Monday, December 6, 2010

New Year New Resolution

I happened to come across another blogger's blog about an email that I found interesting and I started to think about the upcoming new year. It was about buying American products. There are a lot of people that have lost jobs, homes or are headed in that direction. It is time that we as Americans look at how we are spending our money this holiday season. Are we contributing to the job loss? What are we doing to prevent it? Now Kristen is a Pro-USA military wife living in Hawaii, she hit the nail on the head with this excerpt that I've pasted:

"Are we North Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think???




While the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets, the media wrings its hands and criticizes the ex-Bush Administration for perceived errors.

Yet 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended.



Well, duh. Why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges?



SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA AND CANADA !!"



Now I have to agree, that we shouldn't have to depend on the government, it is simple economics. We need to lower the demand for these products. I have to admit, I don't check to see "where it is made" every time I buy groceries. There are a few products that I know they are American like Imperial Sugar and Blue Bell Ice Cream that are made here in Texas, that I'm loyal to. I have to agree with Kristen, it only takes a second to look at the bottom of a can or the back of a box to make an impact. Yes it may be a few cents more, but you can probably find a coupon that will offset that.

I've given it some thought, and I hope there are some fellow Americans that will do the same. My New Year's resolution is going to be to buy American products when possible and hopefully get more people to do this too, together we will create jobs. The only question is whether or not this will be a resolution that I can keep. I mean, are we so dependent on Chinese products that I won't be able to find certain necessities made here in the USA?

Here is were I need help, a lot of people may be willing to do this with me, but they may appreciate a list of American made goods that they can keep in their purse or wallet to refer back to while shopping. Please email or post any business that may benefit from this movement. I'm going to create a list and I'll post it as a download for anyone that wants to use it.

Please post if you would like join me in making the same New Year's Resolution, I would love to see how many people will do it with me.

GOD BLESS THE USA!!
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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Every Drop Counts In A Single Income Family


Clean drinking water...not self-evident for ev...Image via Wikipedia

Lately I've had a really sick baby. I know they get sick, but this one takes the cake! The baby is on an antibiotic that has vomiting and diarrhea as side effects. So needless to say, the water bill is going to be a little higher than I would like it to be. Fortunately for me, I've been holding onto a large glass tea pitcher that is too big for my refrigerator (It holds approximately 2.5 gallons). I just have really liked the way it looks too much to give it away. Since it has gotten cold, my eldest son indicated that we have to wait a long time for the water to warm up in the morning when he wants to wash his face. That is when the light bulb went off! I could catch and transfer the running water while I'm waiting for it to warm up, and transfer it into the tea pitcher! Then when I need to do my laundry, I just set it on the side of the washer, turn it on, and let it drain into the washer!

Now I know you may be thinking that is a lot of work...well if you do the math... 2.5 gallons x 3 people washing faces = 7.5 gallons x 2 times a day = 15 gallons a day x 30 days in a month = 450 gallons of water.  Okay, now you are going to say how does this affect your bill? Water is just a few cents per gallon. Well in Houston, you are placed into a "bracket" based on the amount of gallons of water you use per month.

If you would like to be confused, see below:

Single - Family Residential - TU 01, 02, & 03


 Consumption
   (Gallons)             Water Charge              Sewer Charge
     0 - 1,000                      $3.45                              $6.52
      2,000                           $8.18
      3,000                           $8.18
     
      4,000                          $16. 04                            $15.81


      5,000                          $19.00                             $18.77


     6,000                           $21.97                      $3.96 per 1,000 gallons
                                                                                + $1.14  fee

7,000 - 12,000                $21.97                       $3.96 per 1,000 gallons
                             + $2.92 per additional             + $1.14 fee
                             1,000 gallons over 6,000




Over 12,000                   $39.49                       $3.96 per 1,000 gallons
                             + $5.28 per additional             + $1.14 fee
                            1,000 gallons over 12,000




Note: The $1.14 fee will not appear on the bill as a separate line item on the bill.


EXAMPLES (The layman terms):

1,000 gallons $3.45 Water

(low-user rate) $6.52 Sewer

$9.97 Total / Month


7,000 gallons $24.89 Water

$28.86 Sewer ($1.14 fee included)

$53.75 Total / Month  THIS IS MY CURRENT MONTHLY WATER BILL!!


14,000 gallons $ 50.05 Water

$ 56.58 Sewer ($1.14 fee included)

$106.63 Total / Month

So basically, I'm paying to be in a 7,000 to 12,000 gallon per month usage. I'm using a lot of water, I know! that is why I decided to post it! The thing is, that I could be using 7,001 gallons or 11,999 gallons a month and still pay the same price for water.  This bracket is too expensive for me. So I'm hoping I can move myself down a bracket by using my outdoor rain barrel (which isn't doing so well since we haven't had a lot of rain) to water the yard and plants; and my smaller indoor (drinkable water) rain barrel to do laundry, water plants and animals, and occasionally boil eggs and noodles. Who knows, maybe I can come down to the 1,000 gallon usage bracket. I could use the additional $40 a month!
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