The key is really stopping to think before you buy anything or toss anything out - try to think outside the box and you'll be surprised at the money you can save (and how you can help the environment, too!).
Here are some tips:
- Reuse paper that has only been used on one side - I have a second paper "stash" near my printer to print things like printable coupons, directions from map quest, and grocery lists or I give it to my kids to color on instead of "fresh" paper
- Use wine corks to create a fun cork board (this can be a great gift - fun, unique and CHEAP) - check out this site for instructions on this and many other cork projects!
- Cut down a king or queen sized sheet that's worn down the middle into a twin or full sized flat sheet (or cut into rags for use around the house - with that many rags, you'll never need to buy paper towels again!)
- Grow your own veggies - Whether you have an acre or only a small apartment porch, if you get some sunlight in your corner of the earth, you can grow some of your own food - Even if you only plant one or two cherry tomato plants, you'll be shocked at how much money you can save, home-grown tastes better and is better for Mother Earth, too. Any local garden center can get you started.
- Vent fans - Each time you use a bathroom or kitchen vent fan, you are using a LOT more energy than you think - it sucks out huge amounts of air that you've paid to heat or cool and often those fans have larger-than-necessary motors, which take a lot of energy to run (basically, they are typically inefficient). Only use them sparingly and for a few moments.
- Water Heater - Many people already know to insulate their water heater, but many people DON'T know you should also wrap the first 6 feet of pipe leading out of your water heater with insulating foam.
- Freezer - Keep your freezer as full as possible. If you have to, put milk jugs filled with water in the freezer. It’s less expensive to keep a full freezer cold than an empty one.
- Dishwasher - Use your dishwasher's no-heat air-drying option (if it has one). If it doesn't, turn the dishwasher off as soon as it has finished washing, before it starts the drying cycle. Also, clean out the drain filter monthly both to keep the dishwasher clean and to maintain its efficiency (um, confession time, I didn't know dishwashers have these filters!).
Feel free to share some of your own ideas!
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