WINTER 2014
What Do You Know About Your Electric Bill? …page 2
4 New Uses for Holiday Lights …page 2
Prepaid Debit Card vs. Checking Account …page 3
<<Company>>’s <<Phone>> <<Website>>
My Word by <<Name>> Hello Friends, It’s great to greet you again. Even when the weather is looking bleak, there’s always an upside to cozy days spent indoors. After all, who doesn’t enjoy “coming in from the cold” and sharing good times with family and friends? Naturally, this season has its challenges – and quite a few of those challenges will be directed right to your electrical system. Have you wondered how well it will hold up under the heavier duty? Scheduling a wiring inspection is how you can find out if your electrical system has any hidden
…continued on page 4
Hudson, Ink Corp ©2014
Smart & simple ways to enrich your home living.
— Home Health — Protect Against Pests
Will your attic become the next hot
spot for unsupervised animal activity this winter? Well, critters don’t like the cold either, so can you blame them for turning your attic into a warm, cozy shelter for themselves? As uninvited four-legged families invade the space above you, leaving behind odors and droppings of all kinds, there’s actually a bigger problem in the works – and that’s the potential threat their presence brings to the wiring of your home.
Winter Critters – Rats, opossums and squirrels are the most worrisome winter pests. Squirrel mothers give birth during the winter and early spring, rats furiously search for a warm shelter and opossums bring themselves and their funk in out of the cold. Other potential guests, like
snakes, bats and raccoons (oh my!), may also show up to the party. The Damage – It seems “somebody” likes to chew and scratch and tamper to keep entertained. Your wiring, plumbing and air ducts can be tempting targets. When a critter devours the sheathing off of a wire, your home is suddenly facing a fire risk. Deal with this damage immediately. Call us pronto for wiring repairs if you’ve been invaded! Regaining Rule – Taking back your attic requires figuring out how they got in there in the first place. Rats will finagle into any crevice they can manage, leaving behind a dirty, oily trail. Opossums waltz into any attic with a large enough opening. Squirrels gnaw at existing holes to create their very own custom front door. Find these openings and seal them off. Then set traps and create one-way exits to be sure the critters get out and stay out.
Visit <<Portal>> for more great ideas for home & life, including: MONEY-SAVING TIPS | HOME & ORGANIZING | HEALTH & FOOD
— STYLE POINTS —
4 New Uses for Holiday Lights
— SECRETS —
What Do You Know About Your Electric Bill? Do you know how your electricity provider decides how much you owe them each month? Learning how your power company calculates your bill may help you save bundles over time.
Constant Rate Plans – “Constant” is the keyword here. These rate plans charge the same amount at all times of the day. For example, one company charges 7.8¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh) for up to 1000 kWh, and 8¢ per kWh for usage over 1000 kWh. The plans also come with a monthly base charge, which is the minimum charge for the month. Time Specific Plans – Yep, this one’s all about the timing. During hours and seasons when electricity is at peak demand, the price of electricity increases. The same company in the above example charges 7¢ per kWh November through March between 5-9 AM, and 25¢ per kWh June through September from 1-7 PM. At other times and on weekends, it is only 5¢ per kWh, although a higher base charge may apply.
2
But more importantly, how can you save energy during peak times and around the clock? For starters, installing energy efficient lighting
systems in your home can help. Dimming switches decrease the amount of electricity being used. Plus, programmable timer switches can cut the lights out during the hours of high demand. You certainly don’t want to live without electricity, but you shouldn’t have to overpay for it either. To learn more about saving money on your electricity or upgrading to energy efficient lighting, give us a call.
Holiday lights are not
always the “painless beauty” that you hoped they’d be. You use them on the tree for one festive season a year… then spend your January trying to locate, store or detangle them.
Get Connected • Don’t have enough outlets to run your equipment? • Care to review the possibilities of a home theater? Let us run the wires, make the connections, install the switches and “turn you on” to greater convenience and safety… starting with one phone call. Just call <<Company>> at <<Phone>>. ©2014
What if, instead of digging through endless totes or searching through storage
— TAKE T HAT! (AND T HIS TOO.) —
You don’t have to spend a
• New drapes are an excellent way to easily freshen up your space. Even repainted curtain rods can give your room a pleasant face-lift.
• For deals on furniture, scope out unexpected sources, like a hotel closing, estate sale, or even an auction or flea market.
• You can create unique wall art by filling inexpensive frames with leftover fabric, or wallpaper. For a rustic touch, use old window frames as picture frames.
Design on a Dime million bucks to make your home look like a million bucks.
for the right box, you used them year-round?
— SECRETS —
Night Light – To add magic to a walkway or nightstand, fill a large Mason jar or glass vase with a strand or two of batterypowered lights. Party Flair – Wrap a string of lights around the legs of your outdoor table for a summer gathering, and use a white cloth to cover the table. Your table will emit a soft glow once night falls – and guests won’t be left in the dark! Space Illuminator – Banish the spookiness of visits to the dark basement; use duct tape to attach lights along the edge of the stairs. Track Lighting – Attach adhesive light clips (available at most hardware stores) to the bottom of your kitchen cabinets, then thread the string of lights through for cheap and cheerful track lighting. With these simple ideas, you not only take the frustration out of holiday light storage, you get a boost of holiday spirit virtually every day!
Dim Lighting Isn’t Always Romantic. Especially when it turns into a full blackout. There’s nothing convenient about a power outage. But with a home generator, you can keep things humming no matter what’s going on with the electrical grid. Call <<Company>> at <<Phone>> to get the generator solution that’s right for you.
<<Company>> at <<Phone>> ©2014
Prepaid Debit Card vs. Checking Account
Free checking accounts were
once one of the best deals around. Now nearly two-thirds of them carry an average monthly fee of $12. And some are looking to prepaid debit cards as cheaper alternatives. The appeal’s understandable. With prepaid debit cards, your funds are already loaded on the card. You use the card as you would a debit or a credit card to make purchases. You spend only what you have available.
The downside: some prepaid cards charge $10/month, and charge an additional fee each time you load money onto the card or use an ATM – be aware or beware. Prepaid cards also tend to offer fewer consumer protections. Funds loaded onto a card may not be insured by the FDIC, unlike money in the bank, and if you lose your card, you may lose your money. That can make the checking account fee seem like a better deal after all.
— BUCKLE DOWN — for at least 30 minutes each day can help to strengthen your heart.
4 Heart-Healthy Tips
H
eart health is no laughing matter. According to a study by Bayer Aspirin, cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths in the U.S. than cancer, diabetes or accidents. What can you do to stay healthy? Start by taking these 4 activities to heart and live, love and laugh longer! 1. Exercise – Any physical activity, such as walking your dog,
2. Reduce Stress – Avoid stressful situations by finding a balance in your home/work lifestyle. Meditation and laughter also help to reduce tension. 3. Reduce Alcohol Intake – Most females should limit themselves to one drink per day. More than two drinks can be harmful. 4. Keep Aspirin on Hand – In the event of a heart attack, call 911, then take one regular-strength aspirin to decrease the damaging effects and reduce the risk of death.
3
My Word
! e M n a c S
…continued from page 1 Sincerely,
problems. Just call us, and we’ll come take a look. In fact, if you run into any electrical trouble at all, give us a call. We’ll be here when you need us – it’s our job and our pleasure. In the meantime, stay warm and stay safe. Bundle up, hug your kids and enjoy!
<<Name>> P.S. After you’ve read your newsletter, please feel free to pass it along to family and friends. And don’t forget to check out the coupons on this page!
Scan this QR code with your smartphone to view <<Company>>’s special online offer. Don’t have a smartphone? Visit <<Portal>> for more information.
<<Address>> <<City>>, <<State>> <<Zip code>>
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
<<Phone>>
PAID
LIC #: <<Lic #>>
Permit ##### Montgomery, AL
Good for Nothing That’s what many things you get in the mail are worth, but not this…
Connect
you’re already not having a good day. We understand and would like to make things a little easier on your wallet.
Just present this ad with your Of course, the best benefit next repair bill, and we’ll give is that our repair professionals you $25 off. Why? can get your system up and Because when you need a running as soon as possible. repair on your electrical system, And that’s good for a lot. <<Company>> at <<Phone>>
(We recommend cutting this out and putting it on your refrigerator. Just a thought!)
©2014
—
M O R E S AV I N G S A N D G R E AT N E W S
—
Want to see more home and savings
tips? Visit our HomeXpert portal at <<Portal>>.
You’ll find energy saving tips for the coming season, plus articles covering the hottest topics in home, health and savings news. You may even find a recipe or two! So visit <<Portal>>.