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35 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR MONEY IN YOUR WALLET.jpg) Your house gives you so much: security, pride, shelter. With all that on the line, it's easy to assume the costs of keeping it up just are what they are. However, there are plenty of expenses you can probably decrease with just a few simple actions. Here's how to save money each month without putting a dime of your home value at risk. CLEAN YOUR LIGHT BULBS What? Who does that? Well, smart people. A dirty bulb emits 30% less light than a clean one. Dust off both the bulb and fixture and you might be able to cut back on the number or brightness of lights in each room without noticing any difference. KEEP YOUR FRIDGE FULL Solid items snuggled together retain the cold better than air and help keep each other cold — requiring less energy overall. Leaving town for awhile and fridge is empty? Fill voids in the fridge or freezer with water bottles. SWITCH YOUR LIGHTBULBS TO LED By replacing just five of your most-used incandescent bulbs with uber-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, you could save $75 a year on your energy bill. LEDs also last 15-20 times longer than incandescents, so you won't have to replace them nearly as often. USE POWER STRIPS Appliances like coffee makers, TVs, and computers continue to suck power even when they're off — which can cost you $100 a year. And did you know the AC adapter for your laptop keeps drawing power even if the laptop isn't plugged in? Stop this slow money burn by connecting them to an easy-to-switch-off power strip. USE A TOASTER OVEN WHEN POSSIBLE Toaster ovens use 50% to 70% less energy than a full-size oven. SET YOUR WATER HEATER TO 120 DEGREES Hot water heaters often come with a factory setting that's higher than you need. You'll cool your water heating costs by 3% to 5% every time you lower the temperature setting by 10 degrees. INSULATE YOUR WATER HEATER For $30 or less, an insulating jacket or blanket can shave 7% to 16% off your water heating costs for the year. Just make sure to follow the manufacturer's directions to avoid creating a fire hazard. WASH YOUR CLOTHES IN COLD WATER Just switching from hot to warm water will cut every load's energy use in half, and you'll reap even more savings taking the temp down to cold. And don't worry: Your clothes will get just as clean from cold water, thanks to the efficiency of today's detergents (except in the case of sickness; you'll want hot water and bleach then). USE THE RIGHT DRYER CYCLE If you're using a high-heat setting for each load, you could be using more energy than you need. Almost all fabrics can be dried with a lower heat setting, such as the permanent press setting. It uses less energy and has the added bonus of extending the life of your fabrics. Save the higher heat for items such as sheets and towels. USE HOMEMADE CLEANERS Many commercial products rely on baking soda or vinegar for their cleaning power, so why not make your own? Most homemade cleaners cost less than $1. Want to see more? Check out all 35 great ideas. Source: HouseLogic |
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