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Are you planning a home renovation, but are struggling to find financing? Maybe it?s because your credit

score is a little ?under water?? Read on to learn how to make your finances ship-shape!

Everyone who owns a home will inevitably have to do renovations. To finance home improvements, some homeowners will use

their own savings. Others will use their credit cards, or apply for a home improvement loan.

The problem with credit cards is that they have high finance fees, so some owners may not be able to afford this option.

The most practical option for most homeowners is to take out a home improvement loan.

Homeowners who have a good credit background will find it relatively easy to get a loan. But if you have a low credit

score, the chances of being denied a loan will be much higher.

But don?t despair! Anyone who owns a home and has a bed credit background still has a chance to obtain a home improvement

loan. You can increase your chances of getting a loan by following these guidelines:

4 tips for Bad Credit Home Improvement Loans

Improve Your Credit Score

A credit score below 600 is not very good, and should be

increased before you apply for a bad credit home improvement loan. Slight improvements to a low score will not result

in good credit, but even small increases in your credit score could result in an approved loan and a lower interest rate.

For tips on how to improve your credit score, please visit

href="http://b92338nsjcg2ez0yn0mnym9x6p.hop.clickbank.net/">37DaystoCleanCredit.com

Provide Security for the Loan

Some type of security or collateral will be needed by a homeowner who has bad credit, in order for their home improvement

loan application to be approved. If you already own a home, you should inquire about a home equity-home improvement loan

that will allow you to borrow money from your home?s equity to finance the home improvement project.

Enlist a Co-Signer

A lender might require a co-signer if you have bad credit and you don?t have enough collateral for the loan to be approved.

Someone with a good credit history would be necessary for approval. The co-signer must understand the co-signing

arrangement since they would be obligated to repay the funds if the primary loan applicant defaults on the home improvement

loan.

Find a Bad-Credit Lender

Not many lenders offer bad credit home improvement loans. Use a mortgage broker to find a bad-credit lender. Mortgage

brokers work with a range of banks and finance companies that offer loans to people with low credit scores. A good mortgage

broker can match you with these lenders.

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Did you know that with a more efficient washing machine you could save 7,000 gallons of water over

the course of one year? Over eleven years, this would be enough water to fill up three backyard swimming pools, or

provide a lifetime of drinking water for six people!

Do your part to reduce energy and water consumption in your laundry room by investing in more efficient appliances

and practices, and follow the valuable tips below:

5 Energy- and Money-Saving Tips for Washing Machines

The best energy performers are ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers, which use 35 to 50 percent less water and 20

to 50 percent less energy per load than other washers. These clothes washers need to have advanced design features

which provide cleaning performance using less water and energy.

Besides buying ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers, there are other things you can do to reduce your load (pun

intended!):

1. Read your appliance?s owner’s manual; it’s full of hints to help you operate your clothes washer at

   optimum efficiency.

2. Go cold! Clothes that are rinsed in cold water come out just as clean as those rinsed in warm, and

   you’ll save money on your water-heating bill.

3. Wait for a full load or use the small-load setting. Clothes washers are most energy efficient when

   they’re fully loaded but make sure you don?t overload your machine.

4. If possible, adjust the water level setting to match the load size.
5. If you’re in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a water-saving frontload washer which uses

   about 40 percent less water per load and 50 percent less energy than top-loading washers. They also use less

   detergent.

5 Energy- and Money-Saving Tips for Clothes Dryers

As with your clothes washer, it?s highly recommended that you choose an ENERGY STAR qualified dryer ? partly

because many dryers now come with sensors that automatically shut off the dryer when your clothes are dry. This

will save you energy and wear and tear on your clothes.

Here are five other tips you can take to the bank:

• The wetter the clothes, the more energy your dryer uses to dry them. Wring your clothes out or spin

  them in the clothes washer first.

• Avoid drying partial loads.
• If possible, sort your clothes by thickness. Dry the thin, quick-drying items in one load and thicker

  items ? such as towels ? in another.

• Try to start your second load of drying as soon as the first is finished. That way the dryer will still

  be warm ? and you’ll save energy.

• To save money and reduce clothes shrinkage, use your dryer’s “cool down” cycle. No heat is supplied in

  the last few minutes, but drying continues as cool air is blown through tumbling clothes.

Being as efficient as possible in your laundry room will help the environment by lowering your energy and water

consumption, which produces less air pollution from power plants and less water going to waste. And it?ll help your

pocketbook to boot!

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Here?s a little-known fact: the time to reduce winter heating bills doesn?t start in winter! To reduce your heating bills, you need to prepare before winter starts.  Follow the tips below and drastically reduce your heating bills this winter!

Air Leaks and Heat Loss

Seal all gaps to prevent air leaks and heat loss.  Gaps, cracks, and small openings are present in doors, windows, electrical outlets, light switches, and lighting fixtures.  Install foam gaskets or plastic security caps for outlets and switches.  Sealing small openings will prevent heat from escaping through those gaps and will reduce heating costs.

Windows

If a house has single-pane windows, replace these with energy-efficient double-pane windows with intert argon gas fill, warm-edge spacers and low-e coating, or add storm windows to cut heat loss by up to 50%.

As preparation for winter, remove window air-conditioners or, if they can?t or shouldn?t be removed, use caulking or tape to seal them and make sure they are covered with an airtight, insulated jacket.

Heating System

Chimneys and vent systems should be clear and unobstructed.  Clean the chimney and heating vents and have the vent systems checked.  Make sure to check that pipes are properly connected and there aren?t any indications of damage or rust.  Check that heating vents are free from obstructions such furniture and drapes and that the dampers are open.

If the replacement of the furnace is an option, choose a furnace that has an efficiency rating of 90% or higher.  A new, more energy efficient furnace can save up to 30% of heating costs over the old ones.  Make sure that there is an ENERGY STAR® label.

Insulation

The insulation in the attic, basement, exterior walls, and crawlspaces can be upgraded for a minimal cost.  Insulation comes in batts or loose fill, which can be blown into place and fill hard to reach areas.

Water

If the surface of a water heater is hot or even warm, this indicates that some of the energy used to heat water is being wasted.  Wrapping the heater in an insulating blanket will prevent the loss of heat.

The constant availability of hot water may indicate that the hot water thermostat may be set too high.  Set the hot water thermostat between 43 and 49 degrees Celsius before winter arrives.

More heat is lost as it moves through longer pipes.  The closer rooms are to the water heater, the less need for longer pipes, the less heat lost, the more energy and money saved.  Place the water heater as close as possible to kitchen, laundry room, and bathrooms when constructing a new house.

The Ultimate Way to Cut Your Winter Energy Bill

Do-it-yourself energy generation is all the rage these days. If you?re a do-it-yourselfer, you should seriously consider investing in an inexpensive guide to show you how to start generating your own solar power.

Here are two popular options:

Green DIY Energy (recommended)

Home Made Energy

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In today?s world, we often hear the words ?organic?, ?eco friendly?, and ?recycle? in just about every area of our lives. At the same time, the world is seeing the biggest economic meltdown in decades.

With this concern about the economy, more and more people are returning to gardening as a supplement to the grocery store. The need for supplementing our grocery bill is high, but many still maintain the need to be environmentally friendly at the same time.

For some, hearing the term eco gardening may bring visions of expensive organic pesticides, seeds and other ?natural? gardening products.  For still others, hearing the words eco-gardening bring to mind ways of recycling and doing their part to improve their own little areas of the world.

With a little bit of investigation and attention to master eco-gardeners, anyone can have an eco friendly garden.

There are many products on the market today that are inexpensive, easy to find and sometimes can even be found in your home right now:

1. Baby shampoo is a good barrier against aphids and breaks down thatch in your lawn.
2. To use your compost in a more efficient way, create a compost tea and use a hose end sprayer to water your lawn, giving your yard and flower garden continuous feeding. This also helps the soil become more fertile for future plantings.
3. Other natural products that can be used in your garden for fertilizer include bone meal, blood meal, cottonseed and fish emulsion, to name just a few.
4. Composting products that can be found in your home include coffee grounds, banana peels, egg shells, bourbon, ammonia and regular soda. Keep in mind that what we throw into the garbage can be used to improve the quality of soil in our gardens with little or no effort.
5. Plants ties can be made from old socks (!)
6. Caterpillars can be prevented from chewing on your plants by placing old coffee tubs around your garden

Master gardeners have been eco gardening for years.  They consider it good for their gardens and soil and simply because it is easier for them in the long run.  By taking a little bit of time to research the products they use up front, those products in the long run have positive pay offs for years later.  A by-product of eco-gardening is having less garbage, and saving money in the process.

Eco-gardening has come a long way from the days of the hippie and free love era.  Using a simple common sense approach, recycling common products around your home, and using environmentally friendly gardening products, everyone benefits. 

From a reduced food bill at the grocery to the amount of waste that your family produces to the fertile ground left for the next generation, eco gardening is good for everyone!

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Eco Cleaning: What Is It, Anyway?

Eco cleaning is not only a way to clean; it?s a way of life. We?re all concerned about the environment and the impact that we have on it ? and we?re also concerned about our pocket books!

Put simply, eco cleaning is an inexpensive way of cleaning that doesn?t use lots of additives and harsh chemicals. Read on to learn how to eco-clean your home…

4 Essential Ingredients for Eco Cleaning

There are just a few things that a person needs to ensure that their entire house is eco-clean.

These products are simple and, in fact, are advertised every day on television. Have you ever heard slogans like ?Made from real lemons? and ?Baking soda is rated number one in cleaning by dentists?? Sometimes less is most definitely more!

1. Throughout history, people have been using baking soda as their number one cleaning product. It cleans grime out of bathrooms, cuts through grease, will clean pots, pans, dishes, plastic, your clothing, takes odors out of your refrigerator and gives you a cleaner brighter smile.

   What a lot of cleaning for a little box that costs less than a dollar! In addition, as allergies continue to rise, it?s important to note that baking soda has the smallest effect on allergies than any other commercial cleaner on the market.

2. Another product often over looked is white vinegar. It is alkaline and will take off hard water stains, dirt from wood without taking the finish off your dining room table. It is also very easy on your brass and silver by eating away tarnish that has built up over the years.
3. Lemon juice is one of my favorites. While similar to white vinegar in its chemical properties and ability to clean gummy substances, lemons smell great and have the same scouring potential as white vinegar does. Neither white vinegar nor lemons will leave a residue on your counter tops, fine silver or pock your brass.
4. While biodegradable soaps are not as eco-friendly as the eco-cleaning supplies above, these are a necessity in your eco-friendly home. Biodegradable soaps are made from all-natural products that are usually plant-based.

   Plant-based soaps are not harsh on skin or laundry, and don?t leave a residue. To be eco-clean, a bio-degradable soap needs to be made with plant based oil such as grape seed oil or cottonseed oil, glycerin and sometimes sea salt for added exfoliating properties.

Be Good to Yourself – and the Environment – With Eco-Cleaning

Being eco clean doesn?t mean going out and spending money on products that marketers tell you to buy. Most times it means simply looking around your home, and tossing out all those harsh chemicals. Eco cleaning is not only being friendly to the environment, it?s being friendly to ourselves as well!

Click here for an excellent resource on cleaning your home the green way!

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During the summer season, our average water consumption levels double. A lot of this water goes straight to our gardens and lawns to keep them looking nice and green. A lot of this water goes to waste.

Try out some of these water saving tips for your lawn and garden this summer to save water and money without compromising the health of your lawn.

6 Simple Ways to Save When Watering Your Lawn

• Don?t overwater your lawn! Your lawn only needs about 2.5 cm of water once per week to stay healthy. When it’s waterlogged, it may turn yellow and develop fungus and diseases.
• Leave a measuring container or empty tuna can (empty it once per week) in the yard to help you monitor the amount of rainfall and to help determine how much water you need to add. Before watering your lawn, check if there are restrictions that may apply in your municipality.
• Water in the early morning, before 9 a.m., to reduce evaporation
• Water slowly to avoid run-off and to ensure the soil absorbs the water.
• Don?t waste water! Collect rainwater from your roof in a rain barrel or other large container and use it to water your lawn and garden.
• Regularly check your hose or irrigation equipment for leaks or blockages.

And make sure to check out the Instant Landscaping Ideas website for a ton of landscaping pictures.

5 Easy Ways to Save When Watering Your Garden

• Direct water to the root system. The roots of trees and shrubs take up the most water and are generally located within the top 30 cm of the soil.
• Layer mulch about 5 to 7.5 cm deep over the soil surface of your garden to retain moisture, moderate soil temperature, control erosion and suppress weeds.
• Grass under your tree competes with the tree’s roots for water. Apply mulch instead which helps to retain water. You can remove the lawn and replace it with mulch material.
• When designing your garden, group plants with similar water needs to make watering more efficient and reduce moisture loss and competition.
• Choose plants that are well suited to your climate and site conditions. Consult your local garden centre to find plant lists.

An excellent resource for growing incredible, organic tomatoes is the Joyful Tomato website

There you go – 11 easy ways to reduce your water consumption, and reduce your water bill! Now get out there and work that green thumb!

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The summer months are always anxiously awaited as people prepare to break out their short and sandals- but with those months of heat and humidity also comes the drum of air conditioners of all shapes and sizes.

An air conditioning system can provide comfort by lowering both the air temperature and the humidity level in your home but can also be a huge consumer of energy, which can cost you money and harm the environment.

This does not mean that you have to spend you summer at home uncomfortably hot. There lots of tips that you can use to make your air conditioner and home more efficient, save money, and stay cool!

7 Tips for Saving Money With Your Air Conditioner

• Try to install your air conditioner in a shaded area. An air conditioner that is exposed to direct sunlight will consume 5% more energy than one that is shaded.
• Close blinds, shades and drapes during the hottest part of the day in the summer. You want to do as much as possible to keep your house cool in addition to using you A/C
• Raise your thermostat by 4 – 5 degrees Celsius while you’re sleeping at night and when no one is at home.
• Keep doors and windows closed when the air conditioner is on ? it is a waste of energy and you don?t want any of that precious cool air escaping!
• Use ceiling fans to supplement, or even instead of, air conditioning.
• Use a programmable thermostat for central air conditioners. This will allow you to set the timer so your home will be cool when you arrive, and while you sleep.

Stay comfortable this summer, save yourself some money, and help the environment- who thought it could be so easy?

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Refrigerators account for a large portion of household energy use because they run 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Ensuring your fridge is running efficiently can make a big difference on your power bill.

Choosing the Right Fridge

Today’s refrigerators are much better energy performers than older models because of superior design, more efficient compressors and better insulation and door seals which help improve energy efficiency.

The best energy performers are ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators which must exceed Government of Canada minimum efficiency levels by at least fifteen percent. ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators are available in every category ? including all sizes of standard and compact models.

7 Energy- and Money-Saving Tips for Your Fridge

Besides purchasing a new refrigerator, there are simple changes that you can make to your old one to ensure that it is running as efficiently as possible.

• Get rid of the old, inefficient fridge in the basement. It is wasting up to $120 – $150 per year in electricity. When discarding your older refrigerator, check with your municipality about pick-up and recycling programs.

• Don?t overcool your food. Set your refrigerator temperature between 1.7 and 3.3°C and the freezer compartment at -18°C for maximum efficiency and food safety.

• Let food cool before putting it in the refrigerator. This way, the refrigerator won’t have to work as hard to keep the food cold.

• Don’t force your refrigerator to work harder than necessary. By locating it near a heat source, such as a radiator, heating vent, kitchen range or dishwasher, you are forcing it to use more energy to stay cool.

• Check if the refrigerator doors are sealing properly. To do this, close the door on a piece of paper and then try to remove the paper. If it slides out or moves easily, adjust the door or replace the seal.

• Clean the coils regularly to make sure air can circulate freely. When dust and pet hair build up on your refrigerator’s condenser coils, the motor works harder and uses more electricity.

• Make space for your fridge?s ventilation coils at the back. Refrigerator motors and compressors generate heat, so allow enough space for continuous airflow around your refrigerator.

Remember that your refrigerator is a continuously using energy, so try and make it as efficient as possible- it will help to save you some money!

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If you’re like me, summer brings out feelings of freedom and liberation – freedom to walk outside in shorts and flip

flops, and to bask in the warmth of the sun.

But did you know that your home also needs liberation – from unnecessary items such as books, clothes, toys, and even

appliances? Read on to learn how to make

your home clutter-free…

6 Quick Tips to Declutter Your Home

1. Do it in small chunks. It’s human nature to procrastinate whenever we have a huge task to do that will take a

   lot of time. Instead of planning an entire day to declutter, set aside 15-30 minutes to organize just one closet of your

   house. Sometimes baby steps are the best steps!

2. Don’t fall into “analysis-paralysis”. When going through your items, don’t take a long time to decide what to do

   with each item. Make sure you have two garbage bags handy – one for items you’re going to sell (or donate), another for items

   you’re just going to throw away.

3. Use the “one-year” rule. Even if you’re a pack-rat, if you haven’t used something in the past year, you probably

   won’t ever use it. Get rid of it, or give it to someone who can make use of it!

4. Focus on items that you accumulate the most of. Things like papers, magazines, catalogues, junk mail, and bills

   are prime candidates here – who has never had a stack of papers on their desk that they really wanted to get rid of?

5. Focus on the energy-wasters. Do you have a toaster oven that you haven’t used in six months, but is plugged into

   an electrical outlet? By selling the oven in a yard sale (or donating it to a charity), you’ll be clearing clutter from your

   counter AND saving on your energy bill. It’s a win-win!

6. Create a system to

   stop clutter from accumulating. There’s a good reason why clutter has accumulated in your home – because you don’t have a system to deal with it!

   Everyone needs a system to keep things in their place, and get rid of stuff they don?t need. If you need help developing a system of your own, consider purchasing an excellent guide such as
   DeClutter Fast.

   
   

   
   

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You’ve probably heard this cliche a thousand times: Canadians spend half their lives in the

kitchen! There’s no doubt that the kitchen is one of the most popular places in any Canadian’s home.

So have you ever thought that the kitchen is one room of the house where we use a lot of energy? It’s true – and

it’s also true that there are many easy ways to save energy there!

8 Quick & Easy Ways to Save Energy in the Kitchen

• Don’t use a small pot on a big burner. A mis-match between pot and burner can waste 40% of the burner?s heat.
  Also consider keeping your pots covered to reduce cooking time.

• Keep the door shut! Opening the oven door to look at the food lowers the oven temperature by 25°F to 75°F.

• Use the microwave! Microwave ovens are about 66% more efficient than conventional ovens, and they produce less

  heat. Also consider using your toaster oven.

• Time-shift your dishwaser. Run your dishwasher later in the evening (when demand is lower), and only run your
  dishwasher when it’s full. Use the air-dry instead of heat-dry setting to cut your dishwasher?s energy use by

  15-20%.

• Scoop up those appliance rebates! Many utilities offer rebates for ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators or

  dishwashers.

• Don’t pre-heat! Contrary to what many people think, it’s not necessary to pre-heat your oven. Save energy by

  putting your dish in right away. And turn the oven off 10-15 minutes early. Your dish will continue to cook in the

  left-over heat.

• Put some pressure on! Using a pressure cooker can reduce cooking time and energy use by 70 percent. Pressure

  cookers also help food retain natural juices and vitamins.

• Check your fridge seal. Try this test: slam a dollar bill in the fridge door. If it slides out easily, it may be

  time to replace your seal.

There you go – 8 easy ways to reduce energy use (and save money) in the kitchen!