If your budget is feeling tight around the edges, you might be looking for ways to save some money. Here are some great tips to help you save some energy -- and in the process a few dollars too!
Lower your thermostat. For each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter, your heating costs are cut by about 3%.
Get clean in a flash. A 10-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead will save you about $100 per year. Cut it to five minutes and save another $100.
Stop drips. If you have a leaky faucet, don't delay calling a plumber or look online for instructions on making the repair yourself. A drip a second wastes over 6,000 gallons of water per year -- adding to your water bill.
Keep the freezer full. Improve your freezer's efficiency by keeping it full -- stuffing it with bags of ice if necessary. A more efficient freezer uses less electricity.
Condense your landline. If you don't use the extra phone services much, consider dropping call waiting, call forwarding, three-way calling, etc. and save around $60 per year.
Raise insurance deductibles. Check with your home and auto insurance agent to increase your deductibles from $500 to $1,000 (or more, if your budget allows). You can save up to 15% on premiums each year.
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