[Euro Ford Fan]

OAC_Sparky,Jan 26 2006, 05:35 PM Wrote:You can save a lot if you are careful.

My newer house (2500sqft not incl. basement) has newer appliances and features that I installed which cost a lot at the time, but in the long run saves money.

On electricity:

2 ton Carrier Puron 14Seer C/A Unit
26cuft Whirlpool SBS Fridge
Whirlpool Front Loader Washer
Whirlpool D/W
CF lighting in basement where it doesn't matter.
Flourescent Lighting in the garage and on timed motion sensors.
Halogen pots in the soffits are on programmable timers.
External lighting on motion sensors.
All internal lighting on electronic dimmers (bedrooms, dining room. dinette, kitchen, family room) and/or motion sensors  (laundry room, workshop)
Bathroom fans and the heat lamp in the ensuite bath are on timers.

(You would be surprised how much electricity you waste leaving bathroom fans on, laundry and garage lights on, etc.)

Hydro bill: $80 winter, $140 Summer (A/C set at 72*F)

On Gas:

Mid Eff. Furnace. on a programmable thermostat.
Hi-Eff hot water.
Whirpool gas dryer
Gas stove/oven
Gas fireplace

Gas bill $130-$160 Winter (depending on outside temp. Inside set at 68*F. 2* makes a big difference in the bill) $50 summer

Water:
$30-60 a month winter/summer.

Cable/internet. $100

That's pretty much what I had expected all our appliances are high efficiency along with the hot water and the furnace. Funnily the tag on by small beer fridge has the same power consumption rating as the one in the house!

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Plan in advance for your taxes, if you don't have the bank handle it. Personally Ilike my $$ gaining 3% interest in an ING account than the bank giving me .3%. You can set up automatic transfers, just like clockwork. But if you handle it yourself, start early (like now), take last year's tax bill at the house, add 4% and plan on that.

I really like that idea, because I get commission every month I wanted to pay the tax once a year or twice at the most rather than getting the monthly withdrawal. Making a little money in an ING account is a smart idea, it's not much but every little bit helps.

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Moving sucks, but moving into a house sucks more because utilities rape you. Plan for connect charges for:

Phone $40, Cable (if you're a new customer and not an xfer they might waive it), Hydro ($100-$300), Gas (this is f'd up---$500 deposit unless you  agree to equal billing AND automatic withdrawal).

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Yeah I got the quoted $400 deposit for gas and $200 for Hydro this afternoon sucks.

Quote:Plan on the incidentals.

Lawnmower, fertilizer, paint, basic tools (hammer, level, screwdrivers, saw, etc.)

Lucky for me my parents are giving us there electric mower we have very little lawn so it's all we need. As for tools I've got lots so I should be good to go.

Quote:I guess what I'm saying is while you want to max out your payment sched to pay off the house faster, don't bind your hands. It's easier to make extra "lump sum" payments with saved money than it is to reduce your expenses when things gets tight.

That's all I can think of at the moment
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We were approved for $160,000 more than we are borrowing so we got them on a better interest rate. We will make lump payments when we can to pay it down neither of us had any interest in being remotely house poor.

Thanks so much for taking the time to write that out and that goes for all you guys! I can't thank you enough it really helps. A round of golf then beer and a BBQ will be on me once I get the deck finished!!