What’s hot and what’s not
Indeed, these are trying times. Times that try our resourcefulness, what with the rise and rise of fuel prices. How to ease your gas pains? If you see less cars in the usually traffic-choked streets of Metro Manila now, it could be because a lot of car owners are leaving their cars at home and taking the MRT/LRT to work. Even the male executives in their crisp shirts and neckties as well as career women in their chic power suits and black stockings are taking the MRT to work. The MRT is so very in while those gas-guzzling SUVs are out or not as hot.
And what are people happily bringing to work? Their lunch baon, of course! Last night’s leftover ulam gets a new lease on life. But if you don’t relish the idea of “reviewing” or eating menudo with rice again, why not give your leftover menudo a little tweak by putting it inside a pandesal? By stretching your imagination, you can stretch your office meal budget. And don’t forget to bring your own water because even if you can grab a bottle in the 24-hour convenience store nearest your office, remember even a little bottle of mineral water can cost a lot more there.
With the price hikes, what’s left for us to do? Go take a hike! Don’t ride or drive; walk if you can. It’s good for the health — yours and your pocket’s. Of course, you’re lucky if you live in a place like Serendra at the
A little savings can go a looong way. Some people are using their air-conditioning units less and less. Better yet, they are using electric fans instead. (If all else palls, even the native pamaypay will do.) As my personal contribution to the cost-cutting efforts at home, I turn on the aircon in my room at night and when I feel it’s cool enough, I turn it off before I go to sleep. And as I often sleep like a log, it doesn’t really matter if it gets hot as the night turns into day.
Dining by candlelight is a hot idea, too, especially with the occasional brownouts. Time to bring out those scented candles you’ve been getting these many Christmases past.
Over the years, through bad and worse times, experts have shared a wealth of cost-cutting tips. Allow us to share some:
• It’s a bright idea to replace standard incandescent light bulbs and fixtures with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Fluorescent lights last four to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
• Take advantage of the daylight by using light-colored curtains on windows to let outside light in.
• Once more with feeling: Turn off computer, TV, and other electrical appliances when not in use.
• Check your aircon filter each month as dirty filters block air flow, increasing energy use.
• Combine errands into one trip — to save on gas and your energy. For instance, if today, you have to go to Makati, do everything you have to do in Makati — have that old bag repaired at Vintage Restore on Jupiter Street, go to the spa at Mandarin Oriental on Makati Avenue, get a haircut at Fix Salon at Glorietta, watch a movie or hear Mass in Greenbelt, buy a book at Powerbooks or National Book Store, do your groceries at Rustan’s Supermarket Fresh or SM Supermarket, etc.
• If you’re driving, remember that speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking waste gas.
• Clear out your car because extra weight decreases gas mileage.
• Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks for fuel economy.
• Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve gas mileage by some 3.3 percent.
• Replace clogged air filters to improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and protect your engine.
• Do something each day to save water. No matter how small the savings, every drop counts.
• Conserve water — don’t waste it even if somebody else is paying for it, like when you’re staying in a hotel.
To sum it up: Waste not, want not.
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