Evan Vitale

Evan Vitale – Working Full-Time AND Part-Time

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By Evan Vitale

Even with a full-time job (and sometimes with benefits), individuals and couples still have a tough time paying off old debt, keeping up with current expenses and making ends meet.

At some point, you might want to consider finding a part-time job to bring in some extra income.

While finding a part-time retail or restaurant job might be easy to find, there are a few things you should keep in mind before you flood the market with applications and resumes. Here are a few pointers:

  • Check your current employee manual or have a discussion with your human resources manager to see if working a part-time job violates any company guidelines. In some cases, companies discourage “moonlighting” because it may interfere with your current position. It’s not that your current employer is worried about you working at the mall during the holiday rush, but sometimes when employees are working two jobs, they become tired and less productive.
  • Be well aware of the hours that you will be asked to work with your part-time job. Mostly likely, you’ll be working nights and weekends so there will be little time left for yourself, your family, special events, parties, etc.
  • If you are working evenings, make sure you have allowed enough travel time from your full-time job to your part-time job. Always allow for a little extra time in case your boss asks you to work a little extra time one evening or bad weather is causing a traffic headache on the highway.
  • In many cases, your part-time job will require you to stand a lot. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes, which might be different than your business dress shoes for the office.
  • Juggling two jobs, family and other responsibilities will require you to be organized. You’ll need to use your “free” time to run errands, pay bills, go grocery shopping, etc. Plan accordingly.
  • While it might be difficult, it’s important to eat well, take your vitamins and get a good night’s sleep. By working more hours, your body and immune system will be at risk.

Set your financial goals when considering a part-time job. Perhaps, you’ll work part-time until a certain bill is paid off or until you’ve saved enough money for a down payment on an automobile or you’ll looking for extra money for the holidays.

Evan Vitale – These Items Are Costing You Money

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By Evan Vitale

Everyone is making an effort to save a little energy and money these days. As a result, many manufacturers have tapped into the market and make products specifically to help accomplish these goals.

Believe-it-or-not, when your power strips and other devices are plugged in, they are using electricity (even if your device is turned off, cell phone is charged, etc.).

However, several companies make energy saving sockets that plug into the electrical outlets in your home. These sockets save money by turning off the electricity to the device that’s plugged into them when not in use.

Take a cell phone charger. This electronic device will still use electricity even when you are not charging a phone. If you are using an energy saving socket, you can set a time limit for the phone to charge. After the time has elapsed, the socket will shut off the electricity to the charger, saving you some cash.  A device such as this might also provide you with some peace of mind; you wouldn’t have to wonder if you left the coffee pot on or kept the curling iron plugged in.

A similar product is a power strip that conserves energy with a wireless remote. For example, you could plug in all of the devices used in your entertainment system — TV, DVD player, game console, etc — into the conserve power strip. When you’re done using these devices, instead of unplugging them, just use the remote control to turn off the power strip.

Another product worth considering is a clip, or a cord holder. Something like this sticks to the wall or your desk near an outlet. When you want to unplug a device, it holds the cord for you so you don’t have to go searching for it next time.

These are just some of the many products companies are producing that are making it easier for consumers to save money and energy use.

Evan Vitale – Saving Money on Energy Costs

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By Evan Vitale

Numerous storms across the U.S. this 2016 winter have us all meticulously examining our utility bills this month and possibly considering how we will be able to save on rising energy expenses.

From powering landscape lights on the property and kitchen appliances to running our TVs and computers — electricity is definitely a necessary part of our modern life. It should be no surprise that the average residential electricity bill is far more than $110 a month.

As temperatures rise, lots of families turn to air conditioners to keep cool.  In reality, air conditioners use about five percent of all the electrical energy developed in the U.S. — costing U.S. property owners billions a year. Typical HVAC maintenance — like cleaning or swapping out air filters — will guarantee that your air conditioner is running effectively and can enable lower electrical energy fees. To save on these maintenance bills, sign up for an annual plan with a reputable HVAC firm.  You will usually get two complimentary visits per year within your plan and it will help with spreading out your maintenance costs.

Make sure you are not using electricity if you aren’t there to take advantage from it. Contemplate installing a programmable thermostat and set it back once you are away at your office or on trip. You can save perhaps as much as 10 percent a year on heating and cooling by basically turning your thermostat back 7-10 degrees for eight hours per day from its typical setting.

You’ll be able to also preserve electricity expenses in the summer season by utilizing a ceiling fan to supplement your air conditioner. A ceiling fan will enable you to raise the thermostat setting by about four degrees without having any impact on your comfort. But remember to turn the fan off when you leave the area. Ceiling fans cool persons — not rooms — by creating a wind chill.

If you reside in a climate that tends to cool off at night, all-natural ventilation can help you preserve the coolness in your home without having raising your electricity bills. Take into account turning off your cooling system and opening your windows when sleeping to take advantage of cooler air, but make sure to shut the windows and blinds every morning as the temperature rises.

Air sealing is among the most cost-effective and quickest solutions to reduce power bills. Decreasing the amount of air that leaks in and out of the residence will help reduce your personal heating and cooling load — directly converting into smaller sized energy bills.

Installing a timer that turns off your electric water heater at evening or whenever you do not use it may also make it easier to reduce your electrical energy bills.

Most households spend about ten percent of its budget on lighting. One swift way to decrease these fees is gradually replace your light bulbs with more energy-efficient light bulbs. By replacing 15 inefficient bulbs in your home with more efficient bulbs, you could possibly save about $50 a year.

Whether you call them power vampires, background loads or standby power, little gadgets, appliances and electronics still use electrical energy when plugged in even if they may be turned off. Consider routinely unplugging appliances and electronics to save electrical energy. To be more efficient each day, plug small mini devices into a power strip and then turn off or unplug your power strip when you leave.

If you are looking to replace your old appliances, consider purchasing ones with an Energy STAR label. These appliances incorporate sophisticated technologies that use 5-35 % much less power and water than common models potentially saving nearly $750 across the appliance lifespan.

Quite a few homeowners point to renewable power as a fresh approach to save on electricity charges. Once you fix the basics around your home, look at ordering a home energy audit by checking with your local utility company. As utilities are generally publicly traded entities, they wish to save money for shareholders by holding down costs.  Some utilities offer discounts for home or commercial energy efficiency programs incorporating wind or solar. It’s also good for the planet to incorporate clean energy into your home energy-saving strategy.