This Friday, March 26, will mark the launch of the Ohio Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, which also is known as Cash for Appliances.
This program, which is similar to the federally funded Cash for Clunkers program last year, is supported by $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Ohio received more than $11 million in funding for this program.
Cash for Appliances is designed to promote energy-efficiency and to stimulate the economy by offering rebates for people who buy an energy-efficient appliance to replace an older model.
The program offers the following rebates for the purchase of these Energy Star-qualified appliances:
Refrigerators, $100 (mini-refrigerators are not eligible).
Clothes washers, $150.
Dishwashers, $100.
Gas storage water heaters, $100.
Electric heat pump water heaters, $250.
According to the Ohio Department of Development, which is administrating Cash for Appliances in Ohio, the program will continue until April 19 for refrigerators, washers and dishwashers, and through May 24 for water heaters.
The program is for residential participation only, and is not retroactive. So, purchases made before March 26 do not qualify.
How it works
Before you take part in Cash for Appliances, figure out what you want to purchase.
The ODD notes that each household is eligible to receive multiple rebates if different appliances are replaced.
For example, you may receive one rebate for a refrigerator and one for a dishwasher, but you may not receive two rebates for two refrigerators.
Along those lines, you cannot trade in an old dishwasher for a new refrigerator.
The appliances you choose have to be designated as Energy Star, which is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Then starting at 8 a.m. Friday, visit www.OhioApplianceRebate.com any time or call (888) 686-8896 or between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily to get a number and reserve a rebate. Those hours may fluctuate.
Bill Shrink, a Web site focused on saving money on everyday bills, has had a couple great posts of late noting what it considers to be the biggest ripoffs in America.
Here are the ones they listed as the 32 biggest ripoffs in America. Visit the site for more explanation on each of these:
Movie theater popcorn
Text messages
College textbooks
Branded painkillers
“Free” credit reports
Wine service at restaurants
Hotel mini-bars
All-you-can-eat buffets
Premium gasoline
Actively managed investments
In-room movies
Health club memberships
Bottled water
Ink cartridges
Razor blades
Bail bond rates
Fountain soda
Electronics warranties
French fries at fast-food chains
Funerals
Oil changes
Cigarettes (depending on state)
Tipping in restaurants
Printer cables
Travel-size shampoos
Restaurant coffee
Brake jobs
Publicly financed stadiums and arenas
Lottery tickets
Alcohol
Weddings
Wireless cancellation fees
I also would add the more outrageously priced tickets to sports games and concerts, movie theater tickets (especially for 3-D), and glasses (which also was noted by a commenter on the Bill Shrink site).
On Mondays, the restaurant has third-pound burgers for $1 to $3 (depending on toppings), with sides for just a buck more.
On Tuesdays, Bullwinkle’s has its 14-ounce New York Strip steak and baked potato for $15.99. That steak is usually $19.99.
And on Wednesdays, it is all-you-can-eat ribs night. You can get all the ribs your ribs can hold (if it should come to that) for $19.99, and that includes two sides. A full slab of ribs is usually $20.99 at Bullwinkle’s, but on Wednesdays there is no limit.
Bullwinkle’s is at 19 N. Main St. in Miamisburg. Call (937) 859-7677 for more info.
At Grub Steak in West Carrollton, the restaurant is offering two entrees for $22.22 in honor of its two-year anniversary at that location.
Patrons get a choice of three entrees.
Grub Steak is at 2098 S. Alex Road in West Carrollton. For more info, call (937) 276-4193.
The sale is offering discounts of $20 to more than $400, with some $50 and $100 gift cards thrown in, on computers, TVs, smart phones, GPS units and more.
We have less than a month until taxes are due, so here are some of the many tax-filing tips from myriad corners of cyberspace that may help you save money as you are completing your forms:
Both Kohl’s and JCPenney start large two-day sales today, March 19 — in fact, Kohl’s is calling its sale “The Big One,” and JCPenney is referring to its offering as the “Huge Sale.”
Kohl’s has 50 percent off throughout the store, on clothes, athletic shoes for the family, sunglasses, makeup, items for the home (which also have some items for 60 percent off) and more.
Kohl’s also has its clearance items up to 80 percent off.
At JCPenney, the sale starts today, but the biggest savings are the doorbusters between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday.
The doorbusters include 60 percent off all guys shorts except Vans and Levi’s, 50 percent off men’s swimwear and shorts, 50 percent off all prom dresses, 55 percent off men’s suit separates, 50 percent off juniors’ dressy separates and 50 percent to 60 percent off all bath towels.
JCPenney also has its Instant Money promotion going on, with a coupon for $15 off purchases of $75 or more and $10 off purchases of $50 or more.
Scammers are again trying to manipulate a well-intended program for their own benefit, and this time it concerns the U.S. Census.
According to Consumer Reports and CNN Money, there is a current scam that has people claiming (via e-mail, phone or in person) to be from the Census Bureau to get your personal information.
— First ask to see their ID. All census workers carry official government badges marked with just their name; they may also have a “U.S. Census Bureau” bag.
— Note that the Census taker will never ask to enter your home
— If you’re still not certain about their identity, please call the Regional Census Centers to confirm they are employed by the Census Bureau.
— Answer the census form questions for your entire household (you must be at least 15 years old to answer questions) so that the census taker can record the results for submission to the Census Bureau.
Also, as noted by CNN, if someone shows up at your door and either asks you for money to pay for the 2010 census, or they ask you for your Social Security number, don’t give them anything.
The Dayton Power and Light Co. will receive an Energy Star Special Recognition Award today, March 18, for the lighting discounts and rebates it offered to customers in 2009.
Reportedly, the programs helped save about 115,000 megawatt hours, which could run 9,500 average homes for a year.
Among those energy-saving discounts and rebates in 2009 were:
— More than 1.5 million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) sold.
— More than 1,750 appliances recycled.
— More than 1,550 home heating and cooling systems upgraded.
— More than $1.2 million for efficiency upgrades at area businesses.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Graco has received 464 reports of screws loosening/falling out and/or plastic brackets cracking causing the high chair to tip over unexpectedly.
These tip-overs reportedly resulted in 24 injuries, including bumps and bruises to the head, a hairline fracture to the arm, and cuts, bumps, bruises and scratches to the body.
The high chairs were sold at AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Sears, Target, Target.com, Walmart, WalMart.com, Shopko, USA Baby, and other retailers nationwide from December 2003 through March 2010 for between $70 and $120.
Consumers should immediately stop using the Harmony high chair and contact Graco to receive a free repair kit.
Easter Bunny at the mall
One dead after crash on I-70
ArenaCross at Nutter Center
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