Provider Highlight: Time Warner Cable

With so many different providers available here on WhiteFence, things can get a little overwhelming. To help you find the right companies for your needs, we showcase different providers and what t hey have to offer here on the blog. This time, we're highlighting Time Warner Cable.

Time Warner Cable is one of the nation's largest communications companies. They started off as just a cable company, but they now offer cutting-edge broadband and home phone along side their television service. Time Warner is also one of the biggest names in bundles, with a wide range of bundles that has contains the perfect solution for everyone.

Here are some things to look out for when shopping Time Warner:

• The Speed You Need – Time Warner broadband plans go up to 15.0 Mbps, which means you can surf the Web and download files with lightning-fast speed.

• All of Your Favorite Channels – Get up to 200 channels of TV when you go with Time Warner Cable TV.

• Unlimited Calling – When you order home phone service with Time Warner, you can get a package loaded with unlimited local & long distance.

• PowerBoost – To make your downloads even faster, some Time Warner Internet plans come with PowerBoost service. This new technology gives you an extra boost of speed when you start to download large files.

• Freebies – Right now when you shop for Time Warner TV service or bundles, you can find plans with three FREE months of DVR service and set-top box rental!

Ready to start shopping for Time Warner packages? Just head over to our Time Warner Deals page and enter your address to see what's available in your area.

Tips Before You Start the Next DIY Project

I have never been what some would call a handyman. There are plenty of my friends that know their way around a toolbox much better than myself. That being said, occasionally I like to try out a couple of do-it-yourself projects from time to time, in order to learn more about that kind of thing and also to help fix stuff around the house.

Fortunately, this experimentation usually goes alright. However, we've all run into those snags and unexpected developments while trying to fix something on our own. You know, when the simple DIY project throws you a sudden curve ball and things take a turn for the worse. That's usually when the DIY project takes on a life of its own, a Frankenstein's monster that becomes hard to cull.

In order to keep from animating your next fix around the home, here are some tips before your start the next big DIY project:

• Take reasonable bites. We've all heard of the phrase "don't bite off more than you can chew", and we all know that it applies to DIY projects especially. If you are an entry level guy like myself, trying to redo all of the electrical or plumbing for the entire house might be a leap too far. Instead, gradually work your way up to those larger projects.
• Do your homework. Before jumping in with both feet without knowing how to address the problem, do some research beforehand. There are plenty of resources online that can help whether you're dealing with lawn care or fixing the garbage disposal. In addition, figure out how much it's going to cost to fix on your own, and match that with quotes from contractors.
• Get a friend to help. Not everything has to be a one man job. If you know someone who is handy or has done the same kind of repair recently, invite them along. They might spot something you would have missed on your own, and can save you a world of headaches.
• Finish the job. Sometimes life takes over and it gets difficult to finally finish that project, but the satisfaction makes all the toil completely worth it. It's easy to leave things half finished around the home, but take the time to get it done and get it done well, and it will pay off in the long run.

Top 5 Green Tips for Labor Day

This weekend is Labor Day weekend, which for most people means a day off, lots of hamburgers and the symbolic end of summer. However, whether you're hosting a party, taking a trip or just sitting around the house Labor Day can also be a great time to go green.

Here are the top five tips to make your Labor Day a little more green this year:

• Prepare your home for winter – The extra time off is the perfect time to get your house ready for the upcoming cold weather. Potential projects include changing air filters, closing any vents in unused rooms, upgrading your home's insulation, installing radiant barrier, caulking windows and doors and installing a programmable thermostat.

• Cook with green energy – Instead of non-natural charcoal and lighter fluid, try cooking with propane, natural gas, natural charcoal or just plain old wood with a chimney starter. The chemicals in non-natural charcoal and lighter fluid pollute more and may emit VOCs.

• Use real plates – While they can be tempting, it's much easier on the earth to skip the paper and plastic plates, utensils and napkins by serving your food with reusable items.

• Carpool – Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends as far as traffic is concerned. Whether you're taking a trip with family or just heading over to a friend's house for a barbecue, see if you can carpool to reduce your carbon footprint. If you're hosting a party, try to arrange a carpooling scheme for your friends.

• Serve green food – An easy way to make your festivities more eco-friendly is by serving local, organic and seasonal food. In early September, foods in season include peppers, corn, berries, tomatoes, and onions. Shop at a farmers market to make sure your food is local and check to make sure the produce you are eyeing is organic.

How Long is Your To-Do List?

Does anyone ever feel like a two day weekend is hardly enough to get everything on your to-do list taken care of? Especially if "relax" is one of the things listed. For me, it seems like there is never enough time to completely cross out everything. Either new things start popping up to be added to the list, or the old things on the list take much longer than I hoped or expected them to.

For instance, I had a few things I wanted to get done around the house yesterday, but then my wife's car wouldn't start. Instead of cleaning out one of our bedrooms and moving some stuff to the attic, my morning became consumed with jumper cables, battery acid and bad alternators. I managed to get to the vacuuming and the dishes, but that other stuff is waiting for me like a monster in some horror movie. Fortunately, the 3-day weekend awaits this week, which will hopefully allow enough time to re-tackle those issues.

So I thought I'd ask our trusty blog readers if you had any strategy around your to-do lists? I've found that it helps me to break it down by day, and set realistic goals. That way, I feel good about what was accomplished and don't over stress myself during the evenings. It's a nice balance of getting things done but still getting in that important relaxing time to recharge for the next day. Another thing I try to do is take care of the most important items first. If you take care of the less important things, the important things will still demand their attention, simply because that's just how they are.

So what about you guys? How long are your to-do lists? What strategies do you use to help you stay on top of it? Feel free to share in the comments.

Money Saving Tips as Summer Comes to a Close

It may still be sweltering outside here in Houston, but I assure you that we're finally reaching the end of summer. The kids are back at school, the summer vacation memories have been made and the cold weather is only a matter of weeks away.

Here are some tips to help you save during the end of summer:

• Get a jump start on natural gas – With cool weather comes big heating bills. Start shopping for a low natural gas rate today to lock in the best deals.

• Find a deal on TV service – All of your favorite TV shows will soon be back on the air for the fall television season. Also, football is getting into gear and the baseball postseason is just around the corner. Find a great low rate on HD TV service and watch your favorite shows and sporting events for less.

Getting by with a Little Moving Help from Your Friends

If you're like me, then you dread the phone ringing during moving season. Honestly, I will go to all kinds of lengths to keep the moving bug at bay. We've all been in that situation where you know that a buddy of yours is moving, and there's nothing that you want to do less this Saturday than helping him or her carry his or her junk up and down several flights of stairs. In the Texas sun, it's even worse.

However, if you are eventually tackled by a guilty conscience and roped into doing the moving deed with a friend, you know that at least you have a return favor to call in. Apartment Therapy has a recent article with moving tips for friends that gives great suggestions on how to make sure your move goes smoothly if you get some pals to chip in, in order to keep it from becoming a complete mess.

The list includes some very practical and informative tidbits, perfect for anybody that's not always the most organized. It covers everything from providing food and drinks at the end of the moving day, as well as keeping everyone hydrated and fed throughout the whole process. Additionally, it speaks to the importance of delegating tasks to different people, so there's not as much standing around and wondering what to do next.

I'm not sure how many of you have been on the receiving end of awful moves with friends, but I know I have. Once, a friend of mine didn't pack a single thing before all of us showed up, and handed out trash bags for us to pack his entire apartment in. I'm kind of wishing he had read this list for himself. Do any of you have any funny moving stories from times you've helped friends?

Source - Apartment Therapy

Poll: Why Did You Choose Your Current TV Service?

Consumers today have more choices than ever when it comes to television service. Your options used to be rabbit ears, cable or cable with HBO (if you were lucky). Today though, with digital cable, satellite, FiOS and U-verse options out there, we're spoiled for choice. From bargain priced basic cable to cutting-edge satellite packages loaded with HD, DVR service, on-demand programming and more, there's sure to be a plan out there for you.

A few weeks back, we asked you what sort of TV service you have. This week though, we're interested in why you have it. What made you choose the TV service you have today? Was it price, features or something else?

As for me, all of the apartments my wife and I have ever lived in mandated a certain cable company. So, when we moved into our first home last year, it was the first time we actually got to choose our television provider. I was very excited and was comparing offers on WhiteFence before we'd even heard back on our offer.

Despite owning an HDTV, we'd never had access to HD content, so that was a must. After years of living with DVR service, it had become an essential option, too. I was also looking forward to finally getting my hands on on-demand content as well, so that went on the list as well. Oh! And movie channels, I love my movie channels. As you can probably guess, we ended up going with the plan that offered the most features.

So, why do you have what you have? Vote on the poll and feel free to add detail in the comments. And don't forget to head over to our television section to see what options are available for TV service in your area. You might have options you weren't even aware of!

Turn Your Windows Into Solar Panels with a New Spray-On Film

We've talked about stealthy solar solutions—like solar shingles—before on the blog. They're a great way to switch to green energy without having giant, potentially ugly solar panels on your roof. While they're usually more subtle than a big panel array, the ones we've seen so far aren't exactly beautiful.

That all might be changing though, as Norweigan solar power company EnSol has patented a new solar cell technology that could be almost invisible. It's a thin film that can be sprayed directly onto glass surfaces, turning windows into solar panels.

While traditional solar panels have solar cells made of silicon, this new film uses metal nanoparticles that are embedded in a transparent matrix. That's fancy science-talk for "it uses clever little metal bits arranged in a way that is almost invisible." As it's mostly transparent, EnSol claims windows coated with the film only suffer a "slight tinting."

It's not just windows that EnSol is targeting, though. There's hope that eventually you could spray a thicker version of the film on buildings themselves, potentially turning your whole house into one giant solar panel. Imagine massive office buildings and big swaths of suburbs all coated in solar cells!

So what's the catch? Well, for now it looks like it won't be on the market for at least five years. At least that gives you plenty of time to clean your windows.

Image via EnSol

There's Still Time to Save on Electricity This Summer

Do you still have a high electricity rate? Don't worry, you still have plenty of time to save this summer. By switching to a lower rate with a different electricity provider, you'll save big not just on the rest of your summer cooling bills, but you'll be able to keep on saving throughout the year.

When you shop with WhiteFence, you're sure to find the best deals on electricity service out there. Here's how it works:

• Discover your options – Enter your address at our electricity savings center and we'll start searching our database. In just seconds, you'll be able to browse plans from all of the top providers in your area.

• Compare offers – You'll be able to compare the different plans head-to-head based on price per kWh, plan type (fixed vs. variable), renewable energy content and  cancellation fee amount. You'll also be able to see any promotions the providers are running.

• Connect your new service – Once you've made your decision, you can lock in your rate and order your new service without ever leaving the site.

• Start saving – Your new provider will instantly receive your order and your new service will start promptly. Once your new rate goes into effect, you'll start to see the savings rack up!

Looking for more information about electricity? Check out these resources:

• Get more info on the different types of electricity plans

• How to read your electricity bill

• Learn how to pick an electricity plan

Provider Highlight: DISH Network

With a variety of providers constantly at your fingertips, sometimes it's hard to know the characteristics about each one that make them special. That's why we try to highlight providers from time to time, showcasing things that shoppers might not know about them. This week's provider highlight: DISH Network.

DISH Network is a satellite TV provider which has grown into one of the most recognized names in the communications industry. Launched in 1996, DISH Network now has over 10 satellites in orbit, providing TV watchers across the country with a wide array of quality programming.

Here are some cool things you may or may not know about DISH Network's service:

• Over 200 HD channels. DISH Network has a staggering amount of HD content to choose from, which is perfect for any high-definition lovers out there.
• HBO and Showtime FREE for 3 months. When new customers sign up for DISH Network with the auto pay feature, they get both HBO and Showtime free for 3 months, and access to all of the great content that they offer.
• 12 Month Promotion Prices. Sign up now and you get a special discount off of the monthly package rates for 12 months. That's a whole year of savings on satellite TV.
• TV Everywhere. Ever wanted to watch TV when you're not at home? With a variety of TV Everywhere products, not only can you manage your DVR menu, you can also watch your recorded TV shows online or from mobile devices like phones.

Ready to start shopping for DISH Network? Head over to the DISH Network Deals page to see what is offered where you live.