Get Energy Assistance through LIHEAP

As the winter days get colder, it’s tempting to bump thermostats higher. Of course, walking into a toasty, warm home is nice, but the associated costs are not so nice. Too often, homeowners find themselves in a tough financial situation as a result of high energy bills during the coldest part of the year.

Fortunately, homeowners in New Jersey – particularly those in lower income brackets – can find financial aid through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. As noted by NJ211.org, LIHEAP is a home energy assistance program that is federally funded and “designed to help low-income families and individuals meet home heating and medically necessary cooling costs.” The assistance provided through this program is offered to applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Applicants can qualify for LIHEAP benefits if they are responsible for heating and cooling their home (by paying a utility company or landlord) and have a gross income that is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Those living in public housing are only eligible for LIHEAP assistance if they pay for their heating and cooling costs directly to the fuel supplier. The amount of assistance is determined by income, household size, fuel type, and heating region.

The application period for LIHEAP assistance runs through April 30. The application process is handled by the local application agency in your area. New applicants must provide copies of certain documentation when submitting their application, including proof of income for every member of the household age 18 or older; a verified copy of the applicant’s social security card, letter from the Social Security Administration, or social service agency; a copy of the most recent utility bill; and proof of residency.

If you are in need of energy assistance and feel you may be eligible for LIHEAP assistance, visit NJ211.org for a complete list of application requirements. Also, don’t forget that Spread the Purple is here to help, too. Visit our website or contact us so we can help you apply for the energy assistance you need.

                                                                                                                       Image from morguefile

Looking For Something to Do During +Labor Day Weekend? Want to +Run/Walk for Cause?

Spread the Purple is hosting a fundraiser to raise donations for home heating oil scholarships to be used with the New Jersey Citizen Action Oil Group and its Affiliates. The event will be hosted at Johnson Park, 1030 River Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

Register at SignMeUp.com; Event Name: 5K Run For Warmth. The course certification number is NJ11551JHP and the Timing Company being used for this event is called Fast Finishes.

In addition, being our organization fully understands how, like any sport, running has its bumps and bruises. So, as a way to offer special thanks to all of our supporters by providing a $15 OFF of a 55 minute calming THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE (i.e. DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE) at 3 locations of Mosaic Salon & Day Spa of your chosen

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Racer's Incentives:

Runners will receive a FREE “Racer’s Bib”

A FREE Racer T-Shirt, when Registers BEFORE July 29TH. NOTE: Any runner who does not register through this Racer Website before July 29TH, will no longer be able to receive a FREE Racer T-Shirt.

Hey Racers looking for more Incentives, then visit ROAD RUNNER SPORTS and receive 10% OFF ANY APPAREL, SHOES, SOCKS, and ELECTRONICS; and receive an additional 10% OFF with VIP Membership!

Wait there is more.....

Have a Change to Get Warmed Up by an Antigenic Zumba Instructor

FREE Refreshments

Listen to Energetic Music During the Run

Eat FREE Food Prepared by The Gentlemen Gourmet Catering Group

as a thank you for running or walking at our Race!In addition, if anyone who lives in the +Shrewsbury, New Jersey area, then stop by to receive 10% OFF on ALL Apparels at MC LOONE'S RUNNING STORE or stop by OUR other supporters at either the +PRINCETON RUNNING COMPANY*****+WESTFIELD +RUNNING COMPANY****+SUMMIT RUNNING COMPANY*******+MORRISTOWN RUNNING COMPANY and even their +RIDGEWOOD RUNNING COMPANY location for a wonderful treat of 10% OFF on Any/All of their Merchandises!

So visit our Racer Registration Website TODAY and see what else we are offering at this amazing event!!!

How to Schedule Savings Throughout the Year

It’s no secret that December and January can easily become the most expensive months of the year. Between various holiday get-togethers and celebrations, there’s a seemingly endless list of food and gifts to buy.

Add on travel expenses for those of us who have long-distance family or friends we want to visit, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the dollar signs. We have previously written about spending strategies to help you curb some of these holiday related costs, and today we’re excited to bring you more information on how to save in the coming days and throughout the year.

You've no doubt noticed that stores have begun bombarding potential customers with advertisements for super savings and great deals. But, like we’ve talked about before, not every “deal” is created equal. Fortunately, several products are consistently cheaper during certain months of the year, and that means- with a little bit of planning- you can save bundles. You can read a comprehensive list of how to get the biggest bang for your buck during each of the month of the year here. In the meantime, we've compiled some of the biggest savings you should watch out for in the coming months.

December

Thanksgiving is over, so forget turkey. Holiday ham is where the savings are this month.  Throw in some warm, buttery dinner rolls and mixed nut and dried fruit hors d’ouevres for a frugal and fabulous dinner party. It’s the holidays, so you can’t skip dessert. If you’re not much of a baker stick with frozen pies and refrigerated cookie dough for the best savings. For all you chefs, baking supplies (e.g., flour, sugar, baker’s chocolate, yeast, sweetened and condensed milk, cooking oil) are also a great value, so feel free to create your own masterpiece without going over budget. According to About.com, December is also a great time to buy winter coats, aluminum foil, gift cards, and carpeting and flooring. One last December super saver that we can’t resist sharing with you: motorcycles. Why? Well, your guess is as good as ours.

January

December doesn't get all the glory. Chocolate lovers should put a star on January’s calendar page. Be on the lookout for clearance prices on Christmas and Hanukkah sweets. If you overdo it, don’t worry: diet foods and exercise equipment are also a good deal this month.  Other places to look for great value are toys, linens, winter clothes, electronics, air conditioners, sneakers, and holiday decorations.

Subscribe to Spread the Purple' s Facebook Fan Page by clicking "LIKE" to receive helpful money saving tips all year long. If you have suggestions, feel free to share them below in the comments or post them to our Facebook page.

Image via morguefile

Help the Vicitms of Sandy on Their Road to Recovery

More than seven weeks have passed since +Hurricane Sandy hit shore and, with its arrival, wreaked havoc on the northeast. Within days of the +devastation, numerous charities, organizations, and caring individuals began to mobilize +fundraising efforts to help the victims. Over $92 million has been raised and people have been able to begin the process of rebuilding their lives. However, there is much work still to be done. There have been estimates that total recovery from Sandy could cost as much as $50 billion dollars, making it the second most expensive storm recovery initiative in US history.

In an effort to help meet the needs of thousands of families and businesses, Spread the Purple has launched a +fundraising initiative, The Road to +Recovery. Our goal is to raise $700,000 over the course of the next year to help families reclaim their normal lives. Because the road to recovery is a long one, we hope to keep the plight of Sandy’s victims in the public eye throughout the coming months. One way we hope to accomplish this is through you.  Once you make a donation to the Road to Recovery fund, you’ll have the opportunity to help us fundraise by creating your own +Facebook page highlighting this cause.

Not ready or able to donate money at this point? No problem – We still can use your help! Click on the “Support Us” link on our page to show your support to your Facebook network. If you really want to make an impact, you’ll have the chance to invite five friends to join the cause with you.  If you’re a more private person, don’t worry. You can skip the invitation step.

Whether you have $20, $200, or just a passionate sense of caring for your neighbors, we need you to help us spread the word! Donate and support our Road to Recovery fund. And, if you know anyone who has been affected by +Sandy, you can also send them directly to the Spread the Purple website.

Free Gas USA Can Help You Put Gasoline in Your Car

Over the past several years, we’ve watched the cost of living inch higher and higher. Even our most basic needs seem to cost a +fortune. For those who were already dealing with +financial +hardships, these increasing costs can be a source of +stress and frustration.

Many people have taken what they can into their own hands and are working hard to discover new ways to save money anywhere possible.
+Couponing, for example, has become a popular way to save at the +grocery store. However, one area where people can’t seem to find relief is filling up cars with gasoline.

Fortunately, there are organizations that provide assistance for those experiencing hard times financially. One example is +Free Gas USA Inc. As a +nonprofit +gasoline grant provider, Free Gas USA Inc. assists citizens of the United States who are in need of gasoline to fuel their vehicles in order to drive to work, doctor’s appointments, school, and other important places.

+Free Gas +USA Inc. awards grants on a monthly basis to pre-qualified candidates through coded fuel cards. The grants range in size from $50 to $1,200 and eligibility is based on income, need, circumstance, and grant funding availability. +Grant applications are accepted between +January 1 and +December 31 of each calendar year.

If you are in need of assistance in purchasing gasoline and would like to apply for a grant from Free Gas USA Inc., it is important to note that you cannot receive gasoline grants via U.S. mail. You must apply for the grant on the Free Gas USA Inc. official website. Applicants must also include a referral letter from a human service agency or church to verify income, vehicle ownership, and proof of insurance. Applications submitted without this information won’t be processed and will, therefore, be denied.

You can visit the Free Gas USA Inc. website for a complete list of rules and information regarding gasoline grants. You can also contact Spread the Purplefor more guidance on this grant and other financial assistance grants.

Image courtesy of Graur Razvan Ionut /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Cost Saving Advantages of Online Shopping

Everyone knows trying save for their family can become hectic. You’ll be happy to know that, whether you’re shopping for gifts or just everyday items, +purchasing online can save you valuable time and hassle.  The good news doesn't stop there: online shopping can even save you money. How? Many web-based companies are able to provide excellent online values because they don’t have to pay the,overhead that comes with owning and running a physical business.

That means they save expenses on employee pay, taxes, and more. They can then pass those savings on to you, the consumer. You can actually up the cost-savings of online shopping when you combine these great online values with special promotional coupons and other consumer incentives.

You may be wondering about shipping costs, but there are often ways to avoid that expense altogether. Several online stores that have physical locations offer consumers the option of shipping their purchases to the store location nearest them.  Even if you’re buying from an online-only company, make sure to check and see if they have any current promotional codes that could lower or even eliminate the shipping costs. This way you would only be paying for the price of the item without the headache of paying the additional charges for shipping and handling before taxes are applied.

If you still aren’t convinced that online shopping saves time and money, we have some more advantages to point out. You can shop online literally any time. Day or night, rain or shine, these vendors are open and ready to process your order. Think about it: you could finish your shopping while cooking dinner or watching a movie with your family! Shopping from home also saves a car trip, which means saving on gas or a public transit trip. Online stores offer the opportunity for researching the best deals. In less than five minutes you can compare prices across several companies and find the best price for the products you want. If you have a specific product in mind, Google has a handy feature that lets you compare vendors at a glance.

If none of these advantages have convinced you to try shopping online, there’s one last tip you should consider. You can find almost any item while enjoying competitive prices and saving time without ever taking off your pajamas. That’s one guaranteed way to make the holidays a little less stressful.

Stay tuned to Spread the Purple for more information, as we will be sharing  tips to help you save money throughout the holidays and all year long!

Calling All Runners: Register Today and Enjoy Your Race Incentives!

New Jersey financial aid organization, Spread the Purple, is looking for volunteers and runners for the upcoming 5K Run for Warmth. The event will take place on Monday, September 2nd,, 2013 at Johnson Park, 1030 River Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854 and will include +music, +food and post-race refreshments for pre-+registered participants.

The fundraiser is part of Spread the Purple’s efforts to raise funds and donations for their Homeowners Home Heating +Oil Fund. Their scholarship program combats the raising +heating oil prices hitting a record level high this year, even as natural +gas prices plunge.

Spread the Purple's 5K Run

We’ve been working hard to set this 5K race up in time for September to help families who are anticipating days or weeks of forgoing heat.

“ We've been working hard to set this 5K race up in time for September to help families who are anticipating days or weeks of forgoing heat,” says Maryange Artiste, founder of Spread the Purple. “The average state benefit last year was about $800 for the season; now it may be closer to $300. Eligibility requirements have tightened too, and with oil prices climbing, the average in, states such as Maine, was $3.66 a gallon last week, up from $2.87 a year ago.”

Check-in time is from 8:30 AM-9:30 AM EST, and the race goes from 10 AM- 1 PM EST. Runner’s will receive a runner’s bib, a racer t-shirt, refreshments and food all as part of their incentive package with their sign-up for the race.

Runners, +spectators, and volunteers can go to register in advance for the run at SignMeUp.com. Volunteers that would like to help assist at the race can contact Spread the Purple at http://spreadthepurple.org/contact-us/.

Spread the Purple organized +fundraising efforts and provides services to help +working class families meet ends met. The organization has been helping people find financial grants and aid since 2006. To find out if Spread the Purple can help you, please visit spreadthepurple.org, “like” them on +Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

About Spread the Purple: 

Spread The Purple’s mission is to deliver and educate the public on various free grant programs that are available in New Jersey and throughout the United States. Spread The Purple takes pride in offering the best educational tools for securing +grants and assistance to those lower and middle income individuals and families who have short-term +emergency expenses. We can help you with the unexpected car repair, the unanticipated visit to the doctor, or the unusually large heating bill. We act as advocates for those who may not know where to go or the right questions to ask to get help. We offer cost effective tips towards building a better future. Spread The Purple also assists charities through fundraising events and acts as a community’s support system.

Image was created by  thampapon1