Save money on energy

1) Use compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of traditional bulbs. If every U.S. household replaced just one incandescent bulb with a CFL, the emissions savings would be comparable to taking three million cars off the road for a year.” Supposedly the bulbs pay for themselves (from the energy savings) over the course of a year or so.

2) Have your furnace tuned every two years and you will, “save about 1250 lbs of carbon dioxide and 10% on your heating bills.”

3) Lower the temperature on your thermostat. For every degree that you lower your home’s temperature during the cooler months, you can subtract about 5% from your bill.

4) Use cold water to wash your clothes and you can save 50% of the energy that you would use if you used hot water.

5) Adjust your lawnmower to the 3-inch setting. They say that longer grass holds moisture longer, so you will not have to water as much.

Save on car expences

Maintenance manuals for many cars suggest you should fill the tank premium fuel. Often you can get away with a lower grade without hurting your engine or your performance. Check with a mechanic to see if you can downgrade; the savings of 20-30 cents per gallon can easily add up to $100 or more for the year. One hundred bucks for pressing the "89" button instead of the "93" seems like a pretty good deal.

There are several other things you can do with your car to save money too. These all require virtually no effort on your part and can add up to a hefty savings over the span of a year. Here are some tips.

Properly inflate your tires - This simple move can help prevent an accident and provide you with better traction. It could also give you better gas mileage.

Replace your air filter - A dirty air filter causes an improper fuel-to-air mixture, which ruins fuel efficiency. Replacing your dirty filter can improve mileage.

Don't drive aggressively - Hard accelerations and aggressive driving can cost you as much as 33% of your efficiency on the highway and 5% in the city.

Keep it under 60 - Gas mileage suffers badly at speeds above 60 mph. Every 10 mph above 60 mph costs you an around an additional 10 cents per gallon.

Clean out your trunk - Those golf clubs you pack around every day (despite the fact there is snow on the ground) cost you. Every 100 pounds of extra weight costs you 1-2% fuel efficiency.

Check your gas cap - About 17% of vehicles have a gas cap that is either damaged, loose or missing the Car Care Council estimates. Without a proper cap the gas in your tank vaporizes, and so, too, does your money.

5 Ways to make extra money

1. CashCrate – There’s some money to be made with CashCrate.com completing the free offers, but the real cash comes from the referral program. Earn extra money at CashCrate.com by taking part in daily research surveys, doing your shopping online, and referring other members to their program.

2. Waiting Tables – This is the perfect job for nights and weekends. That’s when all the big tips are made anyway. Pick the nicest place in town.

3. Bar Tending – Even better, I think, than waiting tables is tending the bar at nights in a busy bar. Typically at least $1 for every drink you serve.

4. Teaching Swimming Lessons - If you’re a good swimmer you might be able to pick up a weekend swim teacher gig at your local recreation center. Keep in mind that some places may require a special certification or that you be a lifeguard.

5. Car Valet – If you hook up with a for-hire car parking service (the type hired out for fancy neighborhood parties) you can make some nice cash tips in just a few hours at night and on the weekend, when parties are held.

Table mountain cable car pics

Cable car in the old days

Shacks in Philippi

Philippi is a township situated 40 minutes from Cape Town.

Get out of debt NOW.

Clearing a financial debt is a process that needs thorough discerning and significant lifestyle changes. It will then resolve the question why arrears came up in the first place. The following are some ways on how to get out of financial debt. Here is how you can achieve financial freedom, given here some effective debt reduction strategies

1.Make a spending plan. Write down debts, the daily expenses, and the monthly pay checks. Label unnecessary outlays such as eating at expensive restaurants or buying useless gadgets. Create a realistic budget for the monthly expenditures. Buy only those that are needed, and do not spend too much.
2.Voluntarily cut the credit card. It is more favorable to financial companies than an involuntary closing of a card. Once a debt has been paid, close the account to avoid further spending.
3.If a credit card must be used, lower the credit line and close all unused cards. Use it every month, only make small purchases, and pay them off immediately to avoid interest. One to two credit cards are enough.
4.Use discount coupons, keep an eye on supermarket sales, and get the least expensive.
5.Deal with creditors practically. Being honest with the reason for payment difficulties will help solve the debt since most creditors are willing to work with their client. If both parties agree, make an arrangement about payment schedules and stick to them.
6.Another debt reduction strategy is apparently to increase your income. It may be an additional job whether it is part-time or full-time, market your assets or even unimportant belongings such as clothing and appliances.
7.Prioritize the credits. Secured ones such as house and car loans should be on top followed by those that will be deducted from your salary such as student loans or IRS. Next are unsecured debts such as credit cards and ATM cards. Lastly, the presumed most understandable creditors: family and friends.
8.Another way is to pay small debts first to allow a sense of achievement and to free some money for the bigger credits. This is called the debt snowball method. Psychologically, this technique gives out a feeling of accomplishment and somehow a reassurance of clearing all debts.
9.Consolidate debts and pay them online. Consolidating will remove the worry of forgetting one credit, while online payments are very handy and secure too.
10.Perhaps the most certain way to clear and prevent debt is to learn how to control finances and live life frugally.

Shacks in Gugulethu, Cape Town

Gugulethu is a township 15km from Cape Town, South Africa.

Some random pics of shacks in Gugulethu.