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9 Tips to Green Your Home and Save Money


Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, chances are you care about protecting the environment – and saving money.  Here are some tips from Table Rock Community Bank to help you do both.

Light up the house, not the electric bill. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs will save you about $6 a year in electricity costs per bulb and more than $40 over its lifetime. According to ENERGY STAR, if every American home replaced just one light bulb,we would save enough energy to prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year. Remember to recycle used CFL bulbs. Go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling for recycling locations.

Some like it hot,hot, hot…or cold, cold, cold. Closely monitor your thermostat. Adjusting it just a few degrees while you’re out can save energy and money. You can make it easier by installing a programmable thermostat. Use fans and close the blinds during the warm months and let the sun in for natural warmth in the winter. Also, change your filter every three months.

How low can you go? One way to save water is by using low-flow toilets. The most cost-effective way to do this is to simply take a 1 liter plastic bottle, fill it with water and place it inside the tank. This will reduce your water use per flush. Another way to save water is placing an aerator on all of your faucets.

Make it mean-green-clean. Cleaning supplies can be expensive and are made with toxic chemicals. You can save money and the environment by making your own cleaning supplies. All you need are some basic household ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and borax to clean everything from windows to tile. Look online for recipes and suggestions.

Reduce, Reuse,Recycle! Sticking to this mantra can help you save money around the house. Use a rag instead of paper towels. Buy products in bulk, concentrate or refillable containers to reduce packaging waste. Look for products made from recycled content. And don’t forget to recycle!

Win-dos for your windows.There are a number of ways you can make your windows more energy efficient without replacing them. For better insulation from the weather you can caulk exterior joints, put shrink wrap on them or hang blackout curtains.

Fan the green flames. To keep your refrigerator running efficiently, keep the fan clean. The motor won’t have to work as hard if the fan is clear of debris.

Decorate green. Houseplants are like living air-filters. English Ivy, rubber trees, peacelilies and red-edged dracaena can help clean the air and look pretty too.

Vampire energy is sucking you dry. On or off, anything plugged into the wall sucks energy. Vampire powercosts U.S. consumers more than $3 billion a year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Unplug your electronics and appliances when they’re not in use.

For more green homesolutions, visit: epa.gov/greenhomes



To Buy or Not to Buy?


To Buy or Not to Buy: 5 Questions to Consider Before
Purchasing Your First Home

 

            In recognition of American Housing Month, Table Rock Community Bank is highlighting five questions first-time buyers should consider before purchasing a home.

1. How much money do you have saved up?
Start with an evaluation of your financial health. Figure out how much money you have for a down payment or deposit on a rental. Down payments are typically 5 to 20 percent of the price of the home. Security deposits on rentals are usually about one month of rent and more if you have a pet. But be sure to keep enough in savings for an emergency fund. It’s a good idea to have three to six months of living expenses to cover unexpected costs.

 2. How much debt do you have?
Consider all of your current and expected financial obligations like your car payment and insurance, credit card debt and student loans. Make sure you will be able to make all the payments in addition to the cost of your new home. Aim to keep total rent or mortgage payments plus utilities to less than 25 to 30 percent of your gross monthly income. Recent regulatory changes limit debt to income (DTI) ratio on most loans to 43 percent.

 3.What is your credit score?
A high credit score indicates strong credit worthiness. Both renters and homebuyers can expect to have their credit history examined. A low credit score can keep you from qualifying for the rental you want or a low interest rate on your mortgage loan. If your credit score is low, you may want to delay moving into a new home and take steps to raise your score. For tips on improving your credit score, visit aba.com/consumers. 

 4.Have you factored in all the costs? 
Create a hypothetical budget for your new home. Find the average cost of utilities in your area, factor in gas, electricity, water and cable. Find out if you will have to pay for parking or trash pickup. Consider the cost of yard maintenance and other basic maintenance costs like replacing the air filter every three months. If you are planning to buy a home, factor in real estate taxes, mortgage insurance and possibly a home owner association fee. Renters should consider the cost of rental insurance.

5. How long will you stay? 
 Generally, the longer you plan to live some place, the more it makes sense to buy. Over time, you can build equity in your home. On the other hand,renters have greater flexibility to move and fewer maintenance costs. Carefully consider your current life and work situation and think about how long you want to stay in your new home.

MEMBER FDIC. EQUAL HOUSING LENDER


Protect the Elderly from Financial Exploitation


Tips for Family and Friends:

What are the warning signs of financial abuse?

 

The key to spotting financial abuse is a change in a person’s established financial patterns. Watch out for these “red flags”:

  • Unusual activity in an older person’s bank accounts, including large, frequent or unexplained withdrawals.

  • ATM withdrawals by an older person who has never used a debit or ATM card.

  • Changing from a basic account to one that offers more complicated services the customer does not fully understand or need.

  • Withdrawals from bank accounts or transfers between accounts the customer cannot explain.

  • New “best friends” accompanying an older person to the bank.

  • Sudden non-sufficient fund activity or unpaid bills.

  • Closing CDs or accounts without regard to penalties.

  • Uncharacteristic attempts to wire large sums of money.

  • Suspicious signatures on checks, or outright forgery.

  • Confusion, fear or lack of awareness on the part of an older customer.

  • Refusal to make eye contact, shame or reluctance to talk about the problem.

  • Checks written as “loans” or “gifts.”

  • Bank statements that no longer go to the customer’s home.

  • New powers of attorney the older person does not understand.

  • A caretaker, relative or friend who suddenly begins conducting financial transactions on behalf of an older person without proper documentation.

  • Altered wills and trusts.

  • Loss of property.

Information is provided by American Bankers Association. For more information please visit:

https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/protect-your-money/elderly-financial-abuse