TV Converter Box Coupon Program

With three months left until the February 17 DTV transition deadline, many consumers are worried about how it will effect their television viewing. For those who do not want to upgrade to a television with a built-in cable tuner or pay service from a cable or satellite provider, a third option is to purchase a TV converter box.

If you or someone you know prefers this option, be sure to check out www.dtv2009.gov before heading off to the store. The government is offering 22.25 million coupons for $40 toward the purchase of a TV converter to all U.S. households. Once those coupons have been used, there are an additional 11.25 million coupons available only to households that solely receive their TV broadcasts over-the-air using an antenna. Consumers can apply for coupons until March 31, 2009, or until the funds are exhausted.

To be eligible for the discount, you must have the coupon in hand when visiting a participating retailer. The coupons cannot be used as a rebate on a converter that has already been purchased. You also have to apply for the coupon and wait for it to be sent to you. So if you are planning on choosing this option, make sure to apply for your coupon as soon as possible, to be sure you are ready for the February 17 deadline.

Need more details? Check out the coupon program FAQ for answers to all of your questions. And for more information on the transition, check out the government's official site www.dtv.gov.

Forbes' Secrets Of An Energy Efficient Home

Forbes.com recently posted an article with tips on how to make your home more energy efficient to save on heating costs this winter. In addition to standard tips, like replacing your regular bulbs with CFLs and checking your insulation, author Lauren Sherman offered up this smart piece of advice:

Shopping around is another wise move. In certain states—including Texas, Georgia and Ohio—consumers can choose an energy provider. Take advantage of competitive prices by checking out Web sites like WhiteFence.com, which offers a listing of providers—and their rates—in your area.

I couldn't have said it better myself! For more secrets, check out the full article here.

Making a Little Money Online

So, if you are like me and you've only dabbled thus far in selling stuff online, I've found you a good resource. Check out the article Determining Where to Sell Online from BusinessWeek. With the changing market conditions, it may be a good read for those who are a little more experienced as well.

Even better, you can click through a slide show of the top sites, listing the pros and cons of each. To go to it directly, click here.

Scamming on Facebook

We've written in the past about avoiding e-mail scams, but as social networking (i.e. Facebook, MySpace, etc.) expands...so do the scams. Recently, it was reported on CNET.com that one of the old classics, the Nigerian scam, has hit Facebook.

In such scams, the con artist tries to solicit money through a letter, either by hard, or more commonly now, soft copy. They tell a story of some sadness and heartache as to how they've come to need money, then request you, the target, to send it on.

So be wary of any requests you get from your social sites...even if it seems to be from your best bud. Give them a ring to make sure it is actually them stuck in Lagos needing the money before you wire it over.

Read more about the story in the Sydney Morning Herald or CNET.com.

Cutting Back this Christmas Season

Don't feel bad — you are not the only one out there pinching pennies. According to Consumer Reports, consumer spending is down significantly. The article Americans look forward to a happy, but less plentiful, holiday season states that, "With the economy in a shambles, 76 percent of those surveyed say they’ll cut back this season. Specifically, they’ll buy fewer gifts; travel, entertain, and tip less; send fewer greeting cards; and scale back on charitable donations."

Are you in the same boat? Let us know what you'll be cutting back this holiday season...and if you've found ways that can help others save a little too.

Circuit City Files Bankruptcy

As you probably could guess, this is a horrible time for a home electronics giant to be on such shaky legs. In addition to the bankruptcy, the company has filed for 1.1 billion debtors' line of credit to continue business.

What does this means for you? Hopefully nothing. But, the article FAQ: What Circuit City's bankruptcy means for consumers on Crave answers your questions on how this might affect your Christmas shopping.

Experience the "25 Days of Christmas" on TV

Ah, Christmas. Every year I look forward to the cold chill (though if you're in Texas it's not cold so much as "not hot") that signifies the time for presents and cheer. Even though it's not even Thanksgiving yet, we all know that people love to get their Christmas on and jump into the holiday season as early as September and October.

If you're one of those people that just can't get enough, then ABC Family definitely has programming that's going to be right up your alley for the holidays. The "25 Days of Christmas" is a special that starts December 1 and runs up all the way to Christmas Day, with a holiday themed movie or special airing every night around prime time. They will be airing movies like The Chronicles of Narnia, the Harry Potter films, Polar Express and more.

So yeah, if you're a Christmas nut like myself, then it'll be a good time to get the DVR going. If you really can't wait, ABC Family is even starting a Countdown to the event, that runs for two weeks starting on November 16th. Be sure to visit ABC Family to view the Countdown schedule as well as the 25 Days of Christmas schedule.

Saving Money Doesn't Necessarily Mean Spending Money

Thought I would impart a quick tip on a relatively easy way to save money without having to... well spend a bunch of money. If you're like many Americans suffocated by credit card debt, there are two simple and immediate solutions that can save you money.

First, contact your current credit card company and negotiate an interest rate decrease. Be prepared to do some leg work and don't give up easily without speaking to a supervisor first. Faced with the possibility of losing your business to a lower interest credit card, credit card companies will be more inclined to listen.

If resistant, then consider transferring your higher rate balances to a new card with a low intro APR. This will allow you to focus on making small, manageable payments every month without being sucked into the vacuum of finance charges. According to an article from MSNBC, it's entirely possible to save up to $730 if you transfer a $2,000 balance from an 18-percent card to an 8.25-percent card and then pay off your balance at a rate of $50 a month. Now the math is a rough estimate that could change depending on many variables, but it does illustrate that a low interest rate credit card goes a long way in helping shed some of that pesky credit card debt and save money in the process.

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Welcome to the New and Improved WhiteFence Blog

Hello, faithful readers. In an effort to give you a better platform for reading all our helpful hints on home services and what not, we have given ourself a facelift (not as painful as it sounds) as well as moved to a new URL: blog.whitefence.com. We will continue to provide you great tips on your communications services, energy conservation and more...everything for your home and life is our motto.

With that said, remember to change your bookmarks if you haven't yet! See you soon.