Money saving idea

[raleigh3]

I live in a RV trailer.

They are designed for occasional use when traveling.

But where I live, they use them as permanent like housing.

I used to work for a company that paid bonuses to employees that had money saving ideas that were implemented.

I made a little money.

I proposed to my landlord that I could save them money by some ideas I have.FullView.jpg

I am looking for help in deciding a fair price for saving them money with their electricity costs.

The picture shows a refrigerator they replaced. It is bigger than the original, so they cut the opening larger to fit it.

The gap is about 1/2 inch around the frig. Lots of hot air comes in since I live in Texas.

Spiders come occasionally too.

I have an AC on the roof and a window unit.

They almost constantly because of the air leaks.

Electricity costs about 10 cents per KWH. (Kilowatt hour)

They have 8 other trailers as well.

What do you think would be a fair price to ask from my landlord to tell them how to save money by filling in the gaps.

Thanks.

[TheFu]

Your comfort. That's the cost of being a renter.

I'd try to negotiate months rent free for specific fixes performed in a craftsman-like manner, not just spraying a foam can into the cracks, but also making it look nice. Around here, handymen charge $100 to show up for 1 hour. That doesn't include rounded up equipment or materials costs.

If you can't make it look nice, don't offer.

If you don't get approval first, don't make any permanent fixes. Some temporary fixes that you can remove later would be best. Take lots of photos before and after for your legal defense.

BTW, I used to live in Webster, just before El Camino Real crossed over Clear Creek heading south of NASA Rd 1. Is the Seabrook Cafe still around? Or Frenchy's?. A tropical disturbance in 1996 flooded where I lived and 2 months later I'd relocated in a different state at nearly 1000ft elevation. I called it my "Darwin moment".

This time of year, that part of Texas is really nice, assuming the wind is not blowing south.

[raleigh3]

The landlord's husband does all the repairs.

"Assuming the worst?"

If you can't make it look nice, don't offer.

Seabrook Cafe is still around. I lucked out for the last hurricane. I was on the second floor in El Lago, Texas.

[him610]

Electricity costs about 10 cents per KWH. (Kilowatt hour)

Who pays the electricity bill? Your landlord?
If you know of a way to save on electricity bill, go ahead and offer suggestion.
Don't expect a reward or reduction in rent; if it happens fine.
Fewer spiders would be reward enough.

[raleigh3]

Who pays the electricity bill? Your landlord?
If you know of a way to save on electricity bill, go ahead and offer suggestion.
Don't expect a reward or reduction in rent; if it happens fine.
Fewer spiders would be reward enough.

The landlord has is not hurting for money.

[TheFu]

The landlord has is not hurting for money.

That makes no difference.

There are hassles in being a landlord. I looked at owning rental homes a few times 20 yrs ago and decided that stock investing was a better solution.

Stocks never call in the middle of the night for a plumbing problem or a leaking roof. Stocks don't sit empty until another renter comes.

[raleigh3]

How do you feel about making money at the expense of more important things?

[TheFu]

How do you feel about making money at the expense of more important things?

It would depend. There are very important things that no amount of money can solve. And there are very unimportant things that cost $1M+. Learning how to prioritize for near and long term needs/goals is important.

The only way I've made money the last 15 yrs was in the stock market.

My mother joined a national group, now called "Better Investing" and learned their methods. When I had a little money, she showed me their methods, so I joined the "Better Investing" group and found a local investment club to gain more practical knowledge. It was only $50/yr for membership. The sub-club I joined required we each pony up $25/month so we'd have a little "skin" in the group investments. I visited 5 local clubs before finding one where I fit and they fit with me. Then we became friends around our "hobby", which happened to be investing following the "Better Investing" methodology. I just looked up and "Better Investing" is $120/yr now, with online access to the things we used to do manually with a calculator, ruler and empty forms. I bought a program - must have been $200 - to speed up the completion of the same form. All that is included in the annual membership.

Investing takes time before the result can be used. At least 5 yrs, but longer periods are better. Compounding of investment gains is an amazing thing.

Just remember, there are no loans for retirement, so for any adult, that should be in the top 5 things you clearly and consistently fund.

[nicolasdentremont]

Is the back of the fridge open to the outside? The heat coming out of there is probably coming from the fridge compressor. Some fridges need a gap around them for air movement otherwise the compressor stops being able to move heat.

If you want to improve the energy efficiency of an RV, insulation, draft sealing and high efficiency windows and doors are usually the first places to look. Otherwise heat gets in and your AC unit needs to run constantly to keep up.

[raleigh3]

I hear you. I did not want to give too much away and they implement it without any kind of reward.

I have done many things to help them and my neighbors like shoveling gravel to fill in potholes.