Articles by Frugaling

How Electric Fires & Stoves Are Making Greener, More Sustainable Heating for Homes.

Stoves and electric fires are fundamentally very different in their overall design. However, in recent years, both have made huge advancements in design to make them both sustainable heating sources for a home.

In this article we look at both electric fires and stoves, for the simple reason that in some homes a wood burning stove is not an option, and electricity is the only power option – this can be especially true in new build housing developments.

Electric fires – One attractive feature of electric fires, is that they are very simple to use. Simply plug in, switch on and warm up. Many electric fires nowadays require a very low level of energy, meaning they are very cheap to use. Allowing you to heat your home for less, and being more environmentally friendly at the same time.

Unlike gas fires, electric fires do not need an annual inspection either. Electric fires can be fitted in such a variety of places in the home. Many such fires have a side heating design, allowing you to place a fire below a wall mounted TV or very close to the floor.

Another benefit of electric fires, is that there is no water involved, like with a traditional central heating/radiator set up. As a result there is no wasted heat through pipeworks, or the associated inconvenience and cost of pipe blockages. An electric fire is classed as 100% efficient. This is because 2kW of electricity is used to product 2kW of heat in a home.

Wood burning stoves are good – but they cant achieve this level of efficiency, although they are taking large strides in becoming more fuel efficient.

Wood burning stoves – In recent years, wood burning stoves have made advancements in efficiency, to make them cheaper to run, and more environmentally friendly. In comparison to a traditional open fire, a high efficiency, wood burning stove is around four times more efficient. An open fire is about 20% efficient, while a high efficiency stove is around 80% efficient. With an open fire, 80% of the heat produced is wasted – usually disappearing up the chimney. With a wood burning stove, this figure is only 20% – the other 80% goes directly on heating a home.

The result of advancements in wood burning stoves means less wood needs to be burnt for the same heat output, saving money and helping contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable way of heating a home.

Below are some tips to ensure maximum efficiency when burning wood:

Ensure you only burn well-seasoned wood. Wood with excessive moisture will contribute towards chimney congestion, increase the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, and chimney fires. Burning unseasoned wood will also product a poor, inefficient heat output.
Ensure your chimney and stove is cleaned on a regular basis by a qualified chimney sweep.
Burn the best wood you can afford. Below is a list of some of the best woods.

Ash – Ash is regarded as one of the very best woods for burning. Ash produces a steady flame and a good heat output. Unlike other wood, ash can be burnt when green, but like with most wood burns at it’s very best when it is dry.

Beech – Like ash, beech burns very well. However, it does not burn well when green due to it’s much higher moisture content when live.

Hawthorn – This type of wood has a slow burn rate, and a good heat output.

Rowan – Similar to hawthorn, rowan has a very good heat output that burns slowly. Rowan is also know as Mountain Ash.

Thorn – Thorn produces very little smoke, which makes it an ideal wood where excessive smoke could be an issue.

Yew – Slow burn and produces a great, intense heat. Burning yew also produces a pleasant scent, which makes it stand out a little more over other woods.

5 Apps to Feed Your Frugal Lifestyle and Help You Save More

By Frugaling 1 Comment

If your family is struggling to save money, it’s time to recruit your smartphone to help achieve your financial goals and get more disposable income each month. There are plenty of apps around that can make a frugal lifestyle much more convenient. Today’s apps allow shoppers to get the best price around and to make smarter decisions when spending. This way, you and your family can start having fun with innovative smartphone tools while also spending less. Try out these five recommended apps if you want to reign in your family’s budget this year.
1. RetailMeNot
While most people know about the popular coupon website retailmenot.com, which can help you find deals for your favorite shopping sites and brands, fewer consumers are aware of the company’s useful smartphone app of the same name. The app version of the website has improved functionality that sends you coupon notifications based on your geographic location. You can see the best deals and offers when you’re out shopping or doing errands, meaning you’ll never miss a great price again.
2. Flipp
Going to the grocery store each week used to mean spending hours of your time beforehand to look through dozens of newspapers and circulars for the best sales and coupons. Then, it was your job to clip each possible savings opportunity and remember to bring your coupon box with you on your trip to the market. With the app Flipp, this process is made much easier by giving you virtual access to all of your area’s circulars in one spot. Now, you can simply use your smartphone to save and shop smarter.
3. RedLaser
Shopping for big ticket items or other household supplies may have you comparing prices between online retailers and your local store. You can save time by downloading an app called RedLaser. All you need to do is scan the item’s barcode while you’re in the store, and the app will pull up pricing information from online retailers and local suppliers. This way, you can get the lowest price fast.
4. GasBuddy
Everyone knows people who go out of their way to save a few cents on their car’s gas fill up. Instead of driving around and searching for the best price, let convenient app GasBuddy do the work for you. It will show you where the best price per gallon is in your area, and you can plan your route more efficiently. While you’re at it, you can even get some better car insurance rates too by contacting your local insurance agency for a better deal.
5. Mint
To see how all of these savings are impacting your family’s bank account, you’ll need a financial tracking app like Mint. This useful tool can remind you when bills are due and even help you make online payments. You can also get beneficial financial advice about your current spending habits and debt. After a few months of following sound strategies, you can also see how your credit score is impacted.
Make this year a great one for your family by truly committing to the frugal lifestyle. See how these popular apps have helped many families like yours save hundreds of dollars or more each year.

HOW CAN ONLINE CFD TRADING BE “GREEN”?

By Frugaling 1 Comment

There is no doubt about it – living in the digital age is always changing and this dynamic environment means that we are no longer restricted to working at desks behind computers or laptops. Today it’s all about mobile usage and application platforms. This of course means that traders can engage with and ultimately trade CFD’s and the likes thereof from absolutely anywhere.

The ease of use that comes with being able to trade online via CFD trading platforms is immeasurable. It allows trader to place and manage their individual trades through a simpler user interface, while making use of the essential tools for in-depth research and analysis through CFD trading platforms, as well as the ability to view real time prices and trade options.

Applications designed for trading on Android phones provide the perfect opportunity for mobile trading and of course ease of access to the markets. All day, every day from anywhere. The truth is – that while we have moved toward a more dynamic and mobile world, we are also part of a global population that is focussed on the protection and conservation of the planet. So, with this ease of access, and all the time, traders can now continuously select to trade CFD online with companies that are also known to be investing in and making greater use of technologies that are considered “green”. So, while simultaneously trading CFD online, traders are also doing their bit for the environment.

There are a variety of different companies that offer “green” initiatives. These range from the Ford Motor Company to Telsa Motors with their focus on and development of electronic energies. Other companies worth looking at when selecting CFD trading platforms for trading are Johnson & Johnson, who aim to manufacture products with sustainable packaging – the list is endless, but you need to be made aware of the company’s developments and commitments to “Going Green”.

The correct broker with the necessary information will ensure that your trading experience will ensure that you – the trader – find the right balance within your own personal trading strategy and trade with the right type of company in order to make sure that your trade is helping to protect the planet. Making the right decision, while using the right CFD trading platforms for sustainable and green investments and trades will make sure that you are part of the people doing their bit to make a difference.

How Will Trump’s Presidency Affect Trading Markets?

By Frugaling 1 Comment

In one of the biggest political upsets in recent memory, Donald Trump was named President-elect following the results on November 8. While he will not be inaugurated until early next year, we are already seeing the effects of his campaign in the market. Here we take a look at three popular trading markets and assess the changes that Trump’s future presidency could prompt.

Currency Exchange

Currency exchange was the first market investors expected to see the influence of Trump’s presidency. Election night is typically a time of volatility for the market anyway, but what we saw last week had even experienced investors scrambling. During the course of the evening, we saw GBP/USD slightly rise before crashing and then surging to new heights as the night went on. As we can see from FxPro, the election also played a huge role in emerging markets, with the Mexican peso plunging to a new low following the shock results.

While in the short-term it’s safe to say that the market will remain volatile, predicting anything further into the future will be more difficult. The Federal Reserve meeting in December should give us our first insight into how the market views the situation. Last year, we saw the Federal Reserve raise interests rate by a quarter of a percent and Chairwoman Janet Yellen recently gave an indication to expect more of the same next month.

Precious Metals

Just like with Brexit earlier in the year, economic uncertainty resulted in a significant rise in the number of people looking to invest in precious metals. By the time it emerged that Trump had triumphed over rival candidate Hillary Clinton in the election race, gold had surged to nearly a six-week high of $1,337.40 an ounce. In the following days, the market began to stabilize, especially after Trump’s conciliatory speech in which the Republican candidate appeared to tone down his typically exuberant rhetoric.

Since then, the market has continued to react. The Wall Street Journal reports that gold prices are now at a 5-month low due to the stronger dollar and renewed optimism over potential growth under Trump. Those who rushed to buy have been advised to hold on to their assets for now, though, as the price is expected to rise in the medium-to-long-term as we learn more about Trump’s geopolitical policies.

Real Estate

Of course, Trump himself made his name in real estate so his impact on the market will be interesting to see during his tenure as President. During the course of the election, Trump made big promises to invest heavily in the nation’s infrastructure. On his website, the President-elect notes that he wants to transform America’s “crumbling infrastructure into a golden opportunity for accelerated economic growth” with over $1 trillion of investment over the next decade.

In an industry where optimism and consumer confidence count for almost everything, it is perhaps not surprising that many investors are optimistic about the future. However, others have noted that Trump’s potentially strict immigration policies could be problematic. According to a report by Bloomberg, one in four constructions workers are foreign born and 40% of new home buyers are expected to come from overseas in the next ten years.