food security.
In Peru, the government has instituted a program encouraging bakers to use potato flour, rather than wheat flour in an effort to bypass the high cost of wheat.
Potato bread is being used to feed everyone from school children to prisoners and the military in the hope the trend will catch on to the masses. Although potatoes originated in Peru, Peruvians eat significantly fewerless potatoes than European countries. The developing world is where most new potato crops are being planted, and as consumption rises, poor farmers have a chance to earn more money. Potatoes do not have a lot of speculative interest in the global economy because they are difficult to transport without getting blight. But thanks to experiments in German engineering, virus-free potatoes are on the way, making transport and selling of potatoes on the global food market a real possibility and a potential solution to the problems the food crisis has brought about.


About the Author
The WeEarth Network is an environmental social network enabling us to explore our connectedness with each other and with our changing world. Find more information about socially and environmentally responsible living at WeEarth.com. Source: ArticleTrader.com

Five Ways to Cut Energy Usage Around the House

Submitted by dane

It takes unimaginable amounts of energy to power the United States, and the needs is constantly growing. As global warming and fuel crises gain more and more public attention, people everywhere are now looking for ways to live a greener lifestyle. But this doesn't mean rebuilding your home to run on solar energy, or overhauling your current lifestyle. There are plenty of small, simple things you can do every day to help reduce your household's energy consumption (and even waste). Here are five effective changes you can make right now.

1.Turn Off the Lights

We've all heard this a million times, whether in the midst of an energy crisis or not. But that doesn't make it any less true. By turning off the lights when you leave a room, or simply using one light instead of several, you can save big bucks on your electric bill over time. Plus, you'll cut back on a lot of wasted energy by using it more sparingly. Also, installing lower wattage bulbs not only reduce energy use, they also typically last longer, meaning you'll save money on your shopping bills, too.

2.Check Your Insulation

Poor insulation can cost you big time in wasted energy. Year round, insulation works to keep your house cool or warm, depending on the season. If you have poor quality insulation, or if it's old and losing effectiveness, you could be wasting not only an incredible amount of energy, but you could also be significantly overspending on your electricity bills. Just like it doesn't make sense to leave the air conditioner on with the windows open, heating or cooling a house with poor insulation is both wasteful and ineffective (and frankly, kind of silly).

3.Fix LeaksDrip, drip, drip.

Leaky faucets are huge water wasters, particularly because people often think of a leak as a small problem how much water can really be wasted by a tiny drip? Well, you'd be surprised. Just plug the sink or tub for a day and see how quickly that drip, drip, drip fills it up. If you spot a leak, fix it as quickly as possible (you may even be able to do it yourself, if you catch it early enough). Not only is it the responsible thing to do for the environment, it's the responsible thing to do for your budget, too.

4.Consolidate Wash Loads

Washing machines and dishwashers use an incredible amount of water, so next time you're going to do a load of laundry or dishes, make sure you have enough things that need cleaning to fill the load and maximize your water and power usage. If there are only a few dirty plates or clothes, either wait until you have more to do, or simply wash what you need by hand.

5.Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle

Being conscientious about your household's waste is the first step toward a greater environmental awareness. There are lots of ways to cut back on waste: eat leftovers; use old rags for cleaning instead of paper towels; recycle bottles, cans and paper products the list goes on and on. And always donate unwanted items instead of throwing them away you'll not only be helping the environment, you'll also be helping someone in need.

How to Save Real Money When Running the Family Car

Your car will serve you well, and cost effectively, if you take the time to learn a few basic maintenance skills. Ready to start? Let's go. There are many areas where you can save real money when running your car. Some of these are:- Actual running expenses- Minimizing serving costs- Reducing the slide in value as it gets olderLet's look at each of these areas in turn.

Actual Running Expenses - save on day-to-day running costs
a) Go easy on the throttle and the brake pedals. If you anticipate the traffic and road conditions a little more, you can save fuel and brake pad wear. Don't be in such a hurry, go easy on the car controls.
b) Keep the tires at the correct pressure. If they look to be wearing unevenly, get them checked. Get a wheel alignment done at least once a year.
c) Shop around for the best fuel deal. Use coupons or dockets always.
d) When it's time for new tires, shop around. Don't be afraid to ask "What is your best price?"
Compare prices and brands. Get to know the most suitable tire for your type of driving needs.
Play off one retailer against another. The same goes for brake pads. Don't just accept any quote.

Minimizing Service Costs - keep these to a minimum
a) Learn to do your own oil change and greasing. This is not a very arduous job. I actually enjoy the time under the car. Changing the oil, oil filter and greasing only needs to take less than 1/2 an hour altogether, but can save you a substantial amount of money. Just be sure doing this does not void your warranty. You can also easily change the air filter saving you even more money.
b) Get to know the normal noises your car makes. If at any time these change, see if you can work where the noise is coming from. That way when you go to your mechanic you won't have to say "Just fix it", you will be able to offer some ideas as to the cause of the problem.
c) Keep an eye out for loss of any fluids. This is often a cause of large maintenance costs. Check regularly to ensure the radiator water level, engine oil level, brake fluid level, automatic gearbox oil level, power steering oil and/or clutch fluid levels are all close to, or at, the "full" mark.
d) Look at the garage floor. Has oil been dropped on it recently? Was it from the back or the front of the car? Don't let oil leaks go checked. Get them looked at right away.
e) If you choose to do your oil changes, shop around for the best price on good oil and filters.
f) If your car requires some specialized servicing or repair, shop around.
Get competing quotes. Play off one repairer with another to get the best price.

Minimizing the Value Slide - get the most for your car when you sell
a) Keep the car clean inside and out.
b) Keep the car polished at least once a year. Twice a year is better. Use a good brand of polish
c) Use floor mats always. Keep them clean. Keep the carpets vacuumed regularly.
d) Keep a log book of all monies spent on the car and at what mileage/kilometers they were done. Keep the receipts. This will help you get the best price when you sell if prospective buyers can see you looked after the car well.
e) Use a good quality vinyl or leather protector on your dash, seats and door trims to save them from cracking and discoloration, as they get older
.f) Look for rust spots. These can occur around the windscreen, under the doors, in the door sills and other parts of the body. If you notice any, treat them immediately with a good brand rust killer. If you feel unqualified, get a specialist to fix it right away.
g) If you see stone chips, treat them right away. These can turn into rust spots if not cared for. You could either use a auto paint spray can of the same color or touch it up with a small paint brush and touch up paint.
h) The value of your car will be enhanced at sale time if you keep it as close to original condition as possible. Try to look after the car and keep it looking like it would have been when it was new.

These are just some ways you can minimize your car ownership costs and maximize the amount you receive when you go to sell the car.
Source: Free Articles

Hamburger meat

I buy my hamburger meat in big packages on sale and then I divide it all into small portions for meal making. I divide in small portions because you get less meat in your meal hence it's cheaper and healthier as well. We all know well that cutting down on meat is a wise decision.

The baggies that I use to store my small portions of meat are snack baggies.
You can get sandwich baggies and snack baggies, the snack baggies are probably about half the size of the sandwich baggy.

If a recipe demands a pound of hamburger, I'll use my baggy which might be half a pound, and I'll add more vegetable to take some of the place of what was supposed to be all meat.

Saving pennies on baggies is great, but don't reuse those meat baggies even after washing; toss in the trash.

reusing those plastic bags

Reuse those sandwich baggies!

If they didn't hold meats, mushy foods, cheeses or seafood, you can then easily wash them by swirling some soapy water and rinsing real good. Let them dry in your sink rack.

Grocery plastic bags!

Reuse them by using them on your unfinished meals to put in the fridge instead of saranwrap.

Only reuse them like that once and them throw them in plastic recycling.

Better yet:

Start bringing your own cloth bags to go shopping with!

To Teach Handprints Tote Bag Carry your books and lunch to school in this roomy, natural canvas tote that has a colorful handprints design and contrasting navy handles and bottom gusset. Teacher's Handprints Tote Bag is 15" x 19" x 6".