Celebrity Cash-Saving Tips
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Julia Louis-Dreyfuss
Cash-In Tip #2
POWER DOWN TO SAVE BIG
Did you know your TV set is a vampire? How about your computer? DVD player? Phone charger? They are! As you read this they are probably sucking money right out of your wallet. Pretty much any device that you can turn on with a remote control or a button (instead of a switch) or plugs in via a "wall wart" uses energy even when turned off. These so-called "phantom loads" might seem small, but they quickly add up - often drawing as much energy as your fridge! A couple of personal computers, a printer, router, scanner and related accessories left plugged in can quickly add up to nearly $300 a year in additional costs! As remembering to unplug all devices all the time can be a pain, consider using power bars/surge protectors to group devices that are located in the same area or that are often used together - that way you only have to remember to unplug one thing at a time (often power bars can be shut down with the flick of a switch to make things even easier). Just by unplugging the toys you have, you may be able save enough to buy a new iPad or another great gadget you have had your eye's on - just remember to unplug it when not in use!
Cash-In Tip #2
POWER DOWN TO SAVE BIG
Did you know your TV set is a vampire? How about your computer? DVD player? Phone charger? They are! As you read this they are probably sucking money right out of your wallet. Pretty much any device that you can turn on with a remote control or a button (instead of a switch) or plugs in via a "wall wart" uses energy even when turned off. These so-called "phantom loads" might seem small, but they quickly add up - often drawing as much energy as your fridge! A couple of personal computers, a printer, router, scanner and related accessories left plugged in can quickly add up to nearly $300 a year in additional costs! As remembering to unplug all devices all the time can be a pain, consider using power bars/surge protectors to group devices that are located in the same area or that are often used together - that way you only have to remember to unplug one thing at a time (often power bars can be shut down with the flick of a switch to make things even easier). Just by unplugging the toys you have, you may be able save enough to buy a new iPad or another great gadget you have had your eye's on - just remember to unplug it when not in use!
