I’m a single mother and I don’t have a bad job. I do alright, but I wanted to trim the finances a bit. Another mom suggested to try her solutions and sent me some links. This is the TOP 12 things I found that works really well!
- Install sink water aerators. These are cheap and easy to install and they greatly reduce the flow of water out of your sink, saving you money and water use.
- Install low-flow shower heads. A low flow showerhead can significantly reduce the water coming out of your shower head without reducing water pressure. Some of them are quite fancy!
- Put a brick in your toilet tank. Make your old toilet into a low flow toilet by putting a brick (wrapped in a waterproof plastic bag) or a recycled plastic bottle full of sand into your tank. This will displace and reduce the amount of water wasted on every flush. When you’re ready for a new toilet, install a low-flow, dual flush model.
- Line dry your clothes. Dryers don’t even come with an “Energy Star” rating—that’s how bad they are in terms of energy consumption. Line or rack drying your clothes saves a ton of energy and therefore prevents air and water pollution from power plants.
- Wait till you have a full load of laundry to wash. This saves both water and energy on washing your clothes.
- Wash your clothes in cold water. Clothes get just as clean, but without the energy spent on heating the water.
- Replace your light bulbs with LED lights. A small upfront investment in LEDs can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars (and a lot of energy) over the lifespan of these bulbs—which can be as long as 10 years! Buy them on sale and replace them slowly.
- Install a programmable thermostat. This handy little device allows you to program your heat or AC to come on right before you get home, and turn down while you are gone or asleep. This can save a ton of money on your utility bills, saving energy and reducing pollution.
- Replace the weather stripping on your doors and windows. Stop the cold air from getting in and the heat from escaping during the upcoming winter.
- Insulate your hot water heater and your water pipes. Pipe insulation and water heater blankets help your water heater to work less to heat your water, saving you money on electricity.
- Keep your fridge coils clean. Do you clean the back/underside of your fridge? All that dust might make it work harder than it needs to run efficiently.
- Run your dishwasher only when it is full. By waiting till it’s full, you make the best use of the water and energy needed to wash your dishes.
Hope this works as well for you!