Wedding Planning: Simple Tips for a Wonderful Budget Honeymoon

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Set a budget

Remember that you are planning a budget honeymoon. So, the most important part is to decide on an amount and stick to it. Make sure to include everything such as airfare, accommodation, food, sightseeing, shopping etc. A better idea is to make it a part of your wedding planning expense.

Research about honeymoon destinations

Choosing the right honeymoon destination can help you save a lot. Consider less popular locations or travel within the country instead of going abroad. Also, pick a destination where the dollar has not deflated. The poor exchange rate can easily sabotage your budget.

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Consider an all-inclusive package

Not only it is less of a hassle, an all inclusive package assures substantial savings. You get a clear estimate of how much your holiday will cost and can plan accordingly. Consider booking through a travel agent as they can fetch you better deals and discounts.

Opt for honeymoon registry

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The way you register for wedding gifts, same way you can create a honeymoon registry. If you have plenty of linens and china’s why not setup a honeymoon registry and have your guests pay for your vacation in lieu of traditional gifts.

Fly off-peak

Flights are often less expensive on selected days of the week. For instance, if you are going domestic, fly weekends to avoid business travelers, whereas, if you are travelling abroad, you can get a better deal by starting on a Monday or Tuesday.

Overall, a budget honeymoon does not have to be anything less than an ideal trip. All you need is some flexibility, careful and early planning.

For more wedding budget tips on Stagetecture, click here.

The Smartphone isn’t called smart for nothing. It is not just for communication or for playing your favorite music, it now how practical purposes for your everyday life. Smartphones have evolved in so many ways that consumers can keep track of their energy use, lights, fuel costs and more for their home. It also opens opportunities for programmers to make applications that will benefit the users.

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There are several ways to save energy at home using your Smartphone. Here are some of the things you can save using your Smartphone:

Enhanced fuel efficiency.

Did you know that you can save fuel consumption by being up-to-date with how you drive? Rapid acceleration, sudden breaking and over speeding can increase your fuel consumption to 33 percent. This figure is definitely a lot of money to just go to waste without you knowing it. One example of Smartphone application that can help you with this is the greenMeter. This application will store data on your driving speed and changes in acceleration. The greenMeter app will indicate whether you are driving efficiently or not.

Control the thermostat of your cooling and heating appliances.

Adjusting your thermostat to its proper setting will certainly save your energy bill. This will help you utilize the right amount of workloads that your appliances perform. Some popular apps for controlling your temperature are Nest and Ecobee thermostat controller. It is easy to install and use. You can adjust the temperature of your home with your Smartphone like a remote control.

Conserve and monitor energy consumption

Energy monitoring in real-time to conserve electricity. Many devices on the market can help your home and be monitored on your smartphone.

The Energy UFO application for iPad provides visual feedback of electricity consumption and its cost as determined by information received from our family of Wi-Fi enabled products, such as the UFO Power Center, a four outlet smart power-strip. The UFO Power Center, as shown in the application is currently available from www.energyufo.com.

Consider using your smart phone to start helping you at home. Whether it is enhanced fuel efficiency, controlling your thermostat and more. You will love the simplicity and convenience , and your wallet will enjoy the energy savings!

For more green living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/3-ways-your-smartphone-can-save-energy-at-home/feed/ 0 28123 https://stagetecture.com/guest-blogger-6-of-the-best-home-improvements-that-save-money-too/ https://stagetecture.com/guest-blogger-6-of-the-best-home-improvements-that-save-money-too/#respond Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:18:19 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=22557 Guest Blogger #345, Entry #918, January 24, 2012

There are home improvements you can make that will actually save you money over time. They can make your home more enjoyable and more energy efficient at the same time. From adding insulation to changing out an appliance, here are some basic home improvement projects that will truly improve your home.

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1. Tankless Water Heater

The initial cost of a tankless water heater is high, prompting many people to select the traditional water tank instead. However, a tankless water heater has many benefits. The first is that you will never run out of hot water again. The second is that you will save a small fortune on the utility bills since you will only heat water when it’s needed. Rather than keeping a massive tank of water hot and ready to go, the fuel to heat it will only be expended when it’s actually needed.

2. New Windows and Doors

Homes that are older may have charm, but they don’t have good insulation. If you can feel a draft around your windows, consider making the investment in new ones. Your home will not only stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, but your utility bills will drop drastically. It will also be an instant face-lift, making your home more attractive on the inside and the outside.

3. New Appliances

A new dishwasher will look great and make kitchen clean up faster. Choose one that is energy efficient and you can also save money on the utility bills. Larger tubs and the elimination of center water poles mean that you can now fit more dishes than ever in these units, so you won’t have to run them as often. They also use less energy while running, allowing you to save even more money.

4. Insulation

It’s true that adding insulation to your home won’t change the appearance, but it will make your home more comfortable. There are a few key places you should look to see if you need more insulation. If you have an older home, start by removing a piece of trim from next to a window. Builders prior to the 1970s were notorious for not insulating around windows and doors. If this space is wide open, you can save a bundle by adding some insulation and then re-installing the trim. Look in the attic next. If areas of insulation are crushed down, add some insulation to this space. Take care not to insulate the soffits and close off the outside vents, as they are necessary for the airflow.

5. Upgraded Lights

New ceiling lights feature LED options and low-voltage bulbs that can help you save money on the electric bill. While these lights promise lower bills, they also offer beautiful styles that can help transform any room in your home. Simply changing a dated light fixture can transform a bathroom from 1965 into a retro bathroom that is worthy of the 21st century.

6. Low-flow faucets

There have been countless stories on the benefits of water saving showerheads and toilets. You may not realize, however, that you can also purchase water saving faucets for the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. These faucets are beautiful and elegant, yet they limit the flow of water and will help you reduce your water bill over time.

There are many projects you can tackle that will lower your utility expenses and help you save money. Some will give your home an instant face-lift while others will simply make your house more inviting and comfortable. When it’s time to make changes in your home, consider more than mere aesthetics.

For more home improvement ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Now that the summer is here, it’s time to think of how to save money from the harsh heat! While we usually think of the main house for cost savings, we often forget about our garage. Many homes have skimped on the insulation and other building components in the garage, and then in turn amounts to added heat gain in the garage. Conversely for the winter time, the garage is a quick way to lose heat.

Today, my Guest Blogger gives tips for how to save money in your garage all year long!

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If you’ve moved around much you’ll know just how important it is to have great insulation. Even just getting the basics right will help you to save a considerable amount each and every month, not to mention the significance from an environmental perspective.

When it comes to losing warmth, the roof and garage are real hotspots (or should that be cold spots?!). If you’re really looking to the future I would absolutely recommend insulating your entire property, but if cash is limited and you’re looking for a nice easy win then the garage is a brilliant place to begin. It’s cheap, straightforward and the whole thing can be done in a (slightly sweaty) weekend.

The garage door is usually the single biggest culprit for heat loss. Put your hand next to the edge and see if you can feel a draft being let through the perimeter of the door. If you can then this means that there are gaps between your door and door frame, which are generally responsible for about 60% of the heat loss in a poorly insulated garage. As well as being extremely energy inefficient, these gaps will also let in all sorts of crud, debris and water! By installing an insulated sectional or roller garage door, the sides and bottom will be sealed by a combination of rubber strips and plastic brushes. It sounds simple but that’s precisely why it works so well! The strips are extremely durable and will ensure the elements are kept where they belong – outside!

The next problem area is the walls. You often find with garages that are attached to houses that the walls adjoining the house are insulated but the others aren’t. Fiberglass insulation can be easily added and at relatively small cost. It is also very effective as a sound proofing material, which is handy if, like me, you happen to be an awful but very enthusiastic drummer!

The same of course applies with the ceiling which in most rooms of a property would actually account for the majority of heat loss. Again it’s just a case of adding fiberglass which from a decent DIY store. I would also recommend placing either carpet or even just a rug down on the floor. You’ll be amazed at the additional warmth this provides, although it is obviously dependent on the space not being used for your car. If you want to take it a step further then you can add linoleum tiles across the floor which are not only great for insulation but are much easier to keep clean.

I think it’s fair to say that most people are very aware of the benefits of great insulation from a heat retention perspective, but what people rarely think about is the reverse impact such insulation has in the summer months. By taking simple steps to insulate your garage door, walls, floor and ceiling, you’ll find that it actually stays considerably cooler in the summer months, making it the perfect place to chill out away from the heat and without the need for an AC.

Give it a go. You’ll save yourself a packet and, perhaps more importantly, you’ll find that you now have a huge additional space that can be used for much more than just storing old newspapers, kids toys and trophies from company golf tournaments (just my garage then?!).

Dan Holt is an avid DIY’er and works at a small company in the UK that sells insulated Roller Garage Doors. I have a particular interest in the environmental impacts of domestic energy saving.

For additional money saving ideas for your home, click here.