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Taken from the book:

===> A Good Life: Tactics and Stategies <===

(c) 2000 Kirk Gregory Czuhai All Rights Reserved.

The author gives permission to duplicate this work WITHOUT ALTERATION OR DELETION to give to anyone else.

Lovekgc@altelco.net

Produced and delivered by the Dynamics Company! Taken over by UCS taken over By Alternatives Unlimited taken over by Heaven Sense!!! Whew!

This information hopefully will at least in part give you some useful ideas to improve the quality of your life. If you find it useful and would like more information on other ideas for better health and happiness please send SASE to:

11369 Caberfae

Allendale, Michigan USA

subject: ideas

Please forward freely these ideas to others and consider sending a little money, your ideas and comments and/or gift also. One half of any contribution will go to charities such as food banks, kitchens, and the salvation army with the rest to continue to offer this information to others that can not afford anything. A very fair contribution would be to give one half of a monthly benefit that these ideas bring you.

The other half will allow the free distribution of improved materials to help others by the author.

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===> Conserving Money and other of Earth's resources! <===

Airline Fares

1.You may lower the price of a round trip air fare by as much as two-thirds by making certain

your trip includes a Saturday evening stay over, and by purchasing the ticket in advance.

2.To make certain you have a cheap fare, even if you use a travel agent, contact all the

airlines that fly where you want to go and ask what the lowest fare to your destination is.

3.Be flexible, if possible. Consider using lowfare carriers or alternative airports and keep an

eye out for fare wars.

Car Rental

1.Since car rental rates can vary greatly, shop around for the best basic rates. Ask about any

additional charges (extra driver, gas, drop-off fees) and special offers.

2.Rental car companies offer various insurance and waiver options. Check with your

automobile insurance agent and credit card company in advance to avoid duplicating any

coverage you may already have.

New Cars

1.You can save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a car by selecting a model that

combines a low purchase price with low financing, insurance, gasoline, maintenance, and

repair costs. Ask your local librarian for new car guides that contain this information.

2.Having selected a model, you can save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping. Call at

least five dealers for price quotes and let each know that you are calling others.

3.Remember there is no "cooling off" period on new car sales. Once you have signed a

contract, you are obligated to buy the car.

Used Cars

1.Before buying any used car:

Compare the seller's asking price with the average retail price in a "bluebook" or

other guide to car prices found at many libraries, banks, and credit unions.

Have a mechanic you trust check the car, especially if the car is sold "as is."

2.Consider purchasing a used car from an individual you know and trust. They are more likely

than other sellers to charge a lower price and point out any problems with the car.

3. Before you buy a used car that you think you would really like to have spend $30-$50 to have it throughly inspected by a professional. You very often could save thousands my finding major flaws in the transmission, engine, front or rear end and will at least know what is wrong and how much it will cost to get a good quality used car.

Auto Leasing

1.Don't decide to lease a car just because the payments are lower than on a traditional auto

loan. The leasing payments may be lower because you don't own the car at the end of the

lease.

2.Leasing a car is very complicated. When shopping, consider the price of the car (known as

the capitalized cost), your trade-in allowance, any down payment, monthly payments,

various fees (excess mileage, excess "wear and tear," end-of- lease), and the cost of buying

the car at the end of the lease. Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide, published by

the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission, is a valuable source of

information about auto leasing.

Gasoline

1.You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing prices at different stations, pumping

gas yourself, and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner's manual.

2.You can save up to $100 a year on gas by keeping your engine tuned and your tires inflated

to their proper pressure.

3. Plan your trips to accomplish more things on fewer outings. When a car first starts up when cold most wear on the engine takes place. If you make several stops on a route when the car engine stays warm you save a lot over making back and forth trips to each one.

4. Accelerate slowly and remember the best gas milage on a car occurs around 35 mph. Look ahead and coast to stops, the brakes just produce heat, wearing themselfs out and using up the mechanical energy supplied by the fuel often needlessly.

5. To make your engine last a long time change the oil on a regular basis and maintain proper levels. DO NOT overfill the oil though!

Car Repairs

1.Consumers lose billions of dollars each year on unneeded or poorly done car repairs. The

most important step that you can take to save money on these repairs is to find a skilled,

honest mechanic. Before you need repairs, look for a mechanic who:

is certified and well established; has done good work for someone you know; and

communicates well about repair options and costs.

2. If you are "into it" learn how to make some car repairs and maintenance yourself to save big money.

Auto Insurance

1.You can save several hundred dollars a year by purchasing auto insurance from a licensed,

low-price insurer. Call your state insurance department for a publication showing typical

prices charged by different companies. Then call at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed

insurers to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage.

2.Talk to your agent or insurer about raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive

coverages to at least $500 or, if you have an old car, dropping these coverages altogether.

Taking these steps can save you hundreds of dollars a year.

3.Make certain that your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Homeowner/Renter Insurance

1.You can save several hundred dollars a year on homeowner insurance and up to $50 a year

on renter insurance by purchasing insurance from a low-price, licensed insurer. Ask your

state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different

licensed companies. Then call at least four of the lowest priced insurers to learn what they

would charge you. If such a publication is not available, it is even more important to call at

least four insurers for price quotes.

2.Make certain you purchase enough coverage to replace the house and its contents.

"Replacement" on the house means rebuilding to its current condition.

3.Make certain your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Life Insurance

1.If you want insurance protection only, and not a savings and investment product, buy a term

life insurance policy.

2.If you want to buy a whole life, universal life, or other cash value policy, plan to hold it for at

least 15 years. Canceling these policies after only a few years can more than double your

life insurance costs.

3.Check your public library for information about the financial soundness of insurance

companies and the prices they charge. The July 1998 issue of Consumer Reports is a

valuable source of information about a number of insurers.

Checking

1.You can save more than $100 a year in fees by selecting a checking account with a low (or

no) minimum balance requirement that you can, and do, meet. Request a list of these and

other fees that are charged on these accounts.

2.Banking institutions often will drop or lower checking fees if paychecks are directly

deposited by your employer. Direct deposit offers the additional advantages of convenience,

security, and immediate access to your money.

3. Try NEVER to write a bad check! The bank will charge you a hefty fee and so probably will the establishment for which the check was written! There is no limit to the number of times someone can try to cash your check and it may bounce several times each time costing you a bank fee. These fees are made to just make the bank a lot of money as they are usually $25 and it costs only $1-$2 for the bank to handle a bad check. Also many banks have a minimum balance and check fees to make even more money for themselfs at your expense. In addition to this, (if that was not bad enought), many banks wait until several of your checks are ready to clear and then PUT THROUGH THE LARGEST FIRST of the checks, thus increasing your chances of bouncing checks and making more money for the bank! The price of money orders never looked so good but be sure to keep the MO stubs in case the receipeint says he/she did not receive the payment.

Savings and Investment Products

1.Before opening a savings or investment account with a bank or other financial institution,

find out whether the account is insured by the federal government (FDIC or NCUA). An

increasing number of products offered by these institutions, including mutual stock funds and

annuities, are not insured.

2.To earn the highest return on savings (annual percentage yield) with little or no risk,

consider certificates of deposit (CDs) and treasury bills or notes.

3.Once you select a type of savings or investment product, compare rates and fees offered by

different institutions. These rates can vary a lot and, over time, can significantly affect

interest earnings.

Credit Cards

1.You can save as much as a thousand dollars or more each year in lower credit card interest

charges by paying off your entire bill each month.

2.If you are unable to pay off a large balance, pay as much as you can and switch to a credit

card with a low annual percentage rate (APR). For a modest fee, RAM Research Corp.

(800-344-7714) will send you a list of low-rate cards. You can obtain a list of low-rate cards

by accessing "www.ramresearch.com.cardtrack" on the Internet.

3You can reduce credit card fees, which may add up to more than $100 a year, by getting rid

of all but one or two cards, and by avoiding late payment and over-the-credit limit fees.

4, Do not use credit cards at all if you can possibly avoid them or at least try to pay off all your balance at the end of every month. You will never be well to do with credit card bills.

5. Nothing talks like cash! But be careful you do not lose it, get it stolen, or impulse buy. Save for a rainy day or longer!

Auto Loans

1.If you have significant savings earning a low interest rate, consider making a large down

payment or even paying for the car in cash. This could save you as much as several

thousand dollars in finance charges.

2.You can save as much as hundreds of dollars in finance charges by shopping for the

cheapest loan. Contact several banks, your credit union, and the auto manufacturer's own

finance company.

First Mortgage Loans

1.Although your monthly payment may be higher, you can save tens of thousands of dollars in

interest charges by shopping for the shortest-term mortgage you can afford. On a $100,000

fixed-rate loan at 8% annual percentage rate (APR), for example, you will pay $90,000 less

in interest on a l 5-year mortgage than on a 30-year mortgage.

2.You can save thousands of dollars in interest charges by shopping for the lowest-rate

mortgage with the fewest points. On a 15-year, $100,000 fixed-rate mortgage, just lowering

the APR from 8.5% to 8.0% can save you more than $5,000 in interest charges. On this

mortgage, paying two points instead of three would save you an additional $1,000.

3.If your local newspaper does not periodically run mortgage rate surveys, call at least six

lenders for information about their rates (APRs), points, and fees. Then ask an accountant

to compute precisely how much each mortgage option will cost and its tax implications.

4.Be aware that the interest rate on most adjustable rate mortgage loans (ARMs) can vary a

great deal over the lifetime of the mortgage. An increase of several percentage points might

raise payments by hundreds of dollars per month.

Mortgage Refinancing

1.Consider refinancing your mortgage if you can get a rate that is at least one percentage

point lower than your existing mortgage rate and plan to keep the new mortgage for several

years or more. Ask an accountant to calculate precisely how much your new mortgage

(including up-front fees) will cost and whether, in the long run, it will cost less than your

current mortgage.

Home Equity Loans

1.Be cautious in taking out home equity loans. These loans reduce the equity that you have

built up in your home. If you are unable to make payments, you could lose your home.

2.Compare home equity loans offered by at least four banking institutions. In comparing these

loans, consider not only the annual percentage rate (APR) but also points, closing costs,

other fees, and the index for any variable rate changes.

Home Purchase

1.You can often negotiate a lower sale price by employing a buyer broker who works for you

not the seller. If the buyer broker or the broker's firm also lists properties, there may be a

conflict of interest, so ask them to tell you if they are showing you a property that they have

listed.

2.Do not purchase any house until it has been examined by a home inspector that you

selected.

Renting a Place to Live

1.Do not limit your rental housing search to classified ads or referrals from friends and

acquaintances. Select buildings where you would like to live and contact their building

manager or owner to see if anything is available.

2.Remember that signing a lease probably obligates you to make all monthly payments for the

term of the agreement.

Home Improvement

1.Home repairs often cost thousands of dollars and are the subject of frequent complaints.

Select from among several well established, licensed contractors who have submitted

written, fixed-price bids for the work.

2.Do not sign any contract that requires full payment before satisfactory completion of the work.

Housework and Home Energy Use

1. In the spring, summer and fall if you have a backyard use a clothes line to dry your clothes. Free solar heat and fresh air will dry your clothes and have them smelling fresh. The only drawback is the sun made fade certain colored materials. It not only will save you money but is good for the environment.

2. Gas dryers are more economical than electric dryers. Save electricity for high quality uses such as computers, tvs, stereos and lighting. Use other forms of energy such as gas to produce heat with the exception of microwaves which cook food more convieniently and nutritionally.

3. Fix all water leaks quickly. Water is more and more expensive and needed by all and should not be wasted. A small leak can cost $100's in a year.

4. A good wet-dry vacuum costs new less than $50 and can be used and used to clean up the nastiest of messes. Use it without an end to help pick up papers and small objects. If something plugs it up, reverse the airflow and blow the hose out into the vacuum container or a garbage bag. To get a messy kitchen floor cleaned up, sweep, vaccuum and pick up the large objects, vaccuum the dirt and garbage with the wet-dry vac, use bleach and a little detergent and water to scrub the floor sucking up the excess water with the vac. Repeat bleaching and give the solution sometime to take care of the stains and loosen the crude. The bleach will not only clean, removing the stains, but get rid of odors and also disinfect, killing germs.

Open a window or two to get some fresh air and or use a fan to help dry once you suck up the dirty water solution with the vac. Open a window if possible to air help dry and reduce the bleach smell. DO NOT, NEVER, mix something containing bleach and AMMONIA or OVEN CLEANER, any base as DANGEROUS GASES WILL BE PRODUCED!!!

Major Appliances

1.Consult Consumer Reports, available in most public libraries, for information about specific

brands and how to evaluate them, including energy use. There are often great price and

quality differences among brands.

2.Once you've selected a brand, check the phone book to learn what stores carry this brand,

then call at least four of these stores for the prices of specific models. After each store has

given you a quote, ask if that's the lowest price they can offer you. This comparison

shopping can save you as much as $100 or more.

Electricity

1.To save as much as hundreds of dollars a year on electricity, make certain that any new

appliances you purchase, especially air conditioners and furnaces, are energy-efficient.

Information on the energy efficiency of major appliances is found on Energy Guide Labels

required by federal law.

2.Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour rate programs offered by your electric

utility may save you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Call your electric utility for

information about these cost-saving programs.

3. TURN OFF THINGS YOU ARE NOT USING! Conservation not only saves money but is good for the environment.

4. Use lower watt light bulbs when you can but if you really need the light remember a 100 watt light bulb gives more light than two fifty watt light bulbs.

5. Try to use florescent lights where possible. A 15 watt florescent light produces as much light as a 60 watt incadescent light bulb.

5. Use gas to heat instead of electricity which costs more, the exception probably being a microwave for which one has the convience and safer and more accurate cooking preserving more nutients.

6. Do not let the coffee pot stay on. Brew your coffee and put some in a thermos and shut off the coffee pot power. Anything that heats using electricity uses quite a bit of juice.

7. Defrost your refridgerator regularly and clean your fans to save money on their use.

8. To calculate electric energy cost look on your bill for the cost per kilowatt hour, a unit of energy, call that amount C. Then say you have an electrical device that uses P watts. If that number is not listed on the device then know that the voltage in the U.S.A. is usually V=120 volts and the current used is listed say I=0.5 Ampere then P=V*I=120*0.5=60 watts, anyway,

cost to operate the device for N hours = C*T*P/1000 where T is the number of hours you operate the device. For example say you had a TV that had P=100 watts and it was on for 5 hours a day for 30 days in a month or 150 hours and C=$0.10 per kilowatt hour or ten cents per kilowatt hour then to operate the TV this way for a month would cost you, $=0.10*150*100/1000=$1.50 or a dollar fifty..

9. Tv's and stereos can use energy even when they are turned off it they are using energy to try to detect a remote turnon. To be sure they are not using any, unplug them between use. Use a small tv or radio most of the time so save energy, turning on the big theater systems only when you really want to pay for the extra quality of entertainment. A small radio for example to listen to the news uses 5 watts or less while a stereo may use 60 or more watts, a twenty times saving in use energy!

10. The refridgerator is usually one of the biggest energy users in a home. Keep it defrosted and clean the back coils frequently. Do not open it any more than you need to to save additional money.

Home heating and cooling

1.A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on home

heating (and air conditioning). Ask your electric or gas utility if they can do this audit for

free or for a reasonable charge. If they cannot, ask them to refer you to a qualified

professional. Sometimes these people will also provide you with some free insullating materials to help reduce your heating bill.

2. Unless you are very young, old, or sick, 65 degrees F should be warm enough. Dress warmly and drink and eat warm things and stay physically active and you won't feel cold. It may help to put some humidity into the air and stop drafts to feel warmer. Turn the thermostat even further down at night or when you are away. Just 5 degrees cooler in the winter with heating and 5 degrees warmer in the summer with air conditioning can save you over $100 a year.

3. The three ways heat travels into and out of your house are radiation, conduction, and convection the last usually carrying the most amount of heat. Convection, air flow and/or drafts is to be watched. Keep your air filters clean and prevent drafts to the outside! To reduce convection, drafts, place a rug or towel at the bottom of outside doors, use weather striping along the sides of doors, caulk outside around window sills, and use some type of storm windows like taping plastic over windows with traped air inside to insulate. If you own a home or can get the landlord to, insulate the attic and walls better.

4. Air conditioning in the summer is nice but it is expensive to use. Use fans when possible instead. Go somewhere during the hot days that is air conditioned to cool off. Take a cool/cold shower if hot and wear light colored, loose fitting clothing to stay cool.

5. Although infrequent, some apartments use electricity for heating. This can be very expensive. Electric heaters used just for one room can increase your electric bill as much as heating the whole house with gas!

6. In forced air heat make sure there are no obstructions to the air flow at vents and CLEAN air filters to save significantly.

7. Weatherstripping can reduce or eliminate drafts through windows and doors. It doesn't take long to install, increases comfortand reduces costs. Rope caulk provides a temporary seal during the winter months around windows that leak. You can remove this seal in the summer so that you can open and shut the windows. If your windows are very leaky, you can fit a piece of plastic over the window during the winter to form an inexpensive storm window with duct tape. Here are some other possibilities:

Seal and caulk major air leaks around windows, door, electrical outlets, plumbing fixtures and outside architectural features like chimneys. Shade south and west glass with deciduous plants to keep the heat out during the summer

8. Turn down the thermostat to 50 degrees when you are away in the winter and the air conditioner off then. Consider installing a programmable thermostat to do this automatically and warm or cool your place off a half hour before you get home.

Local Telephone Service

1.Check with your phone company to see whether a flat rate or measured service plan will save you the most money.

2.You will usually save money by buying your phones instead of leasing them.

3.Check your local phone bill to see if you have optional services that you don't really need or

use. Each option you drop could save you $40 or more each year.

4. If you own no phone try to find somewhere where you can make at least a few calls for free a day. 35 cents a day for a month is more than $10.

5. Usually a certain charge is billed monthly for protection against repair bills for house phone wiring problems. This is usually not needed once you know for a while that your phone works fine and does cost around $50 a year to have. Use your judgement to decide whether you want this "line backer" insurance.

Long Distance Telephone Service

1.Long distance calls made during evenings, at night, or on weekends can cost significantly

less than weekday calls.

2.If you make more than a few long distance calls each month, consider subscribing to a

calling plan. Call several long distance companies to see which one has the least expensive

plan for the calls you make.

3.Whenever possible, dial your long distance calls directly. Using the operator to complete a

call can cost you an extra $6.

4. Use a pre-paid phone card instead of a phone credit card to save money and know exactly the maximum amount of money you will be charged.. Use an "access code" to make long distance calls if you only make a few a month. Do not have a carrier always connected to your phone as they bill a certain amount of money every month regardless of whether or not you use any long distance! For MCI the access code is: 1010222, dial this then 1 then the area code xxx then the number xxx-xxxx.

6. Every time you change a long-distance carrier they bill you $5 for the switch over!

7. To get FREE LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS go to http://www.phonehog.com.

Food Purchased at Markets

1.You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at the lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores often charge the highest prices.

2.You will spend less on food if you shop with a list and go shopping when you are NOT hungry!

3.You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing price-per-ounce or other unit prices

on shelf labels. Stock up on those items with low per-unit costs.

4. Look on the BOTTOM or TOP MOST shelfs for bargins. The highest priced per unit food items with the fanciest packaging are purposely made more convienient to just grab.

5. Keep a list of bargins that you have purchased during the years to get an idea of where and when you where able to get them. Look for them again but realize that inflation raises the prices by a percentage continuously.

5. Buy food products when in season, during specials and in bulk during these times to stock up and save per unit cost. Buy clothes at the end of a season and a little while AFTER holidays for big savings.

Clothes

1. Try to discourage yourself from buying clothes just for the name brand unless they are truly superior in quality.

2. Take care of your new clothes changing into usually more comfortable cheaper clothes for around the house and "grubbies" for cleaning, fixing, and gardening.

3. Have a couple of pairs of shoes and give them a day a rest to dry out inbetween wearings to extend their lifes.

4. Always wear socks with your good shoes or your foot acids will soon detroy them. Try to let your shoes dty out between use. Two pairs alternated days will last more than twice as long.

5. Get used clothing for free or very cheaply at second hand stores and yard sales.

Funeral Arrangements

1.Make your wishes known about your funeral, memorial, or burial arrangements in writing. Be cautious about prepaying because there may be risks involved.

2.For information about the least costly options, which could save you several thousand dollars, contact a local memorial society, which is usually listed in the Yellow Pages under funeral services.

3.Before selecting a funeral home, call several and ask for prices of specific goods and services, or visit them to obtain an itemized price list. You are entitled to this information by law and, by using it to comparison shop, you can save hundreds of dollars.

Prescription Drugs

1.Since brand name drugs are usually much more expensive than their generic equivalents, ask your physician and pharmacist for generic drugs whenever appropriate.

2.Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the same medicine, call several.

When taking a drug for a long time, also consider calling mail-order pharmacies, which often

charge lower prices.

peace and love,

(kirk) kirk gregory czuhai

20040309