When gas prices topped $4 a gallon this summer, all the old gas saving tips came roaring back from the 1970s. TV reporters graciously helped befuddled consumers with advice such as: properly inflated tires give the best fuel economy. Jack rabbit starts waste gas. Speeding wastes gas. You can reduce you gasoline expenses by carpooling or riding a bus or light rail. Walking or riding a bike will also save gas. Wow!.
Then last night, while watching a movie on cable, the ultra-hip host kept giving tips for home heating efficiency. Keep doors and windows closed when its cold out side. Did you know you could save money if you lowered your thermostat or reduced the temperature on your water heater? There’s more! If you caulk seams and cracks around doors and windows you can keep more of your heated air in the house. Put those storm windows on. Wrap those windows in plastic. He forgot to tell us to put little foam rectangles into all exterior wall electrical outlets.
It seems like someone just raided the consumer tip hotline vault from 1977 and is recyclilng it.
Here’s what’s coming next. Some TV station will start and Consumer Common Sense segment. Each day they’ll broadcast tips like: To stretch your family food budget, try serving smaller portions. You can feed a family of four twice if you only serve one hamburger to each person, rather than two. Or, you can save a lot of money by drinking $4 a bottle wine rather than $15. Did you that buying larger quantities of things, such as at Sam’s Club, will also save you money?
My guess is that most people do a pretty good job of pinching pennies. Is there really anyone who doesn’t know that stocking up when there is a sale is a good idea?
One last cost-saving tip. If you skip shaving on Saturday and Sunday, that’s 104 days a year of not shaving. If you get 17 shaves per blade and buy four blades in a pack, you can save more than $20. Or you can save even more by using the same blade until you can’t take the pain anymore. That’s my favorite. It makes you stronger in the long run. Recessions aren’t for pansies.
