Hi everyone, with today's economy the way it is, I thought I would share some money saving tips with you. Today I will be posting about how to save money on your electricity. Watch for future posts about ways to save money!

1. Turn off lights in any room not being used.
2. Shut off dishwasher for dry cycle. Let your dishes "air dry".
3. Use a window fan instead of air conditioner whenever possible.
4. Turn off your TV, radio, record player when not in use.
5. Use large bulb instead of several small ones where bright light is needed.
6. Use lamp shades with white liner. This reflects more light.
7. Replace incandescent with fluorescent bulbs wherever possible.
8. Teach all family members to turn off lights when leaving a room.
9. Don't use dishwasher or laundry equipment until you have a full load.
10. Use outdoor lights only where they are needed.
11. Make sure your refrigerator and freezer door seals are airtight.
12. Save electricity by using old-fashioned clothesline for clothes drying.
13. Keep air conditioning condenser shaded from sun or on north side of house.
14. Vacuum or dust off coils of refrigerator and freezer regularly.
15. Turn off air conditioning when no one is home.
16. "Instant-on" TV sets use energy even when set is not turned on.
17. A full freezer uses less energy. Use bags of ice cubes to keep filled.
18. Never overload clothes dryer and always clean lint filter after use.
19. Freezers and refrigerators that defrost automatically use more energy.
20. Let hot foods cool before placing them in the refrigerator.
21. Remove clothes that require ironing from the dryer while they are damp.
22. When replacing switches, consider installing solid state dimmer switches.
23. Use low wattage night-light bulbs that now come in 4 and 7-watt sizes.
24. Place your refrigerator in the coolest part of the kitchen.
25. Don't "over dry" clothing. It wastes energy and may damage synthetics.
26. When going away for extended periods, set refrigerator at lowest setting.
27. Turn off electric water heater when going away for vacations or weekends.
28. Turn 3-way lamps down to lowest level for TV watching.
29. Choose light, reflective colors for room ceilings and walls.
30. Never connect any large appliance to an extension cord.
31. Decide exactly what you want before you open the refrigerator door.
32. Defrost refrigerator regularly - when about 1/4 inch of ice has formed.
33. "Long-life" light bulbs use more energy than standard life bulbs.
34. Turn off your iron when not using it.
35. Put light switches where they are easy to turn on and off.
36. Keep appliances clean and in good working order. They'll use less energy.
37. When using air conditioning, set thermostat at 78 degrees or higher.
38. Keep bulbs and lighting fixtures clean. Dust lowers light levels.
39. Eliminate unnecessary outdoor decorative lighting.
40. Plant shrubs and trees so that they will shade house during summer months.
41. Use higher wattage bulbs only for reading and close work.
42. Insulating your attic will save on operating air conditioning (also heating).
43. If you have a second refrigerator, ask yourself if you really need it.
44. Keep the outside exhaust of your clothes dryer clean.
45. Buy appliances on the basis of cost plus operating costs, not price alone.
46. Buy clothing made of fabrics that require little or no ironing.
47. Use hand tools in your workshop instead of power tools.
48. When using air conditioning, keep windows closed & close off unused rooms.
49. Use reflector floodlights in directional lamps instead of standard bulbs.
50. Buy only "no iron" sheets and pillow cases to save on ironing energy.
51. Use adapters to convert table lamps into low-energy fluorescent lamps.
52. Microwave ovens reduce cooking time by 15% to 20% and save energy.
53. When shopping for new appliances, ask about energy-efficient models.
54. Don't use several light bulbs where one will do the job.
55. Limit the use of appliances that use over 1,000 watts.
56. Check all energy bills closely. Errors can be costly.

Toni Shrader

Who knew that taking certain herbs could help relieve sinus infection?

Believe it or not, a lot of civilizations have been using it for years. We just got caught up with the western philosophy of how we approach medical science.

The best thing about using herbs is that there are no known side effects compared to conventional drugs and here are a few you can take.

First is Eucalyptus. It’s a fragrant herb that is nice to smell and is known to soothe throat. What makes this herb so unique is that it has antiseptic properties that can help shrink swollen tissues like your nasal passages. You can buy the leaf and mix this with warm water and drink it. If it is still too hot, go close and inhale the steam. You may also take it orally as this is also available in lozenge form.

Next is Echinacea which is an herb that can kill certain viruses in the respiratory system. It is also available in capsule form and you can increase the dosage when needed then reduced when things get better. People who are allergic to ragweed should not try this herb.

One effective herb that is recommended by the World Health Organization to treat sinus infection is the herb known as Ephedra. It is also used to treat other problems like hay fever and the common cold and because there are some risks taking it, this should only be taken under the strict guidance of a doctor.

Most people know ginger as an herb that fights headaches. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties, it can also be used to treat sinus infections. This is also available in capsule form and before taking it, you are advised to read the directions.

Goldenseal is another herb that you can use to treat sinus infection. Studies have shown it improves overall congestion so it improves your overall health. What is even better is that it has antimicrobial properties that can eliminate bacteria. The herb also contains compounds similar to steroids which reduces inflammation.

Peppermint smells very good which is why it can calm the mucus membranes. Like the others, you can mix this in hot water and inhale it and drink it as tea.

Lemon balm is often used to fight bad breath. But did you also know that it can fight sinus infections since it is helpful in fighting off bacteria and viruses? You just have to buy the leaves and then mix this in hot water for about ten minutes. After straining, you can pour a cup and drink as you please.

Then there is licorice. You don’t mix the leaves of this herb to relieve sinus infection but rather use its root. There are two types of licorice products around so you can also opt for the capsule version which also boosts your immune system.

There are other herbs you can use to fight a sinus infection aside from the seven mentioned. In fact, most of these herbs can be mixed together. You can buy this in capsule form or pluck it from your garden.

In the end, it doesn’t really matter where you got it because it is designed to do one thing and that is to relieve you from sinus infection.