Tips for Changing Energy Providers

Thanks to recent energy de-regulations, your municipal energy provider no longer holds a monopoly on gas and electric services. This means you can shop around for alternative electric and gas suppliers, to find better rates.

And those suppliers are well aware of this new opening in the market. You might have noticed television and radio ads for new providers in your area. Or, perhaps your current power company has included bill inserts advising you of your right to shop around. But, if you are like a lot of people, you have probably also had a sales person show up at your door.

It might be tempting to switch providers, and you certainly should if you are certain that you can cut your utility costs. But you should also exercise caution before changing gas suppliers, especially if you are approached by a door-to-door salesman.

The truth is, anyone can come to your door saying they represent a gas supplier. There are so many new companies that consumers don’t really know who is real and who isn’t. That means that unscrupulous individuals can take advantage of people by posing as power company representatives to gain access to private financial information. And individual consumers aren’t the only victims.

Even if the person is truly an representative of the company, they get paid for each sale they make. That means the individual might use high-pressure, or manipulative, techniques to get you to sign up on the spot, without having all the information.

Unfortunately, many people sign up and realize that the new company doesn’t save them a penny. Or worse, they end up paying more for their service, and get locked into a contract to boot.

This is not intended to scare you away from changing gas suppliers. There are plenty of honest companies that really will save you money. This is more intended to make you aware of the potential pitfalls to making the change without doing your homework first.

1. Read your current utility bill.

Sure, we all pay attention to the amount due and usage lines, but look instead at the actual rates. There should be a section of your bill that shows your delivery service charges including how much you pay per hundreds of cubic feet (CCF) of gas, per month. There may also be a section that tells you the price a competitor would need to offer for you to save money by switching. All of this information can help you determine if you should switch, and what questions to ask of any potential provider.

2. If a solicitor comes to your door…

…do not switch providers, show them your bills, or give them any other information. Instead, get the name of their company and any information that they can provide. Call the company directly, or visit their website. Use the information you culled from your bill to compare against their rates. And ask them to send you any rate quotes in writing. Be sure to read all of the small print about the terms and stipulations for switching over, including if there’s a contract or fee for switching service.

3. Check with the Better Business Bureau…

…or with online consumer boards for information about the company in question. People who are already using the services are a good source of information about how the service works, and satisfaction rates.

4. Don’t sign anything…

…until you are completely comfortable with the information, and are certain that you fully understand the process. If you have doubts at any point before you sign then walk away.

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Consideration was received for the editing and publishing of this article.

 

I am so excited! Thirty-One is offering their 11 thermals for 1/2 off when you spend $31 in the month of May! That means this gorgeous, NEW Market Thermal which is normally $50 would be just $25! What a deal! I have it in Pink Pop Medalion and absolutely love it. It’s very large and perfect for taking to the beach or on a picnic. Keep cold food cold or hot food hot in style!

How it works:

Spend $31, get one thermal for half off.

Spend $62, get two thermals for half-off.

Spend $93, get three thermals for half-off.

And so on.

An idea: Father’s Day is coming up on June 16th. Spend $31 on Father’s Day gifts at Thiry-One and pick any thermal for half off!

Read more on my Facebook group or at mythirtyone.com/andriaalexander. Hurry- ends May 31st!

 

Meat coupons are rare! Grab this $1.00 off any 1 LLOYD’S Barbeque product coupon and head to Walmart where you’ll pay just $0.75 each for Lloy’d BBQ tub!  Here’s the info:

Lloyd’s BBQ Tub – $2.50
Use $1.00 off any 1 LLOYD’S Barbeque product
Final Price: $1.50 total ($0.75 each)

Thanks, I Heart The Mart!

This $3.00 off any Brita Bottle for Kids coupon is pretty neat and can score you a FREE Brita water bottle for kids!  Check your Walmart’s clearance section for Brita kids’ water bottles and don’t forget to bring this $3/1 coupon!!

Brita Kids Water Bottle – $3.00 on clearance
Use $3.00 off any Brita Bottle for Kids
Final Price: FREE

 

Food for Thought: Saving Money in the Kitchen

Foodies. They used to be called “‘gourmets” or “bon vivants” (and it’s probably no coincidence that those terms both originated in France, where the obsession with food reaches epic heights). Today, the term “foodie” describes not just people who like to eat great food, but also those who are making an art out of preparing and serving it. Whether you’re just learning the basics of cooking or are a seasoned chef (pardon the expression), you’re always on the lookout for the best kitchen equipment, gadgets, serving dishes, and table decor you can find.

 

But what if the budget is tight? Can you stock your kitchen with top-quality cookbooks, tools, and ingredients without breaking the bank? Let’s ask Martha Stewart, doyenne of all things food and entertaining; here’s a video with her advice on choosing basic kitchen hand tools, from tongs to spatulas. She also has a series of videos that total up to 20 essential kitchen tools, with each video focusing on one specific item; this one tells you what to look for in a cast-iron frying pan.

Once you have your kitchen-equipment shopping list ready, check around for sales and other discounts before you buy. Williams Sonoma coupons, for example, can make it easier to splurge a little on beautiful dishes and specialized gadgets – like that stainless-steel citrus press you’ve had your eye on.

You can also get more for your money in the long run by choosing the best quality you can afford when purchasing certain items; knives, for instance, are worth spending more on now, so you won’t be replacing them more often than you’d like. But there’s no general rule for which items deserve a no-compromises approach; it depends a lot on the kind of cooking you plan to do. For example, if you intend to do a lot of Asian-style dishes, it might be worthwhile to invest in a specialty item like a hard-anodized stovetop wok and at least a few really solid knives. On the other hand, if grilling is your specialty, perhaps your splurge item will be a set of stainless-steel Henckels tools.

Not sure how to get started? There are many online resources like NerdWallet that simplify the process of comparison-shopping, so you can easily find coupons and discount codes to save money— leaving you with more time, as well as cash, for your continuing foodie adventures.

Then there’s the food itself. You may already use coupons when you shop for food, but what if you long to try something a little more exotic than the usual grocery-store suspects? Head on over to the Tasting Table! While this website is not specifically discount-oriented, it does have detailed information about ingredients, ready-to-use food products, and also great advice on wine and liqueur  pairings, plus (of course) recipes that you won’t see anywhere else, including from some of the top chefs in the world.

So whether you’re just learning to cook or already an all-out foodie, by putting a little extra prep time and effort into finding great deals, you can afford to make fabulous meals— and eat them, too!

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Consideration was received for the editing and publishing of this article.

 

They’ve just released this special $1.25 off ONE (1) KRAFT JET-PUFFED Marshmallows coupon so print it out and make some s’mores!!

Here are some more coupons!!

Food

• Save $0.50 on any ONE (1) 1.76 oz. Altoids® tin (AVAILABLE AT WALMART)
• SAVE $1.00 ON TWO when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor General Mills cereals listed: Chex® • Fiber One® • Total® • Wheaties® • Oatmeal Crisp® (DFSI)
• SAVE $1.00 ON TWO when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor Cheerios® cereals: Original Cheerios® • Honey Nut Cheerios® • Multi Grain Cheerios® • (DFSI)
• SAVE 50¢ when you buy ONE BOX Original Cheerios® cereal (the one in the yellow box) (DFSI)
• SAVE 50¢ ON TWO when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor/variety Betty Crocker® Fruit Shapes, Fruit by the Foot®, Fruit Gushers® OR Fruit (DFSI)
• SAVE $1.00 ON TWO when you buy TWO PACKAGES any variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cookie Dough (DFSI)
• SAVE 75¢ when you buy any ONE BOX Fiber One® cereal listed: Fiber One® Original • Fiber One® Honey Clusters® • Fiber One® Raisin (DFSI)
• SAVE $1.00 on the purchase of two (2) HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Deli Sandwich Meat, Chicken Strips or Chicken and Smoked Sausage Product
• SAVE 75¢ on Any ONE (1) PLANTERS Honey BBQ OR Roasted Onion & Garlic Peanuts (16 oz.) OR Multi-pack Peanuts (10 oz.)
• SAVE 50¢ when you buy ONE PACKAGE any flavor 5 OZ. OR LARGER Green Giant™ Veggie Snack Chips (DFSI)

Personal Care

• SAVE $1.00 WHEN YOU BUY ANY ONE (1) GARNIER FRUCTIS STYLING PRODUCT
• SAVE $1.00 WHEN YOU BUY ANY ONE (1) GARNIER FRUCTIS SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER OR TREATMENT (Excludes trial sizes)
• Save $1.00 on any 1 (one) Curél® Moisturizer (7.5 fl oz or larger)
• Save 75¢ on any one Colgate® Optic White® Toothpaste 4oz or larger (Redeemable at Walmart)
• SAVE 75¢ on any one Colgate® Optic White® Mouthwash 8oz or larger (Redeemable at Walmart)
• Save $1.00 on any 1 (one) Curél® Foot Therapy Cream
• SAVE $2.00 Good on any shade of L’Oréal Healthy Look Crème Gloss Hair Color
• SAVE $2.00 on any (1) AVEENO® Facial Care Product (excludes trial sizes and cleansing bars) (Available at Walmart)
• SAVE $2.00 on any L’Oréal Revitalift, Youth Code or Age Perfect (excludes trial size)
• 75¢ OFF ONE Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Shampoo or Conditioner (excludes trial/travel size) De descuento en UN champú o acondicionador Vi

In the Home

• $1.00 OFF any TWO Vanity Fair® Napkins (Available at Walmart)
• $2.00 off a FoodSaver® Heat-Seal Bag or Roll retail value $18 or more. In-Store purchase only.
• SAVE $1.00 on any TWO Glade® Sense & Spray® refills
• $15.00 off a FoodSaver® Vacuum Sealing System retail value $69 or more. In-store purchase only.
• SAVE $3.00 off ONE AmeriGas® Propane Cylinder Exchange or Purchase (Walmart)
• $2.00 Off The Cary Grant Film Collection on DVD
• $2.00 Off That Thing You Do! on Blu-ray™
• $2.00 Off An Affair to Remember Blu-ray™ or DVD
• $2.00 Off Hello, Dolly! on Blu-ray™ or DVD
• $2.50 Off The Sandlot Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo (Redeem at Walmart)

EXPIRING COUPONS, Ending soon (in the next 7 days)

• FREE Eagle One Product w Valvoline Oil purchase

• $2.50 off The Sandlot Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo
• $2.00 off An Affair to Remember Blu-ray™ or dvd
• $2.00 off The Cary Grant Film Collection on dvd
• $2.00 off Hello, Dolly! on Blu-ray™ or dvd
• $2.00 off That Thing You Do! on Blu-ray

• $1.00 off Off the People Country Special

• $0.50 off on any ONE (1) 1.76 oz. Altoids tin

• $1.00 off Blink Tears or Blink Gel Tears