Water Filters vs. Filtered Water

Home Lifestyle Groceries and Food Beverages Water Filters vs. Filtered Water

"Say it ain't so, Joe" is what baseball lovers the world over cried when Yankee legend Joe DiMaggio hung up his spikes and announced his retirement. His fans were heartbroken. But, "Joltin' Joe" wasn't finished by any means. As we're all well aware, Joe built a second career as the spokesman for an outfit that manufacturers drip coffee makers. You know the one.

I recently acquired a new "Mr. Java" coffee maker. My new model even came equipped with a special filter disc, which removes minerals and crud from the boiling water before it drips onto the ground coffee. And the little bugger works pretty well too. Problem is that the recommended replacement interval is once a month. At almost $16 for a six pack of replacement filters, that works out to an annual expense of nearly 35 clams once you add in the dreaded sales tax. But here's the worst part, the only thing you can use that filter for is filtering the boiling water in your coffee pot. And believe me when I say that "Mr. Java" is counting on that.

You see, much like that big razor company, which makes most of its profits selling replacement blades, "Mr. Java" makes most of their money selling replacement water filters and other coffee accessories. Think about it, the appliance itself will last for years and years. But if you follow the manufacturer's directions, you're replacing the water filter every 30 days. And from "Mr. Java's" perspective, this is like a license to print money, a never ending stream of additional revenue. But don't despair, because there's another way to skin this cat. Read on.

Make your coffee with water from your water filtration pitcher/faucet mounted filter unit. The activated charcoal in those devices removes the same crud the filter disc does, and you can also use that filtered water for drinking, cooking or refilling your water bottle(s). The pitcher/faucet mount doesn't care what you do with the water. But I'll bet a quarter that "Mr. Java" won't be quite so sanguine.

Take the Next Step:

• You can have the healthiest, best tasting water on Earth for less than 10 cents a gallon. Aquasana, the manufacturer of home water treatment systems, offers 20% off their factory direct prices as a special savings for The Dollar Stretcher readers.
• Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here

Copyright 1996 - 2013 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.

Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
941-761-7805

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.

Also In This Week's Issue

• Does a commercial range belong in a home?
• 7 travel insurance tips for hurricane season
• How to handle your parents moving in with you
• 7 tips for renters
• 9 reasons your credit card was declined
• Filing Ch. 7 on your own? Avoid these mistakes
• How to pay debt while improving credit score
• Avoid making this common investing mistake
• Life insurance from marriage into midlife
• Affordable life insurance after 50? Or 60?
• How to track unclaimed life insurance money
• How to quickly boost your credit score

In The Dollar Stretcher Community

• Free water! Using a rain barrel
• Homemade smoothies

Reader Favorites

• Cleaning fiberglass showers
• Grandma's beauty secrets
• Why use a pressure cooker
• Make money at the farmers market
• Easy desserts