How to Save Money: Saving On Energy Costs

16 :: Turn off the Lights – open the blinds for natural sunlight
Such a simple task that will save you money of your electric bill!  During the day open your drapes and blinds to allow natural sunlight to light your home.

17 :: Unplug all Unused appliances
I read an article once about a family who had a short in their electrical system…anything that was plugged into a socket was fried.  I know this doesn’t happen everyday, but it can happen.  I leave all appliances in our kitchen unplugged unless I am using them.  This will help cut costs on your electric bill as well.

18 :: Turn the Thermostat down before leaving for vacation.
Another simple idea…but sometimes hard to remember!  We always try to turn our thermostat down if we are going to be gone for the day and especially when we are going to be gone for several days.  There is no sense is heating or cooling a house when you are not there.

19 :: Say Goodbye to the Dishwasher – wash dishes by hand!
I started washing dishes by hand rather than using the dishwasher last June and it saves us over $30 a month – that’s $360 a year!!  Since there are only two of us it doesn’t take me long, but I realize with larger families a dishwasher is probably needed.

20 :: Laundry

• If we run out to the store to pick up something quickly we usually change clothes once we get home {in order to be more comfortable}.  If you haven’t been wearing your outfit long, hang it back up or put it in the drawer.  There isn’t any sense is washing articles of clothing that aren’t dirty.

• Make sure to only use the amount of detergent you need for each load – using larger amounts of detergent not only cause you to run out more quickly, but makes your washing machine work harder to rinse it from your clothes.

• Instead of drying all of your clothes in the dryer, try air drying some of your clothes.  I do this especially for nicer clothes.

• Wash only when you have full loads.  There isn’t much sense in washing one or two items.  So make sure you have a full load before you stick them the washer.

• Always get your clothes out of the dryer when it signals that your load is done.  Leaving it going on the spin cycle to keep your clothes from wrinkling add to your electric bill!

{Photo Credit: moneysavingtips}