Cost

Sorting out AppliancesChoosing the right washing machineWhen you're choosing a new washing machine several factors come in to play, and effect our decision. Here are a few of them.Size:You need a machine big enough to do the job. Tub size can matter, but remember that front load machines will hold more than equivalent sized top load machine, and sorting and frequency of washing need to be factored in when selecting tub size.Cost:Everyone has a budget. Appliances can seem expensive, but think about the life span and how often you use your washer.Features:There are an abundance of features on today's washing machines. Make sure to take advantage of this, and don't buy a stripped down machine. I remember hearing about a customer who insisted on the most basic washer available, and later complained that it lacked a permanent press cycle.Brands:Brands DO make a difference, and it's easy to get confused. For example, the Whirlpool Corporation owns and manufactures several appliance brands, eg. Amana, Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, and Jenn-Air. However, that does not mean that these brands are the same. For example, Whirlpool laundry products are high quality and hugely popular. Even though Maytag washers and dryers are made by Whirlpool Corp, there are significant differences between Maytag and Whirlpool. Maytag has many heavy duty, commercial parts, that are absent on the Whirlpool as well as a longer warranty and a higher price. You may need advice in choosing between the Whirlpool and the Maytag and weighing the value of heavy duty

Why are beef prices so high... when gas prices are so low? Isn't it great that gas prices are so low. I feel like I'm putting a $10.00 bill in my pocket every time I gas up. On the other hand, my wife just informed me that a pound of extra-lean ground beef at Costco is $5.99. WOW! six bucks a pound for hamburger meat. It's good to know that the price of gas and the price of meat are not correlated. We can celebrate the (temporarily) low price of gas, while at the same time try to figure out if we can afford a steak for dinner. What is going on with the cost of beef? 2014 has seen steady monthly increases in already high beef prices. Will it end soon? Sorry to say, but the experts say beef prices will continue upward for the next few of years while supply catches up with demand. According to *Oklahoma State University livestock economist, Dr. Derrell Peel, the inventory of cattle has not been this low since 1951. While breeding bounced back in 2014, that means at least 2017 before we see a marked increase in beef products available at retail. Who's at fault? In the end, we could blame the weather...REALLY! We've had an extended drought in big grain producing states, as well as in Canada. Without feed available, ranchers reduced cattle inventories, and as a result meat prices have skyrocketed. What can be done? Some consumers are changing to