AnnMarie John

The question of whether or not tap water is healthy for your consumption is kind of a loaded question. Some people would argue that water is water, so yes, you should feel fine and safe drinking a glass of water that comes straight from your tap. Others, will clutch their brita filters fiercely and tell you that drinking tap water will cause a myriad of health problems. It’s possible, that either or neither of these is correct.


Is tap water safe?

The quality of the tap water is going to vary greatly depending on your location, but fundamentally, yes, tap water is safe for you to drink. Some areas have tap water that doesn’t taste very good, because of the minerals in the ground and other factors, and so most people in those areas choose to filter their water, despite it being safe to drink. But ultimately, unless your water has been contaminated, your tap water is safe to drink.

What is the difference between tap water and bottled water?

Aside from the fact that one type of water is served in a bottle? Tap water is regulated by the EPA to be safe for consumption when it comes out of your faucet. Bottled water is regulated by the FDA to be safe for consumption when it is placed in the bottles. Once water has been placed in the bottle, it is not tested for safety. After the water is bottled, BPAs as well as other compounds that are used in plastic have been found contained in the water. When you drink from the tap, it is regulated to be safe right when it becomes available for you to drink it. The EPA takes into account the distance the water has to travel from the treatment plant to your faucet.


Should you use a filter?

In most cases, a filter is only really necessary when someone doesn’t like the taste of the tap water that is available to them. Your household water is already lightly filtered through an aerator (learn more here) installed in your faucet. If you choose to use a filter, you should use caution concerning the maintenance of your filter. Some filters, like the Brita filter, is made with a carbon filter. This carbon filter is responsible for absorbing particulates in the water. The filter will be able to reduce the amount of metal in the water, as well as alter the way the water tastes. Another option, if you don’t want to use a filter like the Brita, is to simply leave your tap water in a pitcher. This will cause the chlorine taste to disappear. The main issue with the Brita filter, is that if it is not kept filled to the appropriate level and the filter has a chance to dry out, it can cause dangerous bacteria to grow. So if you do choose to use a filter, like the brita filter, make sure that you are cautious and make sure that you change the filter regularly and make sure it is always full enough to prevent the growth of dangerous bacteria.


How do you ensure the quality of the water coming from the tap?

If you are worried about the quality of the tap water in your home, especially if you live in an older home, you can run your tap water for a minute or so to reduce the potential amount of lead solder in your water. Using cold water rather than hot water is another good way to ensure that the tap water you are using and consuming is safest. If you are particularly worried, especially if you live in an area where well water is used, you can get your water tested. The local and state health departments can help you perform the appropriate tests and let you know whether or not the results indicate that the water is safe. Municipalities send a yearly report to homes of their drinking water quality. If you are concerned about BPAs and other toxins in your water, invest in a reusable bottle like one that is made out of metal, to ensure you are not consuming toxins from bottled water.

How do you save money doing laundry? Laundry day, the day I dread with all of my being. Having a big family usually means that we have tons of clothing to wash on the day, but it doesn't mean that I'm spending tons of money. Today I want to share how you can save money doing laundry with the help of all® free clear laundry detergent.


Before I begin, I want to share my experience with all® free clear. As most of my readers may know, I have very sensitive skin, and so does Madison. Seems like she inherited my skin sensitivity. However, when she was a newborn, I used to purchase baby detergent, but that meant that I would have to make two different purchases of laundry detergent.

When you have a family as big as I do, you want to minimize your spending as much as you can. Personally I'd rather spend my money elsewhere than on laundry detergent, so I made the decision to just buy one. I knew it had to be mild enough for "baby" use and still be strong enough to deal with the stains that usually accompany the clothing of two young boys and a husband.  all® free clear fit the bill!


It also helped that all® free clear is the #1 recommended brand by dermatologists, allergists and pediatricians for skin sensitivity. While all® free clear is not intended to prevent or treat allergies, it's good to know that it is safe for the entire family since it contains no fragrances, no dyes and leaves no irritating residue. What you're left with is just clean, worry-free clothing that you feel comfortable wearing.


You can get all® in not just detergent, but in sheet and liquid fabric softener as well. And now in addition to not just delivering a powerful clean that your family will love, it now fights tough odors with the new all® free clear Odor Relief. You still get the benefit of it being gentle on your skin, but now it takes care of odors, such as the ones your kids bring home after a basketball game.

Today however, I also want to share with you a few ways that you can save money doing laundry, as well as conserve your water usage.



Wash your clothes in cold water.
While hot water is a great way to disinfect, you really don't need to use it for all your laundry loads. As a matter of fact cold water does the job of getting your clothes clean just as effectively. Using hot water for your laundry means that your water heater will be in use, causing your heating bill to increase, using cold water will help counteract that.

Run full loads as much as you can. 
It really just makes sense. The more clothing you wash, the more money you'll save as you'll be doing your laundry less often. Not only will you be doing less laundry but you'll be conserving water and energy as well by doing full loads.

Hang your clothes on a line to dry.
If you can, hang your clothes on a line to dry. Not only will you save money because you won't be running your dryer, but your clothes will last longer as well. If you own your home with a backyard, you can create your own clothes line out back, and if you're in an apartment, you can also purchase drying racks.


Remove lint from dryer.
You may not know this, but removing the lint from your dryer filter helps to keep your dryer running efficiently. It also saves money because if your dryer filter is clogged, it will have to work harder thus increasing your energy bill.

Place a dry towel in your dryer
Did you know that placing a dry towel or two in your dryer will help speed up your drying process? It sure does and it's a tip that I've been using myself. Not only does it speed up your drying process but it will save on your electricity bill.

Purchase Energy Star appliances.
Energy star appliances will greatly reduce your utility bills, as they will save you money while doing your laundry. An energy star dryer will save you money by using less heat, while your washer will save you money by using less water.


Have you ever wondered what some of those symbols on your clothing means when its time to do laundry? Today I'm sharing my little cheat sheet as a printable. Simply click the download link and keep near your washing machine.



I decided to save this tip for last. The best way to save money while doing your laundry? Use all® free clear laundry detergent of course! And for those who prefer using the pacs, there is also all® POWERCORE™ free clear. Its still gentle on your skin, since they are 100% free of perfumes and dyes, but still delivers a powerful clean in the convenience of a single pac. These pacs combine all ® free clear liquid with a powerful whitening core that provides superior whitening and brightening.


To learn more about all all® free clear laundry detergent visit the all® website.

If you have debt in your relationship, don’t expect to get rid of it until you get crystal clear about who owes what to whom, how much exactly, and what the interest rates are on these lingering amounts.



And while these financial talks might be unpleasant to discuss, it’s never going to just go away on its own. What some people think of as the “easy” way out (bankruptcy or avoidance altogether) only leads to devastating financial consequences, like losing everything and ruining your chances of obtaining loans in the future. Do I even need to point out that financial strain is a leading cause of divorce? Here’s what you need to do to get clear on debt with your partner:


1. Make a list and check it twice. Sit down with your spouse and figure out who you still owe money to. This includes your loans (Yes, credit card debt is technically a loan.), your partner’s loans, and any loans you took out together. Write each one down in a Google doc or Excel spreadsheet. Use whatever works for you both, but jot it all down in one place so it’s easy to see what’s owed. Once you’ve made a complete list (with every single thing you can think of), write down the total amounts still owed to each creditor or private party in a separate column, and the APR (Annual Percentage Rate) in a third column.

2. Prioritize the entries. In some cases, it’s critical to get certain debts paid off immediately, like money owed to the IRS or child support, for example. While you should never miss a student loan or credit card payment, sometimes medical debt collectors are a little more lenient. There generally isn’t interest attached to medical debt, and often you won’t be turned over to a debt collector until you’ve missed at least three payments. In all cases, you should contact creditors to see if there is a grace period, if your payments can be lowered, if you are eligible for a lower APR, and if the date the payment is due can be shifted to a different time of the month when you might not have as many bills due at once.

3. Create a plan of attack. The most money savvy approach is to throw as much money as possible at the bill with the highest APR. The longer it takes you to pay off debts with high interest rates, the more you’ll pay over time. You deserve to keep your hard earned money, so don’t pay more than you need to in interest! If at all possible, transfer credit card debts with the highest APR’s over to accounts with low or even 0% interest, but be warned that if you open a new card simply to take advantage of the 0% introductory rate, don’t charge anything else to it and cut up the card to the old account so you won’t be tempted to unknowingly add to your existing mountain of debt. (Pro tip: Avoid debt consolidation solutions, which are often scams that could cost you more in the long run.)


Once you can see exactly what you’re working with and have created a plan to get rid of your debts, stay the course! It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to get discouraged, but with some simple, temporary, lifestyle adjustments (eating out less often, selling your vehicle, or getting a second job), you can be free of this burden.

Navy Federal Credit Union has a plethora of financial articles filled with lots of financial advice for those seeking knowledge from improving your personal finances to saving for your retirement. While Navy Federal has been serving members of the military since 1933, their advice is for everyone. With over 7 million members, they understand the needs of their members, because they're member-owned and their promise to always act in their members best interest, because they care. Switch your accounts to Navy Federal today and experience the benefits of membership.

A few weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised when I got an invitation via email to visit San Diego with Kia Motors, and not only test drive their brand new Kia Stinger, but also learn more about the brand on a whole. While I don't consider myself a car snob, before the event, I would personally NOT have considered Kia a brand that my household would enjoy driving. Have I changed my tune? Darn skippy!!