Families Helping Families

TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ON UTILITY BILLS As we learn of good ways to save money on your utility bills, we'll post them here.  If you try something and it really works - we'd appreciate hearing so we can highlight it even more for others.  If you try something that is posted and it doesn't work - please let us know so we can delete the idea!  You can always contact us at:  help@tecare.org. Note:  At any point these programs may be discontinued or the guidelines changed.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Low cost INTERNET from Comcast Because the internet is such an essential part of our daily lives (and a child's education), Comcast will be starting a program in September 2011 called Internet Essentials.  The idea is to bring affordable home internet to families whose income is below a certain level.  If a family has children who receive free school lunches under the National School Lunch Program, they will qualify for Internet Essentials. A family that qualifies will receive fast, home internet for $9.95/mo + tax.  There will be no activation fees or equipment rental fees.  They will also be given access to free internet training (online, in print or in a classroom).  Families are eligible to participate in the Internet Essentials program if: they live where Comcast offers internet service they have at least one child receiving free or reduced school lunches through the NSLP they have not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days  AND they do not have an overdue Comcast bill or any un-returned Comcast equipment If you believe your family qualifies, you can sign up by calling 1-855-8-INTERNET (1-855-846-8376).  For more information visit:  Internet Essentials.com. SAVING ON PHONE BILLS Did you know that you can use your computer to make FREE phone calls.  IF you have internet service and a gmail account  - you can go to google and make a call anywhere, anytime in the USA or Canada - for FREE! Here are the steps: Sign into gmail.  If you need a gmail account - you can set one up (for FREE) by going to gmail.com.  You don't need to actually USE the gmail account for emails - but you can if you want!  But you will need to sign into your gmail account each time you want to use the phone option. Once you are on the page that you'd use for your gmail emails you should see the words:  CALL PHONE along the left hand margin.  (Remember that gmail may alter the design on their page and this may change locations).  Just click on that and a phone key pad will appear - you just dial the number you need and the call is made.  You can add video to the call if you want - but it can just act like a regular phone. The photo on the right will show you the way it should look. FREE CELL PHONE!! If you receive certain forms of government assistance (food stamps, free/reduced lunch, etc.) - you may be eligible for a free cell phone that can be used for emergencies or just general conversation.  The free phone comes with 250 minutes/month - more than enough to give you peace of mind for emergencies. Go to http://assurancewireless.com/awlanding/AWLandingWelcome.aspx?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=assurance&utm_campaign=Pennsylvania+Branded+(GT) or call 1-800-375-5017 for more details and to see if you qualify. January 2012 MORE PHONE SAVINGS 4/11 - Do you have a land line with Verizon, or do you want to get one?  Verizon offers a discount to low income families who have landlines.  Some of the information is below.  If you have more questions - call Verizon directly at 1-800-640-4155.  There are 2 programs - Lifeline Services and Lifeline 135.  Lifeline Services are offered to those who have BASIC home phone service (no long distance, local calls only), and receives General Assistance, SSI, or TANF, or your yearly income is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.  You can not have call waiting, caller ID, home voice mail, or such products.  This basic service normally runs around $22/mo.  With this program the cost is reduced by around $11/mo. Lifeline 135 gives you more options and is available to more people,  but the service runs a little more and the reduction is less.  You might be available if you receive food stamps, LIHEAP, medicaid, etc.  (much longer list) AND you can include call waiting, caller ID, etc. on your plan.  But again, the service is more money and the discount is only around $7.50/mo.  But $7.50 is real money - why not safe it if you can! If you want more details on this program - you can go to: http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/pa/lowincome/pa_lowincome.html At the above link you will also find applications and low-income eligibility plans for the program.  We will note that we noticed the guidelines are all dated 2006 - and we asked about that when we called.  We were told that the guidelines have not changed since 2006.  We find this hard to believe - so you might want to confirm this yourself. SAVING ON WATER BILLS Do you know how to calculate how much water you use in your house?  The government has a great page on their website that can help you calculate what your water bill SHOULD be.  If your bill is lots higher - then you likely have a leak somewhere and need to contact a plumber.  If you need to save money on a bill - perhaps checking out how much water is used by these activities would help you.  For example - if 2.5 gallons of water are used EACH MINUTE for a shower - and you can cut 5 minutes off your shower - then you save 12.5 gallons of water per shower.   If you shower every day -  that's 375 gallons a month!  Then you can look at your bill and calculate your savings.  It all adds up! Check out http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sq3.html for more details and a calculator for your own person water use.  The list below is just the basics of how much water is needed for these activities.  Bath: 50 gallons Shower: 2.5 gallons per minute Teeth brushing: 1 gallon Hands/face washing: 1 gallon Face/leg shaving: 1 gallon Dishwasher: 20 gallons/load Dishwashing by hand: 5 gallons/load Clothes washing (machine): : 10 gallons/load Toilet flush: 3 gallons Glasses of water drunk: 8 oz. per glass (1/16th of a gallon) SAVING ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL PECO's website includes some great tips on ways to bring done the cost of your electric bill.  Go to http://www.pecosmartideas.com/tipsandguides/index.html to read through some of these simple ideas. DO YOU HEAT WITH OIL? The Joe-4-Oil program has opened up again this year.  If you qualify, they will give you assistance for one of your oil bills this winter.  It may not be much, but even $100 is better than nothing!  The information below is from the Joe-4-Oil website (http://www.citizensenergy.com/main/Home.html) : Our Oil Heat Program for the 2011-2012 season has begun.  Please call Citizens Energy at  1-877-JOE-4-OIL (1-877-563-4645)  to receive an application. Please note that we are experiencing an extremely high volume of calls.  Call center hours are Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM Eastern Standard Time. Home T&E Care is an IRS recognized non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code.   ◊ IMPORTANT NOTE ◊ If you change your email address - please remember to notify us so we can keep you on our email list!!! 05-17-2012

The power of "community" can make the impossible possible!