Holiday Lights

What is the difference between C9 and C7 bulbs, incandescent bulbs and LED holiday lights?  Price, energy use and most importantly, safety.  This week we take a look at how LED's will save you money in the long run as well as up your safe level a notch or two.  And speaking of safe, are you locked into a safe rate on your mortgage?  If you are still working with an adjustable rate mortgage now is the time to lock in, before rates go up.  Call me.

 

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This installment of the MSM is a continuation of an article from my upcoming December newsletter.  Each month my newsletter is filled with fun and informative articles as well as a couple of puzzles, a recipe or two and a bit of trivia.  Wisconsin residence can email me for a free one year mailed subscription or subscribe from anywhere to the email PDF version.

Money Saving Minute number zero one nine – Holiday Lights

There are many holiday light options and it may get a little confusing. There are the large C9 and C7 bulbs, incandescent bulbs and now LED lights.

While the LED lights are going to be a little more expensive than the incandescent light bulbs, they will save you money in the long run. LED lights have a three-to-five year warranty and the money saved in energy costs will allow the bulbs to pay for themselves in just a couple of years. 

LED lights end up using 80 percent less energy than regular bulbs. In addition, LED’s give consumers the ability to run multiple strands together without fear of blowing a fuse. They also don't heat up like traditional bulbs so there is less risk of fire.  Another great safety feature is unlike traditional incandescent bulbs which are glass and LEDs are plastic, so they are more shatter-resistant.

There are also LED lights that change color, giving consumers the options of going from white to color and back again. There are even solar-powered strands available for outdoor use.

Also don’t forget to look for the UL mark when purchasing new lights. A red UL mark indicate indoor and outdoor use while a green UL mark indicate the lights are for indoor use only.

Finally, watch for recycling and trade in promotions from area retailers.  Not long ago Home Depot was offering a discount on LED's when customers brought in strands of incandescent bulbs for recycling.  The promotion was a reported success so watch for other retailers to do the same.

This has been Money Saving Minute number zero one nine - it's your money and watching the Money Saving Minute each week will help you keep more of it.  We are always looking for new ideas to share.  Tell us how you save on your purchase in the comments section below.  Subscribe to the right and if you like what you see please tell a friend.