Shocking News

I started this blog a LONG while ago and then I promptly forgot about it.  I'm not sure what happened (life with two small children, maybe?).  I was on my Blogger account looking for another neglected blog that I needed to update with family events, and I stumbled onto this one.  I had forgotten it existed.  I had also not realized that there were people who have looked at this blog.  Recently.  Last month, it got 11 views.  This would be depressing news for a blog that was being updated fairly frequently, but I haven't posted anything new since 2011. 

All of this leads me to believe that *maybe* someone might want to read what I have to write.  That being said, I think I will update more frequently than bi-annually.  After all, a girl does have to live a little, right?

Chili's E-Club

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Bottled Water

I have purchased bottled water in the past (mostly for convenience and the bottles), but I may not be able to do so in the future after reading this website:

http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/12/11/fun-facts-about-bottled-water/

And I quote:

"“The price of bottled water is up to 10,000 times the cost of tap water.”

In Cary, NC, tap water costs about a penny per gallon. So that’s 1/8th of a cent per 16-ounce serving. The cheapest bottled water at BJ’s (a giant warehouse store with bulk pricing) is 15 cents per 16-ounce bottle. So bottled water costs 120 times more than tap water in the best case. If you pay $2 for a bottle of water at the airport, then bottled water is 1,600 times more expensive than tap water. And at the airport you drink from the drinking fountain for free.

Note that if you drink tap water at home, you also need to consider the cost of the cup or container, and the cost of cleaning the cup or container for reuse. So the 10,0000 estimate in infographic sounds high. But there can still be a pretty big difference in price between bottled water and tap water.

Penn & Teller (below) note that Americans spend $4 billion per year on bottled water."

The mathematical value of the compact fluorescent light bulb

I have long wondered if the value of the CFL in savings paid for it in initial cost. Since these bulbs can often run $1.36 a bulb (at your local Sam's Club), and a comparable incandescent is ~$0.35 each.

We are reasonably sure that the environmental savings is there, but the environment and my wallet need to be friends, so let's compare.

According to an article on “The Simple Dollar,” running a CFL for 30,000 hrs. costs approximately $144 less than running an incandescent for that same amount of time.

So CFL wins hands down when direct costs are considered. However, there may be some indirect costs to consider.

Let’s learn a little bit about the CFL bulb.

Not all CFL bulbs are created for the same use. There are certain instances where you would need to purchase specially rated bulbs (which probably cost more, although I am unsure at the moment), or change the way your light fixture works (also costly). Another thing to consider is that CFLs (even the dimming ones) do not dim “pretty”—the lighting can seem harsh, and flickering is also observed.

Regular CFL bulbs should not be used in fixtures containing:

• Dimmers
• Timers
• Motion sensors
• Wall sconces
• Recessed lighting

Most of these will shorten the life of the bulb, and past experience included, that shortened life span is 3 months of use in a fixture with a dimmer vs. 5 years for a CFL in a regular light fixture. Also, CFLs do not like to be “right side up” in fixtures. It makes them run hotter for whatever reason.

Apparently, there are some other issues with CFLs, such as disposal of broken and worn out ones. You must take them somewhere that accepts these mercury filled lights. In addition, when a CFL dies, it can sometimes go out smoking. There is also a possibility of fire due to non-flame retardant plastic on the bottom casing of certain bulbs.

In short, CFLs are a great idea if you purchase the right ones for your current fixtures, and they are encased in flame retardant plastic on the bottom.

I cannot end this article properly without stating my personal usage/stance on this subject. I use CFLs (purchased in bulk from Sam's Club) in most of my fixtures. However, I use regular incandescent bulbs in my lights with dimmers.

Sources:

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/02/10/the-light-bulb-showdown-leds-vs-cfls-vs-incandescent-bulbs-whats-the-best-deal-now-and-in-the-future/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp

Sorry It's taken me so long to post.

I'm back. I haven't had a lot of time lately, and I am re-assessing what I am blogging about/for.

So here's an update.

I have paid off the last credit card. I will pause while you clap and high five....

Anyway, we have 1 debt to go (guess who!). However, this could take a bit. We haven't been applying as much $$ to ol' Sallie due to lack of extra income.

And...I am going back to school. I should graduate in May. Wish me some more luck.

I hope, time permitting, to have some more posts quickly. I may be taking the blog in a different direction (not exactly sure how it will go).

Thanks for reading,

Gina