National Parks - FREE family fun!

In an effort to boost tourism for neighboring communities, the National Park Service announced today that entrance fees for all National Parks will be waived for one weekend each month this summer. So, mark your calendars for June 20 - 21, 2009, July 18 - 19, 2009 and August 15 - 16, 2009. Drag out your tent (camping fees start at $8 per night) and break out the marshmellows!

Pulling the Plug

The connector cord for my son's electric guitar had a broken wire. Although he could technically play his guitar, he couldn't connect it to the amplifier to hear what he was playing. At one time, this would have been a really good thing in our house. However, he recently expanded his repertoire to include more songs than just "Bad to the Bone" and is getting fun to listen to. When you are 13 years old and are practicing for your rock debut (as long as no one looks at you), not being able to connect to your amplifier and shake the windows is a very big deal. We examined the cord thinking it might be possible to remove the broken section and splice the plug back in. Unfortunately, we determined that the wire break was in the center of the cord. Unless he wanted a two foot connection, this wouldn't work. We took a field trip to the Guitar Center and found that a six foot 1/4" male to male amplifier cable (what he had) was $34.95. A ten foot 1/4" male to male cable (his desired cable) was $39.95. We left the cords there and continued on to Radio Shack. Radio Shack had an eighteen foot 1/4" male to male cable for only $23.99. Unfortunately, on-line product reviews indicated that the available cable had a $23.99 sound with a lot of extra pickup noise and feedback. I remembered someone in one of our Financial Peace University classes had mentioned that pawn shops could be a good place to get electronics. So we continued on our way to the local pawn shop where we found the same cord Radio Shack carried for $14.95. I get enough extra noise and unwanted feedback at home. I did not want or need any more even if it was now in the price range. The pawn shop employee recommended that we check on-line as sometimes the cable manufacturers will ship directly to the customer, eliminating the middle man and reducing the price. With some on-line research (about 15 minutes), we were able to find, on eBay from a seller with a 99-percent satisfaction rating over a five year selling history, the same brand of cable the Guitar Center sold. We bid the minimum bid and won it. My son received in the mail last week, two ten-foot 1/4" male to male cables with a dynamic sound and no feedback to speak of. My total bill for both cables including shipping direct from Hong Kong was $8.98. My house is filled once again with the sound of happy teenage son (Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Metallica's "One," and the occasional "Bad to the Bone.")

SAVE at the Living Green Fair

The Annual Living Green Fair is a FREE family-friendly event that will be held this weekend (May 2, 2009 from 10:00am - 6:00pm and May 3, 2009 from 10:00am - 5:00pm) at the MN State Fair Grounds. The Living Green Fair features exhibitors, vendors, workshops and demonstrations highlighting choices we can make in our every-day lives that are healthier for people and the environment, save us money and time, and improve our overall quality of health and life. Topics covered include: transportation, energy, remodeling, yards and gardens, arts and culture, agriculture, outdoor living, lifestyles and recreation, household products and practices, music, fashion, food and cooking, renewable energy, and more! Take the bus for FREE and you won't even have to pay for parking. So many resources. So much information. And, the price is right! (Just remember to pack a lunch or bring some of the $$ you would have paid for parking so you can eat in the Expo Food Court...Chipotle, the French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, French Crepes, Island Noodles, Galactic Pizza, Smokey's Charbroiler or West Indies Soul Food. Yum!)

Save $$ on your Water Bill

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that, on average in the United States, 183 gallons of water are used per person per day. Adding just one person to your household for the summer (based on 90 days) can add 16,470 gallons of water to your bill! The following is a list from the University of Minnesota Extension Service of some typical water uses and the approximate water use generated:

Washing machine 50—60 gallons/load
Bathtub 30 gallons half full
Shower 5 gallons per minute
Toilet 6 gallons/flush
Sink 2 gallons brushing teeth
3—5 gallons shaving

The Extension Service suggests reducing the quantity of water used by changing to a more efficient toilet, turning off the water flow while brushing teeth and shaving, and shortening showers.

Your utility bill could also be too high because you have a plumbing problem. To determine this, go to your meter (most meters will be located in your basement utility room or outside your home) and write down the number listed. If you notice that the small red circle on the dial face is spinning and you are not knowingly using water, you likely have a plumbing problem. After reading the meter, use no water for at least two hours. Take a second reading. The numbers should be the same. If the reading has changed, something on the property is pulling water through the meter.

The Minnesota Rural Water Association (MRWA) reports that a low-flow toilet that runs continuously can use as much as 4,000 gallons of water per day and a standard toilet that runs continuously can use as much as 11,520 gallons of water per day. If you are billed $2.99 per thousand gallons of usage, a continuously running toilet could result in a quarterly water bill for over $3,000.00. To check your toilet for leaks, remove the lid from the tank, flush to clear the water in the bowl, drop in one leak-detecting dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring (start with five drops to see if the water darkens enough) and then wait 15 minutes. If colored water appears in the toilet bowl without additional flushing, there is a leak. This type of leak is typically associated with the plunger ball, flapper valve, and/or the rubber gasket at the bottom of the tank.

Make sure all faucets turn off completely. According to the MRWA, a slow drip can use as much as 5,000 gallons per month. A steady stream can mean a water usage increase of 21,000 gallons per month adding $260.00 to your quarterly water bill. Check all indoor & outdoor faucets for leaks or drips. Worn washers or O-rings can cause your faucets to leak. If the leak can't be fixed, you may have to replace the faucet. Remember, if hot water is leaking, this not only costs you in water usage but in energy usage as well. Your shower head should be checked to be sure that it doesn't drip. If it does, it should be repaired or replaced.

Check to make sure that the water level float is not stuck open on your water softeners, water filters, water heaters, and automatic pool fillers. Water softeners use 40—60 gallons of water per recharge cycle. If it continuously cycles through, it could be disastrous for your utility budget. Be sure these items are adjusted to be recharged only as often as needed for the amount of water actually used.

Paperback Swap

I try to be "good" and hit the library sales and garage sales. when indulging my tendency towards bibliophilia. However, I can't always find what I want and I never seem to find a good sale when I need (okay, okay... want) a new book. If this sounds like you, consider signing up for PaperBackSwap. Register for free by simply typing in your name, a mailing address, and an email address. Then, use your two free book credits to order some new gently used books.

Once you request a book, the member owning the book will mail it to your home for free. Add to PaperBackSwap's database of books by creating your virtual bookshelf. Just type in the ISBN (found by the UPC symbol on each book) of all of the paperback, hardcover, and audio books you are finished with. If another member requests a book from you, you simply wrap it up, take it the Post Office and mail it at the media mail rate (significantly lower than regular postage.) You earn one credit and can choose a new book for every book you mail to someone else.

PaperbackSwap offers a similar service at seperate websites for movie fanatics and audiophiles.

The Samurai Appliance Repair Man

Fixitnow.com is an amazing resource for do-it-yourselfers (and DIY wanna-bes.) It offers Appliance Repair FAQs for dishwashers, garbage disposals, dryers, general appliances, icemakers, microwaves, ovens, ranges, refrigerators, stoves, and washers. Topics addressed range from "How do I load my dishwasher most efficiently" and "Where have all the tradespeople gone?" to "Eek! My washer is full of suds, won't drain, and is throwing an LD error code" and "How do I replace the motherboard in a GE refrigerator." If you can't find what you need in the FAQ tutorials, the Samurai Appliance Repair Man offers a forum offering interactive repair assistance. And, if you need a part to complete your repair job, while you are always welcome to peruse your local hardware or appliance parts store, you can just click on the link to RepairClinic.com and have parts shipped right to your door. RepairClinic.com also offers DIY assistance from the RepairGuru; however, the RepairGuru is all business and is not as amusing as the Samurai Appliance Repair Man. Fixitnow.com also offers troubleshooting help for air conditioners, dehumidifiers, freezers, and trash compactors, subscriptions to an appliance repair newsletter, and a series of calming Appliance Repair haikus. The only fee for using this service is a requested donation to the United Samurai Beer Fund.

The Samurai Appliance Repair Man does offer house calls but, as he resides in New Hampshire, this may not be a money saving idea for the typical southwest metro area MN resident. Become a fan on Facebook and or a follower on Twitter though. It will be almost a good - and it's free!