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Money Saving Tips Part 2 of 4
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Part 2 - Around the House
(Please note that these Money saving articles have been included for those who are actively looking to cut costs immediately. However, we believe that you influence and create your world via your thoughts. It is therefore important to change your mindset from Poverty conscious to abundant wealth conscious. To do so please see limitless living.)
9. Change the temperature in your house. Your thermostat should be set no higher
than 68 degrees in the winter and no lower than 78 degrees in the summer. Did you
know that every extra degree you raise your heat in the winter can cost you an
additional 3% in heating costs? And in summer, each degree cooler that you go can
cost you 6% more. |
10.Install a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat you can
automatically lower the temperature in your house at set times. If no one is home all
day long, drop it a few degrees between 9am and 4pm. By the time you arrive home it
will be back up to temperature and you’ll have saved money all day long. Likewise at
night when everyone is in bed.
11.Be sure to replace or clean your furnace filters monthly. Having a dirty furnace
filter restricts how much air can flow through the furnace – as a result you pay more
because more energy is being used. Take a few minutes once a month to clean or
replace your furnace filter and you can reduce your heating costs by as much as 5%.
12. Turn off your computer and monitor when you’re not using them. Do you often
leave your computer on overnight or for days at a time? You’re not alone! In fact a lot
of people do this and it’s costing them a lot of unnecessary money. Take a minute
when you’re done using your computer and shut it off. And to save even more power,
unplug it.
13.Wash your clothes in cold water. A surprising amount of a home’s energy bill goes
to heating water. In most homes it’s as high as 16%! A great way to reduce this is to
wash your clothes in cold water. If you don’t find your current detergent does as good
of a job in cold water, look for one of the new formulas created especially for cold
water washing. |
14. Opt for a five minute shower rather than a bath. A great way to reduce the amount
of hot water you use is to take a quick shower instead of a bath. This will significantly
cut down on hot water consumption, and it’s healthier for your skin!
15.Use your window coverings to help control heat. During the daytime, open drapes,
shades and blinds on the sunny side of your house to bring in warmth. Then at night,
close them to minimize heat loss.
16.Minimize the amount of water your toilet uses. You can save an astounding
amount of water – especially in older toilets – by putting half of an ordinary brick
inside your tank. Simply wrap it in a plastic bag and place it in your toilet tank. This
stops the tank from filling completely and is a change you probably won’t even
notice. If the flushing power does decrease, try a quarter of a brick instead.
17. Unplug electronics when they’re not in use. Home electronics continue to pull
several watts of power even when they’re not in use. Avoid paying for this wasted
electricity by unplugging your TV, computer, DVD player and kitchen appliances
when you’re not using them. Another option is to plug them into a power bar and turn
it off when you’re not using the equipment.
18. Install energy efficient light bulbs. You’ll pay more upfront for energy efficient
light bulbs but they do save a significant amount over their lifetime. And most come
with guarantees on how long they’ll last. Keep your receipt and packaging and if they
burn out before they’re supposed to you can get a new one at no charge.
19. Don’t use our clothes dryer as often. Clothes dryers use an astounding amount of
energy. As well, they suck heat out of your house and send it outside quickly during
the winter. Instead, hang clothes on a drying rack during colder months or outside
when it’s warm. Not only will you save money on energy, but it’s better for your
clothes so they’ll last longer.
20. Microwave it instead of using the oven. There are a lot of things that are not
pleasant when cooked in the microwave. But whenever possible, opt to microwave
vegetables, leftovers, baked potatoes, bacon and other foods that cook just as nicely
when microwaved as they do in the oven. This simple change can cut the amount of
energy used to prepare that meal by 50%.
21. Never do less than a full load of laundry. A full load of laundry typically uses
around 21 gallons of water. Compared to a small load, which uses about 14 gallons.
By doing several smaller loads instead of one large one you’re using significantly
more water. Over a year, this really adds up!
22. Wait until you have a full load before running your dishwasher. Did you know
that the average dishwasher costs between $60 and $100 every year to run? Cut back
this cost by only running your dishwasher when you have a full load. Another great
energy saver is to let your dishes air dry inside the dishwasher rather then using the
heated dry option.
23. Change your showerheads. By simply changing your current showerheads to flow
restricting ones an average family of four can cut back their water consumption by an
amazing 8,000 to 12,000 gallons per year! And remember, not only do you save on
the cost of the water, but you also save on the cost of heating it.
24. Instead of annual flowers, plant perennials. Buying annuals every year can cost
hundreds of dollars. A better option is to plant perennials and have them come back
year after year. Although perennials cost a little more upfront, you’ll save greatly in
the long run.
25. Take a list when you grocery shop. A lot of people spend more then they need to on
food because they don’t shop with a list. As a result they buy items they don’t need.
Planning a weekly menu and creating a shopping list that only includes the things you
need are excellent ways to save money.
26. Learn how to do it yourself. For around $100 you can sign up to take a class at your
local college or adult education center and learn how to do some basic household
repairs. From plumbing to laying hardwood floors you can learn enough to avoid
paying expensive professionals for some jobs that need to be done around your house.
Another great option is to look into free classes available at your local Home Depot.
27. Don’t bother buying extended warranties. The newest way for electronics stores to
make extra money is to sell extended warranties on everything. In nearly every case,
these end up being an extra expense that you never see a return on.
28. Look for ways to get inexpensive plants. Some local councils make native plants
available for next to nothing in an effort to maintain or restore natural vegetation in
the area. They also often hold plant sales where you can purchase plants that were
removed from areas where they were no longer needed. These sales can be a great
way to get more mature plants very affordably. If you’re a gardener, these are both
excellent ways to save on purchasing new plants.
29. Keep your refrigerator full. Your fridge is one of the most expensive appliances
that you run in your house. By keeping it full at all times you’ll help the temperature
remain constant so less cool air needs to be generated. If you don’t have enough items
already in your fridge, a good alternative is to fill soft drink bottles with water and fill
any holes with them. This is a simple way to make a big impact on the amount of
electricity you use.
30. Reuse paper. Don’t just throw out paper that has printing on only one side. Instead,
use it when printing unimportant things or cut each sheet into quarters and keep them
by the telephone as a quick and easy scratch pad for taking messages.
31. Cook meals ahead and freeze them. A great money saving (and time saving) tip is
to cook meals ahead and freeze them for later. You can do this easily by doubling or
tripling your favorite recipes when you make them and dividing up the leftovers into
freezer safe containers. Another option is to designate a cooking day once a month
when you prepare meals specifically for freezing. Either way you’ll find you spend
less on groceries and most likely on eating out as well. After all, if you have your
favorite meal already in the freezer it’s quick and easy to take it out to thaw the night
before so you won’t need to order takeout or go out to eat.
32. Don’t buy already-prepared foods. It will cost you significantly less to buy fresh
ingredients and make meals yourself then to buy already-prepared entrees. You pay a
premium for prepared lasagna, pizza, casseroles and meats. And not only is it cheaper
to make foods yourself, it’s also much healthier!
33. Cut out buying your morning coffee and muffin. It may not seem like much to
spend $3 or $4 to buy your breakfast at a local coffee shop. But spending that 5 days
a week costs you $20. Over a year that adds up to more than $1,000. Instead eat
breakfast at home and bring an extra mug with you to the office if you’d like.
34. Buy products in bulk. If you’re buying for a family then definitely take advantage of
bulk sizes to save a bundle. You can save as much as $2,000 a year for the average
family of four just by choosing the large sizes of the foods you use every day. Look
for cereal, drinks, snack foods and staples such as flour and sugar in family size
packages. Not only will you reduce your spending, but you’ll also generate less
waste, which is great for the environment.
35. Don’t shop with your kids. Sometimes it may be unavoidable, but whenever
possible leave your kids at home when you go on shopping trips. You’ll be much less
likely to buy items not on your list and it will take you a fraction of the time.
If you would like to continue to the next part of our money tips please continue to Part 3 of Money saving Tips
If you would like to see the whole series of money saving tips please see:
Part 1 Smart Shopping
Part 2 Around the House
Part 3 Your Car
Part 4 Cutting out the Unnecessary
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While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented here is
correct, the contents herein are a reflection of the views of the author and are meant for
educational and informational purposes only. All links are for information purposes only
and are not warranted for content, accuracy or any other implied or explicit purpose.
No tips in this document should be considered financial advice. Seek the help of a
professional before making any decisions concerning your finances |
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From the MHHW Team. |
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