If you follow all, or even just some of the following money saving tips, you’ll be surprised at just how much money you’ll save every month. So please don’t discount any of these tips: the actions may seem small and insignificant but trust me, when you add them all up, the money you save in energy and water is a nice chunk of change.

Plus, when you conserve energy and water you’re also helping save our natural resources which makes you feel even better.

1. Turn the lights off when you’re not in the room.
2. When a light bulb goes out, replace it with a compact fluorescent (or CFL).
3. Instead of buying bottled water, put a filter on your tap water and use re-usable bottles or pitchers.
4. During the heat of the day, close the shades.
5. In the winter, open the shades.
6. In the summer, do not keep the air conditioning below 78⁰F and put the air conditioning to 82⁰F when you are not home.
7. In the winter, do not keep the heat above 72⁰F and put the heat on 68⁰F when not at home.
8. When doing the laundry, only wash full loads.
9. Enroll in a money saving plan with your utility company to use the majority of energy at off-peak hours. (Ok, this technically doesn’t save energy, but it does save you money!)
10. Unplug small appliances when they are not in use.
11. Instead of throwing away unused water or ice, save it to water your plants.
12. Use fans instead of turning down the air conditioning.
13. When you are done with the computer for the day, shut it off.
14. Plug your tvs, dvd players, game systems, and computers in surge protector power strips and then shut them off when not in use.
15. When it rains, turn off your sprinklers and drip systems for a few days.
16. If you live in hot climates, do not have a lawn.
17. Landscape with only native plants so you do not have to water them.
18. Replace outdoor and landscape lights with solar lighting.
19. Turn the water off when brushing teeth.
20. Only let the shower run for a few minutes when waiting for the water to heat up.
21. To speed up the heating of the shower, turn one bathroom faucet on to the “hot” position and run this until the shower turns warm.
22. Use cloth towels instead of paper towels.
23. Don’t wash your car that often.
24. When washing your car, do not let the hose run. Instead, fill a bucket and use that water for cleaning.
25. Buy concentrated cleaning products.
26. Always use cold water to wash clothes (yes, even when using regular detergent.)
27. Run your dishwasher only when it is full.
28. Purchase recycled paper products.
29. Properly inflate your tires.
30. Instead of idling, shut your car off.
31. Go easy on the brakes when driving.
32. Avoid drag on your car.
33. If you’re in the market for a new car, buy a hybrid or purchase one that gets at least 30 mpg.
34. When you’re in the market for new appliances, buy only energy efficient ones.
35. Eat less meat.
36. If you’re in the market for a new water heater, buy a tankless water heater.
37. Combine errands so you reduce driving.
38. Walk, ride the bus or bike as often as you can.
39. Buy products with minimal packaging.
40. Reuse as many items as you can.
41. Buy local food when possible from farmer’s markets.
42. Do not buy leather.
43. Ask your employer to let you telecommute/work from home at least one day per week.
44. Purchase a programmable thermostat.
45. If you’re in the market to buy a new computer, buy a laptop instead of a desktop.
46. Clean the furnace filters once a month during the winter.
47. Change your air conditioner filters when dirty.
48. Change your car’s air filter when dirty.
49. Weather-strip your windows and doors.
50. Use timers for outdoor lights so they stay off during the day.
51. Install a low-flow showerhead
52. Water your plants and lawn at night (If you absolutely must have a lawn.)


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