Utility Bill Shock? Here’s How To Save Money:

Over the last two (granted, colder than normal) months, our utility bills have nearly doubled and are significantly higher than this time last year. Why? What are we doing wrong?

There are many, many ways to save money on your utility bills and they range from quite inexpensive to quite expensive but worth it in the long run.

Featured image via Brendan Wood/Flickr

With our moderate temperatures, houses in California are notoriously unprepared for temperature extremes. Many homes have minimal insulation and some have none at all. Many homes are older and have wasteful windows, furnaces and other appliances.

Now, let’s start with the cheapest, and in many cases, free options.

1. Turn down the heat – Yes, it’s nice to have your home at a toasty 70 degrees all year around, but it can be expensive. A five degree difference can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Wear sweaters. In my house, it’s not uncommon to see me walking around in my bathrobe during the middle of the day. At night, turn your thermostat down to 55 or 60 degrees and pile on the covers.

2. Cover drafts – This isn’t the best looking alternative, but rolled up towels under the doors can make a big difference. You can cover those single-pane windows with plastic weather proofing to help the draft there. Covering your windows in plastic isn’t the most elegant solution, but it does make a difference on your comfort and utility bills.

3. Unplug – Even when off, many of your electronics continue to use electricity. Plug things that don’t need to constantly run (like your refrigerator) into power strips and when not in use, flip off that switch.

4. Get curtains or other insulated window coverings – Cover your windows in a more attractive, but somewhat more expensive way. Thermal curtains or other window treatments can save you hundreds a year.

5. Get Rugs – Wood and tile floors are cold and they have a tendency to cool the entire home. That’s why homes in hot climates often have tile floors. If you don’t want carpet, invest in some rugs. They will help preserve heat and they will keep your feet warmer.

6. Insulate – Here’s where things start go get expensive. Look to spend between $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot, so for a 2,000 square foot house, you could spend between $3,000 to $7,000 for insulation. Obviously, it won’t pay for itself during the first year but it will over time and it will help add to your resale value, as will these next two.

7. Get new windows – Your single-pane windows are a huge source of heat loss, and during the summer, heat coming into the house. On average, a good double-pane window will cost you about $500 – $1,000. For houses that have 20 or more windows, that can really add up, but it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

8. Get solar – This subject is a bit more complicated and can be expensive, but also a huge cost savings. Solar will be the subject of next week’s blog post.

9. Check with your utility company – Utility companies often offer rebates on energy efficient upgrades. Your first step is to invite them out to do an energy audit. They will tell you what’s eligible for a rebate and what’s not. They’ll also have some great tips.

How to Choose a Mover with Unpakt:

Before Unpakt, planning a move used to be a time-consuming process. You started by calling a bunch of moving companies and asking for their pricing, which they almost certainly would never give you over the phone. This turned into having several strangers come into your home to scrutinize, measure and itemize every single item that you planned to take with you before they would give you an “estimate” of what your move would cost, subject to lots of variables. Worse, at the time of your actual move, they would often add on charges for slight alterations of the items to be moved, date changes or even bad weather, leaving people stunned and broke. Luckily, Unpakt has a better way!

Get Started

Start by entering some basic information like the date of your planned move and your moving from and to address. From there, you can enter the items you want to move, or you can use the “add typical furniture” feature which adds items to your move plan based on the home size. If you’re not sure how many boxes you’ll need, use the Unpakt Box Guide which will help you get an accurate estimate, so you don’t end up with way too many or not enough boxes. You can then select to add on great additional services like professional packing, special handling or storage-in-transit.

Compare Moving Companies to Save Time and Money!

Once you’ve entered in the details of your move, we’ll calculate exact prices based on what items and services you selected. Because Unpakt uses, a standardized formula the prices are guaranteed! Which means there are no surprise costs or bills!

With Unpakt, you’ll be able to compare moving companies based on prices and real customer reviews so you can find the best company within your budget. Better yet, all of the moving companies on Unpakt are verified which means they are experienced, insured and reliable.

Make Changes at Anytime

Another great feature of Unpakt is the ability to save your move plan for later, with no need to start over. You can make all the changes you need to knowing that your pricing will only change if you add or remove belongings, change the dates or add or remove services.

Book it!

When you’ve found a great moving company that fits your budget and has great reviews, it’s time to book! All you’ll have to do is enter your credit card information, and you are all set! Your guaranteed price for the move is locked in. Unpakt will only charge the credit card you entered two business days prior to your move date.

Do Something Fun!

With all the heavy lifting of the move about to be done by your experienced movers, it is time for you to relax and look forward to your new home! Maybe get online and find out about all the interesting spots near your new home, or map out scenic commuting routes to your new job. With Unpakt’s transparent pricing and policies, you can trust that your move will be uneventful and smooth.

A Few Tips for Making Your Home Move Less Stressful:

Moving can often be a fun adventure but it can also be exhausting and frustrating. During this time it is easy to get lost in the madness and stress of the situation. The key to a good move is preparation. Proper preparation will ensure that your move goes off without a hitch. There are many small things that you can do that will go a long way in streamlining your move. Here are a few tips for making your home move less stressful.

Be Creative

Time and space are at a premium in any move. A good way to make the most of these is to use clothes to pad your fragile objects. This will save on the amount of boxes that you need because you are using the unused space to store clothes. To the same end, you can also pad the inner walls of the box with socks.

Color Code

Color coding each box by room is a great way to save time when you reach your new home. Bring in a box, look at the color tape that is affixed to it, and place it into the correct room. Every little bit helps when you are in a time crunch.

Photograph Electronic Hookups

Photographing how all of your electronics are hooked up can save a large amount of time when you reconnect t them in your new home. This will save time and dramatically decrease your stress level.

Consider Hiring Professional Movers

Professional movers have the experience and tools to get your move done well and efficiently. it is always good to employ the use of friends to help, but a professional moving company will take a lot of the worry off of your shoulders. If you are looking for a professional and reputable mover in the California area don’t hesitate to contact us. Let us put our knowledge and skills to work for you.

5 Secrets Your Contractor Doesn’t Want You to Know:

Image: Sara B. @ The Fat Hydrangea

How to protect your bottom line.

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TOPICImprove, Remodel, Budgeting & Contracting

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You’ve asked friends to recommend great contractors, picked your favorite, checked references — and maybe even conducted an online background check on his business. So you know you’ve found a top-notch guy for your home improvement project.

But remember that his bottom line is getting you to sign a contract, and he’s not going to mention anything that might get in the way. Before you make a commitment, here’s what you need to know in order to protect your own bottom line.

1. He’s Not the Only Game in Town

Even if you believe you found the best contractor in the area, don’t hire him unless you’re sure he’s right for your project.

You should solicit at least three bids from three different contractors before awarding a home improvement project. This way you can make an educated hiring decision by comparing costs, methods, and materials.

What you should do: Make sure you have a basis for comparison when asking for bids. Provide each contractor with the same project details. This may include materials you wish to use and floor plans. Although cost should be one of your deciding factors, other points to consider include scheduling and communication style.

TIP: Once you picked the best contractor for the job, keep your project on track with an ironclad contract.

Related: 5 Essential Questions to Ask a Contractor

Spend Oh-So-Wisely on a Kitchen Remodel

1. 6 Materials to Never Use in Your Kitchen
2. How to Shop for a Retro Kitchen — and Not Get Stuck with Junk
3. Refacing Your Kitchen Cabinets: The Options and Costs

2. He's Going to Farm Out the Work

General contractors often don’t do the physical work themselves. They might have been carpenters or plumbers, but now that they run their own businesses, they’ve retired their tool belts.

Instead, their role is to sign clients, manage budgets, and schedule a cast of subcontractors. When he’s trying to win your business, a contractor can be pretty vague about how involved he’s going to be — and who will be running the job day-to-day.

What you should do: Inquire who will be in charge of the job site. Ask to meet the job foreman, preferably while he’s at work on a current job site, says Stockbridge, Mass., contractor Jay Rhind. “You want to make sure you feel comfortable with him.”

TIP: Don’t underestimate the power of being nice. It can help keep your contractor and crew on track while improving the quality of their work.

3. A Big Deposit is Unnecessary — and Possibly Illegal

When you sign a contract, you’re usually expected to pay a deposit. But that’s not for covering the contractor’s initial materials or set-up costs.

If his business is financially sound and he’s in good standing with his suppliers, he shouldn’t need to pay for anything up front. In fact, many states limit a contractor’s advance. California maxes out deposits at 10% of the job cost, or $1,000 — whichever is smaller. To find out what the law is in your area, check with your local or state consumer agency.

What you should do: A small deposit is reasonable to kick off a project. But your payment plan should be based on a defined amount of work being completed. This way, if the work isn’t proceeding according to schedule, the payments will be delayed.

TIP: When possible, charge it. The Federal Trade Commission suggests when paying for home improvement work, use a credit card. Doing so may protect homeowners if a project goes south. After making a good faith effort to workout any problems with your contractor, consumers have the right to withhold payment up to the amount of credit outstanding for the purchase. This includes any finance or related charges.

Related: What a Remodeling Contract Should Say

4. He's Not Only Marking Up Labor, But Materials, Too

No contractor wants to talk about it, but he’s going to mark up everything he pays out to make your job happen. That’s fair; it’s how he pays his own overhead and salary. Keep it in mind that the 50% or more markup may apply not just to materials but labor costs, too.

What you should do: If you can handle buying items such as plumbing fixtures, cabinets, countertops, andflooring, ask your contractor to take them out of his bid price. Be sure to agree on specific numbers and amounts of what you’ll be buying, and that you’ll have the items to the job site when they’re needed. You could save 10% to 20% or more on the overall cost of the project.

TIP:Salvage materials are one way to save on building costs. Just make sure you use upcycled stuff wisely so you don’t harm your home’s value.

5. He’s Not the Design Whiz He Claims to Be

Sure, there are contractors who have strong design abilities. Chances are, however, they’re spending a lot more time running their businesses than honing their design chops.

What you should do: Depending upon the complexity of your project, you may need a number of skilled pros to get the job done. So don’t count on a contractor to design your space and add clever details, unless he clearly demonstrates his abilities and has a portfolio of his own work.

Ask his references specifically about his design skills. Keep in mind, in some instances you might be better offhiring an architect for overall planning, and a kitchen and bath designer for the details.

Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas: For Kids, Mom, Dad, Friends, and More!

Give homemade Christmas gifts this holiday season

With gift-giving season quickly approaching, you’re probably already dreading what holiday shopping entails — big crowds, long lines, traffic jams and an empty bank account. But, instead of getting stressed and spending hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars, why not spend some time crafting DIY Christmas gifts? You can stay home, drink a cup of hot chocolate, listen to Christmas music and enjoy the lights on the tree while making your loved ones a unique gift they’re sure to love.  And even if you’re not usually a crafty person, these simple handmade ideas are easy enough for anyone to make!

DIY Christmas gifts for mom

Your mom works hard to make sure her family has everything they need and want, so it’s only right to spoil her during the holiday season. And what could she love more than a gift handmade by you? Choose one of these homemade Christmas gifts to make her feel appreciated.

Heating pad

Moms are always on the go, especially during the holidays — they have gifts to buy, presents to wrap, parties to plan and dinners to prepare. A homemade heating pad can help relax sore muscles and keep her warm on a chilly night. All you need is some flannel fabric, a sewing machine and a package of rice to make this cute and useful gift.

Photo pillow

This easy DIY Christmas gift can capture fun memories or lifetime milestones. Give your mom a present she’ll cherish, by making her a photo pillow.

Fun-filled socks

There’s usually something going on at work, home, church or school during the holidays — giving mom lots of time on her feet! When she finally has some downtime at home, make sure her feet are comfortable with a pair of cozy socks. Consider filling them with goodies like nail polish, candy, lip balm and even a gift card to one of her favorite places to shop or eat.  

DIY Christmas gifts for Dad

Finding gifts for dad can be challenging — men aren’t usually the easiest to buy for. But, we’ve found some great ideas that are a mix between fun and practical.

Mini pool table

Sometimes dads just need a break at work. What better way to do this than by playing a quick game of pool? Learn how to construct a mini pool table as a fun homemade present. It even fits into a desk drawer for easy access and storage.  

Road-trip travel kit

Does your dad travel a lot for work or pleasure? Make him a road-trip travel kit so he always has what he needs while on the road. Consider buying a canvas bag or decorating your own car-themed box, and then include these items:

• Tire gauge
• Flashlight
• Extra phone/laptop charger
• Gifts cards for on-the-go drinks and meals
• Travel supplies (Kleenex®, gum, mints, face wipes, first-aid kit, etc.)
• Water bottle

Wooden bungee cord organizer

This innovative Christmas gift helps any father stay organized by keeping his ties, sunglasses, keys and even charging cords/headphones all in one place. You can build just one or as many as he needs. Click here to learn how to create a wooden bungee cord organizer.

Homemade Christmas gifts for kids

Store shelves are lined with thousands of toys each Christmas season. But, there’s something special about a handmade toy crafted with love. And whether you’re buying for a niece, nephew or your own little one, these gifts are sure to bring a smile to their sweet face.

Play dough

Play dough has been around since the 1930s and is still popular with kids today. It not only gives them the ability to be creative and make various shapes and animals, but it’s also easy to make and clean up. Learn how one blogger makes a variety of play dough colors with just a few ingredients.  

Memory card game

Another cool DIY Christmas gift for kids is a memory card game — it’s both educational and fun! You can make sets with random pictures, pictures of animals or even pictures of family members. Here’s how to do it:

1. Collect images and scan/upload them to your computer (use as many as you want; we recommend choosing 18 images for 36 memory cards total)
2. Crop images to 4” x 6” and copy/paste into a Word document (leave a little space in between for easier cutting later)
3. Print two copies onto 8 ½” x 11” printer paper
4. Apply decoupage glue (Mod Podge®) to the back of each printout
5. Lay the pieces against card stock
6. Let them dry according to glue directions (typically 2 hours)
7. Apply a top coat of Mod Podge® to seal the images
8. Let it dry for another hour
9. Cut the game pieces out
10. Store in a cute box — consider decorating it with a fun design!

Chalkboard city blocks

A chalkboard cityscape will keep your child entertained for hours and it’s simple to create. All you have to do is cut some wooden lumber into various shapes and sizes and then cover the fronts with chalkboard paint. Now your kids can use their imagination to build whatever city or background they want!

Homemade Christmas gifts for grandma

Even if Grandma is happy with just having the whole family together under one roof, why not surprise her this year with a thoughtful gift?

Wooden photo block

A DIY photo cube is a great gift idea and will look great on grandma’s mantel or bedside table. Here are the supplies you’ll need:

• 4” wood block
• Craft paint
• Regular and foam paint brushes (one of each)
• Sand paper
• Mod Podge (matte finish)
• Six photos printed on regular computer paper (images should be 4” x 4” in size)
• Clear acrylic coating spray

Click here for step-by-step directions on how to craft a wood block photo cube.

Apron

It’s probably not a rare sight to watch grandma cook homemade meals. This year, make her a handmade apron to show how much you appreciate her. You can customize a blank apron with paint, buy some new material or turn a patterned or floral top/blanket you already own into something new and stylish!

Glass magnets

Another meaningful present for grandma is glass magnets with photos of people that mean the most to her — grandchildren, children, husband and close friends.

Homemade Christmas gifts for grandpa

Show grandpa just how much he means to you and the family with a handmade gift from the heart. You can make it funny or sentimental. Either way, he’ll love that you thought of him this holiday season.

Soda can coasters

Grandfathers are notorious for having a lot of “favorites” — favorite place to eat, favorite old movie and favorite story to tell. And he probably does each of these activities while sipping on his favorite drink. To show him how well you know him,make him coasters using the cans of his favorite soft drink!

Grandchild photo board

A photo board with a picture of each grandchild is a great way to share memories while you open presents around the family Christmas tree. Create something simple and elegant, or make something fun and memorable. Either way, it’s something grandpa will treasure for years to come. Here’s how to make it:

1.       Distress or paint a wooden frame (you choose the size and shape — can be based on decorating space or how many grandchildren there are)
2.       Use a stencil, vinyl cutouts, stickers or sandpaper to distress the frame or add embellishment (optional)
3.       Gather twine and clothespins
4.       Glue twine to the back of the frame, leaving enough space in between for 4”x6” photos
5.       Attach pictures to the twine using clothespins

Customized tool belt

This one’s super easy — buy a blank canvas tool belt from a local craft store, then personalize it with whatever you like! Paint fun phrases like “World’s Best Grandpa” or “Mr. Fix It” along with tools and other handyman items (use shaped sponges to do this easily).

Embroidered handkerchiefs

If you want to be witty and practical at the same time, make him some personalized handkerchiefs with funny messages like, “Achoo!” or “Keep your nose clean!”

DIY Christmas gifts for boyfriends and girlfriends

If you’re drawing a blank on what to get your significant other, we’ve come up with some homemade Christmas present ideas he or she will love and appreciate.  

 “Your song” photo

You probably have a song that describes your relationship perfectly, so create a photo from your favorite lyrics, quotes, or special sayings to always remind him or her of you. Sweet and simple.  

Christmas gift basket

Another great present to give your partner is a Christmas gift basket full of their favorite things. Here are some ideas:  

• Fill a gym bag, tackle box, cooler (or any container that describes their personality), and then fill it with their favorite snacks, drinks, gift cards or even tickets to a game or concert.
• Create a spa jar. Buy a pretty quart-size glass jar and then fill it with things like: face cleansing cream, lip balm, lotion, nail clippers, nail file, nail polish, bath salts, a scented candle, chocolates and a gift card for a massage or mani/pedi.

Date night basket  

Sometimes the sweetest gift is one that says, “Let’s spend more time together.” And nothing says that better than a date night basket! Find a cute popcorn tub and include some microwaveable popcorn, drinks, candy, candles and a movie.

Christmas gifts for friends, neighbors and teachers

Does your list of people to buy for grow each year? Don’t worry, we’ve found some cute homemade gift ideas that will ensure you can give everyone on your list a gift without breaking your budget.

Personalized ornaments

A personalized ornament is a wonderful Christmas present for friends, neighbors or teachers and can be done in just minutes. It’s also something they can hang on their tree each year and think of you. Here’s how to do it:

Gather supplies:

• Glitter, confetti or candy (or anything you want to fill the inside with!)
• Any color sticker letters or a Sharpie®
• Clear glass/plastic ornaments
• Ribbon

Directions:

1.       Use letters or sharpies to spell out words, phrases, names or monograms
2.       Insert the candy or use a funnel to fill with the glitter/confetti
3.       Tie a festive bow on top

Treat jars

Another cute idea is to create Christmas jars that resemble Rudolph, Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman. Put cookies or candy into the jars for a delicious and sweet treat. You’ll need these supplies:

• Jars (any size you want)
• Glitter (red, white and brown)
• Red pom pom
• Black ribbon
• Silver foam sheet
• Black beads
• Orange paper
• Decoupage
• Hot glue
• Brown pipe cleaner

Get instructions on how to create Christmas treat jars here.

Holiday snack mix

Everyone enjoys tasty treats during the Christmas season and you can’t go wrong with holiday snack mix! It’s easy to make and you can add whatever components you wish. Click here for a list of the main ingredients you’ll need along with the directions on how to make it.

Do you have other ideas?

What other DIY ideas do you have for fun Christmas gifts this holiday season? Share them with us in the comments below. And from everyone at U-Pack® — Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!