To get in the holiday spirit, I’m giving away a $100 The Home Depot gift card to one lucky reader. The Home Depot gift cards are a great idea for the do-it-herself-ers and handymen on your gift list.  Or, you may decide to keep the gift card for yourself and invest in household items that help reduce utility bills all year long such as programmable thermostats, CFL bulbs, or low-flow shower heads.

This year, The Home Depot has 17 holiday gift card styles to choose from including a scratch-n-sniff gingerbread man that can be decorated with stickers, and a card that looks and feels like it is covered with every handyman’s wrapping paper–duct tape (my personal favorite).

Rules for entry are similar to previous contests here at Frugal Dad.

How to Enter The Home Depot Gift Card Giveaway:

• Leave a comment on this post sharing your favorite holiday memory (be sure to complete your email address in the comment entry form).

Comments feature will close at 11:59pm(ET) on Saturday November 22nd. I will announce the winner on Sunday, November 23 and contact you via email. Each commenter or email will be assigned an entry number, and winners will be selected using Random.org to select a random number from the total number of entries.

Good luck!

*The Home Depot gift card can only be used in the United States, but international readers are welcome to enter the contest if they would like to pass along the gift card to a friend or relative living in the United States.  No email addresses collected as part of this contest will be shared with any 3rd parties.

You’ve all heard the predictions about home heating costs going up this winter. Combined with the current state of our economy, the idea of paying more to heat your home might be enough to send some people over the edge. As a result, people are looking into alternative home heating solutions like space heaters, pellet stoves and yes – fireplaces. Not only can many of the home heating options available today save you money, but many of them are significantly better for the environment. Gel fuel fireplaces are one area of the market that has been growing in recently months, and for good reason! Let me break down some of the benefits to using gel fireplaces to heat your home this winter.

• Save Money Up-front: Not only are most gel fuel fireplaces inexpensive to purchase, but they are also extremely easy to maintain, which translates into less money spent on repairs. Gel fireplaces are perfect if your home isn’t already equipped with a traditional fire place, or if you are looking for a much less expensive, lower maintenance home heating option. Free-standing gel fireplaces are also super easy to install yourself, with most taking no more than an hour or so. While you can purchase a recessed gel fuel fireplace insert to replace an existing fireplace, these free standing units are just as attractive and a lot easier to deal with.

• Breathe Easier: Not only are gel fuel fireplaces easy to install and maintain, but they are vent-less and do not emit smoke, toxic fumes or odor. Highly heat and energy-efficient, gel fuel fireplaces comply with all of the industry’s safety standards; gel fuel itself is a cleaner burning fuel than traditional wood and gas stoves. Gelled alcohol fuel burns clear, smoke-free and a can last anywhere from 2.5 to 3 hours. And for added peace of mind, gel fireplaces are free of the dangers of harmful combustion of toxic products.

• Stay Cozy and Warm: A majority of gel fireplaces produce an average heat output of about 3,000 BTU (British Thermal Units) which is actually comparable to many electric fireplaces on the market, perfect for heating a modestly sized room.

• Complement your Home Decor: Available in a variety of finishes and styles, gel fuel fireplaces can blend in with any home decor. From modern to traditional, black, white or natural hardwood – you’re sure to find the gel fireplace that suits your style.  For even more versatility, opt for a portable fireplace.

• Alternatives to Gel Fuel Fireplaces: As far as frugal home-heating options go, gel fuel fireplaces aren’t an end-all-be-all. Another viable option for you to consider is a pellet stove. If you’re dead set on having some kind of a fireplace, there are some recessed pellet fireplace inserts available, however pellet stoves are more commonly used. Instead of using gel fuel, gas or wood – pellet stoves burn pellets made from recycled sawdust, wood chips, bark, agricultural crop waste, recycled paper or other organic materials. Pellet stoves have a much higher combustion rate than wood stoves or gas fireplaces and are the cleanest of all solid fuel-burning heating appliances. Most pellet stoves have an average heat output of between 8,000 to 90,000 BTUs and are suitable for homes, apartments and condos. Unlike gel fuel fireplaces, however, most pellet stoves require electricity to power several internal fans. Pellet stoves may also cost more for you to in maintenance and repairs.

However you decide to heat your home this winter, just make sure that you read all of the installation instructions carefully and try and purchase a product with a good warranty. The last thing you want is to be stuck without heat when it’s cold outside!

Photo courtesy of CSN Fireplaces

My mom continues to recover from the aneurysm, surgery, and subsequent stroke that has kept her hospitalized for the last 65 days. Last week we transferred her to an in-patient rehabilitation center that specializes in working with patients with brain and spinal cord injuries.

It didn’t take long to hear stories from fellow patient’s families who were there watching their loved ones fight to regain their physical and mental abilities. Many patients are young (the center’s average patient age is 34), and it is sad to see so many people with their entire lives ahead of them cut down by an injury or illness. It is also inspiring to watch the human spirit overcome amazing difficulties to restore health to those often not given much of a chance.

The entire experience of nearly losing my mom at 53 years young, watching her fight to regain things we take for granted (sitting up, swallowing, talking, etc.), and now meeting dozens of other people going through similar challenges, has had a profound effect on me. It is rare that a day goes by that I don’t stop to reflect on the things I have to be thankful for.

I know it is a couple weeks early to give thanks for all the blessing in my life, but I felt like sharing them with you now. Some are related to finances, some are not. All are things I wish we would all do a better job of appreciating, while putting aside our own petty differences and problems.

Be thankful for the roof over your head. I don’t care if that roof is rented, mortgaged, or paid for, if it keeps you dry and warm at night you ought to be thankful to have it.  It might not be the roof you want, or you might want a bigger roof, but at least it provides some shelter against the elements. If you are not grateful for the roof over your head, drive around the downtown area of any major city in the country and look at the lines filling up for shelters, or those making “homes” from boxes and beds of newspapers.

I’m grateful for my health. Sure, I could stand to lose a few pounds. My shoulder still gives me trouble two years after rotator cuff surgery, and my back aches occasionally from an old football injury. But I am able to walk, talk, work, care for myself, and care for those I love. Our health is definitely something we take for granted until we lose it.

I am blessed to have an income. I have to wonder if the people I’m encountering at the rehabilitation center will ever return to their careers. In fact, my mom’s own ability to return to her previous job remains in question. Without an emergency fund in place, and/or a short-term disability policy, those who are unable to return to their jobs are basically without an income for months until a long-term disability plan kicks in.  Even then, they only earn a fraction of what they did prior to their injury or illness. This can be financially devastating to a family, and is a good reminder to shop a short-term disability plan and beef up your emergency fund, just in case.

I am lucky to have a window in my office. I worked six years in a cube farm before taking my current job, and spent the first two years at my current employer working in a storage area with no view to speak of. At least I could get up and walk to the front door,and I could see the outside world during my commute.  My mom spent 45 days in neurological ICU, and 17 days in a “step-down” unit before being transported by ambulance to the rehabilitation hospital. Her exit from the back of the ambulance was the first time she saw sunshine in 62 days. Take a minute and look out the window nearest you. Have an appreciation for the things you see–birds, squirrels, grass, blue sky, rain, sunshine, flowers, trees, etc.

I am most thankful for my wife and children. While my mom was in neuro-ICU she was unable to see her grandkids for over six weeks. My kids talked to or saw their “Grandma” every single day of their lives, and keeping them apart for six weeks was heartbreaking. Fortunately, Mom doesn’t remember much of that time, but I do, and I remember my kids crying each night as I returned home from the hospital and told them they still couldn’t go see Grandma. It is a reminder that we should never again take for granted time spent with our loved ones.

Finally, I am grateful for all of you. If you would have told me a year ago that I would start a blog, and have the opportunity to share my daily thoughts with 4,000 subscribers (and thousands of visitors), I would have never believed it. It has been a blast (virtually) meeting so many wonderful people who share a similar philosophy (and a few that don’t), and I’m grateful for the opportunity to interact with you on a daily basis. I hope you get half the enjoyment from reading this blog as I get writing it. My only regret is that I didn’t start it earlier.

We spend a lot of time here at Frugal Dad discussing sacrifices, proudly sharing the things we’ve given up to lead more frugal lives.  But every now and then we should all stop and reflect on the things that we do have. I’d encourage you to take a moment today to list a few things you are most thankful for, and feel free to share them with us in the comments below.

A recent Auburn University study provides some real numbers to back a theory we’ve all known was true for some time–planting a shade tree near your home reduces energy bills significantly in the spring and summer months.  The study, conducted in Auburn, Alabama, included 160 homes with different levels of shade. Each home’s energy usage was monitored and compared to other houses with similar energy-using patterns, size, type of cooling system, etc.  Here are some highlights from the study:

• Houses with trees on the west side of their home had a “much lower power bill”
• Older homes had the most shade coverage, because people did not use to rely on air conditioning as much to keep them cool
• For each degree you raise your thermostat in the summertime you can save 3.3% on energy costs
• Children under age 12 consume the most power in a home as they watch television, play games and frequently leave lights on.  (I could have told them this one!).

Fall and early winter are the perfect seasons to plant a tree.  This time of year many nurseries are trying to reduce their inventory of trees heading into the winter, so you may find a deal on trees to plant around your lot.  The ideal tree to plant on the west side of your home is one that has heavy foliage in the summer, but loses most of its leaves during the winter to allow sunlight to shine through and warm your home naturally.

While you have the shovel out, consider planting a tree near your outside air conditioning unit. The shade will keep the unit cooler and help it operate more efficiently.  Be sure to plant far enough from the unit to allow proper airflow, and account for the tree’s growth over time.

In my town real estate developers plow trees down when planning neighborhoods.  It literally hurts to watch the trees being knocked over because they could provide much needed shade to new homeowners, reducing their electric bill and the amount of energy they consume. Hopefully this study, and more like it in the future, will encourage developers and builders to plan around trees as much as possible to offer homeowners a shaded lot.

Photo courtesy of alykat

According to the experts it is once again cool to be frugal.  I’ve heard advertising types tossing around articles with titles like, “Frugal is the New Black.” My favorite recent article on the subject was from Randall at Credit Withdrawal where he writes, “It’s Hip To Be Spare” (take that Huey Lewis!).  Yes, these are good times for those of who live frugal lives and were made fun of unmercifully when times were good. One has to wonder, will the frugal trend last?The last two decades lead me to believe no, frugality won’t be a lasting trend, at least among the masses.  In fact, despite what the media tells us, I’m not even sure frugality is a trend now.  The last time a new version the iPhone was released I passed a Best Buy store on the way to work and saw dozens of people camped outside the store at 7:00 in the morning–for a telephone (so it’s more than a phone, but come on!).

Last weekend my wife and I stumbled on an old $25 Olive Garden gift card we had received as a gift, and we enjoyed a nice evening out.  We decided to go early to avoid the crowds, but even at 5:00pm there was a 45-minute wait!  The wine was flowing freely from the tables around us, and when we left the restaurant the line waiting to eat was nearly twice as long.

All this to say that it does not seem like people are living very frugal, despite how good or bad their finances are.  I imagine the level of frugality displayed varies by locations, so I wanted to get your take.

Based on what you’ve seen around your hometowns, is the frugal movement something that you believe will take hold and stick around?  Or is it simply another fad that disappears as soon as the markets begin to rebound?

I confess, I haven’t had much energy the last few weeks.  Making any significant overhauls to our financial plan, our budget, etc. just seems like such a chore.  And I certainly don’t have the physical energy to do much around the house.  However, there are still a few ways to save money every month that don’t require a whole lot of effort.

How to Save Money Every Month

1. Cut cell phone service down to minimum. Talk to your current provider about reducing your monthly minutes, or eliminating features you just don’t use that often. We recently asked our cell phone provider to tell us the average paid minutes we used over the last six months and discovered it was well below the next smallest plan from our current arrangement. Dropping plans shaved $20 a month off our bill.

2. Consider dropping home telephone service. Just about the only people who call us these days are telemarketers. Most friends and family have cell phones and those that are “in network” can talk to us for free for an unlimited amount of time.  Even if you don’t cancel your home telephone service, you can probably save some by cutting back on extras like call waiting, caller ID, etc.  Since you are not using the land-line that much, you won’t miss the features.

3. Raise car insurance deductibles if emergency fund in place.  If you have a solid emergency fund in place to easily cover deductibles, it might make sense to increase those deductibles on your auto insurance policy.  Raising deductibles from $250 to $1,000 can save you a few hundred dollars on insurance–just be sure you can afford that $1,000 in the event something bad happens.

Bonus: Shop for cheaper car insurance using online tools such as Esurance.com. We saved quite a bit just by switching carriers.

4. Reduce the temperature setting on your hot water heater.  This one does require a little effort, especially if your water heater is in an out-of-the-way place.  Set the temperature to around 120 degrees.  You can count on about a 5 percent reduction on energy bills for each 10 degrees you drop the water.  While you are at it, consider a thermal blanket to insulate your water heater, particularly if it is stored in an uninsulated location that gets cold in the winter (garage, utility room, etc.).

5. Run your ceiling fans in the winter. I know, it sounds crazy. By changing the blade direction on your ceiling fan to create an updraft, you can help recycle heat throughout a drafty room. Most fan models have a switch on the base of the unit that allows you to change direction.

6. Use microwaves in the summer, and ovens in the winter.  During the dog days of summer, cranking up an oven can put an air conditioning system into overdrive.  However, in the winter the warmth of an oven can lessen the load of your heating system.  Your monthly utility bill will thank you.

7. Divide credit card payments in half.  If you are already paying $100 a month on your credit card, half the amount and schedule two payments with the first coming about half way through the billing cycle.  Since interest is calculated using the card’s average daily balance, you’ll be reducing that balance earlier in the month by paying a little bit of the balance off, instead of waiting the full month to make a single payment.

8. Switch to generic prescriptions. Talk to your health care provider about switching to generic prescriptions, and be sure to check out places like Walmart and other grocery store pharmacies that now offer 30-day supplies of many popular generic prescription medicines for only a few dollars a month.

9. Disconnect electronic devices when not in use.The easiest way to do this is to plug devices into a single power strip and then unplugging the power strip when the items are not in use.  Electronic items continue to pull small amounts of power continuously even when powered down (this phenomenon is often referred to as “vampire power,” probably because it is sucking the life out of your finances!

10. Improve your car’s gas mileage by replacing the air filter.  I know I said these would be effortless, but this one is so easy you can do it in less than five minutes.  Stop by a parts store and ask for a new air filter.  They will need to know your vehicle’s make, model, year and maybe the engine size (six-cylinder, eight-cylinder, etc.).  All this information should be listed in your owner’s manual, or on the inside of your driver’s side door panel.  Following the directions in your owner’s manual, which include locating the filter’s housing, removing a few screws, and swapping out filters, only take a few minutes of time.

11. Use a drying rack for heavy linens. If you aren’t up for hanging a clothesline (or your neighborhood frowns on their use), consider buying  a simple drying rack to hang heavy towels and jeans over.  When the clothes are nearly dry, toss them in the dryer for a couple minutes with a fabric softening pad to freshen them up a bit and remove most of the wrinkles.

Saving money every month doesn’t have to be a chore, and in most cases requires very little (if any) investment up front. Give a few of these ideas a try, and feel free to add a few of your own ideas in the comments below.

Below are five interesting posts I’ve had the pleasure of reading so far this week.  Back later today with my own post on discovering (nearly) effortless ways to shave a little extra off your monthly expenses.

• Now is a Good Time to Be Living on a Budget. Often times when the going gets tough, the budget gets going. Not the time for that according to this excellent article. In tough times one of the very best things you can do for managing your money is create and stick to your budget.

• Christmas Budgeting – Building a Christmas Fund.  Never too early to start budgeting for Christmas. In fact, the earlier you get started, the better! Last year while still suffering from post-holiday shopping remorse, we committed to saving $50 a month towards Christmas and not touch it.  I’m proud to report we have left it alone, and now have our Christmas/Giving fund in place for the holiday shopping season.

• Renting Garage or Driveway for Passive Alternative Income.  I’m always on the lookout for adding a new “side hustle.  This is an interesting, “outside the box” idea for creating passive income, particularly if you live in the right spot.  When I was a budding entrepreneur in college I was inspired by the number of people that moved their cars to friend’s house, and then sold their parking spot on football game days to cover the cost of admission, food, and post-game celebratory items.

• Manage the Family Finances by Cutting Expenses AND Increasing Income. Simple Mom tackles a question I receive quite often here at Frugal Dad.  How do I get on a budget when my outgo is greater than my income.  Simple answer–cut your expenses and increase your income.  Easier said than done, I know, but this post provides some great ideas to kickstart your plan.

• Investing for College Requires a Slightly Different Approach Compared to Investing for Retirement.  I really appreciated how Jeremy ran down the types of investments to consider for each age bracket from birth to eighteen. I wonder how many other parents out there are like us and feeling the pinch of college tuition looming while we are struggling to keep our retirement portfolios in tact.