Tuesday, October 29, 2013

How to Estimate Utility Bills


We are currently house hunting, and all of those uncertain expenses that come with owning a bigger home are weighing on my mind. We looked at a beautiful five bedroom home the other day, but with all that extra space would come a higher utility bill...as expected. But how much higher? How do you estimate those additional costs?

Through our local power company I found a resource for estimating your home energy cost. Your estimated cost will depend on the house details, your appliances, and your usage. If you are shopping for a new home, knowing the following about your potential house will help you accurately estimate your future energy costs:

  • Is the home weatherized?
    • By owner?
    • By Professional?
  • Wall insulation thickness
  • Ceiling insulation thickness
  • Floor insulation thickness
  • Windows (single or double pane?)
  • Type and age of heating system
  • Type, age, and location of water heater
  • Type (energy star?) and age of appliances that come with the house (stove, dishwasher, etc.)
This fun calculator will also give you tips on how you can decrease your energy costs in the future. It's a great tool that I will definitely be using when planning our budget for our future house!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

How to Read Crochet Charts

I found this pattern on Pinterest for a crochet skirt.
I especially like the trim and thought it would be fun to crochet this to a slip and wear as a skirt extender, BUT...I don't know how to read crochet charts.

I did some researching and found a couple excellent resources for crocheting using a chart. Here is a pdf from Redheart yarn on how to read the symbols in a crochet chart. This tutorial shows you how to read the actual chart once you know what the symbols mean.
Skirt extenders add a little length to skirts a little too short to be comfortable and add a touch of femeninity to an otherwise ordinary outfit. Hopefully these will come in handy when I get around to making my fabulous skirt extender!