This Week at Staples 9/28 - 10/4

Staples offers a two-day sneak peek at their weekly specials every Friday. Highlights of this coming week's ad include:

• 50% Staples Rewards points on all case and ream paper purchases
• Staples gel pens for 1.99/12 pack

Not a whole lot happening at Staples this week.

Free Night of Theater

Even the most dedicated home business owner needs a break sometime and what better way to enjoy an evening out than one the national Free Night of Theater. Save this date. This national arts initiative offers first-time theater-goers a pair of free tickets on October 16 to one of a number of theaters in more than 100 cities and featuring more than 600 theater companies. Visit the Free Night of Theater Web site to see if your city is participating and what day tickets will be available to order (it varies by city).

Tickets are on a "first-come, first-serve" basis and you request them via your local Web site (links from the national page). The idea of the program is to give audiences a chance to sample a theater they have never attended (so don't "cheat).

Connect for the Cure

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Started by First Lady Betty Ford, a breast cancer survivor herself, and her daughter Susan in 1985, NBCAM has made great strides both by increasing early detection of this disease and erasing the stigma that was once attached to it.

A number of pink products are promoted during October with a portion of the proceeds going to help eradicate breast cancer. One that's particularly useful to those with home office is this pink universal power cord from Amazon.com. It's so much more stylish than the traditional yellow cords.

To learn more about NBCAM and to download a variety of free material, visit the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Web site.

^{(photo courtesy of Amazon.com)}

Free Trade Magazines

Every industry has its specific magazines, those that write about events and new trends in the industry. Many of these publications can be had for free to qualified (that is, people working in that industry) readers. To subscribe to magazines in your area of expertise, visit freebizmags.com.

If you are good at putting a sentence together, consider contributing to business magazines in your industry. While glossy, mass-market magazines get thousands of submissions, business magazines are generally eager for new writers and most of these publications pay quite well. Look for contact information on the magazine's masthead just inside the front cover.

Getting the Most from your Energy Dollar this Winter

Fall is here and cold weather is fast approaching in much of the United States. Heating bills can impact a home office budget, just as they can your household budget. Ken Ely, a home heating and energy efficiency expert with Lennox Industries -- a leading provider of customized home comfort systems -- offers the following look at how the average dollar is spent on household energy consumption and advice for controlling expenses to make that dollar go further.


-- 45 cents -- Heating and cooling accounts for approximately 45 percent of the average home's utility bill -- or about 45 cents of every dollar -- and is typically the largest energy expense. To cut down on climate control costs, be sure to schedule annual routine maintenance on your heating system to ensure it's running as efficiently as possible. If the heating system is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it with an Energy Star-qualified system, which will be more energy efficient and can help lower utility bills. For example, by replacing an older furnace that is 60 percent efficient with one that is 95 percent efficient, homeowners can save approximately 57 percent on energy bills and up to $5,513 over a five-year period. Programmable thermostats are another way to maximize energy efficiency. These devices automatically control the temperature to use less energy at certain hours of the day, such as nighttime or when homeowners are away from home.


-- 20 cents -- Household appliances, such as refrigerators and clothes washers, are responsible for about 20 percent of a home's energy bill. Make sure appliances are clean and free of dust and lint to ensure proper ventilation and to increase their efficiency. In addition, check refrigerator and freezer doors to ensure they are sealed tight to prevent cool air from escaping. When washing dishes, use the air-dry setting on automatic dishwashers rather than heated drying to conserve energy. Finally, be sure to clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer before every load of laundry, which will help increase the drying efficiency of the machine.


-- 13 cents -- Heating water is another major energy expenditure and accounts for approximately 13 percent of a household's energy bill. Consider insulating the water heater with a water heater jacket that can be purchased at most hardware stores. Homeowners also can lower the temperature setting on the water heater to save energy. Some water heaters come from the factory already set at 140 degrees or higher, but a setting of 115 degrees can provide comfortable hot water for most uses. Finally, consider replacing a water heater if the existing one is more than 10 years old, as it probably is operating at an efficiency level of 50 percent or lower.


-- 11 cents -- Eleven percent of the energy budget for an average household -- or about 11 cents of every dollar -- goes to lighting. Switching out traditional incandescent lights with more efficient fluorescent lighting is a quick and easy way to save on utility bills. In fact, by replacing 25 percent of lights in high-use areas with fluorescents, homeowners can save about 50 percent on lighting-related energy expenses. Energy Star-qualified fluorescent lamps also last six to 10 times longer. For exterior lighting, be sure to use compact fluorescent or high-pressure sodium fixtures, which are more efficient, and consider motion sensors that operate lights automatically.


-- 10 cents -- The energy lost through windows can account for about 10 percent (and as much as 25 percent) of a home's heating bill. Look for cracks or holes around windows, and apply a sealant where necessary to prevent air from escaping the home. During the winter, be sure to keep blinds open during the day to allow sunlight to enter and heat the home naturally. Also, consider installing tight-fitting, insulating window shades on windows that feel drafty after weatherizing. Finally, to maximize a home's energy efficiency, replace single-pane windows with double-pane windows or windows with low-emittance (low-e) coatings that can reduce heat loss.

^{(photo courtesy of PR Newswire)}

Free Calendars

One of the things that those with a Frugal Home Office never pay for is calendars. If you don't get one from your doctor, lawyer, accountant, charity, church, bank... there are plenty to be had for free online. Calendars for 2009 are just starting to become available. Below are a few links for free calendars.

• Free Wildlife Calendar
• Diamond Heavy Haul Calendar
• Free Religious Calendar

There are also dozens of sites, such as this one, where you can print calendar pages and templates and create your own desk or daily calendar.

Give Your Business a Utilities Check-Up and Save

I know the last thing you probably want to be doing is calling utility companies if you don't have to, but scheduling a few minutes every six months or so to check your utility rates can save you money. I've been doing this for a couple of years and have never failed to save at least $20/month. Today, I saved a whopping $65/month.

Yes, in a perfect world, the phone company, gas company, and cable people would let you know if they lower their rates, but they rarely, if ever happens. So, if you ask for a lower rate, there's a good change you'll get one. If you carry a balance on your credit card, now's a good time to call them too. They might just lower your interest rate.