10 Easy Ways To Save MONEY This Summer

Here at BathArt Refinishing we are always looking for ways to save our customers MONEY! We have put together a list of (10) easy ways to save money this coming summer. It's easy to let spending get out of control during the summer months. The kids are out of school, people are on vacation, and the air conditioning is running 24/7. Not to mention, with nationwide unemployment still hovering around 9 percent and gas topping $4 per gallon, many people are feeling the pinch.

However, you can easily lessen the strain on your wallet and have some extra cash left over at the end of every month. There are plenty of simple ways you can save money this summer without sacrificing your way of life:

1. Turn Up or Turn Off the Air Conditioning

In 1960, only 12 percent of homes had air conditioning, including homes in the southern part of the nation. Today, however, almost no new home is built without it. We've become a nation that spends our summers cooped up indoors, intolerant to the outdoor heat.

According to Energy Star, almost half the energy used in your home goes toward heating and cooling. Even making small adjustments, such as turning up your air conditioning by only one degree, can make a huge difference. For each degree you reduce your air conditioning, it's estimated you'll save 3 percent on your utility bills.

You can also save money by using a programmable thermostat. When used correctly, a programmable thermostat saves the average family $180 per year.

Of course, you'll save the most money by turning your air conditioning off. Instead, open the windows, turn on a fan (which will make you feel up to four degrees cooler), and sip on something cool.

2. Get Creative With Summer Camps

When the kids are out of school, parents are often hard pressed to figure out how to fill their days without spending a fortune. And if you work full-time, summertime can be even more expensive. However, there are several ways to minimize the costs of childcare and entertainment.

First, look into summer camps. While some camps can be prohibitively expensive, a great deal are not. Many cities and municipalities run affordable summer camps through their recreation department, community center, or YMCA. Call your city government or township office to find out what types of camps are available.

Of course, the length of the camp determines its cost, so be sure to carefully consider whether half days or full days are most practical. Many churches and other religious institutions run affordable summer camps, as do zoos, museums, and aquariums. If any summer camp you're interested in is too expensive, inquire to see if grants are available.

3. Don't Water the Grass

Many people equate the gentle sound of a sprinkler with summertime fun. They can cool off a backyard, and provide hours of fun for kids on a hot afternoon. However, the downside to sprinklers is that they use a lot of water. And with more areas of the country facing droughts or mild water shortages, sprinklers are increasingly frowned upon for wasting resources.

According to CBS, Americans are the world's biggest water users, and 36 states will face water shortages in the next three years. It's estimated that 50 percent to 70 percent of U.S. residential water is used on landscaping. You will greatly reduce your home's water bill simply by not watering your grass everyday, or by implementing xeriscape landscaping ideas, which use plants that don't require a lot of water.

If you do want to water your lawn, then don't over-water. According to The Franklin Institute, most homeowners over-water their lawns. Generally, it's best to water grass every five to seven days. If you get a good, drenching rain, then this will keep your lawn hydrated for up to two weeks.

4. Carpool

With gas prices presently exceeding $4 per gallon, carpooling is becoming a more appealing option for many people -- and if gas goes up to $5 per gallon, as some experts predict, it will be a necessity. According to the Daily Green, carpooling saves an average of $650 to $1,000 per year. And those figures were tallied when gas was priced at $3.68 per gallon, so you'll save even more now.

If you're not sure how to get started carpooling, there are several sites to help you connect with others. One is eRideShare. This site is useful because not only does it help you find carpoolers wanting to share rides to work, but also to the airport, hospital, and shops. The site also helps parents connect to carpool their kids to club meetings, school, and sport practices.

5. Plan a Staycation

According to AAA's 2008 Vacation Costs Survey, the average cost for a couple on vacation, including lodging and meals, is $244 per day. Add kids in the mix, and costs go up even more. For a week-long vacation, the totals can exceed $1,700.

Planning a staycation is a great way to save money this summer. You could take your kids swimming, go for a picnic, and spend lazy afternoons in your hammock. Not only would you save a chunk of change, but it would likely be far more relaxing than spending a week flying to and navigating through an unfamiliar city. Plus, any money you do spend at restaurants or attractions would stay local.

6. Plant a Garden

Thanks to rising food prices (due, in part, to rising gas prices), home gardening is growing in popularity. Starting a home vegetable garden is not only a great way to exercise, it's also the best way to source healthy, pesticide-free food. You can easily grow organic food at home, and save significantly compared to what you'd pay at the grocery store.

According to the Wall Street Journal, for every $1 you spend on green bean seeds, you'll grow an average of $75 worth of produce. For every $1 you spend on potato seeds, you'll net an average of $5 worth of crop. Burpee Seeds estimates that $50 spent on vegetables seeds will save an average family $1,250. If you can or dry your excess vegetables, you'll save even more.

Even if you can't plant a large garden, you can still make a dent in your grocery bill with container gardening. For instance, fresh herbs are extremely expensive to buy in the store, and often, much of the herbs go to waste. Growing these herbs at home is not only easy, but it gives you access to fresh, free herbs whenever you need them.

7. Do a Home Energy Audit

If your home isn't brand new, then chances are it's leaking energy somewhere. You can save hundreds or thousands of dollars per year with a home energy audit, which is when an energy professional comes into your home and audits your energy use. They help you uncover energy leaks, and make suggestions for improving your home's energy efficiency. Home energy audits cost a few hundred dollars, but the U.S. Department of Energy (USDE)†has a helpful guide for doing a home energy audit yourself.

Many of the energy leaks you'll discover are cheap and easy to fix. Adding more insulation to your attic, insulating your hot water pipes, and sealing leaks are all easy do-it-yourself projects that are perfect to tackle during the summer months. These projects can save you hundreds off your energy bills each year.

8. Turn Down Your Hot Water

If you're like many people, you crank up your hot water heater during the cold winter months because you love stepping into a hot shower. And you probably forget to reduce the temperature settings during the summer.

According to the USDE, we spend $310 to $400 or more each year heating water for our homes. Turning down your hot water heater is an easy way to save money on this expense. And most likely, you won't even notice the difference -- until you see the savings in your electric bill.

9. Switch to a Push Mower

How much money do you spend each year buying gas for your lawn mower? If you have a large yard, then chances are you spend a lot. Switching to a push reel mower cuts this expense entirely out of the equation.

The potential cost savings, both to you and the environment, are significant. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that each year, Americans spill enough gasoline when refilling their mowers to surpass what was spilled by the Exxon Valdez. The EPA also estimates that we use 800 million gallons of gas each year, just to fuel our lawn mowers -- and this doesn't include the amount of fuel it takes just to drive back and forth to the gas station.

Another benefit to push reel mowers is that you drastically cut the greenhouse gasses you emit into the atmosphere with a lawnmower. The EPA states that lawnmowers are particularly bad for the environment because their engines are unregulated, unlike cars. An average lawnmower spews 90 pounds of CO2, and 50 pounds of other pollutants, into the atmosphere each year. Push reel mowers don't emit any.

Last, you'll get a lot more exercise with a push mower. If you mow twice a week, this could enable you to skip a trip or two to the gym.

10. Make Your Own Personal Care Items

According to the Department of Labor's latest survey on consumer expenditures, the average family annually spends $526 on "personal care" products. However, you could reduce this expense by making them yourself.

Creating your own face wash, shampoo, moisturizer, or lip balm isn't as difficult as you might think, and most of the ingredients you need are likely already sitting in your kitchen. For instance, washing your face with oatmeal, milk, and honey is a treat for your skin, and much cheaper (and safer) than many of the commercial products sitting on drugstore shelves.

Making your own shampoo or washing your hair with baking soda and vinegar is incredibly cheap. Natural recipes can make your hair look healthier and shinier than most commercial products. This is also true when it comes to skin care. Simple, healthy ingredients like lemon, honey, avocado, and mineral water make your skin glow, and they cost far less than store-bought products.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, saving money this summer doesn't have to be painful. Making a few small changes and tackling some home projects to improve energy efficiency are relatively easy to do. The end result is that you'll have some extra padding to add to your savings account or monthly budget.

An added bonus is that many of these tips will improve your health and quality of life. For instance, making your own face wash or moisturizer is a fun and empowering project. Cutting grass with a push reel mower is great exercise, and could help you lose weight. Maintaining a garden is challenging and rewarding, and you could give extra produce to neighbors who might be struggling financially. At any rate, you'll feel better saving money and adopting a do-it-yourself mindset this summer.

SAVE MONEY REFINISHING YOUR BATHTUB AND TILE!!!!!

BathArt LLC

About US:

BathArt Refinishing is a licensed, bonded, and insured contractor, registered with the State of Florida. Our bathtub, tile and sink refinishing service carries a 5 year warranty on materials and labor. In addition to individual residential projects, we also service multiple units such as apartments and hotels. Our services are primarily focused on bathtub, tile and sink refinishing.

Refinishing these surfaces is a long-lasting, proven process which allows for the restoration of a beautiful surface without the cost of replacement. This process can be used on tubs, sinks, various types of countertops and most tile surfaces, including shower and tub surrounds and extend the life of these surfaces for an additional 15-20 years, with proper care.

In addition to standard finishes and colors, additional stone and marble finishes are available, as well as a wide variety of colors for the client to choose from.

BathArt Artist have been trained by our training department in the professionalism of bathtub refinishing and repair. Our artists pay close attention to detail and only use the best equipment and materials in the industry. We stand prideful next to our work and truly leave your desired area looking like a work of Art!!

BathArt may not be the cheapest but then the cheapest refinishers may use low quality products with poor preparation work that will only last a short time. Those refinishers know what their jobs are worth and offer flaky warranties. However we are fair priced and only use the best equipment and materials to ensure 100% customer satisfaction backed by a no gimmicks 5 year warranty. We've seen it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly. We'll do a high quality job for a fair price. After all, isn't that what we're all looking for when hiring a company to do work for us in our respected home? We stand by our service and professional artist who are all trained by our training department to provide the highest quality service focused on attention to detail and customer satisfaction.

* Price Match Guarantee! We'll Match ANY Competitor's Price on Refinishing... Guaranteed!!

This is to ensure that we give you the best service for the best possible price. We are very comfortable with our research of our "Competition" and their pricing! We are familiar with their methods of application, pricing, and material used. We will offer our Price Match Guarantee - Beating any Licensed Refinishers Price!!!!

So if you're being told you have been quoted the best price in town think again. Here at BathArt Refinishing we offer you the finest products, best equipment, fastest and most reliable service and a warm friendly knowledgeable staff. At truly The Best Price in Town!

Requirement:

1) Estimate must be given by a Florida Registered Licensed Refinisher carrying a D-12 Synthetic Products License that can be verified, and carrying a state approved insurance for damages and employees. Registered companies in the Great State of Florida can be verified at www.SunBiz.org a print out of the respected company can be obtained on this website.

2) Written Warranty: Only a reputable and professional company will offer a no gimmicks written warranty. We stand by our products and service and offer an industry leading 5 year warranty on products and service performed. We hind nothing from our customers and have no hidden fees or unnecessary trip fees, the only time we expect to hear back from our customers is when they are ready to refinish another project. Our written warranty can be found and pre-approved by our customers @ www.BathArtRefinishing.com For the World to See! At the completion of each project a report will be given with the written warranty attached for easy filing. BathArt Refinishing will beat any competitors price simply ask them for a printable copy and assure the respected company is offing a 5 year warranty, they will have no issue releasing this form in order to gain your business, we would! if they can offer a no gimmicks 5 year warranty, and are Registered, licensed and insured in the state of Florida then we want to offer you The BathArt Refinishing Price Match and Blowout Guarantee!

BathArt Refinishing will not compete with or prices match any Unregistered or Unlicensed contractor. They do not have access to the proper materials and their workers are most likely not covered by workers compensation. Just because a company is on the internet does not mean they are Registered with the State or Licensed!