Stay smoke free (THE SECRET IS SIMPLE)

Stay smoke free (THE SECRET IS SIMPLE)

Hang on for five minutes.

I finally stayed smoke free in this way:

When the surprise attacks came a few weeks or months after quitting, I told myself, "Hang on for five minutes – and this out-of-control urge to smoke will pass."

After 11 failed attempts, I looked back and I realized that several times in the past, surprise attacks were ALWAYS the critical moment in which I would inevitably become re-addicted, as "innocent" as "just one cigarette" might seem.

As I wrestled with myself thinking about this during an attack, I thought, "Okay. Relief is about four minutes away..."

Still I was dying for a smoke – okay, so now it was just THREE more minutes to hold on for... Now TWO...

And sure enough, at the end of five minutes – the urge would be all gone, and I would be quite proud of myself for holding on (plus I got to deny my smoking friend his pleasure in seeing me light up like him).

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FEEL -- AND YOU HEAL

FEEL -- AND YOU HEAL

One example: grieving your sadness to completion is the most effective way to heal it --rather than burying it, or carrying it with you deep inside for years. This is a core part of psychotherapy, and it works.

The same is true of anger – let your anger out in reasonable, mild little bits here and there, as you go along, right as things come up. This is better than letting it build up, and later exploding in rage.

It's helpful -- and healing -- to let your feelings out verbally, as you quit smoking. Better words should come out of your mouth, in loud complaining tones, than extra unneeded calories going in!

Don't worry; if you ask for support and tolerance, you'll get it. A great outlet for this is Nicotine Anonymous meetings. There you'll get plenty of support -- and hugs too, if you ask for them. Don't isolate, and do lean on others.

Especially for men, this is a sign of STRENGTH. Not going to a support meeting could be construed an act of fear, and therefore cowardice. So be brave, and seek support from others. It's a sign of a strong man in my book. Real men do ask directions!

It's true that smoking is mostly very enjoyable, even comforting, for you. Let's not lie about it. Quitting will be like losing a great, dear friend -- and you may find yourself grieving a bit. That's only natural, and it's okay.

But if you don't quit and "grieve" now, this great "friend" of yours will probably turn on you and kill you one day. It's statistically equivalent to playing Russian roulette with not one, but two, bullets in the gun: if you smoke, you have a 40% chance of dying due to the habit. Not to mention continuing to put up with having to go outside most times you smoke.

In coming decades, we'll look back on smoking as a thing of the last century. We know that statistically, only children and teens begin the habit. As our government passes laws making it increasingly difficult for youth to obtain cigarettes, and as Uncle Sam limits the advertising of tobacco more in the future, teens will not start smoking in such huge numbers. Finally, one day smoking will be no more. No more deaths, no more disease, no more grieving families around the world.

Welcome to the wonderful world of nonsmokers. You can do it!

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A NOTE TO NONSMOKERS

A NOTE TO NONSMOKERS

If you live with a smoker, or are close friends with one: don't be a NAG about their smoking habit! (You can make noise about their smoking in the house or near you, because their second hand smoke hurts you – but don't nag them to quit. There's a BIG difference!)

Just three times a year you can ask your loved one – briefly – VERY briefly – to please quit smoking -- in VERY loving and warm tones. (Try surrounding your request with HONEST complements, keep it BRIEF, and they might be more open to hearing you.

But if you speak up more than three times per YEAR, then you're a yukky, obnoxious NAG. Ick! And your beloved smoker will be so ANGRY with you that they'll keep smoking just to spite you. You'll be defeating your very purpose.

I ask nonsmokers to honor their smoking loved ones, and treat them like adults.

And if your loved ones are nagging you, don't fall into the old trap of hurting yourself by continuing to smoke out of your anger toward them. Instead, let them know how you feel.

The great motivational speaker and family therapist John Bradshaw has said,

"America is a nation of addicts. We're addicted not just to one thing, but often to several – like cigarettes, food, television, music, drugs, and sex, even work. Each of these things is a kind of drug -- because each temporarily gets your mind off of your pain."

Bradshaw is right. He's talking about both current pain, such as anger, loneliness, or sadness --- and emotional pain we've carried with us since childhood, such as unmet childhood needs, like an absent father or abusive mother.

Sometimes, life is painful. It's supposed to be that way. All of us are faced with grief, loss and struggle. And it's by our struggles that we define and strengthen our character.

In my live talks and video for youth, I revive the ancient practice of initiation. As I initiate them into life, I let teens know that sometimes life will be painful.

"And when those moments come, you need to take the ADULT path," I tell the students, "and stay with the difficulty -- and not go lighting a cigarette, raiding the icebox, taking drugs, blasting music or switching on the TV -- or, going to work for too many long hours. All these are just ways of avoiding painful feelings and numbing them out."

If you stay with your pain, you'll begin to see what's causing it. And when you're ready, you can take a step to solve the problem.

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Quitting with help Phase Two

Staying smoke free and not relapsing

Here is the most valuable secret I can share with you, and probably the most important information on this page.

After the urges to smoke have become more and more infrequent, overwhelming surprise attacks are sure to come, a few weeks and months into your new smoke free life.

When these nearly out-of-control urges came (and they always engulfed me in unexpected moments), I learned that if I did my deep breathing (see above), and if I could just HOLD ON for 5 minutes -- the overpowering urge to smoke would completely pass.

That is by far the single most important thing I learned -- the hard way -- about how to quit successfully.

Because I didn't know this, I failed 11 times. I finally stopped for good on my 12th try, in spring 1985. It's the key to what has empowered me to stay smoke free for the past dozen years or so.

So know that out-of-control, very nearly irresistible urges to have "just one" are going to take you by surprise, like a sudden gale that seems to come from nowhere. This will happen one or more times in the coming months.

Every time it does, do your deep breathing (see above), hold on for 5 minutes -- you can do it -- and the urge will completely pass.

I'm convinced that this is the single most important secret to quitting for life.

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Go cold turkey, or gradually cut down?

Go cold turkey, or gradually cut down?

This is a personal choice. Do whichever you think will work best for you. Smoke Enders is a gradual quit program. But I wasn't one of those who could quit by slowly cutting down – although that works best for some. I always went cold turkey.

I'd always quit on a Monday -- a regular workday, when work would occupy my thoughts. My usual routine tasks were familiar and helped get me through the first few difficult days, which were always the most difficult part for me.

Once I tried quitting during a vacation. I found there was little to do, except to obsess all day long over having a smoke. I failed that time. The positive stress of being on vacation actually added to my stress in quitting. More about positive stress in the crucially important section which now follows. Do read on!

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The Boilerplate Points 2

The Boilerplate Points 2

• To talk to a live human being, call 1-800-QUITNOW for a free quit smoking counselor, or call the National Cancer Institute's free Smoking Quit line, 1-877-44U-Quit. Proactive counseling services by trained personnel will be provided in sessions both before and after quitting smoking.
• Check out QuitNet.org and go to their chat room, where those quitting are doing it together, not alone. It can be a great source of support -- like a Nicotine Anonymous meeting, but online. Quintet was originally funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Tobacco Control Program, which was funded by a State cigarette tax increase passed by the Massachusetts legislature in the early 90's.
• At Nicotine Anonymous meetings, you'll find support and fellowship, which can be more comforting than a computer screen. If this appeals to you, find a meeting near you at the website of Nicotine Anonymous -- they are all over the US. Meetings are based around the classic 12-steps, borrowed from Alcoholics Anonymous' winning formula to overcome addiction. Attendance is 100% free, and this org is run entirely by volunteers. At the website you can also find out how to start your own meeting. Support groups like Nicotine Anonymous might initially seem unnecessary -- but they provide a GREAT outlet to vent verbally, and you men might be surprised at how good this feels! Best of all, it could help spare your family and friends much grumpiness. It's truly therapeutic to see how other quitters are doing in their own struggles to stop, and to get support from others going through the same struggle you are.
• Write down ten good things about being a nonsmoker -- and then write out ten bad things about smoking. Do it. It really helps.
• Don't pretend smoking wasn't enjoyable – it was. Quitting can be like losing a dear old friend – and it's okay to grieve that loss. Let the feelings engulf you instead of avoiding your pain with sweets or some other distraction. Letting your feelings out is how you heal, and put the source of your pain behind you. It's a process: feel, and you will heal. So stick with the difficult feelings. You can do it!
• Several times a day, quietly repeat to your self the affirmation, "I am a nonsmoker." Many quitters see themselves as smokers who are just not smoking for the moment. They have a self-image as smokers who still want a cigarette. Silently repeating the affirmation "I am a nonsmoker" will help you change your view of yourself, and, even if it may seem silly to you, this is actually useful. Use it!
• Here is perhaps the most valuable information among these points. In Phase 2, the period which begins a few weeks after quitting, the urges to smoke will subside considerably. However, it's vital to understand that from time to time, you will still be suddenly overwhelmed with a desire for "just one cigarette." This will happen unexpectedly, during moments of stress, whether negative stress or positive (at a party, or on vacation). If you are unprepared to resist, succumbing to that "one cigarette" will lead you directly back to smoking. Remember the following secret: in these surprise attacks during Phase 2 -- and they will definitely come -- do your deep breathing, and hold on for five minutes, and the urge will pass.

In conclusion, get the info and support you need to make the stopping process a little easier. DO NOT try to go it alone. Get help, and plenty of it.

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The Boilerplate Points

The Boilerplate Points

Do your best to follow as many of these as you can. The points below are advocated by most of today's credible quit-smoking products and programs. They are widely accepted as an essential and necessary part of quitting successfully.

Just using the patch or Zyban without following the points below will hinder your chances to quit for good this time.

• DEEP BREATHING PERHAPS THE SINGLE MOST POWERFUL AND IMPORTANT TECHNIQUE Every time you want a cigarette, do the following. Do it three times.
  
  Inhale the deepest lung-full of air you can, and then, very slowly, exhale. Purse your lips so that the air must come out slowly.
  
  As you exhale, close your eyes, and let your chin gradually sink over onto your chest. Visualize all the tension leaving your body, slowly draining out of your fingers and toes, just flowing on out.
  
  This is a variation of an ancient yoga technique from India, and is VERY centering and relaxing. If you practice this, you'll be able to use it for any future stressful situation you find yourself in. And it will be your greatest weapon during the strong cravings sure to assault you over the first few days.
  
  This deep breathing technique will be a vital help to you. Reread this point now, and as you do, try it for the first time. Inhale and exhale three times. See for yourself!
• The first few days, drink LOTS of water and fluids to help flush out the nicotine and other poisons from your body.
• Remember that the urge to smoke only lasts a few minutes, and will then pass. The urges gradually become farther and farther apart as the days go by.
• Do your very best to stay away from alcohol, sugar and coffee the first week or longer, as these tend to stimulate the desire for a cigarette. Avoid fatty foods, as your metabolism will slow down a bit without the nicotine, and you may gain weight even if you eat the same amount as before quitting. So discipline about diet is extra important now. No one ever said acquiring new habits would be easy!
• Nibble on low calorie foods like celery, apples and carrots. Chew gum or suck on cinnamon sticks.
• Stretch out your meals; eat slowly and wait a bit between bites.
• After dinner, instead of a cigarette, treat yourself to a cup of mint tea or a peppermint candy.
• In one study, about 25% of quitters found that an oral substitute was invaluable. Another 25% didn't like the idea at all -- they wanted a clean break with cigarettes. The rest weren't certain. Personally, I found a cigarette substitute to be a tremendous help. The nicotine inhaler (by prescription) is one way to go: it's a shortened plastic cigarette, with a replaceable nicotine capsule inside.
• A simpler way to go is bottled cinnamon sticks, available at any supermarket. I used these every time I quit, and they really helped me. I would chew on them, inhale air through them, and handle them like cigarettes. After a while, they would get pretty chewed up on one end -- but I'd laugh, reverse them and chew on the other end. Others may prefer to start a fresh stick. Once someone asked me, "Excuse me, but is that an exploded firecracker in your mouth?" I replied that I was quitting smoking – and they smiled and became supportive. Luckily, I never needed the cinnamon sticks after the first three days of being a nonsmoker.
• Go to a gym; sit in the steam, exercise. Change your normal routine – take time to walk or even jog around the block or in a local park.
• Look in the yellow pages under Yoga, and take a class – they're GREAT! Get a one hour massage, take a long bath -- pamper yourself.
• Ask for support from coworkers, friends and family members. Ask for their tolerance. Let them know you're quitting, and that you might be edgy or grumpy for a few days. If you don't ask for support, you certainly won't get any. If you do, you'll be surprised how much it can help. Take a chance -- try it and see!
• Ask friends and family members not to smoke in your presence. Don't be afraid to ask. This is more important than you may realize.
• On your quit day, hide all ashtrays and destroy all your cigarettes, preferably with water, so no part of them is smoke able.

To be Cont.

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Your Unconscious Mind

Your Unconscious Mind

What is the unconscious mind? In a famous study, the Russian scientist Pavlov rang a bell every time he fed his dog -- and eventually the dog would salivate just on hearing the bell -- even though there was no food there. The dog had made an unconscious association between the ringing and dinner, and began to drool!

Cigarette ads reach our unconscious minds. These ads create an unconscious association between the addiction of cigarettes and strong, positive images of attractive, healthy people, sports like tennis or mountain climbing, beautiful country scenes, cowboys gathered around a campfire or on horseback, masculinity and manhood, being feminine and womanhood, being a 'real person,' and so on. As of 2000, the tobacco industry has been spending over $5 billion annually to advertise its deadly products. That's a lot of bell ringing! And it's not lost on our kids.

The smoker's unconscious mind also makes repeated pleasant associations with the act of smoking -- watching the smoke slowly curling, putting a cigarette to the lips, languidly inhaling and exhaling, absently handling a cigarette -- all these are very much a part of the psychological addiction to tobacco. Quitters often feel as though they are losing a best friend.

Aversion therapy sends negative associations to the unconscious mind as the quitter smokes cigarettes. This clinically proven method helps to undo the years of daily positive associations with smoking. It helps to reduce future psychological cravings for cigarettes. In this way, the Schick-Shadel Treatment Centers aversion therapy program makes the quitting process a good deal easier.

For most addicted smokers, the addition is about half mental, half physical. Studies show that the ratio varies with each individual. The physical portion of the addiction is to nicotine. As to the mental or psychological aspect, a smoker's conscious mind says, 'I will stop smoking -- no problem.' But the unconscious mind has been conditioned for years that cigarettes give pleasure, and that's all it can focus on. The unconscious mind says, 'Gimmie a cigarette -- now!' It only recognizes what feels good. It demands a cigarette, without regard to right or wrong, and ignores the conscious mind's intentions. Aversion therapy is one way to help counteract this.

During the process of quitting, the new habit of being a nonsmoker forms. The ex-smoker's unconscious mind gradually gets used to being a nonsmoker, as the urges to smoke slowly fade away.

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A Note about Tobacco Ads

A Note about Tobacco Ads

Many teens, if asked, would say that tobacco ads have no influence over them. However, new studies tell us that advertising plays a greater role in getting teens to smoke.

And one recent study shows that the three most heavily advertised brands are the same three brands most often smoked by teens -- Camels, Marlboros and Newport. It's no accident. Cigarette ads clearly influence our teens. Tobacco ads may not influence your conscious mind -- but they do influence the unconscious mind. That is also why we don’t accept any Tobacco ads in our site.

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Talk to a live human being free

Talk to a live human being free

Call 1-800-QUIT NOW for free support with a trained counselor, who will talk to you whether you are ready to quit or just thinking about it. This number will forward to your State's tobacco cessation program, which offers live phone support in your area. When you call, a friendly staff person will offer a choice of free services, including self-help materials, a referral list of other programs in your community, and one-one-counseling over the phone.

There is also the National Cancer Institute's Smoking Quit line, 1-877-44U-Quit, offering proactive counseling by trained personnel.

Sorry, but there's no magic pill

Don't count on any of these programs to make it a breeze. None of them will do that -- but they WILL absolutely reduce your distress by 15% to 50%, depending on how addicted you are psychologically, vs. physically -- and that may well make all the difference this time around.

I'm not promising it will be easy -- it will likely be difficult for a few days or weeks. So get your resolve and willpower up, because you'll need it. Remember, you CAN do it.

Don't ask, "Does this program work?" Rather, ask yourself, "Am I willing to DO the work?"

You know how to work, don't you? I'm betting that you do.

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Quitting with help Phase One

Real men ask directions

People who are the most successful at living life typically get plenty of help. For example, in business, a successful businesswoman or businessman gets a lawyer to write the contracts, an advertising agency to create the ads, a marketing executive to do the marketing, an accountant to do the accounting, a doctor when they're sick — people who succeed best get help, and lots of it. Even the very greatest novelists have editors they rely on for invaluable feedback. Real men ask directions!

Sadly, eighty percent of smokers who quit do so without being in any program – and studies show that 95% of these self-reliant quitters fail, and go right back to smoking within 12 months. It's the same rate of recidivism as with heroin. So you may wish to consider getting some help this time around!

For those who have repeatedly failed at quitting in the past, it's comforting to learn that most smokers in fact fail several times before stopping successfully. Your past failures are not a lesson that you are unable to quit. Instead, they are part of the normal journey toward becoming a nonsmoker.

I certainly failed -- 11 times. Every time I failed, I lost a little more faith that I could really quit. So each time I quit, it got harder and harder to motivate myself to set a date. I had begun to feel it was hopeless.

My mission here is to restore your faith in yourself. You CAN quit. Even if you've failed several times in the past, understand that this is normal. You're not alone.

You need to get your resolve up, and try again. YOU CAN DO IT!

Get help -- lots of it. Get into a good program, or better yet, a combination of more than one.

Call your local branch of the American Cancer Society, or the American Lung or Heart Associations. All have inexpensive and effective, mainstream programs.

Other top of the line, physician-endorsed methods: nicotine replacement and Zyban. The nicotine patch or gum are now available over-the-counter at any pharmacy. The anti-depressant Zyban and nicotine inhaler require a prescription.

A Cochrane Review study done in 1996 and updated in November, 2007, found that nicotine replacement therapies like the patch, gum or inhaler increased chances of quitting by 50% to 70%.

Bear in mind, however, that with no program only 5% of quitters are still smokefree at the end of 12 months. A 50% increase in the quit rate would mean that 7.5% of those using NRT were successful after 12 months.

The Schick- Shadel Treatment Centers offer aversion therapy -- self-administering a mild electric shock from an ordinary 9 volt battery as one smokes a cigarette. They claim a 95% initial success rate, and 50% after a year. I used this therapy successfully, and will come back to this later.

Buy a How to Quit Smoking Book, or a motivational cassette tape program in a bookstore, and listen to the tapes in your car. Every little bit helps!

In addition, visit our Quit links page, for to see the results of recent studies on which quit products work best.

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Smoke free World 1

Smoke free World 1

The most important step to take is the first step --
admitting you have an addiction.

When asked why you smoke, you might have said, "I just like to smoke!" or "It's my choice to smoke."

The tobacco companies have promoted the idea that smoking is a matter of personal choice. As I see it, there really isn't as much choice as they have suggested to their customers.

Ask yourself, and be totally honest: Am I addicted to tobacco? Am I truly making a freely made choice when I smoke?

You might consider that you need to have a cigarette. Studies have shown that nicotine addiction is as hard to break as heroin or cocaine addiction.

In Nicotine Anonymous' 12 Steps program, which sprang from the venerable Alcoholics Anonymous program, the first step is admitting to your self, "I'm powerless over tobacco." Making this admission may seem trivial to you, but for many it is a very significant part of completing the journey to becoming a non-smoker.

By telling smokers that smoking is a personal choice, the tobacco industry has helped to keep its customers in denial about the true extent of their addiction. If smoking is a choice, then what's the rush to quit? The tobacco companies have used this spin to help keep millions of customers buying their deadly products.

Admitting that you're smoking more out of addiction than choice will help motivate you to go on to the next steps -- taking control of yourself and becoming a nonsmoker.

This admission will further serve you by helping you stay smoke free later. In the months and years after you quit, when temptations to smoke occasionally overpower you -- and they will -- remind yourself, "I have an addiction and I'm powerless over tobacco." Saying this to yourself in overwhelmed moments of desire will help give you the strength to say no to "just one" cigarette.

If you can make it for just five minutes without giving in, the urge to smoke be controllable or disappear. In this way, you'll be able to stay smoke free for life.

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5 Tips to Eliminate Debt Cont.

5 Tips to Eliminate Debt Cont.

4. Don't Close Credit Card Accounts

When you close your credit card accounts, you reduce your options. As long as your current credit card companies aren't charging you any fees for inactivity, it's in your best interest to hang onto your accounts.

The problem with closing accounts is that you're at the mercy of whatever credit cards you decide to keep. That's the equivalent of having to shop at one store no matter how good the prices are elsewhere.

Plus, when credit card companies notice that you're not using them anymore, they'll generally send you an offer that saves you money.

Always keep your options open and be ready to switch banks once you get a better offer.

5. Always Pay On Time

The worst thing you can do is make late payments. If you let the deadline pass, you'll pay interest on the full credit card balance as of the purchase date.

The late fees hurt you immediately and would be better used to reduce your debt. They're also a strike against your credit rating and future bargaining power.

By paying late, you also diminish your chances of getting the best rates and deals on a car loan or a mortgage. In the long run -- especially in the case of a mortgage -- that kind of negligence can cost you thousands of dollars.

Also, in addition to these seven tips, you should also try the following:

First, you need to create a list of all your credit cards, including their balance, interest rate, minimum payment, and last statement payment. Now rearrange that list so that the credit card with the highest interest rate is at the top and the card with the lowest interest rate is at the bottom. High interest rates, especially on cards that you have a high balance on, are your greatest concern.

Second, add up the required minimum payments for all of the cards. Decide how much money you can come up with each month in addition to the money needed to pay off the minimum payments on all cards. It is important that you find ways to put aside more money than needed for just the minimum payments or you will never be able to pay off your debt.

Now, each month pay the minimum balance on each card, but on the card with the highest interest rate pay the minimum balance plus all the extra money that you put aside in the extra step. Continue to do this until the first card (with the highest interest rate) is paid off in full, and then apply this same principle to the next credit card.

Note: it is not a good idea to use one credit card to pay off another credit card's debt!

Also, Call every one of your credit card companies and request a lower interest rate. You may be surprised at how quickly some of them will agree. Lower interest rates mean you can eliminate your credit card debt more quickly without increasing your payments.

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5 Tips to Eliminate Debt

5 Tips to Eliminate Debt

Many Americans today find themselves in large, seemingly insurmountable amounts of debt. They ignore the problem until it threatens their financial health and has huge negative effects on their life. Learn how to take control now and eliminate your debt by following these seven easy.

1. Use Common Sense

People fail to realize how much they have already spent, and before they know it, they're maxing out their credit cards on a monthly basis. The best way to know just how much money you are spending is to pay for everything in cash.

This means using credit cards only for emergency purposes, such as unexpected car expenses and medical emergencies. By paying with cash, you will gain a higher appreciation for every hard-earned dollar.

2. Develop a Plan

There is an old saying in the financial world: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This advice applies to everyone, including family households.

Start by developing a road plan that will take you to debt-free zone. You need to know how much your total debt is and how long it will take you to pay it off given your current payment plan.

The next process involves establishing a budget. List all your revenues and keep track of your expenses. This will give you a better idea of how much money is coming in, how much money you're spending on different activities, and whether or not you can sustain your current spending habits.

Once you know exactly how much you're spending it's time to cut back on unnecessary expenses. Take a close look at each expense and determine which ones can be eliminated.

3. Research Money-Saving Options

Look for money-saving opportunities like low interest rates and credit card offers. Before settling down with a creditor, shop around. Most people are afraid of banks; they think that it is still as hard to get a bank loan as it was in the early '50s. But today, most creditors are eager to lend you money. Don't be afraid to negotiate the rates.

If you don't have time to shop around and compare lending rates, you can always check out

To be cont.

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Tips for saving energy in cooking

1 A microwave oven is an energy-efficient alternative to a conventional oven. It cooks food more quickly and it uses 70-80% less electricity than a regular oven.

2 When you’re cooking on top of the range, use pots and pans that are properly sized to “fit” the burners. Using a small pan on a large burner wastes energy and can be a safety hazard. Cookware with flat bottoms and tight covers is your best choice. Always cook with lids on your pans, to keep the heat inside and speed up cooking time.

3 If you do use a conventional oven, try to avoid “peeking” by opening the oven door. Each “peek” can lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees. Use a toaster oven to cook small items.

4 Although often recommended, it’s not really necessary to preheat the oven for foods with a cooking time of over one hour. Using glass pans allows you to set the oven 25 degrees lower because glass retains heat.

5 When preparing a meal in your oven, try to use foods that are cooked at about the same temperature. That way your oven can cook several dishes at the same time.

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Tips for saving energy in Dishwasher

Tips for saving energy in Dishwasher

1 Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded..

2 Washing dishes by hand may not save energy or money. In fact, you can probably save energy using the dishwasher since hand washing usually requires more hot water.

3 When shopping for a new dishwasher, look for models that require less hot water. Dishwashers differ in the number of gallons of hot water used in the wash cycle. The manufacturer's specifications or the Energy Guide label should list this information.

4 Many new dishwashers have an internal water heater that raises the temperature of the incoming water to 140 degrees. This device allows you to turn down the temperature on the water heater in your home and still have your dishes washed thoroughly.

5 Take advantage of the energy saving control on many dishwashers. It turns off the heat during the drying cycle. Opening the dishwasher after the rinse cycle and letting the dishes air dry is another way to save energy.

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Tips for saving energy in Water heating

Tips for saving energy in Water heating

1 The water heater is the second largest energy consumer in the home. Using it efficiently can add up to big savings. For families with an automatic dishwasher, the hot water heater setting can safely be lowered to 130-140 degrees. If the automatic dishwasher has a water temperature booster, the water heater temperature can be set to 110-120 degrees. If your house will be vacant for two or more days, you can lower the temperature of your water heater even more until you return. If you have a new water heater, drain a few gallons from your tank every six months to remove sediment that accumulates and reduces the heater’s efficiency.

2 Leaky faucets can add to your hot water bill so repair them as soon as possible. The constant drip wastes water, energy and money. You can also save by installing an inexpensive “flow control” device in shower heads and faucets.

3 Wrapping a fiberglass blanket around your water heater and securing it with duct tape, or installing a ready-made insulation kit can save up to 10% on water heating costs. Most new water heaters are already insulated, so this tip is most effective for heaters that are more than five years old. Also, insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss as the hot water is flowing to your faucets.

4 Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a short period.

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Tips for saving energy in Heating

Tips for saving energy in Heating

1 Check the filters in your warm air heating system monthly and replace or clean them when they become dirty. Have your heating system checked periodically by a licensed professional.

2 Storm windows and doors are big energy and money savers. They can reduce heating costs by as much as 15% by preventing warm air from escaping to the outside.

3 The many small openings in a home can add up to big heat losses.

4 Letting sunlight in by opening curtains, blinds and shades over windows facing the sun helps keep your home warm and reduces heating needs.

5 Dry air makes you feel colder than moist air at the same temperature. Maintaining home humidity will produce personal comfort at a lower thermostat setting and save money. Shallow pans of water on radiator tops or near warm air vents, or a room humidifier, will help raise humidity levels.

5 Keeping your heating thermostat at the lowest temperature comfortable for you will save on heating costs.

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Tips for saving energy in Laundry

Tips for saving energy in Laundry

1 Ninety percent of the energy your washer uses goes toward heating water. Today, detergents are specially formulated to work just as well in cold water.

2 Run the washer only when you have a full load of laundry to save energy and water.

3 If you have more than one load of clothes to dry, try to do each load immediately after the one before to use the heat left over from the previous cycle and increase the efficiency of the dryer.

4 Dry heavy and light fabrics separately to keep drying time to a minimum. Mixing different weight fabrics causes the dryer to run longer than necessary.

5 Remember to check the lint filter before each load. Lint buildup blocks air flow and lengthen drying time, and can be a fire hazard as well.

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Tips for saving energy on Refrigerator & Freezer

Tips for saving energy on Refrigerator & Freezer

1 Like other appliances that heat and cool, refrigerators are big energy users. If your refrigerator door does not shut tightly, check the door seal to see if it needs to be cleaned or replaced. A door leak allows cool air to escape, forcing your refrigerator to use more energy to keep food cold.

2 Cleaning the condenser coils found in the back or bottom of the refrigerator will maximize its efficiency.

3 Keep the refrigerator away from appliances that create heat.

4 When purchasing a new refrigerator, consider a high efficiency model. Compare yellow Energy Guide labels and choose the unit that uses the least amount of electricity.

5 A freezer’s efficiency is increased by keeping its compartment full. Be careful not to block the fan that allows cold air to circulate.

6 Check temperature setting. Refrigerator temperature should be 36-38 degrees and freezer temperature should be 0-5 degrees.

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Tips for saving energy on cooling

Tips for saving energy on cooling

1 Make sure your air conditioner is the proper size for the area you are cooling. The wrong size air conditioner will use more electricity and increase your energy bills.

2 The location of your air conditioner has a lot to do with how efficient it will be. If you have a choice, locate your units on the north, east or the best-shaded side of your home.

3 Regular maintenance will insure that your air conditioner operates efficiently throughout the summer. Check the filter once a month by holding it up to a bright light. If you can’t see through it, it’s time to clean or replace the filter.

4 On very hot days, you can save energy by closing the fresh air intake on your unit. Cooling fresh, warm outside air requires more electricity than re-cooling the air that is already circulating in your home.

5 On hot summer days, the temperature in your attic can reach 150 degrees. Improving the ventilation in your attic will lower the temperature of the entire house and make your air conditioner’s job much easier.

6 Depending on the size of your home, you can save 3% on your cooling costs for every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer. Raising the thermostat from 73 to 78 degrees can mean savings of up to 15% in cooling costs.

7 Fans can make your air conditioner’s job easier. Pedestal and ceiling fans improve the air circulation in your home, allowing you to raise the air conditioner’s thermostat.

8 Drapes, shades and awnings shield windows from the hot sun and keep your home cooler.

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Tips for Saving Money on Lighting

Tips for Saving Money on Lighting

1 New screw-in fluorescent bulbs can replace the incandescent ones most of us use. Fluorescent bulbs are more expensive initially, but they last 10 times longer and use 75% less electricity.

2 If you prefer incandescent bulbs, try to use “energy saver” bulbs. These bulbs use halogen gases that allow the filament to burn brighter while consuming less electricity.

3 Match as closely as possible light bulb wattage to lighting needs.

4 Inside your home, lighting controls or timers can help save energy.

5 Keeping lights and fixtures clean can improve efficiency as much as 20%.

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Tips for Saving Money on Gasoline

Tips for Saving Money on Gasoline

Gas prices are on the rise. Here are some tips to help you conserve gas and save money.

1. Keep your car tuned up. Cars in poor running condition use more gasoline.

2. Plan trips well to avoid unnecessary driving.

3. When you run your air conditioner you get much worse gas mileage. Use your air conditioner sparingly. If you have a lower setting, use it. Turn it on until the car gets cool, then turn it off and let the fan circulate the cool air. Never run your air conditioner with your windows open!

4. Check your tire pressure. Over-inflated tires can actually reduce your fuel efficiency, so don't overfill.

5. Try not to idle your engine for long periods of time. If you are stuck in traffic and you don't think you are going to go anywhere in the next five minutes, you may want to turn your car off.

6. You no longer need to warm your car up for long periods of time, especially new cars. New cars are made to run when cold.

7. Try to accelerate slowly when leaving the stop light. It's not a competition with the driver in the lane next to you. The fastest person through the intersection just gets to spend more on gas.

8. No need to buy the highest priced gasoline. Most cars are built to run on regular unleaded. Check you owners manual or consult a mechanic. I have had many tell me that the more expensive gas is a waste of money.

9. If at all possible, try to arrange car pools with co-workers to share the cost of commuting to work.

10. And last, the biggest and most important step towards saving money on gas is always try to purchase vehicles that get good gas mileage. The difference between 20 miles-per-gallon and 40 miles-per-gallon is huge.

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Get ready with items you need in a case of Hurricane

Get ready with items you need in a case of Hurricane

Planning ahead can save lives.

1- Bottled water: One gallon per person, per day.

2- Food :Ready to eat , nonperishable or canned food “ Don’t forget the manual can opener”

3- Table needs: plates and utensils.

4- First aid: Bandages, prescription drugs, etc.

5- Child care supplies: Dippers. Baby wipes, formula, etc.

6- Radio: Battery-powered and extra batteries.

7- Phone: Cell or other model that dose not required electricity.

8- Lighting: Flashlights, lanterns candles and water proof matches.

9- Signaling device :Whistle or horn

10- Backups: Extra charged cell phone battery and extra eye glasses.

11- Documents: Your important documents Insurance card, Photo ID, birth certificates, deed or lease (or copies) in a waterproof container.

12- Cash: At least $100 on hand for emergencies.

13- Rain Gear: Sturdy rubber boots.

14- Pet Supplies: Extra food for your pets.

Please be helpful to our senior citizens and handicaps.

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