I do all of my holiday shopping in one day. I have done this ever since I was a teenager. At first it was because Black Friday had all the best deals, so I wanted to do all the shopping on that day. Over time it became a matter of convenience. Why would I want to spend all month cruising around to 100 different stores when I could knock it all out in one fell swoop? Thanks to online shopping, now I can do it all in one day and never have to leave the house. This year I saved enough money to afford a special gift for myself – an annual HVAC service plan from the local contractor. In the past I thought these programs were just a scam from the HVAC industry to take more of my money. I have come to learn the value of long-term care and maintenance for a central HVAC system. Over the course of a year I might have to spend $500 on my HVAC upkeep. For that same amount of money I can invest in the HVAC service plan, which includes regular inspections and maintenance for no additional charge. These service visits keep the HVAC system working in peak condition, making it more efficient and extending its life span as well. This is a case of paying a little right now, to save a lot in the future. Buying a brand new HVAC system may cost as much as ten thousand dollars, so I want my system to work for a very long time.